Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Oldsmobile Silhouette shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Oldsmobile Silhouette offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Oldsmobile Silhouette at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Oldsmobile Silhouette? Wrong! If the Oldsmobile Silhouette is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Oldsmobile Silhouette then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Oldsmobile Silhouette? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Oldsmobile Silhouette and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Oldsmobile Silhouette wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Oldsmobile Silhouette then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Oldsmobile Silhouette site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Oldsmobile Silhouette, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Oldsmobile Silhouette, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Automobile|name = Oldsmobile Silhouette|image = |manufacturer = General Motors|layout = [FF layout|transmission = 4-speed [automatic transmission-->

The Oldsmobile Silhouette and its siblings, the Pontiac Trans Sport (and later, the Pontiac Montana) and Chevrolet Lumina APV (and later, the Chevrolet Venture), were a trio of minivans that débuted in late 1989 as 1990 models. Upon the demise of the Oldsmobile division in 2004, it was replaced by the newly designed Buick Terraza the following year, in 2005.

The first generation Silhouette was prominently featured in the 1995 film Get Shorty where it was repeatedly referred to as "The Cadillac of minivans". GM's attempt of releasing their first Front wheel drive minivans in 1990 pursued the company to create one of the very-first luxury minivans, however, at the same time, Chrysler released the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

Background General Motors first attempt at producing a minivan to compete with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, the rear wheel drive, truck-based Chevrolet Astro and its twin, the GMC Safari failed to make a noticeable dent in Chrysler's near monopoly of the minivan market in the 1980s, so this second attempt was made. The Oldsmobile Silhouette and its sibling models, while more successful than the Astro/Safari duo in terms of market share, had significant perceived flaws, primarily centered around its unconventional styling that ultimately limited its appeal and sales.

Original concept First shown to the public in 1986, the Pontiac Trans Sport concept car was extremely well received. It featured futuristic styling, individually removable bucket seats with built-in stereo speakers, a gull-wing doors rear passenger door and extensive use of glass including a glass-paneled roof as well as many other "dream car" features.

Based on the warm reception the concept vehicle received, the Pontiac Trans Sport was approved for production, but as is often the case, the styling and features showcased on the concept did not make the translation to the mass-produced edition.The gullwing door was deemed too expensive to produce and would probably have impacted overhead garage doors in suburban garages. The glass roof was too heavy and too expensive, so the resultant production vehicle made-do with high-gloss black painted panels for the roof to suggest the glass canopy the concept sported.

Chevrolet and Oldsmobile were also given production vehicles based on the Trans Sport in order to cover the widest possible range of potential customers. It was intended that the Lumina APV would be the value-priced version, The Trans Sport would net the more "sport & style" oriented buyers, and the Silhouette would be the minivan for the premium, luxury market.

First generation (1990-1996) {{Infobox Automobile generation|name = First generation|image = |related = Pontiac Trans Sport
Chevrolet Lumina APV|engine = 3.1 L [V6
3.4 L V6
3.8 L V6|width = 1990-93: |height = 1990-91:
1992-96: |weight = 3599—3899 lb-->

The very first 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on [August 1, 1989. Assembled in the now extinct General Motors' Tarrytown, New York assembly facility, these GM U platform vans consisted of a galvanized steel space frame wrapped in composite plastic body panels that were impervious to rust and minor dents and dings, a manufacturing technique developed on the Pontiac Fiero and also used extensively on General Motors' Saturn Corporation line of vehicles.

The Silhouette was available with seating for seven, with the five lightweight (34 lb) rear seats being individually reconfigurable and removable. In 1994 built-in child seats were added to the option list, which provided the ability to switch two of the rear seats between adult and child seating with the pull of a seat-mounted tab.

Included with the level ride package, which utilized a compressor and air-pressurized rear shock absorbers to maintain vehicle height regardless of load, was a control panel and air hose kit that allowed the vehicle to be used to inflate tires, air mattresses, sporting equipment and the like.

In 1994, a remote-controlled power sliding door feature was added, a General Motors innovation, which is now found in almost every other minivan available.

For the 1994 and 1995 model years, traction control was available with the GM 3800 engine engine option.

The first generation Silhouette was not available in Canada.

