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:

• 

  Great Van, but Interior Not Dependable - 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Todd - January 9 - 8:26 pm

  I bought this van with 12 miles on it and have put over 126,000 on it. There has NEVER been a mechanical failure, but it has had several problems with interior things. The power door had to be repaired three times, power windows twice, power door locks three times. Its gas mileage is outstanding, averaging 25 mpg. This van provides great comfort. Overall I am very pleased with it.

• 

  Proof of GMs constant failures - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Paul - January 7 - 7:13 pm

  Purchased this vehicle used with 13900 miles on it, today it has 111K miles. Since day one this vehicle was a problem!! Within 24hrs of purchase it ditched me on a major intersection (trans failure). Here are the bits and pieces replaced: Transmission, Tie rods, steering system, A/C compressor, All pwr windows, Cam sensor, Alternator, Crank sensor, control arms, Stereo and speakers, pwr window switches (x3), coolant reservoir, idler pulleys(x2), climate control, valve cover seals, blower motor and blower motor resistor(rusted), air vent covers (cheap plastic), door panels, starter.This vehicle has cost me more in repairs than any vehicle I owned! I currently have a 94 Camry v6 240k gr8car

• 

  Overall--I really like the 4 door GLS - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By richinatlanta - January 6 - 2:00 am

  I did a lot of travel in 2000 and ended up renting the Alero several times. I really liked the layout of the interior and when I got a GLS version, the 6 cylinder had plenty of power. I was able to find exactly the model I wanted at a local dealer when GM was offering incentives, so I got a fully loaded 2001 silver model. The problems have been minimal in my opinion, and the build quality is ok for an American car, much better than I remember after owning several foreign models. Make sure to get the handling package option. I would recommend the car based on my experiences.

• 

  Electrical Nightmare - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By jpbrown - January 6 - 2:00 am

  This car is by far the most unreliable vehicle I ever had. After only four months the car began to exhibit major electrical defects and for the next five months it has been in and out of the shop almost every other week since. Gm maintains the car is sound, but the service department has been unable to correct the issue.

• 

  My best vehicle so far! - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Ron Hughes - January 5 - 4:36 pm

  I purchased my Bravada in October. I went to buy a Trailblazer but it took only one test drive to decide on the Bravada. The excellent ride, perfect seating, and outstanding engine sold my wife and I. Then, I found out that it has a better warranty than the Trailblazer. I drove it home that day. I have now had the Bravada for over 6000 mile and 4 months and have not been back to the dealer. Buy it! You will not regret it.

• 

  Not the best - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By danny - January 4 - 10:06 am

  It may look good, but the 4-cylinder engine in the Alero was not made to last. I have had so many small problems with this car, it is a big headach. Furthermore, the interier is very cheap the dash looks like a raisin. If you buy a vehicle, buy a better class.

• 

  decent car - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Shawn - January 4 - 9:33 am

  I had just got this car from the dealer, its a pretty decentcar. i like the 2 door body style. great gas milage. the only thing i dislike is all the problems i had with it with in two weeks. and ive been told the rear seats fold down but have no idea cause i cant find a button or lever for them too. but the car is really nice and id recomend it to anyone so far.

• 

  Awesome, Fun to Drive - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By b-rock - December 31 - 2:00 am

  Although Ive just recently purchased my Alero! I love it, the best vehicle Ive ever owned.

• 

  Great Value - Great Car - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Jim MacMurdo - December 30 - 10:00 am

  My wife and I are very pleased with our new Aurora 3.5. The engine is probably the most powerful one weve owned; it put our former 1996 Riviera (3.8L V6) to shame. The handling is superb -- firm, taut, communicative, but never harsh. Even some of our "died-in-the- wool Ford" friends have commented how comfortable and quiet the car is.

• 

  Fun to Drive and ASTOUNDING Reliability - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Steve - December 27 - 3:56 pm

  We bought this car new and have been absolutely ecstatic with our purchase ever since. The car is very comfortable, handles well, is fun to drive, seats 5 comfortably, and has been surprisingly reliable. With 115,000 miles on it since purchased in 11/1997, we have had to perform a grand total of 2 (two) repairs other than routine maintenance. The starter had to be replaced at around 60,000 miles and at 110,000, the automatic headlight sensor was replaced. The fuel-door release button popped off a few years ago and was never found (fortunately I can stick my pinky in and trigger the release), and the electric window control panel on the armrest has been loose almost since new.