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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  My dream machine... - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By felixunger3000 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  This is the greatest car ive ever owned. I just bought a 2001 with 8000 miles on it. The ride is excellent. Its a beautiful car that turns heads as I drive. Im very disappointed that this is the last Oldsmobile I will be able to own.

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  Good All Around Car Except For Seats - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Alf33 - September 9 - 10:00 am

  Everything about this car is good except for the bucket seats which are uncomfortable and way too hard. Unfortunatelly I didnt discover this until after it was too late to return it. The performance is good but accelerating when at a crusing speed of about 50 is sluggish if only moderate pedal pressure is used. It gets moving real good when it drops down a gear when you get into it more. The car has tons of great features, is nice to drive, and is more stylish than a lot of cars out there now. I got 30mpg on the highway during a recent trip and that was doing 70-75mph a lot of the time.

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  DJs Olds - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By PaulDJ - September 4 - 10:00 am

  This UTE is everything I was looking for. Comparable in drivability and comfort to the Lexus, BMW, and Mercurys. Plenty of horses and a smooth ride. Interestingly enough, prices havent dropped much yet, even though the Olds line has been announced as being in its last model year. Perhaps the reason is that demand is still exceeding supply. Glad I stayed American and bought the Olds....almost went with Lexus, but in the end, the Olds fit me best.

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  Trouble - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By GMlover - September 1 - 3:56 pm

  Only 16,600 miles and in the shop 7 times. 3 times on the brakes, 4 times on a metal to metal grinding noise that the shop could never determine the problem even after replacing many parts. Reconsider before you buy one! We got rid of due to not feeling like the car was safe anymore.

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  discouraging. - 1996 Oldsmobile Ciera
  By cole21 - September 1 - 5:50 am

  Ive had this car a little over a year now, and Im aching to be rid of it. you feel every bump in the road, and although the seats are very comfortable, its not a pleasant ride. theres rust and holes in the rear, its slow, its awful on gas, and Ive put so much money into it, its not even worth it. my door doesnt open when i unlock it, my battery died twice, Ive had my brakes done twice, new oil, and fluids, my windshield wiper fluid doesnt come out. Its nothing special, and shouldnt have this many problems considering I bought it from an eighty year old woman who used to to drive to church. Waste of my money and time.

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  Satisfied Owner - We need Oldsmobiles - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By DE Smith - August 31 - 9:33 pm

  This was my 3 rd Olds and the best ever of cars that I have owned. I laugh as I read the features of the top of the line (Lexus, Toyota, BMW, Mercedes, etc) about features my 2001 Olds has, rain sensor wipers, wrap around air bags (front and back safety features, steering wheel controls, the pass through to luggage caompartment, I have used many times, to caarry long itmes and fly rods!), Teh ride all passengers compliment and cannot believe it is and Oldsmobile. Few know it was one of the oldest auto manufactured in USA. It is a damn shame it was shut down as it was superbly designed, well built with only minor flaws that in subsequent years would have been made to make it perfect.

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  Grand Olds - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Olds owner - August 29 - 2:00 am

  The Olds Bravada is a fun to drive SUV. This vehicle has all the options any person could ever ask for and theyre standard. Why spend $40,000 on a foreign vehicle if you dont have too! General Motors has done an excellent job on a cool product line - GM SUVs! I dont agree with your analysis that the resale value of this vehicle will be low in the future.

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  Nice Ride! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Temperob - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Well I just traded in my 98 Ford Contour Sport on a used 03 Alero. I was very happy with the Ford but this GM is making me smile every time I drive it. The brakes are a bit numb but they work like a champ, and the steering is a little vague but when driven hard this car really comes to life. It has a nice ride quality and a very pleasing exhaust note. So pretty much you can tool around down with the family or drive thought the canyon roads with confidence, good blend of Sport and Economy.

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  great suv - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By gary bauman - August 26 - 2:00 am

  great power, excellent ride, good radio, good deal with a great warranty

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  a little disappointed - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By monica dennis - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I fell in love with my car when my husband brought it home.We have had numerous problems since we have had the Aurora.Early in 2002, the wipers stopped working,weather stripping began leaking on drivers side and had to be replaced, the back panel seperating the trunk from the back seat will not stay attatched, the driver side window works "MOST" of the time, the entire steering-wheel column and surrounding had to be replaced, the two back red lights that come on in fog light mode had to be replaced as well as the front passenger side main light bulb. Thank God for extended warranties, but what happens when it runs out????