Engines

Modest sales success The design of these minivans was controversial. At the time that the Oldsmobile Silhouette and its siblings were conceived, no one had tried to market a stylish or sporty minivan, and GM felt that that represented a potentially large market segment. They styled these minivans to be lower and sleeker than any of the competing brands on the market. The extremely large, long and sloped windshield and the resultant long distance to the base of the windshield when sitting in the drivers seat made for a disconcerting driving experience until a person could adjust to the "different" proportions. Automotive magazines christened the new minivans "dustbusters" after a certain household appliance that shared a similar side profile.

The first engine in these vans was a meager 3.1 L V6, that produced only 120 hp, which was not up to the task of hauling these fairly heavy vehicles around with any authority.

In 1992, the Silhouette and its siblings received the 170 hp 3.8 L GM 3800 engine V6 as an option, which provided much better torque and acceleration for the vans, making them the most powerful as well as best handling minivans in production at the time.

In response to criticism (and relatively modest sales) attributable to the vehicles' avant-garde styling, feedback from potential customers, automotive publications, and even chiding in Chrysler's advertising, in 1994, the Trans Sport and the Lumina APV received a facelift, shortening the nose by 3 inches and toning-down of the cladding to effect a more conventional look. Additionally a ridge was added to the interior dashboard to lessen the perceived distance to the base of the windshield.

Europe, which had grown accustomed to sleek minivans thanks to the Renault Espace, did not object to the futuristic styling, and sales were respectable, so the decision was made to retain the original styling on the Euro-version which from the 1994 model year onwards was an Oldsmobile Silhouette, transformed into a Pontiac Trans Sport by the addition of Pontiac badging and wheels. This decision by GM is the primary reason the Silhouette did not receive the nose-shortening restyle that it's stablemates did; sales in Europe were good (for an American import), but did not represent enough volume to make a fourth, distinct model economically feasible.

Production of first generation Silhouettes (and Lumina APVs & Trans Sports) ended in 1996, at which time the Tarrytown, NY plant which produced them and which had been in operation since 1900, was shuttered and scheduled for demolition. The final 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on May 17, 1996.

Year to year changes (1990-1996) 1990

1991

1992



1993

1994

1995

1996

Second generation (1997-2004) {{Infobox Automobile generation|name = Second generation|image = |production = 1997–2004|body_style = 3-door minivan
4-door minivan|assembly = [Doraville, Georgia
[Chevrolet Venture
Pontiac Montana
Buick GL8
Opel Sintra
Vauxhall Sintra
Pontiac Aztek
Buick Rendezvous. The first 1997 Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on [August 6, 1996.

Having failed twice to capture a significant portion of the domestic minivan market from Chrysler, General Motors brought out an entirely new GM U platform series of minivans, theoretically based on the lessons learned from its previous mis-steps. Still stinging from the criticism of the "dustbuster" minivans, the new Silhouette would be completely conventional an all respects. The vehicle would be of steel unibody construction, and styling would be as conservative as possible. The previous generation was a little too large for comfortably navigating European streets, so this new range of models would be narrower and slightly smaller than was the norm for the United States in order to produce a single range of minivans that GM hoped would fill the needs of both the North American and European markets.

During the development of this generation of the GM U platform minivan, General Motors extensively benchmarked the then current Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and in the case of the Silhouette in particular, the Chrysler Town and Country. The resultant vehicles bore an uncanny resemblance to the immensely successful trio of Chrysler minivans, which during this era accounted for over 50% of domestic minivan sales. Unfortunately for GM, the Chrysler vehicles they were using as their yardstick were replaced in 1996 by a completely new generation of minivans from Chrysler, which (somewhat ironically for GM) featured a significantly sleeker and more stylish design than their predecessors. The Chrysler minivans also included a host of innovative features and clever packaging ideas that were not available on any other minivan on the market. General Motors ended up with a nice enough vehicle in the end, but one that was positioned to compete against a vehicle that had already been antiquated by its successor models.

Two different wheelbase lengths were offered as well as dual sliding doors. Silhouettes, in keeping with their luxury positioning, offered many features as standard that were optional on competing makes and on its platform mates. In 1998, it became one of the first vehicles on the market to offer a VCR with overhead retractable LCD screen for back seat viewing, which has since become a "must-have" option for families with children. For 2001, the Silhouette received a minor facelift that expanded the grille openings, and made them all-chrome.

