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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  Excellent car,sad to see it go - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Sean258 - February 24 - 10:00 am

  I have had my Intrigue for 6 months and I am so glad that I bought this car. Excellent to drive. Great performance and very good looking. I like the leather seats and the cd/cassette as well as the traction control

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  Why does this car exist? - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TRP - February 20 - 2:00 am

  I cant imagine why anyone actually likes this car. Its uncomfortable, the brakes are terrible, the interior is very cheap, and the steering in loose. This car is why Americans by more foreign cars. Thank goodness this is a "company" car for me. I drive a VW Passat, and the difference is incredible. I cant believe, my car costs almost the same! The Passat isnt the greatest sedan, but it feels 100 times more solid and upscale then then this hunk o junk.

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  I LOVE this car! - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Jerry - February 18 - 6:53 pm

  This must be the last best built American car made! Sorry they decided to stop making them! GM has not been on the mark with it lately. I take this big boy down to Florida from NY and have all the comfort and 27 mpg! We have had the car for 2 years with no problems and this was a rental car at one time. Sorry to hear that some have had issues but there`s always a lemon!

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  Oldsmobile Bravada 4.3 AWD - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Pawel - February 17 - 1:23 pm

  Ive had ups and downs with this car. I love the car because of all the memories I have had with it. It actually has help up pretty well I guess you can say. But the quality of this car. I have to say GM did a very poor job. I have had to replace so many things on this car, it was probably not even worth it. I could of probably paid off another car with that money. the most stupid feature that I hate is the air pump that apparently is defective in all Blazers and Bravada models 96-01.

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  Saved my life - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By JL - February 17 - 10:00 am

  This car saved my life. Involved in major, head-on collision with Toyota Tercel @ 55 mph - front intrusion mostly on drivers side. Both front airbags deployed properly. Two kids in back in carseats-3yo with seat belt bruises, 18mo with minor seat belt marks. Driver-minor injuries.

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  Good Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Bradley James - February 17 - 10:00 am

  I have had very few problems with this car, I had a bad multifuntion switch that caused the turn signals not to work, but it was fixed under warenty. The only other complaint i have is that it is a four cyl. but it gets worse gas milage than most 6 cyl. cars, and also the 4 cyl. motor is quite noisy

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  terible experiance in general - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By chad143mh - February 15 - 10:00 am

  now i havehad this car for almost a year and the tranny went the rear window motor went the ac compressor the brakes. the steering rack the exaust fell down. this car in general just dosnt stack up to the reviews writin about it. i had a 1989 toyota camry before this car and i am so sorry i ever sold it because it was the best car i ever owned i drove it for 55000 trouble free miles the worst i had to do to it was buy 4 new tires and change the oil every 3000 miles....

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  My Oldmobile Alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Kedibee - February 11 - 9:00 pm

  I bought this car in 2006 with 63,000 miles on it. I have driven it for exactly two years now and have changed both bearings in front two times. Right now, it looks like I need to change them again. I will be driving it for straight 1700 miles, of course with sleeping breaks as long as 6 hours. I will know after this trip if this car is truly a good one.

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  Ok, but some problems - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By finderskeepers - February 10 - 7:30 pm

  We bought our Silhouette for its creature comforts, but many of them have since failed us. It has 60,000 miles on it, but the rear air no longer works, nor does the drivers heated seat. I have had the rear air shocks replaced (not cheap), the battery replaced, and the original spec tires were gone by 40,000 miles. The engine always sounds like a diesel on start-up, lots of knocking going on until warmed up. On the plus side, it always starts, ihas buttery smooth leather seats, has a comfortable ride, and adequate power (but not overwhelming). I like the good sounding audio system and genuine 7 passenger seating.

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  Update from original post - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jtrujillo86 - February 8 - 10:50 am

  After owning this car for nearly 2 years, I thought I should write an update. I am still in love with her! Ive added a front strut tower bace and it makes the "fun to drive" factor increase by 10! In the area of quality, Ive had to have the wheel bearing and the power steering pump replace, both under warranty. The wheel bearings are common issues on these cars, but the pump was just a fluke with mine. Anyway, even at nearly 50K miles, I am still as happy with it as the day I bought it...I am saving up now to get a REAR strut tower brace.