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:

• 

  rotors - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Rebecca71500 - August 21 - 10:00 am

  I keep reading about bad rotors. I brought my car in to have the windshield wipers replaced several months after I bought it. (I had to replace the other side last month) I was told that the rotors needed to be replaced. It wasnt a recall, but if the cars were brought in for other reasons they automatically replaced them. I have also had to take my car back several times because it was leaking oil.

• 

  Not bad for a company car - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Keelay - August 21 - 10:00 am

  The Alero GX sedan is a pretty decent company car. It has adequate acceleration with the 4-cyl engine, and nice handling. The ride is okay, although it can be jittery on smooth roads. The brakes are just marginal, and they seem to need a lot of pressure to get the car to stop. The GX model does have a lot of features for the money, too, and the standard stereo, cruise control, and automatic headlights are nice. The workmanship is *definitely* not up to Japanese standards, though. Its a nice enough car, but there are nicer ones. I wouldnt buy this car, but as a free car, its not bad.

• 

  .....at least its pretty inexpensive! - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JennO. - August 21 - 10:00 am

  Going from always having driven Hondas...this was a rude awakening! The only GM product I would consider in the future would be a truck/suv. The Alero is zippy and pretty fun to drive, but not the highest performing vehicle by any means....I like the V6 and would have been very unhappy I feel with the 4-cyl. I just hope I can sell it after hearing the crash test results!!!

• 

  LEMON CAR - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By bethany - August 18 - 10:00 am

  3.4L v6. 03/00 75633mls, leather interior, 11,000 from a dealership the biggest mistake i made. Nice looking car, but the quality sucks! Lets see the cruise control doesnt work, half the time my blinker lights go out, upholstry on the dashboard is peeling, something wrong with the gas gauge, passenger side window dropped down, the cd player goes out sometimes, coolant leaks, passenger side door is hard to open, twice the engine had to be fixed, sometimes the engine doest turn over, no matter how much or how many time you refill the coolant the coolant light doesnt go off. i think because of the coolant problem the engine makes noises.

• 

  big mistake - 2002 Oldsmobile Alero
  By shelby - August 16 - 3:56 am

  I have had this car for only 3 or so years and have already had to change the fuel pump (2x) brake pads (4x) power window regualutor (2x) and already have to do that again! Ive already had alot of problems w/ the security system which causes it not to start and i have to take it in and get the whole system reset. power steering pump went out, wheel bearing needs to be fixed. my service engine light, anti-lock brake light and change oil light are always on. this car has costed me alot of time, inconvenience and money.

• 

  Surprising Performance for a GM Sedan - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By GregC - August 12 - 11:56 pm

  Ive had this car for four years. I purchased it used at 30,000 miles and now it has 70,000 miles. It has had no problems thus far. It has great pick-up, with stable handling thanks to its wide tires.

• 

  Robs Review - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By iam14style - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Good deal for the money, handles well and is good looking.

• 

  So far a decent car, but the brakes - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By pease_d - August 12 - 10:00 am

  Have had this car since Sept. 01 benn a guud car exceept fo rthe ABS the light wil just come on at random and all the dealer says it is just a sensor that got a rock in it. th only other complaint I have with this car is do not buy it with a sunroof if you are over 59" because you will not fit in it as I have found out after my growing years.

• 

  Suprised its not a Honda! - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By R W - August 7 - 11:13 pm

  Bought it with 20,000 miles. I owned 3 Hondas before this one and I didnt enjoy the reliability. Ive only replaced an alternator (93,000 miles) and a fuel pump (91,000 due to a very bad tank of gas). Thats it outside of regular oil changes, brakes, and tires. This is the best money Ive ever spent on any car. It still runs like it is brand new. For a 4 cyliner it is quite peppy, more than the Honda Civic that was $2K more than the Alero at that time Now, its 2007 and I cant find Aleros anymore? Thats OK. Mine runs fine. Ill keep driving it. GM should re-open the Olds Alero line. This is the best 4-cylinder car for the money GM has made!

• 

  Perhaps this Car Could have Saved Oldsmobile - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By R.E. Saif - August 5 - 2:56 pm

  I bought my 99 Oldsmobile Alero GLS in Oct. 2002 as a replacment for my 93 Mercury Tracer LTS. It was a zippy little car, but I wanted something bigger. The car was listed below KBB, fully loaded and was too good to pass up with 82,000 miles on the clock. I now have over 142,000 miles on it and have gotten by with few problems. The motor is strong and pulls hard for being "outdated". The only repairs I have done have been the intake gaskets, belt tensioner, alternator and MAF sensor. I regularly take the car to Ohio and WV and it has never let me down. I am now on the hunt for another Alero with fewer miles to replace it. I love the car, so when that time comes, it will be extremely painful to part with.