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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  Long term review (after 3 years) - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By mtach3 - January 18 - 8:06 pm

  I wrote my first review a month after I had it.I still love it after 3 years, but I had to replace the engine and tranny.The warranty I bought with the car covered ALL the repairs.The tranny was easy, but the engine was a problem.It kept overheating and it took 9 attempts before the dealership figured out the engine block had a clog.Because they kept returning the car to me without properly repairing it,the motor died.In the process they replaced every part of the cooling system.Finally,they replaced the motor with a brand new one from GM.Most of this issue was due to a bad service center.If they fixed it right the first time it would have cost them $400. Instead, it was $9,000. Duh!!

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  Love it - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By PatC - January 18 - 10:00 am

  We now have 167,000 miles on our van and we have had no major problems with it. The AC needed work at 112,000 and the rear lights (including back up sensors) went bad at 125,000 but we bought parts at a junk yard and everything is still going great.

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  My Review Of The Intrigue GX - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By whitneyphat7 - January 14 - 2:00 am

  My experience with this car was, is, a bad one. I personally would not recommend anyone to buy this specific vehicle. I am always going in to fix something under warranty, and then it still doesnt work, or brakes soon after.

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  So Far So Good - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By PD - January 12 - 10:00 am

  Bought my 02 Bravada in 12/01 for invoice with no dlr fees and then minus $2500 in GM Card points and then took the Zero APR loan..26,500 with zero int loan is hard to beat! Replaced a 96 Explorer-V8 with 125,000 miles..and this SUV is 100% better in Ride and Quietness..now have 6,500 Trouble free miles..

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  My title - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Greg Schlosser - January 12 - 2:00 am

  Power steering went out but was replaced immediately. They then forgot to connect the coolant hose but this was discovered no more than 2 miles down the road and they reconnected it and topped it off. Love the style, room, and dual a/c. The engine is one of the best I have driven as far as power, but needs help in the gas milage. Feels fairly good in the corners.

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  intrigue1998 - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By olds49 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Everything held together pretty well until 60,000 miles then oil leaks started, strut supports went out, alternator was replaced, idler pulley came apart, now I hear theres a forthcoming recall for the steering box. Also along the way a couple of electric window motors failed. Ive driven Japanese autos to well over 100,000 miles without any of this foolishness happening. Had considered an Impala until stuff started breaking, but since its a GM drivetrain clone of this car I might just pass and check out Honda Accords, Toyota Camrys, and Mazda 6s.

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  Alero: Good Buy, Good-bye - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By hawk27 - January 7 - 2:00 am

  This Olds ends its run in fine form. Very good build quality, excellent acceleration for a four cylinder, comfortable interior and good driving experience. Handles well in snow and ice with traction control and abs option. Good for stop and go with family or solo highway driving. Good gas mileage.$4000 rebate is attractive.

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  Low Mileage Driver - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Gordon Martyn - January 6 - 12:36 pm

  My 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora has low mileage. It is driven mostly in the city and suburbs on fairly heavily traveled roads. It is the only car I have ever had that didnt require any repairs or recalls. It performs beautifully, has good pickup and gets fairly good mileage. The ride isnt the most comfortable but it is adequate. I am very satisfied with this car.

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  Great car - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Tim L. - January 6 - 10:00 am

  This is, overall, one of the finest cars I have owned (and Ive driven many Hondas!). It is a bunch of fun to drive. When ice and snow put others in the ditch, the traction control, anti-lock brakes, and superb handling kept me on the road. I was going to give this car to my daughter three years from now when she is old enough to drive, but I think shell have to find something else. This ones a keeper.

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  Not so good - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By kenb268 - January 3 - 1:11 am

  Having own mostly GM vehicles Chevy Cavalier and S10 PU was very disapointed in this vehicle constanliy repairing vehicler new hubs upper and lower ball joints about 80,000 miles at about $12000.00 to fix parts and labor (GM)encoder sensor and crossmember beam that had rotted out about $1000. to fiz (GM) Raditior blower moter for heater and ac went $$200.00 fixed myself.Woulnd use aftermarket parts. Raditor went after 1st year no warranty had it fixed at dealer about $500.00. Had tp replace fuel pump 3 times after original wnet (again dont use cheap aftermarket parts better off with brand names.they were covered under warranty Amen still cost about $800 for replacing the 3.