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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  Great truck! - 1997 Ford Expedition
  By misskayla - July 31 - 12:50 am

  I love my truck. Its a smooth ride, comfortable/roomy. I brought it in 2004 and it came without a CD changer, but I installed one in there. Could do better on gas. Considering I drive state to state, its approching 135,000 miles and I never had a problem with it beside changing my oil and I did replace the alternator a year ago.

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  Better Than A Civic, For Less Money - 2002 Ford Focus
  By rob217 - July 30 - 11:23 pm

  For the money, you cnat beat it. Fun to drive, good on gas. I lowered my car 2" & it made a world of differance(New Springs). The rides a little stiffer than normal, but get it on twisty road & its worth every penny. Also, a K&N Filter helps a little with the power.

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  My experience - 1992 Ford Aerostar
  By Rihmond Ugorji - July 30 - 7:13 pm

  I have driven this car for about three months now and it is running very smooth, It had 145,000 miles on it when I bought it and it still runs smooth.

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  Fun basic transportation - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Jim Schaffer - July 30 - 3:34 pm

  Ive waited two years to write this review because often times first impressions are not accurate. But in this case they would have been because Im as happy with the car now as I was when I first drove it off the lot. The 2.0 motor has lots of pep. The suspension has you thinking your driving something thousands of dollars more than what you paid for it. The fuel mileage is excellent (35 mpg on the interstate). The interior and exterior design is contemporary and very apealling (in my opinion anyway). Overall, an excellent little car!

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  Well See! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By focus1 - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Purchased my 05 Focus last month and so far Ive been pretty happy with it. However, there were three defects that have been corrected. They forgot to install one of the bolts that holds the rear wheel well guard in place. Paint defect on the hood and the passenger mirror molding came loose. Local dealer fixed them all. Must have been built on a Fiday or Monday! Overall this little car is very good. The idependant rear suspension is nice as is the handling and responsiveness. The driver seat feels like it wraps around you. Traded in my 03 Corolla for it. The Corolla is jerky on the road and hurts your rear after a long trip. I hope the Focus can stay par with reliability.

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  So not dissappointed - 2005 Ford Focus
  By BIG KIRK - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I traded out of a full size SUV, and was doubtful that I would be content with a compact as a replacement. I love this little car!! Theres plenty of uummmph under the hood, the STs seats hug like nobodys business and the list of standard features is the best for the money. So far I havent had any problems with the car, but I would encourage others to opt for the upgraded stereo system.

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  Awesome vehicle - 2003 Ford Crown Victoria
  By John - July 30 - 6:16 am

  Ive had this car from 22,000 miles, now have 86,000, all trouble free. Ive taken it on several road trips, even went camping (the trunk fit tents, 4 sleeping bags, a cooler, and a camp grill). I bought the car back when I worked at a Ford dealership, because I had seen how well built they are, and how rarely they had any serious concerns. I intend to keep it for a long time. Some reviews on here talk about weak brakes, but Ive never had any trouble bringing it to a quick stop

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  1997 Ford Mustang V6 Coupe - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By mustang jeff - July 30 - 12:29 am

  Ive had this car for about a year now and I absolutely love it. It is my first car but the driving is excelent. You can feel the road when youre driving and it still has creature comforts. It is a great starter car but I would recomend putting an aftermarket exhaust on it and/or a cold air intake just to boost the horsepower a little bit. Great car.

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  Better than expected - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By MJFDM - July 29 - 11:48 pm

  The Freestyle was a practical choice because rebate plus 0.9% financing saved us thousands over the Odyssey or the Sienna and we got AWD to boot. Wasnt expecting a great car but thats what I got! Handles like a dream, smooth ride, hugs the road on curves, fun to drive. Lots of interior room: third row comfortable even with long legs. Getting 18-19 MPG in town and 24- 25 MPG on the road. Deep well in back gives lots of room for day to day cargo and adequate space for a weeks worth of luggage for 6 of us. Has the best temp. control I have ever had in a car, both heat and AC. Set the temp you want and thats where it stays. Plenty of power for my needs, even up the mountains of central PA.

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  201000 AND RUNS LIKE A CHAMP - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By steve - July 29 - 3:50 pm

  bought this car used w around 80,000 and have driven it daily since. I have over 209000 on it currently and still no major repairs. It is not awd but has the cvt trans. servicing the trans is expensive but have not ever had a problem with it. Everything on the car still works as it should. Super roomy rear passenger seats. Huge trunk. I average about 27 mpg which is good for a car that is so roomy. This is THE most Comfortable Driverseat, I have ever sat in. Love the elevated seat position.