Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

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  haaaaaaaaaaaated it - 2013 Ford Focus
  By patchwyrk - September 11 - 9:25 pm

  I drove an automatic 02 focus hb for 10 years and LOVED it. I thought I was upgrading with the 2013. If you are used to a manual transmission this would probably be ok. It has the same shuddery jerky bumpy shift and backwards roll features that are on a standard transmission. I had it under 2 months and bought a different brand. It was that bad.

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  Good Luck if you buy it. - 2012 Ford Focus
  By salmark - September 11 - 1:20 pm

  I have a Ford Focus 2012 that I bought used. I just got out of the dealership. Why? Engine light turned on while I was driving and suddenly my entire car is lunging back and forth and gears are going nuts. Worse of all, I cant even put it in reverse. If youre going to get a Focus, good luck. I looked at reviews before and said, "meh, it wont happen to me." It did. Transmission might have to be replaced. Bluntly put, lets just say Im not going to go Ford for a good time. Oh, and highway MPG is amazing. City... totally sucks. 18-23 and I dont drive rough at all. Might as well be driving a Jeep with that mileage. Thanks Ford.

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  Sensible choice, but... - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By brittjmc6 - September 11 - 12:08 pm

  I bought this car last year used with 35k miles on it. MPG is from 23 to 26 depending on how much highway driving I do. Road and wind noise are definitely there. Steering is decent through wide ramp highway turns. The Fusion has a tendency for the rear tires to spin or skip when you lay on the gas from a dead stop,especially in slick road conditions. Pickup is definitely lack luster, but hey its a 4 cylinder. Unfortunately, the driver and front passenger seats are severely uncomfortable. I do not recommend this as a commuter car to anyone who drives 30 minutes or more, but around town is fine.

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  Final Choice Mazda 3 or Focus Titanium - 2014 Ford Focus
  By datman510 - September 10 - 3:11 pm

  So I finally made up my mind. I was considering a Mazda 3 but in the end I bought the Ford Focus Titanium w/handling PKG. I could not get over the UGLY pod on the Mazdas dash. This is my first Ford and I hope I dont regret it. Although I read countless reviews and words of wisdom from critics I decided that the issue with the transmissions was one of understanding instead of criticizing. Once you understand the way it works then it is easier to overcome its quirks when you compare to a fully auto tranny. I like it! Overall the car has exceeded my expectations. Considering the cars heritage and Fords intentions when they design this car I feel it is a great European flavor Ford.

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  Great car !!! - 1999 Ford Escort
  By andy908 - September 7 - 4:58 am

  This is a very good car. With the low price and age, it still runs like a beast. I bought it for $1500 about 6 months ago, runs great. The handling is great, maneuvering is easy, and drives smooth. Mileage is great. I drive about 25 miles a day, have to fill it up every two weeks!!!, about $70/month I use for gas. The red color sure makes it look sporty! In my opinion its a good looking car (contrary to what other people are saying). Make sure to maintain it well regularly. Aged cars need regular care. The only downside I can think of is its acceleration. Acceleration is not so quick or smooth as other newer cars.

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  Hope they improve over the base - 2014 Ford Focus
  By kingkole02 - September 6 - 10:32 am

  This model was a basic, however by 50k miles was showing tranmission issues. Could be a lemon could be beaten up by another driver. However this model slipped in and out of drive and reverse. Performance was bad because the transmission slipped. Once the transmission caught up it was decent in preformance. Other then some issues this vehicle may have been a nice vehicle. Ample interior space, decent seats, good size trunk, and easy to drive.

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  A good buy in my opinion - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By az_sports_fan - September 5 - 10:55 pm

  I have had my 2011 Ford Fiesta SES automatic hatchback for about two years now. I will give a few reasons why I would buy it again. My payment for a next-to-new car was reasonable & its good on gas. My car now has about 83K miles. (When I purchased the car it had about 35K) I have had only one major repair (the back passenger door wouldnt stay closed.) It was $450 to fix that. I love the inside design-it looks nice & is functional. I recently rented a 2013 Nissan Maxima for a trip. I was surprised to find the Nissan had no USB charger & no bluetooth. The only things I dont like is the shifting at low speeds & the lack of power.

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  2003 Convertible - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By ragtopsteed - September 5 - 3:05 pm

  I love my little Mustang. Its not powerful (V6) but, its an original with 17,500 miles. I bought new at our local Ford dealer here in Sarasota, FL. It still gets tons of compliments every time I have it out.

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  Great commuter - 2013 Ford Focus
  By lrc3395 - September 4 - 12:23 pm

  I bought this car new in June of 2013. I commute 70 miles each way and the gas for my SUV was killing me. I test drove the automatic and disliked the feel, then drove the 5 speed and liked it much better. I now have 55k miles on the car and it still runs as well as when I drove it off the lot. I have had no mechanical issues whatsoever in all those miles and have found the Focus to be a comfortable vehicle. A third of my commute is down a windy mountain road and the Focus handles it very well. It drives well in the rain and I had no complaints with its abilities in the snow last winter. Overall, an excellent vehicle.

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  Insane Shift Controller - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By mpence - September 3 - 2:50 pm

  I bought the car used in 2009 with about 32K miles. Its been great mostly. But the transmission behavior leaves a lot to be desired. Normally, it shifts smoothly, but there are 3 quirks that drive me mad. Downshifting, it will slam violently into 1st gear at about 45 mph. Part-throttle acceleration - enough to cause a more than 1 gear downshift - the trans again slams in and out of 1st gear, causing a violent bucking. Not much fun trying to merge onto a freeway! A few times when the previous occurred, the trans just goes out of gear. Have to let it coast, shift either to Neutral or First gear, then it resumes normal driving. The electronic shift controller must be insane!