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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  New Freestyle - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Dan - November 21 - 9:51 am

  I have found the Freestyle to be practical, roomy and fun to drive. It handles like a sport vehicle and gives a nice ride at the same time. It is very flexible in that I can quickly convert from a roomy carry all to a practical 7 passenger vehicle.

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  My favorite Drive - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Fran Delozier - November 21 - 6:39 am

  I really love driving this Freestyle. Easy in and out for any older person. Continuous drive train a real delight to use. Feel of an SUV, high up but really not so overbearing as an SUV. I will definitely hope to still have the availability of the Freestyle when it is time for a new automobile.

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  this is one of the best - 2004 Ford F-150
  By cypress ford - November 21 - 4:13 am

  Had my truck for a while now and though it may be slower than the competitors, it is certainly more of a truck. Its comfortable and quiet. My mother has MS and we needed a truck and this is the only one with a good enough ride and that was quite enough for her. It is also the best looking in my opinion. Simply the best I think in almost every way.

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  First truck, and loving it! - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Stephen - November 20 - 11:27 pm

  I purchased this truck because I love trucks, and more specifically, Ford trucks. However it is my first one. I have not been disappointed for the most part. Reliability has been great, and I get complements everywhere I go. A manual transmission was one of my top priorities, so I opted for the small, V6 engine. As can be expected, it is no rocket, however, with the manual tranny, it feels pretty torquey off the line. I have regularly hauled full bedloads of stuff, with not problem, and on several occasions towed a bass boat. It takes everything in stride with no problems. On long trips, even with a full bed and AC going full blast, I have received as high as 21.5 mpg on the highway!

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  Good car from Ford - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Dave - November 20 - 4:26 pm

  Nice car that handles well. Exterior appearance is good for a domestic and looks better than its Asian rivals. Powerful engine, good features inside. Weakest link is engine noise, and squeaks from the interior.

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  Constant repair needed - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By silverbax - November 20 - 8:30 am

  Bought a 98 Ford, had a good vehicle history. Every time there was a little rattle or squeak, Id take it in to try and maintain it. Bad thing: about 3-4 times a year something major happens. Fuel injector sticks and cant be fixed. A/C went out, antifreeze line ruptured, check engine comes on for no reason, and yesterday dash lights blinked out a couple of times. Sometimes parts just fall off - literally. Have to have it aligned about every six months. Spent over $3000 per year in repairs, and it still needs more work. Like the design, but I wont buy another one.

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  Traded in the Toyota Tacoma - 2006 Ford Ranger
  By Dean - November 19 - 10:46 pm

  I purchased a 2006 Toyota Tacoma because of all the rave expert reviews. I traded it in less than a year for the much lower rated Ford Ranger 2006. Why? The Ranger is the best market value - simply put you get more truck for the money. Another reason, cosmetic toughness - breath on Tacoma and it scuffs. Everything feels cheap. 18 years of engineering refinement in my opinion has made the Ranger rock solid. DonÂ’t pay attention to the experts. They most likely donÂ’t own the vehicles they recommend.

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  2000 XLT - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By jrc346 - November 19 - 10:00 am

  Very pleased overall. Had to give it back to the dealership last June because the lease was up. I had 2 problems with it. The first being that I had the timming chain rattle from the SOHC V6. When they took apart the engine to work on that they messed up a spark pulg wire that would make my Explorer miss and run badly. However those were my only two issues. It never squeeked ((even with living on a bumpy Michigan dirt road) Heck, even mainroads here will bring out a squeek on almost any vehicle :-) The 4WD worked flawlessly and I am going to get my wife a 2000 Limited to replace her aging 1996 Explorer (which has also been great only needing a fuel pump.

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  Sweet - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Lunaticz - November 19 - 10:00 am

  cant compare to anything out in the market even if fords do suck the expedition seems like it is not connected to the ford company because it is one of a kind, i was more of a yukon person but the 2003 eddie bauer was top of the line even a little better than the escalade even though the escalade looks nicer but the expo is tight

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  State of the Art SUV - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Pogi - November 19 - 10:00 am

  This one definitely kicks. Mine had a punchy V8 which is very reliable when overtaking or merging lanes. Rides very smooth like a car. A striking appearance especially the front silver grille, combined with the boxy look of the front. At night, the dashboard looks like the control panel of a jetliner - control buttons here and there. The automatic climate control is truly versatile - it does all 4 you including defogging the windows. Steering is very responsive. Overall performance is excellent in all areas and conditions - thanks to its front AND rear independent suspensions.