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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  Love it - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By atalaya1 - July 25 - 8:55 pm

  I just love my SUV. I find it fun to drive (I must I have Ive had it since third week in January 2011 and I already have 10,000 miles on it. I love the interior, the ride, the room. I only wish I had the back up camera. This is my 4th Ford I have owned, Tarsus, T-Bird and Areostar and by far the best. Would recommend it to everyone.

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  Believe the Hype - 2011 Ford F-150
  By nvr2lt - July 25 - 7:43 pm

  I realize the hype around the ecoboost motor sounds beyond believable but as a new owner I say believe it. I have owned a number of domestic trucks, big v 8s to Diesels as well as a number of european sedans and my last ride was an Escalade. The F150 Platinum is on par with everyone of those vehicles for fit and finish. The performance and fuel economy of the ecoboost is amazing. Quiet ride, over the top technology and a huge discount off the MSRP and this is easily the best vehicle I have purchased in the last number of years. Nice job Ford!

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  5 stars for me - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By tempist1 - July 25 - 1:22 pm

  I bought this explorer awhile ago and put a lot of miles on it. I have never had a problem with it at all. I always get the regular oil changes, brakes etc. I have had Chryslers and gm vehicles that are completely worthless but so far with all of the Ford products I have purchased, I have been very lucky. This Explorer is great for everything from handling to pulling. Maybe some of the others out there may have been a bad batch or something. So far so good. All 5 Fords that I have owned I have taken over 100,000 miles with no problems at all and I hope this explorer will be the same. I will write another review if its not.

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  This car is amazing, and Im a car snob - 2011 Ford Edge
  By hotzmonster - July 22 - 7:35 pm

  Im a car snob. When my wife got the Edge, I was driving a Mercedes E63 AMG (500 HP, top of the line Benz). My wife gets company cars, and they need to be Fords, so she picked a loaded Edge Sport. This car blows me away. It is quite, quick, handles like a sports car, and has more features than I ever imagined. We pulled a small trailer with motorcycles for 800 miles and it was flawless. I cant speak for long-term reliability since its only at 5K miles, but as far overall quality and fun factor, I think youd be crazy to buy that little Lexus or other generic SUV. No, I dont work for Ford, Im truly amazed by this ride. Rear DVD, synch, great sound, cool looking....amazing ride.

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  Who woulda thunk, me in a King Ranch!! - 2006 Ford F-150
  By tomerikac - July 20 - 10:17 am

  So here I am, searching craigslist, cars.com, the newspaper and anywhere else to replace my 15 yr old Dodge Ram Laramie for something with a backseat for my two growing kids. I mean I looked everywhere for about 2 years, harrassing car salesmen for the best deal, checking out Rams, Frontiers, F150s, Silverados, Tacomas and Tundras. Then I run across a small ad on craigslist for a 2006 King Ranch crew cab for $20,500, 37k miles. So I call and a previous caller had already talked her (yeah owned by a 55 yr old woman) down to $19.5k. So I made sure I was the 1st to see it, deposited $100 because it was in near mint condition and cannot believe its mine.

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  Ford Fusion is Awesome - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By rojack725 - July 19 - 12:00 pm

  So far, were very pleased with our Bordeaux Reserve Red Metallic Fusion with the Light Stone Leather interior. Color in and out is stunning. 175hp 4cyl powerplant is more than adequate for my daily needs, and its very rev-happy. Passing power is like a V6. Mileage is 28+ before break-in. Very cool. 6-speed auto shifts confidently and seamlessly. Ambient Lighting and electroluminescent guages are sweet make the interior look like a Tron Cycle. Sony stereo is very nice- bass-y enough and clear. The Fusion handles like a Focus and is the quietest car I have ever owned. All in all, we are very pleased and look forward to spending the next 10 years or so in its cabin.

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  Cant wait to drive it everyday with the top down! - 2011 Ford Mustang
  By mgsurf - July 18 - 11:24 am

  Been an import guy for 20+ years but decided to "upgrade" to the new Mustang. Its roomier without feeling like a boat, better on gas milage than some imports and built rock solid. Great commuter.

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  Lovin the Edge!! - 2011 Ford Edge
  By slammersa - July 14 - 9:48 pm

  WAS a big GM Fan - after having several broken hearts over my beloved Bravada (left me stranded in Texas w/80k miles), mid life crisis Camaro (97k miles) and finally my cute little Chevy Colorado (for garden work). I joined my husband on the Ford bandwagon. We traded in my 07 Colorado (snifff) for this VERY NICE 2011 Ford Edge!!! The second I drove the Edge off the lot I fell in Love!!! XOXOXOX The Edge handles beautifully - with the rubber mat in the back I have plenty of room for trips to the Farmers market and garden store, and its great on long trips. Hubby even likes riding in the passenger side - he can kick back with plenty of room to spare!

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  Great car with one exception - 2012 Ford Taurus
  By indianaguy - July 14 - 3:22 pm

  Car is very comfortable and quiet. We live in a rural area and average 26 to 27 mph in every day driving and over 30 on the highway. We are surprised with both for such a large car. It is very comfortable with one major exception. The flat floor space on the passenger side is too small for an individual with larger feet. On a long trip it can become quite annoying. We have the limited and I believe that it is because of all the hardware needed to accommodate all the bells and whistles in the seat itself.

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  Loving it now - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By wifesgthaha - July 14 - 12:07 am

  I have always hated fords. I own a 97 cavalier z24 myself. has all the mods. getting ready for paint. nice. then i bought my wife her stang. its the 4.6 v8 5 speed. i am totally in love with this car. never thought i could find a ford this comfortable and the dual exhaust sounds awesome. mine now sounds like a [violative content deleted] bumble bee compared to hers. we are still trying to figure out if its a bullit or not. its got alot of the features and designs and the title says bullit gt but it doesnt matter. i am now selling my car to buy one like hers. lol