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 Alero! - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By eldo - April 25 - 10:00 am

  This is a great small car. I traded a compact SUV in on this and I do miss the added room in the SUV compared to this car. The room is adequate with the rear seats folded down. It has very good performance and seems tight and quiet. The ride is solid and handling is great with the 50 series, 16" GoodYear Eagles that came on it! I had two small problems; the outside, drivers side mirror and the inside rear view mirror came off. Both problems were taken care of on the spot and the dealer people were very courteous. No complaint with service! I feel this car is just as good as imports from Japan in the same price range!

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  Love my Alero GLS - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Josh - April 25 - 12:53 am

  Other than oil changes, brake pads and one warranty head gasket this car has run like a champ. It has been dependable with no problems. I will probably put another 85,000 miles on it before I replace it.

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  Olds intrigue is Fun to drive, comfortable. - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By drdoug99 - April 22 - 7:21 pm

  I just bought the car used off a random guy off Craigslist for 1,000 bucks a couple months ago. It has issues of course, most minor, some major for a 14 year old car. Just put another 1,000 into it having the rear strut assemblies replaced, new exhaust system, tie rod, alignment, etc. This is all the major work that needed done. The rest is piddly stuff that any old car would need. So for 2,000 bucks I have a car that drives like a 10,000 car. Its got the 3.5L, with 160,000 miles on it. The engine and transmission shift smooth and quiet. The motor has plenty of passing power. Very impressed with the car overall.

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  Fun car, but many problems - 2001 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Aurorakoth - April 22 - 11:26 am

  This car is still fun to drive 3 years after I bought it. It gets looks quite often as it is almost one of a kind in my town. I actually seen another black one on the highway and the couple in that car waved in suprise. On the other hand, the reliability of this car has been awful. I bought it with 26,000 miles. Ive had the water pump, secondary air pump, front end parts, stearing parts, and at 74,600 miles, right before the warranty expired, the transmission went out. The car has not been the same since. It shifts hard around 40 mph and the dealerships have tried to fix it, but have not succeded. I think it has to do with the O.D. Besides the expensive repairs, this is a great car.

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  Going to Miss Olds - 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By Johngo - April 17 - 2:00 am

  At age 37, this is my fourth Oldsmobile. There is nothing like the 4.0. It provides with power all the time, at any speed. The looks of the car are deceiving. I am always asked if is a Mercedes or Infiniti. Its a shame Olds is going away. This is a great car. Seats are big and roomy. Luxury features like real wood dash are hard to find in a car at this price. No car in this price range makes the noise it does when you step on it. Id say, go get one, you an get a great deal on one. I do wish the fit was a little tighter. Squaks come out at the darndest times. I had that trouble with my Intrigue as well. So long OLDS, you will not be forgotten.

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  Alero GLS - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By CAR CRITIC - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE A 2000 ALERO GLS THAT HAS V6. EXCELLENT POWER WITH EXCEPTIONAL GAS MILEAGE (30 MPG HIGHWAY). THE BAD PART IS TORQUE STEER. THE CAR DOES NOT STEER WELL UNDER FULL THROTTLE. MY GLS MODEL HAS THE INTERIOR OF A MUCH MORE EXPENISVE CAR. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS WITH BRAKES. THE NEW PADS EAT ROTORS LIKE CRAZY. THE CAR HAS TONS OF LIGHTS ON THE DASH TO TELL EVERY LITTLE PROBLEM IT HAS WHICH COME ON TOO FREQUENTLY. THE DECK LID ALSO LEAKS INTO THE TRUNK WHEN IT IS OPENED AFTER A GOOD RAIN. THE CAR IS VERY FLASHY FOR ITS PRICE RANGE, AND HAS GREAT POWER WITH THE V6, BUT THE CAR COULD USE SOME REFINEMENT ESPECIALLY THE BRAKES.

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  Fun to drive - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By alero1 - April 17 - 2:00 am

  This car is really fun to drive. Ive owned it for 11 months, 11,000 miles. No problems except for a slow leak in one tire. Quiet, great stereo, comfortable, even for a larger person.

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  After 7 years - 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By NPiper - April 16 - 11:16 pm

  After having this van for 7 years, it has been a great van. However, now everything is starting to go - one thing at a time. Its nickle and diming me to death now. Short term, great auto - long term - dont think Id by another one. The middle bucket seats are great for road trips. The back bench seat isnt that comfy, but we are never back there anyway. The back has lots of room.

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  Better Equipped Than More Expensive Cars - 2001 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Linda Ann - April 16 - 11:16 pm

  Nobody can beat the heated 6-way power front seats, chrome wheels. This car was smart looking & very reliable.

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  Major repairs required every 10,000 miles - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By debducttape - April 14 - 8:04 am

  I have had this car longer than any other vehicle I have owned, not because it is quality, but because it is so frequently broken down, sitting at the shop or waiting for my husband to repair it. Things that have broken: Transmission (over $1400 with 4 mechanics still not fixed) Security like comes on, blinks for exactly 10 minutes during which time, the car will not start ($400 to repair) Breaks repaired 3-4 times including replacing all the break line ($400 - work done mostly by my husband) Gas gauge says empty (have not repaired yet) AC dead ($325- still not fixed) Lots more, but I am running out of space. Overall, I could have bought 2 more of these crap cars for repair $$