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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  Corroded rims - 2008 Ford Edge
  By caroline - July 25 - 2:09 am

  My chrome rims started peeling in 2009. My dealer stated that the rims were dirty. I did not want any lengthy discussion with the dealers resistance so I thought I would bring it to another dealer - knowing that others have had their rims replaced for the same problem I did not think this would work out to be an ordeal. After dealing with job change, divorce and cancer within my immediate family the vehicle was not the most pressing concern. Bringing my car back to the dealer at 38,000 miles - out of warranty- the corroded rims are undeniable but the dealer will not change the rims since it is out of warranty. Ford cos response is that this issue is between me and the dealer.

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  Good car. - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By Anonymous - July 24 - 9:34 pm

  I really like my 2003 Taurus. The car has about 140,000 on it now and doesnt have the get up and go it used to (it does hesitate when accelerating quickly) but I have had minimal problems over the years. I deal with Birmingham stop & go traffic everyday with about a 30 mile commute so I do have to have regular brake maintenance but other than that I have no complaints. Very roomy so its great for tall people like me. I think its about ready to be traded in but I will miss it.

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  Trusted and Loved - 1995 Ford Escort
  By MAZORD - July 23 - 4:57 pm

  I have owned two Escort GTs, and I LOVED both. There peppy when you want them to be and docile when you need them to be. I have NEVER had any problems with either one, and would faithfully drive anywhere no matter the distance in my GT that has OVER 200,000 miles on it. Decent interior with lots of trunk space gotta love hatchbacks, and decent leg room. ANYBODY that has ever ridden in an old eclipse will LOVE the back seats of these cars. Anybody that wants to have a fast car, the escort is the ultimate sleeper if you want to invest some money of course. check out Ford Escort Coswoths then investigate an engine called a BPT or a BPR both direct swaps for the escorts. 12 sec quarters or faster!

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  This car can be one fun ride! Not hwy - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Joe - July 23 - 6:02 am

  Youll want this car if you steer a lot. If you take most of your time on the highways, not so much. You might yell at it to accelerate a bit faster and without such a big grunt just to go from 45-60. But if you steer: Its like very smooth butter being sliced on bread. Steering = city streets and curved roads. It is reliable. 9 years only 1 repair. Sure, its suffered tire damage. But it spent most of its life in NYC! In a backyard full of nails and who knows what! Thats to be expected! Sure its got just 50k and we treated it well, sort of. Its been in an accident once struck by a large car going 40mph on the side. What happened? The left door creaks. Thats it. Perfect otherwise!

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  You Wont Be Disappointed. - 2007 Ford Taurus
  By WhiteTaurus - July 22 - 3:28 am

  Skeptical of this car at first, Ive come to love it. Nearly 70k miles, and this car has never been to a mechanic for any major repair. A very reliable vehicle, with only one strange moment when the engine stalled at a stoplight. Fords Vulcan V6 makes 155 hp, and has been surprisingly quick when I pushed it. Fuel economy can be as high as 32 mpg on the highway, with an average of 24 mpg in the city. Ride comfort is decent. Interior is comfortable, with well designed instrument panels and easy-to- clean upholstery. Stereo is good, but the ability to install an MP3 player connection would make it great. Exterior styling is a little bland, but its grown on me.

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  Nothing but problems - 2006 Ford F-150
  By fish - July 21 - 5:46 pm

  Ive been a ford driver for decades. This will be my last Ford. I had several transmission tweaks at 20,000 miles. MAF sensor puked at 28,000 ($650). Differential died at 58,000 miles ($2500). Now my transmission needs new bearings at 63,000 miles. Of course my warranty was void last month so I have to foot a bill for over $2500 to fix the transmission on a 3.5 year old vehicle. Very not cool. This truck is a daily driver, not a workhorse by any stretch of the imagination. Goodbye Ford, its time for a Ram.

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  Very enjoyable - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By Bgenia1216 - July 21 - 1:53 am

  I love my GT/CS. The performance is very exciting and the 4.6 does a nice job to really get this car moving. I have an auto and its no slug, it will get up and move when you want it to. The drop top is a very nice feature. Easy to operate and fairly quick to raise/lower. Due to the live rear axle you can experience some drivability issues when pushing the car around a turn with bumps in the road, not enough for me to really consider it not drivable when pushed. I have the shaker 500 and its loud enough to hear with the top down while driving 80. For MPG you can get good numbers if you are being very good. Top down 18/24 and up 20/25. You can have a new car with just a few mods, enjoy!

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  Like the car, hate the fuel economy - 2010 Ford Edge
  By Steve - July 21 - 1:25 am

  This is my second Ford purchase after having owned a 2002 Ford Escape for 8 years and, overall, I have been pleased with my purchase. As part of my car searching process, I looked at the Nissan Murano, Dodge Nitro, Jeep Liberty, and Acura RDX (to name a few). Before test driving the Edge, I had actually been prepared to purchase the Acura but the Edges larger size, overall look/feel, and 6 cylinder engine won me over. Though others have commented on how the ride (seats?) is not comfortable, I have had the exact opposite experience. The ride is fairly smooth and the seats are particularly comfortable. In addition, there is plenty of room for passengers who are taller than five feet!

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  American Quality? - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Jeff H - July 20 - 6:35 pm

  Bought American to support my country and UAW after years of Asian vehicles. Engine runs/idles louder/rougher than comparable imports and SUV has been into dealer 3 times for over 3 weeks. Mysterious clunking in rear (Ford engineer called in), leaky transmission, transmission shifting problems (recall to reprogram control module solved them). Overall, I like the vehicle but have been a little disappointed with the overall quality and experience of owning it. Certainly makes me question the contention that domestic vehicles are equal to and exceeding imports. And, it seems like every other car on the road is an Escape!

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  Happy salesman - 2010 Ford Taurus
  By Salesman - July 20 - 11:27 am

  I purchased a Ford Taurus SEL with everything but leather in June. I already have five thousand miles on the car and I still cant find any problems or complaints. People stop me on the street to comment on the styling and color (Candy Red) I love the car and I am getting 27.2 mpg on the highway and 22 off. Average of 24.8 overall. Car has great power, love the steering wheel controls and the dash design. Interior lighting is nice. I put a lot of miles on and my only recommendation to Ford would be the drivers seat could be a little more comfortable, but it isnt bad. Car rides like a dream, and for the money there is nothing else like it.