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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  The Contender - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By MrMac - June 3 - 2:00 am

  This is an interesting vehicle. The dealership wont be getting repeat business. The car was delivered with 1200 miles on the odometer and no explanation. The rear passenger-side door has a power window switch for non- existant pw. The salesman didnt know anything about the car, even got the radio wrong. The car is beautiful inside and out. Gray is a little plain but workable. The stereo keeps getting better. Handling is very good for a car this size and price. Interior room is outstanding. Seats are comfortable. Equiment level is high for a stripper. Washer sprayers and hand brake have already gone out. Fix on brakes didnt take.

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  My experiance with this car. - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By dom52 - May 23 - 2:15 am

  Well, i thought this car was pretty cool when i bought it. The interior was super clean, and drove great! Well, until my car would randomly shut off on the road. It happened at least 4 times, brought it to the dealer and they said they couldnt diagnose the problem. Turns out it was the ignition failure(GM recall, but this was over a year ago when this started happening). I then traded this car in, because i just couldnt trust it. Other than that it was a decent car.

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  Been a good car for 85K - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Ilikedit - May 21 - 4:53 pm

  Have had no problems with this car it runs well & looks good. The best looking cars cars GM puts out so they cancel the line???

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  Not sure why GM is ending Olds - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By JP4444 - May 10 - 10:00 am

  I have a little over 40,000 miles now and from an engine standpoint the car runs great. Little problems from that standpoint. The goodies have broken more than once such as the A/C Sensor for automatic climate control and a sensor for the Traction system. Windows stop working once in a while... typical GM problem w/4 door cars. Had his on my LeSabre as well. Car handles well, doesnt have as much get up and go as it did at 20,000 miles. Overall a great purchase for the bucks.

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  Served Us Well - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By KentGA - May 9 - 12:13 am

  Now have 168,000 miles on it and needed to replace a front wheel bearing recently. Still original tranny, at least since 83000 miles when I bought it. Going to sell it soon before I begin to put more money in it. Really have not had to put much in it besides the well documented problem of a leaking oil/coolant gasket. Has been the best van I have had (Chrysler, Ford are the others).

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  Not bad, for a First Car. - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Kimberly - May 7 - 5:57 am

  My Alero was my first car. I drove it for over a year before it finally went out on me. While I drove it, it was fine. The wheel baring was bad, made a horrible sound when I made left turns. Acceleration was okay, and shifting gears was fine. My back windows would fall down over time (meaning within a couple minutes of driving) and I had to hold them up with door stops. My driver window didnt roll up or down, and my passenger window worked when it felt like it. Overall it wasnt bad for my first car, but it definitely had its problems. But once it was done, it was done. My timing chain went out and it was too expensive to fix, so I ended up scraping it. Got $25 for it.

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  Intrigue features high highs & low lows - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Tryan - April 22 - 2:00 am

  Its styling is the first thing that grabs your attention. It is, simply put, stunning. Unlike the Accord and Camry that you see everywhere, the Intrigue is more rare and you never get sick of seeing them. However, also unlike the Accord and Camry, is the Intrigues build quality. It is barely acceptable. Its paint job is horrendous, the gaps in the dash fits are huge, and shakes and rattles are already obvious. For such a large car, the rear seat space is tight. The car has plenty of ergonomic quirks (like useless cup holders) and finding the perfect temperature is a waste of time - you either get very hot, or very cold. The intermediate does not exist.

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  Olds Silhouette a fine car - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By stanfell - April 6 - 7:06 am

  No repairs necessary other than regular scheduled maintenance and brakes at 30K (average life)

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  First Lemon I have owned - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Terri - April 3 - 10:00 am

  I like the drive, room, features, etc. and it ends there. I have owned this van for 8 years and this is what has gone wrong above regular maintenance issues: front windshield wipers - never worked properly, power windows - have to hand pull the windows up, fuel gauge broken, heated seats died after three years, problems with automatic sliding door, tires always going flat - the list goes on and on. I spent $4,000 in fixes last year alone. The best I can get for it on trade is $1,500. Not impressed.

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  Fun to Drive in Good Weather - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jerry Elliott - March 30 - 9:26 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for 3 years and had no maintenance problems except the usual tires, brakes, and battery changes. The front suspension was a bit squeaky the first year or two but seems to have settled down. The biggest drawback has been this cars performance in the snow. Though it is FWD, the Enhanced Traction System (which can be turned off with the push of a button) actually makes it more difficult to control the slippage and power of the vehicle. Overall, the vehicle is a little noisy, but fun to drive, even on long road trips.