Trim levels

Engine 3.4 L GM 60-Degree V6 engine#LA1 (207 in³) V6

Mixed sales success The Silhouette and its platform mates achieved slightly better sales than their avant-garde predecessors, but also failed to capture a significant share of the market. The Silhouette was a close competitor in many of the categories deemed of importance, but was a winner in no categories, the minivan market had become significantly more crowded with competing products that proved to be more desirable and throughout its production it was widely considered a second-tier competitor, certainly competent but not a stand-out in any category.

The Silhouette remained in production until the 2004 model year with minimal changes. The Oldsmobile division of General Motors was shut down and no Oldsmobiles were produced after the 2004 model year. The final Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on March 31, 2004. When the Silhouette was discontinued, it was, and still is, the longest-running nameplate used on any GM minivan.

The spiritual successor to the Oldsmobile Silhouette within the General Motors lineup is the Buick Terraza (2005-2007), which was built on an updated version of the U platform and occupied the luxury minivan slot previously occupied by the Silhouette. Due to poor sales of all the third-generation GM minivans, GM has decided to exit the minivan market all together. The Terraza and Chevrolet Uplander, will end production after the 2007 model-year. Had the Oldsmobile division not been discontinued it would be likely that the Silhouette would have been kept for the third generation of the GM minivans.

External links



{{Infobox Automobile|name = Oldsmobile Silhouette|image = |manufacturer = General Motors|layout = [FF layout|transmission = 4-speed [automatic transmission-->

The Oldsmobile Silhouette and its siblings, the Pontiac Trans Sport (and later, the Pontiac Montana) and Chevrolet Lumina APV (and later, the Chevrolet Venture), were a trio of minivans that débuted in late 1989 as 1990 models. Upon the demise of the Oldsmobile division in 2004, it was replaced by the newly designed Buick Terraza the following year, in 2005.

The first generation Silhouette was prominently featured in the 1995 film Get Shorty where it was repeatedly referred to as "The Cadillac of minivans". GM's attempt of releasing their first Front wheel drive minivans in 1990 pursued the company to create one of the very-first luxury minivans, however, at the same time, Chrysler released the Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

Background General Motors first attempt at producing a minivan to compete with the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, the rear wheel drive, truck-based Chevrolet Astro and its twin, the GMC Safari failed to make a noticeable dent in Chrysler's near monopoly of the minivan market in the 1980s, so this second attempt was made. The Oldsmobile Silhouette and its sibling models, while more successful than the Astro/Safari duo in terms of market share, had significant perceived flaws, primarily centered around its unconventional styling that ultimately limited its appeal and sales.

Original concept First shown to the public in 1986, the Pontiac Trans Sport concept car was extremely well received. It featured futuristic styling, individually removable bucket seats with built-in stereo speakers, a gull-wing doors rear passenger door and extensive use of glass including a glass-paneled roof as well as many other "dream car" features.

Based on the warm reception the concept vehicle received, the Pontiac Trans Sport was approved for production, but as is often the case, the styling and features showcased on the concept did not make the translation to the mass-produced edition.The gullwing door was deemed too expensive to produce and would probably have impacted overhead garage doors in suburban garages. The glass roof was too heavy and too expensive, so the resultant production vehicle made-do with high-gloss black painted panels for the roof to suggest the glass canopy the concept sported.

Chevrolet and Oldsmobile were also given production vehicles based on the Trans Sport in order to cover the widest possible range of potential customers. It was intended that the Lumina APV would be the value-priced version, The Trans Sport would net the more "sport & style" oriented buyers, and the Silhouette would be the minivan for the premium, luxury market.

First generation (1990-1996) {{Infobox Automobile generation|name = First generation|image = |related = Pontiac Trans Sport
Chevrolet Lumina APV|engine = 3.1 L [V6
3.4 L V6
3.8 L V6|width = 1990-93: |height = 1990-91:
1992-96: |weight = 3599—3899 lb-->

The very first 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on [August 1, 1989. Assembled in the now extinct General Motors' Tarrytown, New York assembly facility, these GM U platform vans consisted of a galvanized steel space frame wrapped in composite plastic body panels that were impervious to rust and minor dents and dings, a manufacturing technique developed on the Pontiac Fiero and also used extensively on General Motors' Saturn Corporation line of vehicles.

