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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  Olds Alero 2004 - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Jess - January 28 - 4:33 pm

  After having a Chevy 2001 Blazer this is the best car that I could have ever got with how expensive gas is. I bought it with only 9,000 miles on it and it now only has about 36,500 miles and I was the second owner of the car.

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  100K review - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By fladad - January 14 - 12:33 am

  Bought mine New in 02. Id give this an 11 on Comfort and Performance. Regularly drive this 120 miles for work and its a better ride than a Lexus. Acceleration is great and turning radius is tight. I am on the original brakes at 100k! Eight yrs in Florida sun and the ac is still going strong. Had to replace the air suspension bags in the rear. Buy parts online and find a truck specialty shop to install, its half the dealer cost. The eng is strong but has always been too loud. Had strange elec problems and replaced a box, think it was body control module. The depreciation is horrible, but this makes it a GREAT used car buy! Will keep this until 200k!

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  Pretty Good - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Schmutz - December 27 - 2:00 am

  No problems to speak of, except when I ditched it. Cant expect a car to go 80 on snow and ice.

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  Great and then Dead - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By imok02 - December 24 - 5:42 pm

  I hadnt heard anything bad about an Alero when my mechanic tried to sell one to me. It was an 02 and I didnt have a single problem with it for 3 years. I lived on a steep, unpaved road and the car got me up even in snow. Then the check engine light was on and it started choking on its own oxygen intact and emissions problems and now it sits not able to pass inspection. So, you be the judge: is a 2002 supposed to live past 11 years and 155000 miles? It was fine and now dead.

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  2001 Aurora - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Gary Findon - December 22 - 10:00 am

  While the Aurora exudes understated class and has a very attractive exterior and interior, the 3.5 liter 6 cylinder does not provide adequate acceleration. Performance of climate control is disappointing, as increments between interior temperature settings are too far apart below 65 degrees.

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  Nice Car - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Pete - December 15 - 6:43 pm

  I have owned my Alero since 2001 and it had 37 miles on it. It has been a great car overall with very few issues other than the standard that any 7 year old car needs. It has been a good family car, commuting car and its fun to use the V6 to get up and go when needed. Gas mileage has averaged in the high twenties and even by todays V6 standards that still seems good to me.

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  could-a-been-better - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By TJ - December 6 - 2:00 am

  over all its a good car just poor build quality like the dash is rippled/ buckled, the fan blower only works on high, the blinkers work only when they want to. (have to fiddle with the emergency light button to make the blinkers work)

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  Stay away from GM - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Patrick - November 26 - 12:50 pm

  Major repairs: Transmission blew up at 95,000 miles, although 80% of my driving is on the highway. Replaced fuel pump at 60,000. Minor repairs: Two stuck front calipers. 1 front wheel bearing, intermittent driver side power window. Leaking intake gasket and transmission gasket. Power steering hose disconnected. Fan resistor replaced twice. I do expect the car to have some things to fix once in a while, but I do not accept a premature transmission or fuel pump failure. GM, you fooled me.

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  Good - standard to improve it - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By gghum - November 14 - 2:00 am

  A well designed car for GM. Everything works as anticipated with but one complaint about a window air noise at specific speeds. Dealer tried a fix and it is better but ...... Too bad Olds is folding and this type of vehicle is discontinued instead of being improved.

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  Good and Bad - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dave - November 12 - 9:10 pm

  Have owned this alero for a few years now, and its been a pretty good car overall. Only true repairs were the LIM gasket and one of the wheel hubs. Otherwise no major problems...BUT...the security system acted up once, preventing us from starting the car, costing a new starter till we figured it out. The paint on the hood is terrible, the rear doors are rusting, and the rear quarter panels are rusting too. The plastic is flaking off the interior in places. The dashboard is starting to bubble. The "low tire pressure" light is on constantly. Most importantly, it starts every day, and even with the V6, I got 27 mpg on the last tank, which was mixed driving. Nice car, but...