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:

• 

  Pretty Good for the money - 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By BLee - July 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car in 1999 with about 18,000 miles on it. The V6 engine has plenty of power to move the car. I have had the same problems listed by others; two intake gaskets, alternator, brakes galore. Then at 178,000 miles the camshaft broke, destroying the engine. I bought a junk yard engine and tranny with 26,000 miles on them and had the car back on the road for $1500. Its now pushing 190,000 miles and I plan to drive it until it can no longer be repaired. Im 67" tall and theres plenty of legroom for me in the drivers seat. Ive been very pleased with the car. Ive definitely gotten my moneys worth out of it.

• 

  Best Car EVER! - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Drewskki27455 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever own. Period.

• 

  Brakes are the only real problem - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By linenoise - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Bought new in 1999 (its a 2000 Coupe with 2.4l) Other than the usual problems with Aleros (Brake Rotor/Hazard switch) this has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have 53K on it and the brake rotors are my only service items (twice but due for a 3rd), if considering drive the 2.4l and the 3.4 and youll find that the 2.l4 seems smoother and quite fun.

• 

  Update on Eighty Eigh LS - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By robbed718 - June 26 - 4:49 am

  Robbed718 back. Update on the Oldsmobile Eighty Eight I bought with 53,000 miles in March of 2010 from the old lady whom lost her vision. The car now has 77,000 miles on it. Ive had to replace a belt tensioner, tires and a sepentine belt since. Everything is still holding up good on the car, engine is still powerful and not bad on gas. (I get about 24mpg) . I think I could get 175-200K out of this baby. Im gonna plan on it!

• 

  Take care of stuff and it will last - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By I love GM! - June 26 - 2:00 am

  I am not sure why people are writing bad reviews on this vehicle. I bought my 2000 Bravada in 06 with 120,000 miles on it. the truck was very well taken care of and in good shape. The only thing I have had to do to it was replace the fuel pump. I am currently at almost 140,000 miles and still running strong with no problems. I am a firm believer that if you take care of something it will last. Maybe they bought one that was not properly maintained or really dont know how to take care of a vehicle. There is more to it than just changing the oil. So in closing, I have loved my Bravada. Kind of a poor mans Escalade.

• 

  One of my favorite cars ever - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By james O - June 25 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. Being 62" I do not fit comfortably in many cars. This car is perfect for me. My 411" wife finds it a bit too large for her taste but still drives it often. I wanted a mid- size domestic car that was as good or better than an import. This is definately the right car. Engine is excellent, I prefer a little tighter cornering but I am also a motorcyclist who is spoiled. The only drawbacks are a lack of adjustable lumber support and although great, I prefer the A/C controls on the import vehicles. I get almost daily compliments and questions about my Intrigue. I would highly recommend this car and am sad that the Olds name will not continue.

• 

  I found the right car at the wrong time - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Bill - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Finally I was behind the wheel of a car that felt right in all conditions. The comfort of the seat was great, and the leather heated seat that gave my aching back a real relief after a hard day at work, a real welcome. The handling of this car was great, ABS, Tracion control,and precision control system, is this what made this car handle so nice? The looks, it looked like a dream come true to me. A car that I wish I would have driven for years. Now that I have found MY CAR, General Motors wont make this Oldsmobile name anymore. Darn.

• 

  Poor quality - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By joe joe - June 20 - 2:00 am

  Very disappointed in the quality. Nothing like buying a car and watching depreciation fall through the floor after 2 years, (paid 11k, trade in offer of 2.5k, 50k total milage) OUCH!. All sorts of irratating problems like electrical, workmanship. No major problems for the first 50k but didnt wait around for that to happen. Dumped for a loss, didnt trust it over the long haul. Very disappointed with GM on this and went with a Honda.

• 

  Olds Alero; Not Just for the Older Set - 2004 Oldsmobile Alero
  By fourjs - June 20 - 2:00 am

  We purchased this car from an individual. We had never been big fans of the Oldsmobile line, thinking this was an "old" persons car. However, we test drove this car and were blown away. The Alero drives very well, with clean reaction to steering and is very comfortable to boot. Its a nice size for the family and yet is very sporty. We couldnt beat the price either, bought it for under 5,000.00 (2000 model, w/47,000 miles and light hail damage) and still are happy after almost a year. The only complaint is that there is alot of road noise.

• 

  Alero is a great car - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By johnpelder - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Every aspect of this car has been outstanding. Fit and finish are first rate. The GX sport package is a great value, and the 5-speed getrag tranny is very tight and crisp. Im not usually a fan of 4 cylinder engines, but the 2.2 ecotec is super smooth, yet still torquey.