The Silhouette was available with seating for seven, with the five lightweight (34 lb) rear seats being individually reconfigurable and removable. In 1994 built-in child seats were added to the option list, which provided the ability to switch two of the rear seats between adult and child seating with the pull of a seat-mounted tab.

Included with the level ride package, which utilized a compressor and air-pressurized rear shock absorbers to maintain vehicle height regardless of load, was a control panel and air hose kit that allowed the vehicle to be used to inflate tires, air mattresses, sporting equipment and the like.

In 1994, a remote-controlled power sliding door feature was added, a General Motors innovation, which is now found in almost every other minivan available.

For the 1994 and 1995 model years, traction control was available with the GM 3800 engine engine option.

The first generation Silhouette was not available in Canada.

Engines

Modest sales success The design of these minivans was controversial. At the time that the Oldsmobile Silhouette and its siblings were conceived, no one had tried to market a stylish or sporty minivan, and GM felt that that represented a potentially large market segment. They styled these minivans to be lower and sleeker than any of the competing brands on the market. The extremely large, long and sloped windshield and the resultant long distance to the base of the windshield when sitting in the drivers seat made for a disconcerting driving experience until a person could adjust to the "different" proportions. Automotive magazines christened the new minivans "dustbusters" after a certain household appliance that shared a similar side profile.

The first engine in these vans was a meager 3.1 L V6, that produced only 120 hp, which was not up to the task of hauling these fairly heavy vehicles around with any authority.

In 1992, the Silhouette and its siblings received the 170 hp 3.8 L GM 3800 engine V6 as an option, which provided much better torque and acceleration for the vans, making them the most powerful as well as best handling minivans in production at the time.

In response to criticism (and relatively modest sales) attributable to the vehicles' avant-garde styling, feedback from potential customers, automotive publications, and even chiding in Chrysler's advertising, in 1994, the Trans Sport and the Lumina APV received a facelift, shortening the nose by 3 inches and toning-down of the cladding to effect a more conventional look. Additionally a ridge was added to the interior dashboard to lessen the perceived distance to the base of the windshield.

Europe, which had grown accustomed to sleek minivans thanks to the Renault Espace, did not object to the futuristic styling, and sales were respectable, so the decision was made to retain the original styling on the Euro-version which from the 1994 model year onwards was an Oldsmobile Silhouette, transformed into a Pontiac Trans Sport by the addition of Pontiac badging and wheels. This decision by GM is the primary reason the Silhouette did not receive the nose-shortening restyle that it's stablemates did; sales in Europe were good (for an American import), but did not represent enough volume to make a fourth, distinct model economically feasible.

Production of first generation Silhouettes (and Lumina APVs & Trans Sports) ended in 1996, at which time the Tarrytown, NY plant which produced them and which had been in operation since 1900, was shuttered and scheduled for demolition. The final 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on May 17, 1996.

Year to year changes (1990-1996) 1990

1991

1992



1993

1994

1995

1996

Second generation (1997-2004) {{Infobox Automobile generation|name = Second generation|image = |production = 1997–2004|body_style = 3-door minivan
4-door minivan|assembly = [Doraville, Georgia
[Chevrolet Venture
Pontiac Montana
Buick GL8
Opel Sintra
Vauxhall Sintra
Pontiac Aztek
Buick Rendezvous. The first 1997 Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on [August 6, 1996.

Having failed twice to capture a significant portion of the domestic minivan market from Chrysler, General Motors brought out an entirely new GM U platform series of minivans, theoretically based on the lessons learned from its previous mis-steps. Still stinging from the criticism of the "dustbuster" minivans, the new Silhouette would be completely conventional an all respects. The vehicle would be of steel unibody construction, and styling would be as conservative as possible. The previous generation was a little too large for comfortably navigating European streets, so this new range of models would be narrower and slightly smaller than was the norm for the United States in order to produce a single range of minivans that GM hoped would fill the needs of both the North American and European markets.

