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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  Excellent car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By bp - February 18 - 9:30 pm

  This car has had some electrical problems with the windows but nothing else other than normal upkeep. Mine has 165,000 miles on it and it runs like a champ. It also gets great mileage. I average 26 mpg with a good mix of open road and city driving. It handles great also, I lived on one of the worst red clay roads in my area and I never once had a problem with the handling. Good dependable and safe vehicle.

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  Loving It! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Loving It! - February 17 - 2:16 pm

  I love this car. What I really wanted was a grand am but i couldnt get one due to my credit so i got the closest one to it. I absolutely love this car! It has about 111K on it, it has a few squeals in the front i think its just because I hit a pothole too hard and the ignition sticks a bit but nothing serious so far. I love that it has that sporty feel to it and it beats the hell out of my Mercury Tracer I had.

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  Brake problems - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jlab - February 13 - 10:00 am

  I have owned this car for 2 1/2 years, and I too have had complete brake jobs three times due to warped rotors! We are now getting very close to 36000 miles and are going to sell it because I dont feel comfortable that things wont continue to go wrong after the warranty runs out. A person should not have this many problems with the brakes on a car this old! Its too bad, because otherwise, the car is comfortable to drive and the interior layout is nice. Im not sure that I would recommend this car to someone.

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  aurora the flag ship car of OLDS????? - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Neveragain GM - February 9 - 3:53 am

  This is a garbage car, was very excited when I first got it.This car was fun to drive for the first two weeks, then the problems... ready here you go: Sunroof leak - 2 weeks Car wont start - 3 months Wipers stop working - 6 months Steering pinion broke - 7 months Rear window falls into door (suring a nice snow fall) - 12 months Water pouring out of the locking mechanism of the trunk this not covered under warranty, GM says it is not a poor workmanship issue, but the give me a $1000 voucher towrds the purchase of a new GM vehicle. 12 months have more to say, not enough room Long and short... if you buy this garbage car, you better get a very long extended warranty

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  Third unit of this series - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By compasst - February 7 - 10:00 am

  This is my third GM minivan, second Silhouette. If my satisfaction continues at this level, Im in line for a fourth. I miss the plastic body, but the new features and level of comfort are superb. Much improved over my 92 model. A bit short on power for towing, and mileage drops to high teens with a trailer, but without the trailer I am getting high twenties MPG.

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  the car that has it all - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By betty - February 7 - 10:00 am

  this car is a pleasure to be in. it is very comfortable to be in especially on long trips. i have a sun roof which i love and even though its black i dont mind washing it all the time. great choice of a car and im sure ill be happy until i buy another new one in about three years.

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  Fun to drive - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Mac Aipperspach - February 1 - 6:23 pm

  An excellent car to drive and with the interior extras very comfortable for long distance trips. The vehicle was purchased used with 43,000 miles and after 10,000 miles the only trouble so far will be to replace the original rear shocks which are rather pricey due to computer linkage. Plenty of power and for a V-8 on the open highway I can get 25 miles to the gallon.

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  Id LOVE it, but! - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Annette Belz - February 1 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy my Bravada, its luxurious, comfortable, quiet, and RED! I have auto start & the heating system, etc., is great here in Alaska. BUT....I have had a little rattle that 5 visits to the dealer have not cured, which is very frustrating. This has been there since the car was almost new- -and its only six months old now. VERY annoying and inconvenient. A car that costs this much should have NO vibrations, chirps, squeaks or rattles!

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  overall summary - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By tom murdock - January 31 - 1:06 pm

  The Oldsmobile Aurora is a solid car. It provides good performance. Even after long trips, I feel fairly fresh. It has a very good feel and ride to it. Entering interstates, this car can really move and run with the best. Its radio and stereo are excellent as are the heating and ac systems. If Oldsmobile was still making this car, I would purchase another. This vehile is my second Aurora.

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  olds reveiw - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By rreedr - January 29 - 2:00 am

  Great car