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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  2003 Taurus - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By torqrench - March 24 - 10:30 am

  Bought our 03 SES used at 1 year old and 12,500 miles, wife wanted it. Its OK for basic transportation, does nothing exceptional, but does everything OK. I have never been a fan of Taurus seats and I think theyre uncomfortable. The interior layout is good, but the fit & finish of interior materials is average, at best. Mechanically, the only complaint is the HVAC blower motor went. Problem was a Ford design flaw that allowed water to run down into the motor. I called Ford, awful customer service rep. and despite Ford publishing a Tech Bulletin on this problem (TSB 04-15-3) and selling a "rainhat extension" for $20, they would not fix the problem as the car was 3 months past warranty.

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  Excellent Value - Great Car! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By davecogs - March 24 - 10:00 am

  Currenty w/ 1500 Miles on the SUV (V8), the truck gets two thumbs up. IT was a great value ($42000 list) that ended up costing $32,000 + Tax. The ride, siz, and power are all great. The only bad thing I have to say about the truck is the Gas Milage is terrible (10 MPG City/13 Highway).

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  Very satisfied customer - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Mackie Smith - March 24 - 10:00 am

  This is the second F150 I have had, The first has 235,000 miles on the clock and is still not using oil and running well. My son is still very happy with it. The current model is 9 months old with 73,000 miles on it and it has been a terrific truck. I would recommend it to anyone whos job requires high mileage like mine. It is comfortable and quiet,Quieter than my car.

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  The Best 4dr on the market - 2004 Ford F-150
  By mumaws3 - March 24 - 10:00 am

  Very versatile vehicle can use as a family vehicle as well as a jtruck to haul loads.

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  Great Bargain - 2005 Ford Focus
  By workerwoman - March 24 - 10:00 am

  Nice car for the money. Has all the features of much more expensive cars. This has been a good ownership experience so far. The dealership is easy to work with. Great on gas. Decent pickup.AC works good and fast. Feel very safe in rain too. Tons of features. Leather seat option.

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  awesome truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By grd2083 - March 24 - 3:13 am

  I purchased this truck for my wife and baby on the way. Safety features are incredible and ride comfort is outstanding. I am very particular about my trucks and have combed over this one front to back and I have to say that the overall quality is unsurpassed. This is the best investment I have ever made. If you are hesitating because you want to drive other makes, DONT waste your time. This truck is not the fastest 0-60 but can out pull, or haul any other. Not to mention very stylish,roomy, and quiet.

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  2006 GT Premium Roush Stage One - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By cgbexec - March 24 - 3:03 am

  I had no intentions of buying a Mustang. I stopped by the dealership to have work done on my Explorer brakes. While I was there a 2006 Roush Sport caught my eye. I took it for a spin and fell in love with it. I owned a 1990 Mustang GT and this new 06 is a much nicer car by far. I test drove the body style after the 1990 and hated it. It was smaller inside, no head room, but this new 06 is right on the nose with performance, handling, price and styling. While the car has a hint of retro stying, it is also modern in its application. The Roush is only different in a few styling panels and in 18"X10" Rims. The ride and cornering are different from the stock GT as well.

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  Dependable - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By P. Hardin - March 23 - 3:31 pm

  Had my Explorer for 2 years. Very dependable. Love the body style. Love leather but the 2005 Explorer leather seats are not good. Cracked and looked unkempt within the first year. Would like to see improved gas mileage. Thought it would be better on the V6 than what I am getting. The V8 does just as well. Would I buy another one? Yep, probably so. Overall I really enjoy my Explorer.

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  Focus Wagon - 2002 Ford Focus
  By don - March 23 - 2:18 pm

  This is the 4th Focus in my family. By far it is the most versatile of them all. The cargo capacity cannot be beat by any other small to mid size wagon. Even larger SUVs are lacking this amount of space. It is as reliable as "Old Faithful". While not the quietest ride, it is not the reason I bought it. I have a BMW 528i for those needs.

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  Good buy - 2008 Ford Focus
  By retto - March 23 - 9:50 am

  Excellent buy. Plenty of front seat leg room, engine peppy and 37+ mpg on highway (44mpg for one stretch). Solid/comfortable seats, interior very quiet. I wanted a Mustang, but I am very happy with the Focus and it is $13,000 cheaper. I have driven it at sea level and 10,000 ft., it handled just fine. No complaints! The transmission gearings are spaced just right to help keep RPMs down, shifting is easy.