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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  Bought ANOTHER one- Im excited - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By notevenlooking - February 23 - 10:00 am

  First- I am convinced THERE IS NOTHING MORE RELIABLE THAN A GM ENGINE. Second- This vehicle is big, fat and comfortable yet economical to run, maintain and insure. More stuff: I looked aaround for 6 mo.s to replace my trusty 1990 SILHOUETTE (bought used in 94 for doing conventions), which I absolutley loved. Traded at 181,000 miles Needed nothing but gas and religiously changing oil, standard maintenance like a few sets of tires, mufflers, alternators. Still running like a clock but the rest was dying.

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  DO NOT BUY!!!! - 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By mts111 - February 22 - 4:46 am

  I got this vehicle used with 105,000 miles on it because I needed a vehicle that was AWD or 4WD. The first time I drove it in bad weather the AWD Smarttrack system wouldnt work so the vehicle was basically a RWD vehicle. About 3 weeks later I went out to start the vehicle and the vehicle was dead and I had to have it toed to a garage and fixed. I have only had this vehicle for about 1,500 miles and have already had 2 major problems with it. I would not suggest buying this vehicle, you will put way to much money into it and not get much out of it. Spend the extra money and buy a Honda, Ford, or Toyota that will last you forever.

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  Do not buy! - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By George - February 19 - 9:43 am

  The plastic trim under the doors holds water and the frame rusts. I probably knocked off ten pounds of rust this past week. I get about 15 mpg in the city and 19 maybe 20 mpg on highway. The crankshaft sensor went out after a month or two after I bought it. Friends who have the same car tell me they have to replace theirs about once a year. They cost around $60 so its not an expensive fix but it adds up year after year. The car just wasnt designed very well. Especially for rust. I cant even jack my car up to change a tire because the frame will bend and crack from all the rust. Do not buy. Spend a little more on a better car. Like a Honda. This car is a waste of money

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  1998 Oldsmobile Aurora - 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora
  By JP - February 19 - 5:56 am

  My 1998 Oldsmobile Aurora was a great used car value. It had a bold design, good perfromance and was very reliable. All ever bought for it was tires and a new battery.

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  Best Ever - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By Bill215 - February 18 - 2:00 am

  Bought this former rental with 29,000 on it and have never regretted a minute of ownership. Repairs have been replacement of turn signal bulbs and drivers side window motor (80,000 mi.) It is a pleasure to drive on highways or twisty back roads. The 3.8 engine is smooth and has never given any trouble. Its only 195 hp, but always feels stronger. When it had 80,000 mi. on it, I took it to LA and back (1100+ mi.) and it averaged 31.5 mpg. at Interstate speeds. Did another 1100 mi. jaunt to AZ five months ago and did almost as well on gas. Ive owned them all, foreign and domestic, and this is the best. GM was nuts to stop production.

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  Alero: Four Years Into Ownership - 1999 Oldsmobile Alero
  By chamescalvin - February 16 - 2:00 am

  After four years, it still looks good and drives well. Driven only 24k miles, mostly short trips to work. So far corrective maintenance has been minor. Ive had the PS pump adjusted once, the rotors turned once, one battery replaced, the drivers side power window motor replaced, and rear door upholstery repaired. I was surprised by the problems reported at this website by some of the other owners. The V-6 provides strong acceleration, the car handles well, and I find it quiet and smooth. Driver visibility is excellent. The cars exterior looks solid. The interior looks fine at a glance, but the dash and door materials are cheap.

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  GMs Big Mistake - 2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By ab348 - February 10 - 10:33 am

  GMs big mistake was killing Oldsmobile and hence cancelling cars like the Intrigue. It was the best of GMs W-body platform cars (Grand Prix, Regal, Impala) with clean styling, the fine 3.5L twincam engine, crisp handling and steering, and all-around road manners. I bought my Intrigue after it had a years service in a fleet and I couldnt be happier. It drives very nicely, is comfortable, quiet, and fast, and if you want to have a little fun that engine just loves to rev. What a shame that the geniuses that run GM couldnt make a car like this a success.

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  Short of being perfect - 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By Mike - February 6 - 5:46 pm

  We have enjoyed our Bravada excepted for a recurring transmission slippage that gives you the sensation to go over a bumpy road as the vehicle starts to accelerate. There is also a loud metallic noise that I have not been able to find the origin. It sounds like a loose hatch door, or loose braking caliper or an heavy piece of metal rattling when on bumpy road.

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  So far... so good - 1994 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
  By nunyerbiz - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Great car so far, Its been in the family for about two years / 25,000 miles. I have a 3.1L and I do seem to have a mysterious oil leak somewhere. It seems to loose a quart or so every 1500-2000 miles. Besides that, I have no major complaints. Nice ride and decent acceleration for a sedan

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  2000 Alero GLS - 2000 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JP in MO - February 5 - 10:00 am

  Much to my surprise, this Alero has great acceleration and passing speed. The ride is smooth and relatively quiet, except for a few interior design flaws within the speaker panels in the doors. Overall, I am very pleased and still find myself excited to drive it either around town or on a long trip.