Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

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  Are you sure this is an Olds? - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By xzmr - January 5 - 11:42 pm

  I am in love with this car. I have the Shortstar 3.5L and it goes fast. I love the way it sounds around 4,000RPM. I love the sound system. Its almost a perfect car. Build quality is eh. But thats what you get when you buy an American car. And the fuel economy isnt where Id want it to be. Im averaging 23MPG. 130,000 miles and still running perfect. Its so smooth and refined. It feels like a brand new car. The shifts are so seamless almost like its CVT. The handling is spot on, feels like a European car. But my favorite part, when youre doing about 50 and need to pass, in less than three seconds youre pushing 75. Just downshifts and goes like hell. Really a family car with muscle.

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  Good car, sad to see it go - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By GML - December 31 - 7:10 pm

  Had this car for 12 years -- getting a new one because now have children and I had the bare bones version of this with no LATCH, auto windows, etc. I kept up with maintenance, and over the years did replace intake manifold (per GM service note), a couple of batteries, and an alternator (it had been left undriven for three months), water pump, and AC controls. Most of these have been in the last couple of years, which makes sense once the car hits ten years old. Car was very good about warning lights -- most times warning came early enough to get it to a shop and I was never stranded.

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  also had brake issues - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By swilliams - December 19 - 10:00 am

  My 1999 Cutlass has only 23,000 miles on it. I also had to have the brakes replaced (at 21,00 miles!). I have just been told I need new tires - even though I have been vigilant about rotating and alignments. There is no way a car with this low mileage should have to have brakes/tires replaced at under 25,000 miles! Other than those issues I have thoroughly enjoyed my Cutlass.

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  Not your Grandmas Olds - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By tweakfreak - December 16 - 10:00 am

  So many reviews I read give this car a poor review and I dont see why. I guess those that dont have a problem dont write reviews. I think this is a pretty good car. It has the potential to be great. A larger engine would be nice. In all I think that it is a pretty good car.

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  No Major Problems After Eleven Years! - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By J Bloom - December 12 - 10:36 pm

  I have two 96 Cierras. The other one is a 4-door sedan. My wagon has 108,000 miles on it while my daughter has 132,000 miles on her college bound four door. The wagon has just had the water pump and fuel pump replaced for the first time shortly after it turned 100,000 miles and the drive belt was replaced at 80,000. Its comfortable and the fuel economy - especially on trips is very good. Both get exactly what the EPA reports - about 20 mpg in town, and 29 to 30 mpg on trips. The 3.1 V6 engine combined with a four speed automatic (overdrive) transmission does the trick. Even my 3-speed auto 90 Corolla doesnt deliver 30 mpg on the highway! The sedan had a top manifold leak at 125,000 miles, so Im watching for similar problems with the wagon. Its OK so far.

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  Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jschopstix - December 5 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive.

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  Love it - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By B - December 1 - 3:46 am

  I have had my Intrigue since new since 98. it is now 8 years old and is still chugging along. I had to replace the brakes, tires, steering rack, front hubs, and ball joints. the radiator is next. My car has 166,000 miles, so I cant complain. I wish the fuel economy was a little better. stereo upgrades were a sinch with the stuff that I got from crutchfield. I would buy another one today if the one that I have died.

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  My Merry Oldsmobile - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jeffwiegand - November 29 - 10:00 am

  What a shame this marque had to die. My 02 Intrigue GL is fun to drive and trouble free. The only complaint from the drivers seat is inconvenient radio/cruise control steering wheel buttons and a bit too much road noise from the original equipment Goodyear tires on concrete pavement. GM should have killed the stodgy Buick Regal rather than this stylish Olds!

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  Nice sedan overall - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Doc John - November 29 - 10:00 am

  In my opinion the best American-made sedan for the money. Comfortable and fun to drive with lots of great features that work well.

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  Not too Promising - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By A6SILO - November 27 - 6:33 pm

  Since purchasing our 2001 Silhouette Premier in Jan. 06 we have encountered a leaking windshield, a broken drivers side heated seat, a broken drivers side power mirror, and the smell of anti-freeze leaking from the right side engine area. We love all the power options but are very disappointed at the level of quality from a top of the line vehicle.