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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  runs great even after 155,000 miles if you take care of it - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By superstar1213 - April 25 - 6:28 pm

  I have 175,XXX miles on my Alero and it is running great!! For those of you who are talking crap about this car is obviously not taking care of it very well. If you take care of a car and maintain it, it will last a long time. I know a man who has a 1989 gmc safari van with almost 500,000 miles on it and still drives it to work every day! Take car of your vehicles and they will run forever!

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  Great Van - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By brelia - April 25 - 10:00 am

  Ive loved it from the start. My kids love the LCD player and game hook-ups. Great for trips! Rides like a car, handles great and very roomy. No major problems at all. Would buy one again!

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  2001 Olds Intrique GLS - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By oldsdrvr - April 25 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle has been flawless from day one. Excellent traction in snow. More space for less money than other midsize cars. Heat and A/C work great. Quiet, smooth ride. Great fuel economy considering size of car.

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  Worst car I have ever owned!!! - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By legero8 - April 25 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Intrigue for 2 years and so far it has been in the shop a total of 8 times. 8 times! This is not including regular stuff like Oil changes.

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  Pretty good, not great - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By First Owner - April 25 - 4:43 am

  I must be lucky, I havent had the problems others have had listed here. Yes the rotors were fixed both at 7,500 miles and again at 12,000, but after much complaining, the Olds finally got it right. Havent touched them since. Drives pretty good, I get 27 mpg all around, not much highway driving. Rattles are starting to develop and the front wheel drive makes a growling sound, but Ive heard worse from other GM products. No major defects, just a faulty coolant sensor thats not worth replacing.

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  Okay Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Marissa - April 22 - 10:26 pm

  I purchased this car about 8 months ago and have put lots of mileage on it. I have replaced 2 front rotors and brakes and drivers side window regulators. The interior is made real cheap and you can tell, and stereo keys fell off within weeks of having the car, but it has been pretty much reliable. I would not buy another one, but its been okay while it lasted.

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  DONT GO HERE! - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By ALJONES99 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  SVC AWD Light has stayed on since 1 week after purchase. Made numerous trips to dealership. Purchased 2000 Bravada in April 2001 with only 18k miles and its been a nightmare. Replaced Radiator/Radiator Fan, actuator, computer modules, steering column switches...on and on...DONT BUY ONE! One year later it is only worth $11-12k and Im going to lose my shirt on this one!

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  All About Alero - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alero Owner - April 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is fun to drive. The only thing that has happened to it is the leather wrap around the hand brake needs to be re-stitched. There have been no mechanical problems at all. Not much leg room in the back, especially with for kids in car seats. They will probably get their legs broken if we get in an accident. Other complaint is the small gas tank. Only holds fourteen gallons. Most I can go without having to re-fill is a little over 300 miles per tank. Around town, only about 270 miles per tank. Great car if you dont have kids.

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  174,000 miles and still going - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By danroberts1964 - April 13 - 5:20 am

  I bought my car used 2 years ago and it now has 174,000 miles on it and its still going strong. Only problems I have had was the fuel pump and the alternator went out. Oh and the pass key thing had problems but there is a easy fix for that if you Google it and it consists of a inexpensive diode being soldered into the wiring. Would I recommend this car even with the high miles mine has.... You bet I would.

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  Aurora - 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By rating - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car and value, especially compared to pricey foreign alternatives