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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  No surprises - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rhammel - November 2 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Alero brand new off the lot. It is a 4dr GLS V6 w/Sun & Sound pkg & has a sweet looking maroon paint. It is a sharp looking car. Its peppy & gets decent gas mileage. Ours had very good fit & finish & thus far (approx. 26K miles), we have had no major problems, though I think the brakes will need replacing soon. The front end is pretty low. My wife has already beat the heck out of the black rubber/plastic thing under the front by hitting curbs & tire stops. My wife complained about the moonroof rattling (I never noticed it), so Arnold Palmer Olds replaced the cover. No other problems with the moonroof.

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  Dont Walk, Run Away! - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Dissatisfied Owner - October 31 - 11:46 pm

  This car is a bad idea. We should have known better when it needed new power window motors before we drove off the used car lot. Flasher problems (turn signals work when they want)this is a problem for most year Intrigues; power window failure all around recently and got me robbed at Walmart due to a falling rear window; problems with cracks in original coolant tanks; a/c controls - cools when it wants and my blower on any setting below high went out; suspension probs; harmonic balancer flew off engine; general electrical garbage (ie: shorted out a few phone chargers along with fuses); cheap quality parts on interior such as moulding around floor. I could go on. Im lucky Dad is a mechanic.

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  If you need depenndability, here you go! - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By tomonsunset - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I purchaced this car with about 75,000 on it from an employer who used it as a VPs company car. It sat 2 years and was seldomed used as it was forgotten about when they went to a leasing program. Other than a battery and brakes i ahve no problem withis car. Mine ahd the 3.1 V6 that had plenty of zip around town and easly ahandled highway traffic with ease.Car was easy to service. NOTE: I went through 3 after amrket fule pumps before I got one that did not "roar" when driving. This sound of the pump running and echoing from the fule tank drove me nuts.By the way, the orignal equipment pump was changed out for the same reason.

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  Comfortable, somewhat reliable. - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By john_alba - October 28 - 1:51 pm

  My mom got this car at about 75K. Off the bat, the rear air compressor didnt work and it sagged, so we switched to regular shocks. At about 100k the Engine coils started messing up, have had to change 3 so far from the 6 i have to change since apparently they dont last very long. I have since gotten this car now that I left for college about a Year ago. The A/C doesnt work on it anymore now, it shakes every time i turn on the A/C and sometimes the engine even turns on. Bad compressor. The car currently has an issue that when it very cold in the mornings it will give a "reduced engine power" light and a check engine light. Recently i have noticed the engine is not that good of quality.

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  Air pump/drive shaft problems - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By beth - October 26 - 1:26 am

  Air pump problems at 50,000 miles and again at 75,000. drive shaft replace around 30,000 and again around 35,000 2 electric motors on rear windows, which are rarely used front end problems around 50,000 GM has reimbursed me for some of the work, but air pump is acting up again at 80,000 poor design. I love the looks and the handling and it has so far it has not let me down on starting will I keep it? not sure at this time

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  Head bolts 98 aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By browneyez - October 24 - 11:50 am

  I love my 98 aurora. I have 225,000 miles and still looking good. I did blow a head gasket from broken water pump. When I replaced the gaskets I ran into a problem when the head bolts were stripped out. Do not buy the heli coils they will not work and you will waste a lot of money. the only kit I found to work is the Time Sert Big Serts. The cost is high but the kit is complete and now that the job is done my favorite car is back on the road running like a champ.

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  A little short on quality - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rmc - October 15 - 2:00 am

  The good: torquey engine, handling, braking (but see below); exterior paint/finish/styling; sound system. The bad: front brakes replaced at 28K miles-- rotors warp easily & sound creaky; interior material cheap/unrefined; poor seal on drivers side door caused sound system to short out on wet days; hazard switch went through dash (the last straw). Overall: A pretty good car with nice features that lacks refinement & compromises a little too much on quality. Was not sorry to let mine go after 56.5K miles.

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  1995 Oldsmobile Aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By profjazz - October 12 - 2:00 am

  COOL, VERY FAST FOR SIZE/CLASS AN VERY LOW USED CAR PRICES>

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  Best K/G body ever - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By DBurden - October 10 - 10:20 am

  This car is highly underated. The Aurora has great grip and handling for a 3800 lb auto. The auto leveling suspension in rear takes the roll out of corning. High speed cornering is no problem. The more you dial in the tighter the grip get. Steering is better than expect. I plan on taking this car to summit point raceway to further evaluate its ability.

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  Too bad GM didnt advertise this car - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By kjb501 - October 5 - 10:00 am

  We purchased our 03 Aurora with all options - trading a 99. We wanted the last of a great line of automobiles from Olds. Overall were pleased with this car. The fit and finish are excellent, save for a flimsy headliner. Only 2000 miles on the new car - too soon to know reliability. The car was delivered almost perfect, except a missing ashtray. Dealer ordered it a month ago - hasnt arrived. We feel this car is one of the better cars GM has produced. We wanted a "final 500" edition, but the badges looked cheap. Why GM never ran a TV campaign for this car is a mystery. The brand identity is ?. Thats a real shame.