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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  Beautiful Borealis - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By jdavid - April 27 - 10:00 am

  This is the highest value luxury car on the road. It is a thrill to drive for short utility trips, fun cruises, & road hauls. Comfort is terrific, especially for such a sporty handling machine. It tracks like a smart bomb -- even white out, ice blizzards, at night. Ive never driven such a roadworthy machine. Its wonderful -- & I generally cannot tolerate GM vehicles! (P.S. Avoid the 3.5 model; its underpowered; only buy the 4.0)

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  DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF CRAP! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GladTheAlero_isGone! - April 27 - 10:00 am

  These are just SOME of things that put this car in the shop in the 1st 40,000 miles: Brake rotors resurfaced at 10K and 20K miles. Low speed fan motor replaced at 20K. Low speed fan resistor replaced at 30K and 36K miles. COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILD NEEDED AT 38,000 Miles - Right after warranty period was over. $4,000. Fog lamps and headlights/taillights failed. Now the front left end is loud, grinding and vibrating - maybe a joint or something - not waiting around to find out. Drove it to a Kia dealer (just made it) and traded it in for $5,000. Bought a Sorento SUV. One sentence on the Alero - WORST CAR EVER!

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  olds - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By somename - April 26 - 2:00 am

  good car. worth the money

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  Olds Bravada 2003 - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Edward Bertsch - April 16 - 10:00 am

  Pull a pop up camper and it handles it very well. Camper weighs 2900 pounds. Gas mileage on my vehicle is very good for this weight vehicle. I get 23-25 on the highway. I get 20.5 towing the camper.

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  my car - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By chris ryals - April 16 - 10:00 am

  never any prblems, comfort in town and hwy

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  Best Ive Ever Owned - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Lalo - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I have owned sports cars, luxury sedans, performance vehicles, wagons, pickups, vans and economy cars, but no car I have ever owned has ever given me any more pleasure to drive. The old V6 is bulletproof, the autobahn handling package is superb. Best all around car I ever owned.

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  Great sporty car! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By athenaclf - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I bought my car new from the dealership with the extended 60 month/60,000 mile warranty (which was worth paying for). The water pump and cruise control button have been replaced-all covered by warranty. The little piece of plastic behind the emergency flasher button on the dash also broke when I used my flashers for the sixth or seventh time-seems to happen often according to the dealership. It was only covered by warranty when it started interfering with the turn signals. The leather on my dash has started bubbling-probably from 3 years in the Southeast sun.

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  Allero 2001 - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By unixit - April 16 - 10:00 am

  This is an Alero V6, GLS model. The car is fast and the v6 easily pushes the car down the road. Lots of nice interior dials and controls. Great Service from the dealership! Sporty car.

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  2002 Bravada - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By jefandchel - April 11 - 11:53 pm

  I bought this vehicle new and have kept it dealer maintained. It has been and continues to be a great vehicle. 270 horses and a smooth, sporty ride, and the capability to be a real family utility vehicle. I think Ill keep her! (I actually have a new 08 Acadia slt-1 in the driveway that Im test driving) these reviews have assisted me in changing my mind about trading in!

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  I Love my Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Chrystal - April 8 - 2:23 pm

  I think Id trade in my better half before Id trade in this car - shes absolutely wonderful. She handles fluidly and is sooo fun to drive. Plus, Ive never felt safer in a car, especially driving in the winter-even driving on ice is worry-free. Nothing feels better than take fast curves in this car. She looks great on the outside, and the inside in extremely comfortable. The crisp sound system is the icing on the cake. I love this car. Everyone should drive an Alero!