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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  Wind Noise - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By mlajr - November 22 - 4:20 am

  Let me get this part over first. If you want to have the sound of wind inside a vehicle (with all the windows up), then this is the car to buy. Take a look at the cheap, thin, narrow weather-stripping around the doors and the lack of insulation in the pillars surrounding the doors, and you can understand why this vehicle does such a poor job of keeping the wind noise quiet--especially at highway speeds above 55 mph.

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  Always Reliable, Never Exceptional - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By CarGuyBarrowman - November 20 - 6:56 pm

  Buying the Intrigue was an easy decision. The car was the nicest to look at in its class, it had a gutsy engine, reasonable interior and it was affordable. Since buying this car it hasnt spent more than a few hours in the shop for regular oil changes, tire rotations et al. The only problems Ive had with this car is keeping it clean! Never before have I had such a hard time keeping the inside of a car clean... it attracts dirt like no other car Ive owned.

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  poor engineering - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By got screwed consumer - November 12 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used from a private party and it only had 36,000 miles on it. At 53,000 miles the engine started taking in water. Took to dealership and the two section plastic molded intake had to be replaced for $1200.00 dollars. Oldsmobile no help with repair even though dealership admitted intake had a flaw in the original design. At 63,000 miles the throttle body started leaking. Took back to dealership and it had to be replaced for $600 dollars. Again Oldsmobile no help. NO WONDER OLDSMOBILE IS BEING DISCONTINUED. I would not buy one of these cars again, even if it were free. Great job General Motors.

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  1998 Oldsmobile Bravada - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By mds - November 9 - 3:10 am

  I have loved the ablility that my 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada has. The AWD system is awesome, in all weather, and since I live out in the country 40 miles from work, they always know I will be there. I also have pulled my husbands 1-ton pickup out several times when stuck, usually including a horse trailer or full water tank behind him! This vehicle has had its problems though. The multi-function switch is awful, (blinker, cruise, lights, wipers) if one thing breaks the whole thing has to be replaced and it is very expensive. The serpentine belt, fuel pump and water pump have been other problems. This trucks gas milage is also not very good, which is especially irritating with gas prices this high! Also, I dont like the fact that you cant put a car seat in the center back. It must be on the side.

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  Not too big, Not too small, just right - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By drjssgolf - November 4 - 10:00 am

  My new Bravada was purchased after driving a dozen other SUV models. The ride, room, quality and price after rebates, made the Bravada a clear choice for my needs. The ride is as good as the BMW and the acceleration is as good as the MDX. The demise of Oldsmobile possibly was a negative factor but I felt that the OLDS name will always be a positive one.

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  Bravada 1997 - 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By BeachBum409 - October 22 - 2:00 am

  Bought the Bravada new in 1997. I service it myself with oil & filter changes every 2000 miles. Ive had no problems other than normal maintance since Ive owned the vehicle. Im at the 50,000 mile mark now with the vehicle. Ive just performed the transmission flush, recharged air conditioner, changed rear end fluid, new Monroe (Reflex) shocks, new tires all around. Looked at the tranny tube for rust as told to do. Everything was fine.

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  GM, give Olds a second chance!!!!!!!!! - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By anderson brown - October 22 - 2:00 am

  This car is my first and maybe my last Olds because GM wants to dump the division like a hot potato! Its not perfect, but it is a good car for the money.

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  1999 Oldsmobile Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Shanaenae - October 14 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this car over a year ago without an engine, as the teen who owned it before me was hard on the car. After replacing the engine, the car has been fine, except for a little problem. IT FOGS! This car is great in the summer, the AC works like a dream, but in the winter, if there is more than one person in the car, or the heat is on, the windows fog so that you cannot see out of it. I have to roll down the passenger window, thank goodness its auto, to see into that mirror. Once it starts to fog, you either have to turn off the heat to prevent it, and hence be cold, or turn on defrost all the way. It is so annoying, and dangerous! Otherwise, the breaks squeak, and at least its am American vehicle.

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  Going Strong - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By GIVUS - October 10 - 2:13 am

  Although the ride is a little soft, the acceleration is adequate and I get an average of just over 25mpg. The car is comfortable and very reliable. It sat garaged for a year (twice) while I was deployed and started up again with no problems. Its getting close to 200,000mi and still running strong. Lived in NY, TX, and NC with it - handled well in the snow and did fine in the heat; heading to KS next. No major mechanical issues; Ive been lightly rear-ended twice, but only scratched the bumper.

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  2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By psloan - October 6 - 10:10 pm

  Our Oldsmobile Silhouette hasnt left us stranded yet. Its engine has always run strong and smoothly other than an occasional hard start. As far as problems go, it had the passenger side window serviced under warranty at least twice. It is still slow going up and down. I also had to have the the VCR serviced once and its out again. The dealer has not been helpful on this one. It has a squeaking and rattling from the back hatch area when going over bumps. We just replaced the water pump at 88,000 miles. The fuel gauge doesnt work and now the thermostat seems to be stuck open. It sounds like a diesel after cold start up.