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:

• 

  oldsmobile - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By draco - June 14 - 2:00 am

  good streeing ,brakes,good retail price

• 

  Olds Aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Charles Hinckley - March 10 - 10:00 am

  This car is no more than an average Detroit Midsize. It does not have the legroom for a 63" man nor the peerformance of a 3 Liter Import yet it touts a 4.0 liter V-8 engine that just sits there and makes a lot of noise. It does not make a lot of gas mileage either 25MPG is the best I have been able to get.

• 

  Not my fave - 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Paula - March 9 - 3:03 am

  I only owned my Bravada 18 months because we had to frequently replace the ignition sensor. Fortunately the warranty covered it so I only had to pay the deductible. We had bought other used cars from the dealer and decided to trade it in. We really didnt want to have it go out again (that would be the 4th time) and it would have quaified for the Missouri lemon law.

• 

  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.

• 

  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....

• 

  It has gone the distance - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By driver777 - January 26 - 10:00 am

  Bought my Ciera new. After logging 118,000 miles heres the maintenance record: Preventative maintenance: Serpentine belt replaced twice, 40K and 90K Replaced battery and alternator: 85K Replaced shocks, struts Corrective Maintenance: Replaced power window motor, drivers side. Head gasket replaced. Replaced radiator, hoses. Replaced water pump. Power steering assembly replaced due to leak. Ongoing problem: Fuel guage is inaccurate. 1/4 reading is an indicator that the tank is empty.

• 

  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.

• 

  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.

• 

  So So, Nothing Special - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dustin - November 24 - 12:03 pm

  First off the brake design of this car is horrible. Ive already had to put in new brake pads and have the rotors turned twice. The car has less than 50,000 miles on it. The gas mileage varies from 22 to 30 depending on oil changes, driving conditions...etc. Its seats arent really that comfy and the interior looks cheap. You definitely pay for what you get. I wont ever by another GM, next time its a Honda or Toyota.

• 

  My Cutlas - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By RMD - November 19 - 10:00 am

  09/00 new brakes $395. 1 yr later replaced alternator. Brake/rotar job 10/01 $454. Battery caught fire 08/01. Front brakes constantly make rubbing sound. Tune up and injectors cleaned $699 08/01. Front end is rough. This is a high maintenance car. Inside is comfortable and roomy. I like the design. The build quality and mechanical reliabilty is not good. Bought the car with 23000 mi on it for my 14 year old daughter. She will be 16 in next few weeks but we are shopping for a different vehicle. I simply dont want her out in this one because it is truly undependable.