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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  My last GM car - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By 3 Time Olds Owner - June 21 - 1:46 am

  I have owned 5 GM products but this is my last one. The car has needed $1500 in transmission work, $300 to fix a steering shaft, has suffered a leaking trunk and leaking sun roof, has various electrical gremlins, and has been an overall disappointment. Of the last 6 oil changes, only one visit was just for an oil change, in fact Ive spent over $4000 in repairs in two years. Its no wonder why GM went bankrupt after owning this car.

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  99 Olds Aurora - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By ricknpam - June 20 - 10:00 am

  Our Aurora is a great car. The 4.0- liter V-8 took me by surprise, 250- horse power; WOW! It leaves my 1986 442 in the dust. The ride is very smooth. I recently replaced the brakes at 72000 miles and it was simple. No special torx bit required, just a 15mm socket and a C-clamp to compress the caliper. A half an hour brake job. The check engine light came on once under warranty, it was a transmission code. They replaced a seal and we were on our way. The mechanic said they never see problems with this transmission. The 50K warranty was great. We average 23 miles to the gallon, not bad for a big car with a V-8.

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  Wish I didnt have to say goodbye - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Erin - June 18 - 6:56 pm

  After 8 years with my Intrigue, I am sad to say goodbye to it, but must due to the increasing repairs I have to make to it. At 40,000 miles, I had sensor issues. At 60,000 miles, I had all hub bearings go out. Now at 130,000 miles I have had alternator, a/c and more sensor issues, a broken fuel gauge, engine mounts replaced, and now a coolant leak that will cost $1000 to fix simply because of the cost of parts for this car and the difficult accessibility to certain areas. I adore the horsepower and performance of the car, but just cant keep up with $4000/year in maintenance costs.

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  Very good, but not quite a 10 - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Den - June 14 - 3:56 pm

  Lots of Body roll, and weak gripping tires even at moderate speeds in turns. (Yes I know its a minivan, but even so, its sub-standard. The drivers seat needs to go. A "jackhammer" noise from the engine compartment sounds after warmup on occasion with the heating defroster (front) turned on. Did this like clockwork from new to time of recent service. Took it to dealer (they insist they did nothing to "fix" the problem) problem went away after they had it in the shop for 6 hours. I wonder if they get Factory points to avoid claims that can lead to lemon law claims? Hmmm. Center Console not being standard is a real "RIP-OFF". Would I buy this vehicle again? No. Id buy the Chrysler.

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  great car - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By frank jones - June 14 - 12:03 am

  This car has been a pleasure to drive and i highly recommend it. The engineering is great. The engine seized up at 101,000 miles on it so we brought to a guy and he put a surplus motor in it with 60,000 miles on it and now the car runs strong as an ox. The repair cost was 4,000 but the guy guarantees the motor for another 100k miles and we have no doubt it will last longer.

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  Average mid-size car - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By adam - June 10 - 10:36 pm

  Bought this car used in 2002 with 25k on it. Color and finish still look great with 93k on it now. Performed regular maintenance on it but still had many mechanical problems. Head gasket twice, fuel injectors (had to replace 4), brakes, rotors, radio, a/c, power window, thermostat, water pump, steering, etc. Had extended warranty when purchased that paid for most of it but ran out on 2006. Still will keep it. Repairs still cheaper than a new car note every month.

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  loved it! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By lovedmyalero - June 7 - 10:00 am

  I just traded in my alero gl 4dr for an suv. But I really miss it! The car was fun to drive. I put 30,000 miles on it with just some minor problems all covered under the warranty. It can do 0 to 60 in just seconds. Its fast, racey and great looking. I feel like Im driving a sports car. Too bad they are not made anymore. I had to trade it in because I needed a 4wd car. But otherwise, I loved it and I miss it.

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  one great car - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By YARD DOG - June 2 - 2:00 am

  THE COMFORT IS UNDER STATED THE BODY STYLE IS WONDERFUL ITS ECONOMIAL BUT POWERFUL IT TAKES YOU WERE YOU WANT TO GO WITH NO HASSLE,IT HANDLES SO WELL ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT YOU GET SUCH A GREAT CAR AT AND EFFORTABLE PRICE.

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  What happened to quality? - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ScottCAL - May 30 - 12:56 pm

  I leased this vehicle prior to Oldsmobile being phased out by GM. Now two years into the lease I can see why. Over the past 2 years I have had my rotors replaced twice, struts replaced, electrical problems and numerous body/integrity issues. This is not a low end nor cheap vehicle but the problems have been way too numerous and bothersum. Next time Ill looking to Toyota, Honda or even Subaru - Ill try my luck with them...

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  Sorry It Is Discontinued - 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Hoffmann - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Our 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouete is our fifth one. We have always loved it. We have taken previous models on cross county trips with elderly parents in their mid 80s. With the second row captains sets, not one of us ever suffered a backache. The long-trip mileage is actually very good for a vehicle this size, fully loaded with passengers,luggage and the air conditioning running -- over 27 mpg.