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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  Stay away from this car. - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Aubreysdad - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Bought used from CarMax dealer. After two months (only 29k miles on car), fuel pump has to be replaced, side mirror breaks off and replaced, dash starts peeling away and repaired, shifter nob breaks and replaced. Sure, a little less expensive than Japanese, but youll pay more in the long run. Went back to CarMax, took $1800 hickie on appraisal, and traded in for Honda.

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  Lovinit - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Greatvan - July 27 - 10:00 am

  Traded our 2000 GL for this GLS. No major problems with either van, a great deal on Olds! Seats are sized for REAL adults, not like Hondas pint sized seats! Solid, Dependable, Luxurious, Great gas mileage, hauling capabilities, towing package, self- leveling suspension! Fantastic, sure are going to miss Oldsmobiles when they are no longer made. :-(

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  Sporty - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Kim Hensley - July 27 - 10:00 am

  I am really enjoying my Aurora. I have only had it a few months but it is really fun to drive. Love the heated seats in the winter :) The only complaint that I have is the rattle in the dash and passenger doors.

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  Transmission Troubles - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Carolynn - July 21 - 2:00 am

  We picked up our Silhouette, drove it for about a week before we left for Florida where we spend the winter. We made it as far as Gainesville and the check engine light came on, the gas mileage decreased and the performance in traffic decreased dramatically. We were reasonably close to our destination so we continued on. Thank Heaven we didnt stop to have it checked as we took it in to the dealer in Bradenton on our arrival and it took 11 days to get it back. The transmission was out. We were told it took that long because the transmission never goes out. DUH! We have it back but are getting 20 MPG compared to 29 MPG before the transmission quit.

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  Alero - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Neptune Nagrani - July 21 - 2:00 am

  Its a very good vehicle

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  Good solid vehicle - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By B-randie - July 18 - 5:56 pm

  Ive had this car about 2 years now and I bought it used. Ive had minor problems that are quite normal with it, most of them come from normal use. The gas mileage is really good especially in a car so affordable. I really recommend this car to anybody and everybody. I feel so safe when Im driving anywhere. I do a lot of traveling to see friends and Ive never owned a more reliable car.

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  Great family sports car - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By James.P - July 16 - 3:40 am

  I have kids. I had to get something that would compete with my pre-Camaro owning days. I bought an intrigue. This car was just as sporty, handled just as well, and had plenty of power to boot. It is a great car for the guy who has to grow up!

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  Bang for Your Buck? - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By MICKY - July 15 - 2:00 am

  The only negative review comment that I have is that Oldsmobile gave so many of the vehicles away that they did not hold their value like the Trailblazer. For Instance, an equally equiped Trailblazer will still bring in a Blue Book Trade-in of $24K where the Bravada will only bring in $20K. So if you are in the hunt to pick up a nice used trailblazer that is loaded up you will get the exact same vehicle under the hood and inside while saving a premium $4K.

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  Ellegant - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Clete - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Good handling, smooth ride, and great fuel mileage. Engine power very adequate, but too noisy upon acceleration. Exterior and interior styling are tops.

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  Trouble Free - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By HARK - July 13 - 10:00 am

  This is my second Silhouette. I had a 2000 that only had some minor problems in its 30,000 miles.(cupholder, pull strap) I now have 6000 miles on my 2002, and there were no adjustments or problems with the vehicle. It stickered for just under 29,000 and after the $3,500 rebate, $1,500 owner loyalty, $1,000 rebate instead of the 5/60 warranty, $850 GM card rebate, and the $2,500 discount, I paid less than $19,500.