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:

• 

  My BLK 199 GLS - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By meyeste - December 19 - 4:45 pm

  I have a 1999 Oldsmobile GLS, I cant say the car is without flaws, but at 171,000k miles it has been a good car. A good friend has been through two Camrys in the time Ive had my Intrigue. It has held up well and still gets 28 mpgs hwy and 22 city. The 3.5L engine is still strong, as long as I keep changing the oil I expect it to go 200k. I also love the front seats, they seem to be simply perfect, I have never been uncomfortable in them. Its still a sharp car after all these years, I dont regret buying it.

• 

  Best Car Ive Owned - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By $k1TTl3z79 - December 18 - 3:10 am

  My wife and I bought our 02 bravada in jan of 08. The truck had 47,000 and a sticker price of 15,000. Ive had the truck for two months now and I must say, it is the best vehicle we have ever owned. I love the heated seats, by far my favorite option. The wheels had to go, we replaced them with aftermarket 20" rims and tires. The sound system isnt bad. I do have one gripe though. The front bumper wiggles around like its loose. I took it to a diff dealership and they told me that was normal. But Im sure thats B. S. I wish it had a flip down dvd, as that would quiet the kids. I think that dvds were an option, I just dont have it. All in all, a great vehicle, much better than its sister trailblazer!

• 

  Not a big fan, overall - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By NeglectedMind - December 15 - 11:50 pm

  I have had so many problems with this vehicle, that it was really not worth the money I paid. I have replaced the brakes more often than I should have to, and have had numerous problems with the security system, that no one seems to be able to fix. I will take it into the shop, and they will temporarily fix the problem, and it will stop again. I have changed the spark plus, the ignition system, brakes, bearings, command start, and the clutch. It drives nicely when it is working, but not worth the money that I have had to put into it. All in all, I plan on buying a new car and ditching this lemon of an Olds. Do not buy!

• 

  Cannot believe this is an Oldsmoblie! - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Jerad Upwall - December 14 - 7:33 pm

  We needed a awd or 4 wheel drive vehicle that was reliable and easy to oberate in the snow country, especially for my wife who has never lived in the snow before. We love our Bravada because of its comfort and style and power of its engine.

• 

  2-Year Review - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Vicky - December 14 - 2:00 am

  I would not recommend this car. I have driven nothing but oldsmobile but next time will switch to Toyota. Customer Service should be called NO customer service as they could care less about you once you have driven off with the car and it is yours. Gas mileage is horrible, steering wheel shakes and brakes make a noise when you back up when you first start up the car. I will tell everyone to stay away from oldsmobile!

• 

  Almost There - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By scamp - December 12 - 10:00 am

  First off, in terms of absolute value the Oldsmobile shines in terms of equipment and price. The ride, drive, and function of the van are good, but I would enjoy more power under the hood. Compared to the other GM vans, the Olds to me is the most attractive looking package. The Chevrolet for the same money seems just plain cheap. Disappointing are so-so fit and finish of body panels and a minor HVAC problem. If GM could sweat the small stuff a bit better - they would be back to #1.

• 

  It was fun ! - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Fun car - December 12 - 12:13 am

  I owned this car for 3 years. For the most part, I really liked it. It wasnt a roomy car. Taller people had a hard time with the leg room and the head room. There was some clinking noise behind the radio, they couldnt figure out. The drivers door window seal wasnt tight, and would sometimes leak water when it rained. In the winter time I had the most problems.The drivers door wouldnt latch tight when I shut it every time. I would have to spray W-D 40 on it for it to shut properly. The worst part was the brakes. If I hit snow or ice, especially going downhill, there was no stopping the car. The brakes sounded as if they were grinding, bad. All in all, it was a smooth ride.

• 

  Olds is gone - This car is a good reason - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By xc007 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Weve had it now for 5 years and 30k miles. I want to love this car, I really do, but everytime I start to something else breaks!! Here is a sampling of problems Sensor in Transmission;Fuel injector;Intake Manifold; Rear Window motor (Twice);CD player; Warped Brake Rotors (x3 times); Blower motor fan; Water pump; Several broken controls and buttons. Total non- warranty repairs have totaled close to $2k. I do like the styling and ergonomics. It could be a little quiter on the highway but its not bad. The 3800 V-6 makes it fun to drive.

• 

  I love this van! - 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By kat7597 - December 9 - 10:00 am

  We bought this van just over 2.5 years ago. We have had no problems with it and are very satisfied. It handles well, is quite comfortable, and has all of the options we were looking for. We use the air compressor quite frequently - great for traveling. We took our 13 & 1 year old sons on vacation - nearly 4000 miles round trip. This van made it easy!

• 

  Great ride - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By rique - December 9 - 10:00 am

  Great car never had a problem with it. You feel comfortable in it, look stylish, and feel smart because you didnt pay a fortune for it.