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:

• 

  Pretty Good - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Lgarm18 - September 20 - 4:50 pm

  In the beginning I had what seemed like issue after issue. Stereo replaced, shifter locked up, failed water pump, etc. After about six years I seem to have stopped having problems with it. 170,000miles and I drive it with confidence and relative comfort. Leather on the seats are cheap and torn up and the A/C has been known to turn off on its own. After 10 years I suppose I have learned to live with the small stuff. All of the miles have been long and steady highway miles.

• 

  No regrets - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By biglakemi68 - September 18 - 2:40 am

  I have owned three Cutlasses (68, 71 and 80), an Alero, an Aurora and a LSS 88 and this has been my favorite Olds. Right now I have 175K on the original motor and tranny and can still pull 100+ mph speeds on closed track. Reliability has been excellent. Repairs have all been within reasonable parameters for a car of its age and mileage. Shes starting to show her age cosmetically, but still rides like a dream and runs like a rocket. Love the control placement, cabin ergonomics and handling.

• 

  2 Year Review - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By donutman - September 11 - 10:00 am

  This car has been very reliable over the two years I have owned it. I have not incured any breakdowns...yet. The car has had two problems, one of which the dealer resolved. The outside mirrors would vibrate while driving. This was solved by replacing both mirrors with parts of a newer design. The dealer has been unsuccesful in finding and removing any of the rattles and buzzes in the interior of the car. They were also not able to get rid of a strange sizzling type of noise from the back seat area caused by driving on wet surfaces.

• 

  Fun Car, but Buyer Beware - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By T - September 7 - 2:30 pm

  I bought my 1999 Oldsmobile Alero new in 2000 and only put on about 5,000 - 5,500 miles a year on it. The car has had no major problems other than the brakes which I have had to replace three times. Specifically, I replaced the brake pads three times and rotars once on all four wheels ($500.00 total). This is not too bad considering the car has been driven for six years. UNTIL.... the car hit 36,000 miles (funny right after the warranty ran out). The transmission went and it cost $1,900.00 to fix. There has been problems with the seals and gaskets to the tune of $400.00 and now it is in the shop for the alternator. This is all within the last 400 miles after turning 36,000. So, buyer beware. The car handles great, has awesome speed, and I love the ride - it is fun, but it only has so much life in it!!

• 

  Head Gasket - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By zig - September 5 - 8:53 pm

  This has been a good vehicle overall, but have had some problems with brakes. I just had to put a head gasket in this motor with 50,000 miles on it, GM warranty did cover the repair cost.

• 

  Bravad Review - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Lorraine - August 28 - 10:00 am

  All in all, I really enjoy driving my Bravada!

• 

  Cutlass ROCKS!!! - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Gucci - August 25 - 10:00 am

  MY car has 45,0000 miles and is getting to its prime. The engine has very nice acceleration, but thats the only good thing about the engine. Could have a nicer interior, but you get what you pay for.

• 

  A few problems, but overall good car - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Susan - August 24 - 11:53 pm

  We had this car for nearly 4 years and just traded it in yesterday. Had a few problems along the way... A/C went out 20,00 miles after the expiration of the 60,000 mile warranty ($850 repair), intermittent problems with the power door not working, and for a while, the horn would sound when it was raining without being bumped or anything! They never figured out why but after some inkering with the electrical system by the deal service department, the problem seemed to have resolved. The front cupholder was rather flimsily designed and came out a few times (causing quite a mess!)

• 

  Best Car I Have Owned - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By td121402 - August 16 - 2:00 am

  The Alero is a great car. Without a doubt I am off the chart when it comes to miles driven/year. I bought my Alero with 23000 miles and within 12.5 months have 60000 miles on the odometer. If anyone can give an evaluation of a cars durability I can. When I bought the car the rotors were slightly warped. The dealer fixed the problem before I picked the car up. I only mention this because others on this site have mentioned rotor problems with this car. The problem has not returned in 36000 miles. No other problems

• 

  Ready to buy a 2004 - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Bones - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Easy to drive. My wife drives it as much as I do. Great for traveling with four back seats removed (I am retired). Wish we had the dual air/heat system. We live in the northeast and cold air comes in around the front doors where the latches are. My wife actually covers her arms with a blanket on cold days.