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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  Average mid-size car - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By adam - June 10 - 10:36 pm

  Bought this car used in 2002 with 25k on it. Color and finish still look great with 93k on it now. Performed regular maintenance on it but still had many mechanical problems. Head gasket twice, fuel injectors (had to replace 4), brakes, rotors, radio, a/c, power window, thermostat, water pump, steering, etc. Had extended warranty when purchased that paid for most of it but ran out on 2006. Still will keep it. Repairs still cheaper than a new car note every month.

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  What happened to quality? - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By ScottCAL - May 30 - 12:56 pm

  I leased this vehicle prior to Oldsmobile being phased out by GM. Now two years into the lease I can see why. Over the past 2 years I have had my rotors replaced twice, struts replaced, electrical problems and numerous body/integrity issues. This is not a low end nor cheap vehicle but the problems have been way too numerous and bothersum. Next time Ill looking to Toyota, Honda or even Subaru - Ill try my luck with them...

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  Four Wheeled Hand Me Down - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Preston - May 11 - 1:36 am

  I got the car from my senior citizen parents. It has 36,000 miles on it. It is clean and good driving once in motion. It has a problem with not going into gear out of park when it is cool until the car is warmed up for at least five to eight minutes. No mater how hard I push that shift button, it wont budge. The dealer says "I dont know what it can be just bring it in. Right. But the car itself is very likable. It is bright and with good visibility. If it wasnt for the transmission problem (shifter), Id keep it over my 1995 Cougar, but one has to go and with 127,000 miles the Cougar still purrrs along so Intrigue while its otherwise a very pleasant car has to go.

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  Okay Car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Marissa - April 22 - 10:26 pm

  I purchased this car about 8 months ago and have put lots of mileage on it. I have replaced 2 front rotors and brakes and drivers side window regulators. The interior is made real cheap and you can tell, and stereo keys fell off within weeks of having the car, but it has been pretty much reliable. I would not buy another one, but its been okay while it lasted.

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  DONT GO HERE! - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By ALJONES99 - April 14 - 10:00 am

  SVC AWD Light has stayed on since 1 week after purchase. Made numerous trips to dealership. Purchased 2000 Bravada in April 2001 with only 18k miles and its been a nightmare. Replaced Radiator/Radiator Fan, actuator, computer modules, steering column switches...on and on...DONT BUY ONE! One year later it is only worth $11-12k and Im going to lose my shirt on this one!

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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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  Not your old Olds - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Mike - January 26 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car used with 20k miles from a decent dealer. Have owned Olds before and was disappointed in the quality. At 80k miles, gets decent gas mileage both in town and on the road, 20/30. Its a small car and rides like it. Had the security key module replaced three time and then finally the on board computer, which is quite costly when out of warranty. Replaced the front strut assemblies as they were worn out by 40k miles. I would look for a foreign make instead of this.

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  Not Too Shabby - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By Laura - January 22 - 9:36 am

  Overall, it drives well, but like other midsize GM cars, its needed frequent repairs - electrical switches malfunction, brakes need frequent replacing, etc.... Its doing well for having 140,000 miles, but Im always wondering when something will need fixing next.

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  NICE SUV, NOT SO NICE SUV - 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By pinmaster - January 11 - 2:00 am

  I like the vehicle overall, but it has had a lot of mechanical problems since I purchased it used exactly 1 year ago with 58,000 miles. I have replaced the AWD system, serpentine belt, alternator, the idler arm, rotors, and front bearings all in a years time. My husband USE to have a 97 Olds Bravada and had most of the same things go wrong with it around 48,000 miles. We could no longer afford 2 vehicles with so many problems so we traded it for a brand new (2003) foreign vehicle. Go Toyota!!

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  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!