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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  Another great Olds - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By zelda - May 25 - 2:00 am

  I have owned/driven most America makes & models over the years, but most have been Olds. While I have had lemons with other makes, never with Olds. This is another great one. (I also have a 2002 Bravada) Will probably hang on to these until Im too old to drive since they will no longer be made.

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  Pretty good and reliable car for the $ - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Tim - May 18 - 10:40 pm

  I bought my car new in 98 as I needed a little larger but fuel efficient car. I did have a few minor annoyances at first (rattly glove box, water pump problems) though these got fixed by the dealer and stayed fixed. Ive driven this all over the country, 182000 plus miles, and still get 29 mpg highway. It has been a very reliable car overall. Ive had no major, bank-breaking problems except what youd normally expect (new brakes, tires, etc). The interior is comparatively roomy (to my wifes Honda Accord) and has always been the car of choice for family trips. I hope to get to 200000 miles and over; after 11 plus years of good performance this seems a reasonable expectation.

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  Driving Performance of Olds Alero - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Earl B. Stiff - May 7 - 2:00 am

  The Olds Alero is a smooth riding car with ample speed to move you down the hiway. Power brakes (antilock) have been very helpful in avoiding near accidents.

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  Lovin the Olds - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ashleylpn - April 27 - 10:00 am

  From the first time I drove an Alero I loved it. I did test out some other cars to get an idea of what I wanted but there was just no question.

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  Great car - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By navyguyx - April 24 - 10:00 am

  Only thing i dont is when its raining you cannot even have your window partially open with out alot of water getting in particularly on the driver side due to the wipers, this issues is largely in part to the aerodynamic design, however some rain guards would be nice, and when opening the trunk in the rain, the water isnt always caught by the "gutter" Other than that, i love it.

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  A great value - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By drmiller - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I now have 35000 miles on my 2002 GLS. Never have had a problem. Gas mileage over city and highway has averaged 21.5 mpg over the entire life. There is nothing that I dont like about the vehicle. All that and a discounted price because they are discontinuing the brand. A great value in my book.

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  Superb Car All Around - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By Chuck - April 13 - 3:53 am

  After owning one of these cars for numerous years, I sold it with total regret. Mine had put three teenagers through driving and their first car and was still running strong after! This is by far the best looking model of Cutlass and certainly the most reliable of Oldsmobile! Do yourself a favor and buy one....very little will have to be done to these cars mechanically.

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  OK with some problems - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By finner - April 7 - 3:10 pm

  Quirks- mismatching paint from steel to plastic. Front passenger wheel fell off at 65000km. Heated driver seat keeps failing. Poorly installed outside trim. Three recalls on powerdoor. Fog lights dont last. Rear door inside handle failure. Coolant loss -- auxilliary heat pump was culprit at first, now? Driver side power window does not go up straight. Rear window wiper stops intermittently. EGR valve rusted.

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  Love it - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By SMK - April 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new and love it as much today as I did on the test drive. Im now at 119,000 miles and the only repairs I needed was to replace the bearings in the front (common with this vehicle) twice within the first year under warranty. Other then that it is a great car that is very fun to drive.

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  the best - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Lou M. - March 19 - 2:00 am

  a pleasure to own and drive