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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  Excelent College Car - 1999 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By pizzaman09 - December 31 - 6:09 pm

  My 1999 Oldsmobile 88 was my grandparents car and was given to my twin brother and I as our first car with only 42k miles on it! We have been driving it for about 5 years now and it has 69k miles on it. They 88 has been outstandingly reliable, we have under $1200 of maintenance into it in 5 years. We had the common intake leak and the power antenna is stuck up but else it is perfect. I use to hate how it looked but it has grown on me. It is factory Crimson Red and I have white strip tires on it, it looks sharp and stands out among todays cars. The ride and handling is like a marshmallow, but that is often a good thing. It is plenty quick too! I also enjoy the huge trunk!

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  8 years with a used Alero. - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By mlrobards - December 26 - 5:54 am

  I purchased this car when it was 5 years old, that was 8 years ago. I have had only one major issue with it. The drivers side window regulator has gone out and cost too much to replace. Never had issue one with the motor, struts, electronics (other than the regulator) If you treat this car right it will not let you down. Keep up with all regular maintenance and it will last years. Handles really well and an easy ride for long trips. Before you buy any new car make sure it was taken good care of. If it wasnt, walk away.

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  I Love Oldsmobiles! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jennifer Carnahan - December 25 - 2:16 pm

  Bought my 2000 Alero used in 2005 when it had about 86,000 miles on it. I have never had a problem with my car. It has been a great first vehicle for me. Still runs great with 130,000 miles on it.

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  First time SUV buyer - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By ll farrell - December 24 - 2:00 am

  Olds has always had upper level vehicles and discontuing the line is undoubtly a mistake. The Buick limited line of vehicles, would have been the logical choice. Anyway, this is a well built luxury type of SUV. All the bells and whistles, plus pure quiet. Tight, solid and totally quiet. Plenty of power and easy to work on. Where was a vehicle like this when our family was growing up?

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  Wish I hadnt - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Unhappy - December 21 - 3:20 pm

  I bought an Oldsmobile Alero because of its easy handling. I wish I hadnt. Luckily some of the problems have been covered under the warranty, but now thats up and I might as well have a car payment with the money I spend on the thing. Ive replaced the rotors, brakes, cruise control and much more. The interior is falling apart with the upolstery sundamaging very very easily. I wouldnt recommend this car to anyone at all.

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  100,000 miles and still going - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By john - December 17 - 8:56 pm

  Nice van. Had intake gaskets replaced at 50,000. Driver seat replaced because recliner handle broke and seat tore. This should never have happened, but it did.

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  Five Years and Still Going Strong! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Paul - December 13 - 11:30 pm

  I bought this car about 5 years ago with 82,000 miles on it and I am still in love with it. I have only had one problem which was the drivers window motor and track broke. Probably because I eat so much fast food and use it way more that average. It is very spacious and comfortable except on long road trips the seats become bricks. It now has 142,000 miles on it and I have had to replace some of the suspension because of normal wear and tear. The engine and transmission have been perfect despite claims at the dealership that the tranny has a bad reputation just to sell me a warranty which I refused. It picks up speed very quickly and has 215 HP whith 3.5L which is much better than the 3.8L!

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  Glad 2 B Rid of It - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GearHead101 - December 8 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a GX with just over 35,000 miles. Ive had it for a year and 33,000 miles. The transmission has had to be replaced...it uses a quart of oil every 1500 miles that GM says is not excessive...and its losing break fluid. The car rides, drives, and accerlates wonderfully...it would be a great car if it were more reliable. Ive traded it in on a 2000 Accord LX-V6 even though I had -$5000 equity. And GM wonders why they continue to lose market share?

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  Very Poor Vehicle - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Vince U. - December 8 - 10:00 am

  This was my first SUV. I purchased it because I get discounts on GM vehicles. The problems I have had, greatly exceed the value of the discount. SUV died for no reason one week after purchase. GM couldnt figure out why and was only able to "fix it" by disengaging wires. GM admits this was a "temporary fix", but never did anything else. Security light is always on on the dash along with numerious others, rain sensor quit, rear wiper never goes back into harness, terrible knocking when making sharp turns and constant stalling issues are some of the problems that plague this vehicle. Cant wait to turn it in a buy an Explorer.

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  Classic well maintained vehicle - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By peggy - December 2 - 12:16 pm

  One owner garage kept mint condition, normal maintenance, oil changes, etc. Black 2 dr coupe. Only 37,000 miles on it. Runs great 6 cyl Cruise automatic, fwd, inside trunk lock, opener. Leather seats.