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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  10 years old and no service issues - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By jake136 - October 20 - 7:22 pm

  Had to share that Ive owned the 04 Bravada and have had no service issues. I really cant believe it. I have 110K on it and have to say its been the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Sorry its an Olds and sorry they discontinued the line. Seems they finally got it right. Ive owned a number of Olds products that had typical issues but not this one. I now have an issue with the front differential that will cost me a few hundred dollars, but come on is that it?? Thats my question has anyone else had experience with this vehicle? What issues should I look forward to in the future? I hate to dump it for a $40K + replacement.

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  Oldsmobiles last van - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By #1 parent - October 16 - 10:00 am

  1)Needs better mileage 2)Seats are very comfortable 3)Good to take on long distance trips with your family 4) Did I mention seats are comfortable especially in the winter with the heated seat option 5) Lots of leg room to strech out 6) Sometimes to many buttons

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  bobs review - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By lotus halldorson - October 16 - 10:00 am

  This is a fun car to drive with plenty of power a sporty feel.

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  Junk - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By sharon - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used to save gas driving to work in Feb 10. The car had 135,000 miles on it when I got, I have nothing but problems with it. The car started overheating after I bought it and the intake gasket had to be replaced, passenger window gets stuck down, the dash material is rolling up, replaced water pump, replaced catalyst converter, replaced over fill tank and now I have to put another $300.00 in it because there is a gas leak around the intake because a valve is broke off. I would not recommend anyone to buy this car.

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  My Favorite Car - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Rocketfxr - October 10 - 5:20 pm

  I purchased a 1997 Olds Intrigue GL Basic with no bells and whistles back in 1999. It had been a former rental car with 23K miles, so it had been "well loved". I put over 120K on it myself. 3 years later I found another 1999 Intrigue GLS with low mileage, Leather interior, Bose Stereo, Power seats. I have put over 100K on this car. I had to replace the engine at and rebuild the transmission at 120K. It was worth the cost, the car is so nice to drive and it really moves! GM really messed up discontinueing this line.

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  Confort and fun - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Alfadan - October 10 - 2:00 am

  Best car I have ever had. Built like a tank, expect to put another 100K on it. Air conditioning compressor (built by third party) went out at 80K, rear suspension sensor out at 90K - small potatoes given the hi tech build of the car. Not a single rattle in the car after 105K. The car will always look marvelous.

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  20,000 miles and better than I expected - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Nat - October 9 - 10:00 am

  Huge discount piqued my interest, but still didnt expect much. Couple of annoyances-water leakage in the cabin during rainstorm (fixed after one visit to the dealer), some minor rattles, and my traction control (or whatever its called) went out on me unexpectedly (it reset by itself later). Manual transmission is a little notchy, and the other day it popped out of reverse. However, its a big car for the money with a lot of standard features, and the huge discounts (got mine for $14,5K, you can probably get it cheaper now) might make it worth the while. Granted, build quality isnt up to par with Toyota, however much improved over past american cars.

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  My new car - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By richardwvu - October 8 - 2:00 am

  Car received had numerous quality problems including noisy front brakes, a loud buzzing fuel pump, a rattling dash board, and a noisy passenger air bag cover. There is little excuse to deliver such a vehicle to a customer. What does a manufacturer and dealership think?

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  A Great Mini Van - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By modiecast - October 8 - 2:00 am

  After thorough research of both American and Foreign vans, the Oldsmobile cam out on top as the best all around value. While other may have excelled in one area or another, the Olds is the best package for the $$$. Great acceleration, a roomy interior, attractive styling, a host of luxury features, a 5 year / 60,000 factory warranty and great incentives makes this can a hard package to beat.

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  A great sedan that has no future - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By realyecat - October 8 - 2:00 am

  What a pity that this model has no future. Combined with silky engine, smooth transmission, beatiful styling inside & out and great usable space, its still the best family sedan GM has to offer. Significant body roll occurs when making quick turns, though.