During the development of this generation of the GM U platform minivan, General Motors extensively benchmarked the then current Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager and in the case of the Silhouette in particular, the Chrysler Town and Country. The resultant vehicles bore an uncanny resemblance to the immensely successful trio of Chrysler minivans, which during this era accounted for over 50% of domestic minivan sales. Unfortunately for GM, the Chrysler vehicles they were using as their yardstick were replaced in 1996 by a completely new generation of minivans from Chrysler, which (somewhat ironically for GM) featured a significantly sleeker and more stylish design than their predecessors. The Chrysler minivans also included a host of innovative features and clever packaging ideas that were not available on any other minivan on the market. General Motors ended up with a nice enough vehicle in the end, but one that was positioned to compete against a vehicle that had already been antiquated by its successor models.

Two different wheelbase lengths were offered as well as dual sliding doors. Silhouettes, in keeping with their luxury positioning, offered many features as standard that were optional on competing makes and on its platform mates. In 1998, it became one of the first vehicles on the market to offer a VCR with overhead retractable LCD screen for back seat viewing, which has since become a "must-have" option for families with children. For 2001, the Silhouette received a minor facelift that expanded the grille openings, and made them all-chrome.

Trim levels

Engine 3.4 L GM 60-Degree V6 engine#LA1 (207 in³) V6

Mixed sales success The Silhouette and its platform mates achieved slightly better sales than their avant-garde predecessors, but also failed to capture a significant share of the market. The Silhouette was a close competitor in many of the categories deemed of importance, but was a winner in no categories, the minivan market had become significantly more crowded with competing products that proved to be more desirable and throughout its production it was widely considered a second-tier competitor, certainly competent but not a stand-out in any category.

The Silhouette remained in production until the 2004 model year with minimal changes. The Oldsmobile division of General Motors was shut down and no Oldsmobiles were produced after the 2004 model year. The final Oldsmobile Silhouette rolled off the assembly line on March 31, 2004. When the Silhouette was discontinued, it was, and still is, the longest-running nameplate used on any GM minivan.

The spiritual successor to the Oldsmobile Silhouette within the General Motors lineup is the Buick Terraza (2005-2007), which was built on an updated version of the U platform and occupied the luxury minivan slot previously occupied by the Silhouette. Due to poor sales of all the third-generation GM minivans, GM has decided to exit the minivan market all together. The Terraza and Chevrolet Uplander, will end production after the 2007 model-year. Had the Oldsmobile division not been discontinued it would be likely that the Silhouette would have been kept for the third generation of the GM minivans.

External links





Oldsmobile Silhouette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Oldsmobile Silhouette and its siblings, the Pontiac Trans Sport (and later, the Pontiac Montana) and Chevrolet Lumina APV (and later, the Chevrolet Venture), were a trio of ...

Oldsmobile - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... Oldsmobile logo, which was replaced only 3 years after the release of the film. Get Shorty (1995) - John Travolta's character is incredulous at being given an Oldsmobile Silhouette ...

Silhouette Home Page.
2004 Silhouette FWD MSRP. $28,790* 2004 Silhouette AWD MSRP $35,065* ... Silhouette's refined performance and distinctly car-like ride, plus its vast array of comfort, convenience ...

Silhouette Photo Gallery Page
Silhouette Photo Gallery

Category:Oldsmobile Silhouette - Wikimedia Commons
Media in category "Oldsmobile Silhouette" The following 13 files are in this category, out of 13 total.

Amazon.co.uk: GM Chevrolet Lumina APV, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Pontiac ...
Amazon.co.uk: GM Chevrolet Lumina APV, Oldsmobile Silhouette, Pontiac Trans Sport Automotive Repair Manual (90-94) (Haynes Automotive Repair Manuals): J.J. Haynes, J.H. Haynes ...

Amazon.co.uk: General Motors Chevrolet Venture (97-01), Oldsmobile ...
Amazon.co.uk: General Motors Chevrolet Venture (97-01), Oldsmobile Silhouette (97-01), Pontiac Trans Sport (97-98) and Montana (99-01) Automotive Repair Manual (Haynes ... ...

Oldsmobile Silhouette - CarSpace Automotive Forums
Oldsmobile Silhouette group in the CarSpace automotive forums by Edmunds.com

Oldsmobile Silhouette: overview
Fashionable, upscale, sophisticated and always ready to amaze you. Silhouette is a worthwhile investment for persons who want luxury mixed with space.

1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette Pricing and Information
1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette Pricing and Information at Edmunds.com ... Select a Style below for TMV ® pricing, reviews, specs and more...

 

Oldsmobile Silhouette



 
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