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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  Good deal if you find one - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Dan - July 5 - 6:16 pm

  I bought the car right after Olds stopped making them, so I actually bought the car for about 3K less than it would have been worth had Olds not tanked, which was fine in my eyes. With a huge available array of mechanicals left over from both the Alero and Grand Am (sister vehicle) theres no need to worry about service in the future.

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  Headache - 2000 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Cindy - June 17 - 11:03 pm

  I go through wheel bearings every year on this. The gas gauge has not worked since it had 65,000 miles. At 70,000 miles the door hinges needed replaced over $500 for that. Now at 94,000 miles the 4 wheel drive is not working. This vehicle has cost me nothing but money. I would not recommend it at all. Numerous other small things has gone wrong with it. and i keep it well maintained and i still have nothing but problems with it.

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  Several problems ruin a nice car - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By c34j46 - May 20 - 10:00 am

  The rotors made by GM are junk and should have been recalled but GM refused to recall the part. My new brand new rotors and pads were pulsating after only 3500 miles. My turn signals would not work at least once a week and then magically start to work again so the switch needs to be replaced. Rear stabilzer bars had to be replaced to stop the annoying squeak the car would make after even the smallest bumps in the road. Im looking to buy some aftermarket rotors which hopefully will last more than 3500 miles. I think the brakes on my ten speed bicycle would have stopped the car more efficiently than the junk GM puts on the car.

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  The Worst Car I Have Ever Owned - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By slipperysil - May 15 - 3:00 pm

  I had to have more than $10,000 worth of warranty work done on my Oldsmobile Aurora and know it seems like something goes wrong every week, like the window motor, air shock sencor, etc...

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  Pretty car, poorly built - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By tnm - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Ive had this car for nearly 3 years now. I regret my purchase. The Alero has nice styling, decently performs, but is very poorly built. Rotors warp easily, the doors leak, the A/C leaks into the dash, door panels warp easily, the dashboard creaks/squeaks, and now a recall for the hazard flashers. Body panel fit is lousy, and the switchgear is cheap. Do yourself a favor and look elsewhere.

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  Cutlass - 1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass
  By JLFL - March 20 - 6:23 pm

  Got this car in March just as a point A to point B car. Rides pretty well with a nice suspension and decent power. Fuel economy has been about 17/25/20.5, which is acceptable. The car is roomy and comfortable, but the build quality is pretty iffy. Had a couple interior trim pieces fall off, and some other loosely attached pieces. Mechanically it has help up pretty good, but a cog in the steering mechanism is off-set, not said to be a serious problem though.

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  Continuous Problems with Bravada - 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By FGirl - March 16 - 10:00 am

  Weve had the vehicle in for repair of the AWD EIGHT TIMES and it is still not satisfactory. The service AWD light is on constantly and the SUV grinds and bumps during turns.

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  Watch out for 80000, its a doozy!! - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Robyn - March 12 - 10:36 am

  I love the way my car looks and handles (its the 3.4L v6 coupe) I do not like the way the intake manifold gasket fails, the dash peels or the control arm bushings squeak. Nice power (can beat the boys at a light, is quick off the line)and huge sunroof, but can prove costly when repairs are needed.

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  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.

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  cheap car with expensive price tag - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By heathercorday - December 26 - 10:00 am

  I didnt get the extendend warranty and wish that I had. The steering pops, in the winter the temperature dosent get warm enough to make the heater blow hot, the window switch went out, now the window regulator is shot, and the rotors are warped.