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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  unassuming, suprisingly fast, dependable - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mmtphoto - January 28 - 1:20 am

  This is the lighter, quicker version of the Aurora (I have a 2001) and it is a great, dependable car. We have had very few problems-crank sensor, water leak on passenger side front that caused a problem with blower, all in all an easy fix. The aluminum v6 is simply outstanding, and so it the trans- I get 17/18 city and 24/25 highway, and even though this is the stripped down version, it has a good sound system with CD/cassette player and good AC system. It has a power driver seat, power mirrors, windows & locks. I installed remote door/trunk opener, and fog lamps, drilled/slotted rotors-I consider this a poor mans 535 BMW-and it is much quicker. It is full of surprises.

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  2003 Alero - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GrammaB - January 27 - 4:26 pm

  I bought this Alero from a dealership as a used vehicle with 11,000 miles on it. The fuel pump died at 58,000 miles, and the brakes had to be replaced once. All other expenses were my fault. This has been a great car. Gas mph averages about 24-26 mph, a bit more on highway. It has about 66,000 miles on it now. Sure am sorry GM discontinued Oldsmobiles! I am trading for a Chevy Malibu, hope I am not disappointed.

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  great car! - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By jmmh - January 24 - 10:00 am

  We did not go to the dealer with an Auora in mind. I had always thought of it as a grandma car. We are happy that we bought it and there isnt a thing that we dont like about it! We will be sad when we have to sell. (too many kids! We no longer fit!)

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  2.5 yrs later - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By RJF - January 22 - 2:00 am

  Classy, fun to drive sports sedan. Has great performance with excellant highway mileage (29+) at 70+. Turns heads with great styling. Elegant leather and wood interior that is comfortable on long trips.

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  Love it! - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TashaKathryn - January 20 - 10:00 am

  I just bought my Alero 5 days ago. I really like it and it feels durable. Has nice features and looks sleek. Hoping the car with be dependable and last.

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  Best GM vehicle yet - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Bendo - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I have made two long trips with this vehicle, one to the west coast and all the National Parks while getting 25 miles per gallon going 70-75, great performance. It is so quiet I can hardly tell its running. I only had one incident ( problem) and that was with the transmission where the computer needed adjusting. It was the most comfortable van Ive even ridden in after trying out every style and make. It is the only one where I could drive for 100 miles or more at one time and not get a back ache or leg cramps, and at my age it really means alot.

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  GM Cant Even Sell a Great Car! - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Robert Kunzler - January 8 - 4:30 am

  I originally bought a 1998 version of the Oldsmobile Intrigue. I drove it for 77,000 miles and liked it so much that I bought an exact duplicate 2002 model the last day that the Intrigue was a "live" GM product. This is the best overall car I have ever owned. I get 29-30 miles per gallon on the road and 25 in town. It is extremely comfortable to drive. Even with a bad back, I can drive the car for 4-5 hours and leave it with no discomfort. The front power seat, according to my wife, is the most comfortable she has ever ridden in. How can GM be so incompetent that they couldnt successfully market this great car? Future GM buyers beware. If they cant sell this car they wont be in business much longer.

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  Olds to the Rescue - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By crawdaddy753 - January 5 - 6:33 am

  I purchased this vehicle as a replacement for my Olds Cutlass Supreme convertible which I wouldve kept except for its poor reliability. I was very surprised how well this Cutlass replacement performed, how comfortable it is, by the superb Bose sound system, excellent gas mileage, and ton of room. I have had only one annoying problem, its tendency to not start on rare occasions (security light was blinking) but it did start after about 15 minutes. If anyone knows what may cause this please email me, thanks.

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  great car for the money - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Outstanding car - December 30 - 4:53 am

  purchased my intrigue with over 190,000 miles, was babied and taken excellent care of, now has over 211,000 miles and is still going strong. Have had no major issues, just maintaining it. would have been nice if GM had put grease fittings for the hub bearing, they are a expensive replacement along with the exhaust system. NO complaints though, drive it daily, the quality and style is still there. My friends & I love the car.

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  Great overall experience - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By amc731 - December 24 - 2:00 am

  We leased this van for 5 years and have 6 months left to make a decision on whether to keep it or move on to something new. We only have 41,000 miles on it and it still looks and runs like new. In our opinion, it looks better than most other (even newer) vans out there.