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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  Great Car - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By ayshatrill - November 16 - 3:23 pm

  I bought my car in May of 2001 with 13,000 km on it. It now has 190,316 km on it. I have found my car reliable and a joy to drive on many long trips. It has been basically trouble free for me with just the usual maintenance things necessary. I have had the usual problem that comes with the aluminum wheels of leaking with the tires but I buy my tires where they give free maintenance so it has cost nothing for cleaning the rims. For now problem solved. 2 problems with this car, at 3 degrees Celsius outside the car fogs up, only solution open windows. Seats lack enough lumbar support for long trips making it feel like my ribs are cutting into me.

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  Reality about the best sports-sedan - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By chris - November 16 - 5:23 am

  This is a really great car. Reliable, fun to drive, powerful, super economical, very roomy, supportive seats, great cornering, and superior braking, make it a perfect sporty alternative to bring sedans. Compared to Accord, Camry, Passat, and Maxima, when I was shopping. Intrigue felt like it was built better, with more quality feel to it. Plus the motor is Northstar inspired, and borrowed from the Aurora. The acceleration and passing ability are far better than the numbers most magazine put out. Ive clocked mine from 0-60 with a professional stopwatch. The timing was averaged at 6.49 over 5 trials. Fuel economy is averaging in the 30s. Maintenance has been basic oil changes and filters only

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  eh, its an OK car.. - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Jared - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Hmm ... I know that the Malibu/Cutlass duo is dubbed "The car you knew America could build", but that isnt saying much. Its an OK car for sure, but i did have to replace the altenator (265.00), my brakes squeek sometimes, and the wood grain, i mean.. plastic trim on the doors rattle quite often. On the plus side the cars design should hold up well over time, and the interior is nice. I think the "blandness" of the car actually work in its favor, many people think its nicer and more expensive than what it really is.. you can thank Toyota and Honda for that design inspiration.. All in all, a competant, mediocre car.

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  Terrible Car!! - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By AleroOwner - November 14 - 10:00 am

  Purchased in 2000 this car has been a very unreliable automobile. Luckily, still under warranty, it has been in the shop 24 times! Engine, Head Gaskets, Water Pump, Alternator, problem with low tire pressure light, still is on to this day (cant find a problem) just to name a few... this was all at 42,000 miles!! Good job GM!

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  Best Ive ever owned. - 1999 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By ronp121 - November 10 - 6:27 am

  Bought it when it was 2 years old with 47000 miles had to change Air compressor twice and replace radiator. Other than that just normal maintenance have a 157000 on it now and still starts and runs great. What really fascinating is that Ive never seen a exhaust system last over eleven years and still quiet.

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  The Best - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Rater - November 6 - 8:30 am

  My wife and I have really enjoyed this car. We bought used and did have a problem very early with AWD, but fixed under warranty, no further problems. Mirrors are screwy. Otherwise, a great car to drive. Very comfortable for long trips (wish mpg was better on hwy and town.) This is a large vehicle, yet handles very well and acceleration is far better than any SUV I have ever driven, yet ride is almost as comfortable as luxury sedans. GMs decision to end Olds line was based on misconceptions. Given this was Olds last new design, they clearly still knew how to build a car. If GM wanted to cut a line, they should have considered Buick or Pontiac. If I could buy another, I would!

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  Worst Car I Have Ever Owned! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By nick - November 1 - 7:56 pm

  This looked like a really nice car. The first year changed that! Constant brake problems, transmisson problems, and broken interior switches. After about 4 years and 80,000 miles all sorts of things went wrong! I replaced alternator, starter, fuel pump, wheel bearings, and the ignition system( because a cheaply made plastic cover cracked and fried the whole system!) Olsmobile would look for any reason not to honor the warranty and were constantly difficult to deal with! I can see why they went out of business. It is too bad, I paid a lot of money for a very poorly made car and I will never buy American again! It is really too bad!

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  Great Choice - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Happy Driver - November 1 - 2:00 am

  Bought the car new in 99 - mechanics leftover type deal so it had 3400 miles, big deal! I love this car. Has been great! I drive one of the twistiest highways in NY to and from work and never had a problem. Smooth power on the hills, holds the road great. Cup holder holds anything. Live on top of a Mtn and never even put snows on this baby!

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  Its in the shop again - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By disheartened - November 1 - 12:03 am

  I bought this car from a dealers home in the fall with cooler weather. I can see why it wouldnt sell in hot weather,as the transmission clunks real bad when its hot out. I bought the car with 44,000 and have 84,000. My mechanic said my transmission was perfect inside but bulged on the outside. He put in another one last week with 5,000 less miles on it and it was clunking within 10 miles of the shop. He fixed the wheel bearing. The air conditioner hasnt worked since last summer. Ive had to replace the water pump and fix the front end when the steering stopped working. He replaced something to control the pressure in the transmission but that didnt help. The tape player was bad also.

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  Aurora, has the Quality of a Rare Jewel! - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Wolf - October 27 - 10:13 am

  This car is destined to one of the Great Classics to be..Not only because it is scheduled to termination by GM.It is a rare jewel in the growing field of personal Luxury Cars.Its distinct design makes it something you dont see..every few minutes on the freeway.Its personal creature comfort appointments,surpass that of most,much pricier imports and even Cadillacs