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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  Awesome Stang - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Scott - August 18 - 4:03 pm

  Ford has a winner. It brings back memories of my first car, a 65 Mustang. This is by far the greatest car I have owned. The ride is far better than I expected, very comfortable and no fatigue. Its a thrill to drive. My commute to work is a blast. The gas mileage is acceptable for a V-8. Im averaging 23.5 mpg and thats not babying the car either. The 5 speed manual transmission is smooth with a lot of torque. Really sets you back in the seat. The car loves to go fast, its performance is awesome. I get compliments all the time about the styling of this car. All in all it is a great ride, fun to drive, great performance and a real head turner to boot. Awesome Stang.

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  Love this car! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Amber J - August 18 - 1:46 pm

  I was planning on buying this car a year before it was on the showroom floors. Just the fact of the interior roominess was a major selling point for me. I traded in my 2002 Mustang for the Five Hundred. What luxury! Great gas mileage, sound system is very nice, interior and exterior looks are quite classy. I do not find it boring at all and it has plenty enough power to get going when needed quickly. this ones a keeper. A beautiful car Im proud to own

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  So Far So Good - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By DH - August 18 - 10:39 am

  Bought new. Was looking for large SUV versitile enough to haul people and stuff with good value. No major complaints, handles well. Very comfortable and great for long trips.

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  Going Backwards - 2016 Ford Escape
  By Nancy - August 18 - 7:28 am

  I have been driving a Ford Escape Hybrid for the past 6 years and LOVE IT, so I naturally went looking to buy another one. Imagine my surprise. While it is a beautiful vehicle with lots of storage in the back, there is no place to put ANYTHING, including a cell phone in the front. They took away every nook and cranny. While I LOVED the Jukebox feature whereby I could upload all of my music to the hard drive of the car and easily access it, they took that feature away. They also took away the ability to play a DVD on the screen in the front seat of the car. On long trips, I loved taking a break at a rest area and mindlessly watching a DVD while I rested. Also taken away were the wonderful mirrors within mirrors so that I could see if a vehicle was in my blind spots. Now there is a warning light, but you cant actually SEE the vehicle. So, while there have been some wonderful improvements, I will miss those four features immensely.

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  Two birds in hand - 2002 Ford Thunderbird
  By Barbie - August 18 - 12:12 am

  My wife came from a poor family and her dream has always been to own a Tbird. She purchased at long last and after many years of working and saving a 1955 which she drove often but mostly in the Summer and of course being an old car. I mean Old "6 Volt Generator" She decided it was time to buy a car that was more modern. She purchased the 2002 and never looked back. Although the cars are completely different, they are both icons in her life representing old values and new ideas as she likes to say. Of course the new Tbird is wonderful, just check any of the ratings on here!

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  NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By NEVER BUY A FORD - August 17 - 5:14 pm

  I bought this lemon in 2005 had 32000 miles on it. I had to replace transmission in April 2007 at 50000 miles and replaced engine at 59000 miles, what a lemon. It makes me sick to think Ford builds cars like this to sell to familys. Will never buy another Ford product ever!!

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  Old guy car nut - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By jack osborn - August 17 - 12:18 pm

  Have owned 40 automobiles and am a professional engineer. I am an official car nut. This is a beautiful automobile, California special. But, if you are 60 years old this car will beat you up when driving our poor roads and I drive 40k per year. Am going back for an Edge. Ford has improved drastically. Had previous SHO and station wagon and piece of junk. These are high quality. Would recommend this car, but only for those who can put up with the "boy-racer" situation. Ford should be commended for their improvements.

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  Chevy guy - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Josh b - August 17 - 8:45 am

  So i just bought my first ford ever a 2016 mustang ecoboost competition orange it has every option avaliable so it cost $2k more than the GT big deal so far getting 28mpg and thats after a few wide open runs and going 100+ a couple times and aftermarket parts wow endless supply just ordered $1500 worth parts should be right around 400hp without all the weight the GT carries only complaint is the back seat is pretty much non existent and the little 4 cylinder does use premium gas other then that happy with my purchase. If youre looking into the camaro do yourself a favor and check out the mustang interior is light years ahead sorry chevy just switched teams!

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  Fun to drive, bang for buck - 2003 Ford Focus
  By black euro - August 17 - 3:10 am

  This car is a blast to drive fast and aggresive, but is also good for just cruising and driving for better gas mileage. The car is compact yet has very useful, roomy interior, for a car this size. The brakes and handling are superb. The exhaust note is like a well tuned performance car, not loud and buzzy. The engine has a wide power band and it will pull all the way to its 7200 redline. ItÂ’s hard to find a better bang for your buck. I have seen so many other compact and b segment cars priced well above what these cars sell for. And most dont even come close to the performance, value and fun factor of this car. The car has been problem free since I owned it and I drive it daily, and enthusiastically.

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  Not found on road dead - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By LMS - August 16 - 10:49 pm

  I woud say that this SUV has proven it is reliable and durable. I put over 400,000 miles on the vehicle in 10 years. The mechanical difficulties that I encountere were to do with the breaks and the roaters. I have replaced them 3 times. The engine has been very reliable. It has been comfortable to ride in. I do not like the rear seat and the shortness of the back for neck support, but for some this is not an issue. I would have liked the seats to fold down compleatly for hauling purposes. The leather has held up and is just now begining to crack and tear in some places. The gas mileage is ok, but could be better. My Explorer was never found on road dead.