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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  Happy Owner - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By HavJon - January 2 - 10:00 am

  Excellent car, oil leak around pan gasket when first purchased, fixed under warranty and no more problems. Mech. strong and requires very little maintance.

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  Hidden Gem - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Eric - December 22 - 3:13 am

  Looks, performance, handling, luxury -- this car has it all. It does everything well in a neat and tidy package. The engine is smooth and powerful and gets decent fuel economy. The suspension smooths out the bumps and takes corners with aggression. The exterior styling while not overt is modern and pleasing to the eyes. The interior is very comfortable and all of the controls fall easily at hand.

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  One of my best buys! - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Sadie - December 17 - 9:53 am

  One of the sharpest, most reliable used cars Ive ever owned. Basic maitenance is all Ive ever had to do. Runs and looks like a champ!

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  Aurora - Keep these around! - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Photeus - December 16 - 6:33 pm

  After a year in the 3.5 Aurora, It loks and feels brand new. I have had no problems of any type with this vehicle. It is quick off the line, and holds its own at highway speeds, never leaving you wanting for passing power. I hope that another line picks up this car when Olds tosses in the towel. It is the only thing worth salvaging in their line. I had an Intrigue and will never step down again from the quality of this car.

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  1998 Olds Aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By aleets44 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  I love my Aurora--second one I bought!! It has the big cadillac engine (8 Cylinder) and is a sturdy, yet sleek=looking vehicle!! Great car~~

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  A European touring car built in America - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By SMaine - November 30 - 10:00 am

  Combine a smooth, sophicated 3.5 V-6 with a firm yet supple ride, wrapped in muscular understated styling and what do you get? One of GMs best cars. Not a wallowing barge like Oldsmobiles of yesteryear, the Intrigue has the handling and performance I really appreciate. The car is quite handsome, most people think its a Nissan Maxima. Reliabilty has been good so far, no rattles or squeaks at 52000 miles. You sit high up in a commanding driving position and the ride is comfy. The small things work well on this car; the turn signal and wiper stalks have a crisp feeling to them so often lacking on other GM products. Overall, I think GM got this one right.

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  Love the Drive - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By robamra - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I drive a lot of highway miles. This car has given me comfort and pride. I have had no problems in any type of weather that I have encurred while driving. I live in NorthEast Indiana and the drives to the New York, Chicago, Cincinatti, Detroit, and others have been relaxing without problems. The gas milage hasnt been bad at all either!

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  I love my Intrigue GLS - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By traveller - November 23 - 2:00 am

  I agree with other postings. The engine is so quiet, responsive, economical, and the transmission is also very smooth. As with all GM vehicles, however the transmission has no compression braking. Therefore Im expecting the brake pads to wear out sooner than they did on my Honda Accord. Also, as on other GMs, its not possible to get air flow on side windows as well as the defrost and floor at the same time as on my Honda.

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  An excellent automobile - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TERRIFIC - November 17 - 10:10 pm

  I love my Alero. It has the 4 cylinder redesigned engine and I could not want more. The ride is very comfortable and the highway driving is exceptional. It hugs the road and "drives itself." Ive never had a better steering car. GM got it right with steering ratio, turning effort, return, etc. its the best. Low noise level at highway speed is exceptional. NO wind noise. All around a great car. Also,factory speakers sound great, no need to upgrade.

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  1999 Intrigue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By taxator - November 17 - 2:00 am

  Build quality very good for a GM car. Flawless paint and trim. I have owned this car for more than 4 years without a single problem. Nothing, I repeat, nothing has broken or malfunctioned. The interior is plain but very comfortable and despite the comments of some reviewers none of the plastic parts are shoddy or have been poorly fitted which is more than can be said for some of the nissan interiors I have seen. The car runs on regular gas and is a great highway cruiser. I consistantly get mileage above 30 mpg at 65-75 mph. I will keep this car as long as I can.