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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  Drive Circles Around Competition - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Kevin - September 2 - 8:45 am

  These cars are an amazing, theres no way I could have bought a better car. I had a few issues at first and got very upset. All my issues stopped as soon as I fixed the problems myself.

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  Doesnt feel as large as it is - 2007 Ford Expedition
  By Lisa - September 1 - 11:02 pm

  I love the Expedition. The 2007 redesign is great looking on the outside and very comfortable inside. You get many of the features in the high end SUVs such as the Escalade and Denali for much lower cost. It does not feel like a large SUV upon steering, parking, braking etc. Wind noise is minimal at freeway speeds interior cabin is quiet. Tires on the 20" wheels have a nice ride. Towing feels sturdy and safe. This is a solid truck for the cost.

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  I Love My Taurus - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By hondagirl - September 1 - 3:02 pm

  I just purchased the Taurus about 5 days ago, I was in an Explorer. I just cant get over how big the interior is on this car, it seems like its bigger than the explorer. I also had a camry prior to the explorer and this car beats the Camry, the ride, the comfort, the roomy backseat. I would recommend this car to everyone thats looking for a sedan. This car is just an outstanding vehicle.

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  Great work car - 1994 Ford Thunderbird
  By Steve - September 1 - 8:51 am

  I bought this car with 150k mniles on it, and have put over 150k more miles on it. The motor is strong and gets great gas mileage - 27+ mpg on the highway. The paint is pretty rough due to all the miles on it. Preventive maintenance keeps the car running. I drive it daily to work and I get funny looks from everybody because the car doesnt look very good anymore, but I pass everyone, both on the highway and the gas station. I am not planning to restore this one, I have another 94 with over 400k miles that I am restoring to showroom perfect. If you want a reliable car, buy a Tbird with the 4.6 ltr V-8.

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  Very good truck - 2008 Ford Ranger
  By George Dibble - September 1 - 6:29 am

  Very good truck. Ive had this little ranger a little over two years and Ive had no problems with it whatsoever. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a small pick up. The only downside is that its towing capacity is Limited by its four-cylinder engine.

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  Great Car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By SAL - September 1 - 12:36 am

  I went from a SUV to the 500, all around best car I have ever owned. I added a spoiler and a billet grill and pin stripped. Everyone thinks it a $60,000 car. Ford did it right. good performace and mileage. Really having fun with it. Spend the extra dollars and get all the bells and whistles as I did. Enjoy

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  The Best Compact Car Ive Known - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Mike - August 31 - 7:13 pm

  Ive been driving Civic for 6 years and kind of tired of driving no-character car. Finally I was hooked up by the new Focus, especially the cool design. Unexpectedly, the interior was also neat and clean. Very quiet, too. I traded in my Civic with no regret. Frankly, I didnt know Ford has come this far matching, actually exceeding Japanese sedans. Great work, Ford!

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  This Old Truck - 1995 Ford F-150
  By CarbonFuel - August 31 - 4:55 pm

  I paid $4500 last winter. Ive only paid for oil changes. And I cleaned it in and out well because it smelled like a used car. Now its nice, clean, easy to drive. Id never buy a Ford car, but this old truck has been good and a good price. Its very under powered. I drive it easy and get 18 MPG with its 5L V8. Snow, sand, and mud are like driving on pavement when in 4X4.

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  Pretty good deal, but a few small flaws - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Brett N. - August 31 - 4:16 pm

  First off, I dont have the transmission problems because I drive the manual version of this car. My gas mileage is great. I drive a little more highway miles than stop and go, so it my averages are skewed on the high end, but it has to get ~33/39 (I average about 37) in the warmer months and ~29/35 (I average about 33) in the winter months. The original price of the car is good and my car payments are definitely manageable. I havent have to have any repairs. My bluetooth connectivity acted up once, but all it required was pulling the fuse, starting the car, turning off the car, and putting the fuse back in. Overall, I do wish to change a few things: during winter, the wipers sit really low, below the reach of the defrost, so if its really icy and they freeze, its impossible to dethaw them. Also, the contours of the car mean you have to wipe away snow above the door or else it will fall onto the seats as you open them. Apart from winter worries, if you have a passenger, the bar between the passenger, the seat, etc. block the blind spot more than I am used to. Also if there is a tall cup in the frontmost cup holder it interferes slightly with the gearshift. Overall these are minor flaws, and overall I am very happy with it.

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  Best Fit - 2005 Ford Escape
  By olcrank - August 31 - 2:57 pm

  This vehicle does all we want it to. Also have a 4WD 2003 Escape w/no problems. These vehicles are the most practicle,easy-to-drive,comfortable on the road. I drove all kinds of SUVs and pickups over a 35 year career as a mine inspector in the central Mts. of PA (the last being a 2001 Escape). 45,000 miles of mud,dust,water and with regular maintenance no problems.Sure,it wouldnt go some of the places a Jeep could( didnt have the ground clearance)but I was impressed enough to replace two personal cars- a Durango and a Cherokee with the Escapes and have never been sorry.