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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  overall rating on 1996 olds ciera - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By Gambler59 - August 11 - 2:00 am

  Very high performance up until this year. Now I am trading my Olds only because mechanically unsound. But I have gotten good performance up till now.

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  Take a look elsewhere - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Ruthie - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Take a look at the door gaskets on the Oldsmobile Intrigue and then look at the gaskets on this vehicle and you will understand why the Aurora creates an excessive amount of wind noise when driving at speeds over 55mph. Not only are they thin, but there is only one, instead of being doubled, like they are on the Intrigue. Poor quality of workmanship was evident thourghout the exterior and intrerior of this vechile.

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  Disappointment - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By judye - August 7 - 7:36 am

  Wish I hadnt purchased it. Its been a money pit, since I bought it 2 1/2 years ago. Got a great deal on it, or so I thought-even bought the less expensive extended warranty from GM. Thats where the deal ended.The car has been in and out of the shop.So far, I have spent over $3,000 on repairs. Towed 5 times-for no starts,window & wiper motors, theft system faults, constant oil leaks-change every 3,000 mi.& add a quart every month, pollution equipment, peeling chrome rims-to name a few. 90% of repairs arent covered under the warranty."Should have bought the more expensive one." I did like this car-nice ride, comfortable, luxurious. Nothing but regrets-too expensive to maintain.

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  Good car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By feet2004 - July 26 - 9:50 pm

  I really like the Alero - I have had some problems with the interior lining on the doors, radiator/coolant system, and the power windows falling into the doors (3 of the 4) - but otherwise, the car has been great. I just took a job which I will be commuting over 80 mi per day, so I will be needing to trade in the alero for a car with a little better gas mileage. If my commute were shorter, I would probably drive this car for a few more years at least.

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  Can never go wrong with the 3800! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mboily - July 18 - 2:00 am

  6 Years and 70,000miles since I bought this 38,000miles used car. First off, I was a young sales rep when I got the car back then and the reason was because it was the only car Ive tried under $12K that I felt very comfortable in. Im 64" and no other car offer this type on leg and head room. I also wanted to another 3800 motor. I didnt have to any troubles with the car, the sterring colomn was the biggest issue I had when I got it at 40Kmiles, it was replace under warranty since then They have made a call back on that issue. Ive just changed the rear suspension abd battery. I also had to change one interior fan motor ar 80Kmiles. I had 3 sets of brakes an rotors in total.

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  Decent For the Money - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Matt - July 13 - 6:53 am

  Paid $3000 for it with 150K miles. For the most part it has been good. I wasnt looking for a luxury vehicle for winter use but the price was right. So many bells and whistles that Im not used to. Engine is a little sluggish and the tranny has its quirks... fluid change helped. I get around 15MPG which isnt bad for this type of vehicle. AWD works seamlessly, no buttons or levers to worry about. I dont think I will ever get it stuck. I was able to fit around 35 large size computers from the early 90s in the back with the seats folded. I know sometimes Bravadas are troublesome, hopefully mine stays reliable. So far, the drivers window motor just died and the CD changer never worked.

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  Top Notch Sedan - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Intrigue Owner - July 5 - 2:50 am

  GOOD: Excellent ride and handling; out performs the competition (3.8L V6); sleek and luxurious exterior styling; reliability- the car has only been in the shop to replace the ignition. BAD: Fuel economy (havent broken 18 MPG since Ive owned it); ergonomics, I have to reach to fiddle with the HVAC and radio (Im 62"); Build quality isnt up to the standards of the Asian brands, weatherstripping on below the driver window is peeling, trim on the top of the front pass. Door wont stay in place; my car has a slight vibration at high speeds (may just need to be balanced) and when braking (probably needs new pads). But overall, an excellent car.

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  Down with the quickness - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ken - June 30 - 7:56 am

  I bought my alero in march of 05, it had 73,000 miles now in Oct of 08 117456 no problems replaced front brakes a year ago tops, and one tune- up. V6, power everything 0-60 5.4sec pretty impressive. rides a little rough I thought mine did great in the snow. Unplowed country roads after 8 inches of snow never got it stuck. it is a glorified grand am i would definitely own another one

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  Adios GM - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Treepusher - June 7 - 1:23 pm

  Saying goodbye to GM after four Oldsmobiles and five years with the Aurora. A beauty. Loved it on the highway, stable, responsive, and extremely comfortable. Body and paint stayed in great condition, but way too much time in shop for repeated steering, water pump, transmission and other problems. Interior bulbs blew at regular intervals, spent half of ownership with check engine light on. First name basis with all of dealers service personnel. Greatly enjoyed the car despite the problems and will miss the design, but after thirty years of buying American, have had enough of GMs hit or miss reliability.

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  Get a Warranty - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Michael Wales - June 7 - 8:06 am

  I purchased my Oldsmobile Bravada in April of 2005, 2 months later it was completely immobile. Im finally getting it back now after a $2,000 transmission repair (at 85,000 miles). I love the vehicle, but there is a vast history of transmission problems - be sure to purchase a warranty.