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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  Back to Ford - 2010 Ford Escape
  By PMFF1234 - May 13 - 2:17 am

  Trade in a Volvo XC-90 for the Escape. Have 400 miles on veh. So far love it. Have all the gadgets with it. BAck up camera the works. I wish gas milage was better but not bad overall. Avg. about 23-24.

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  Windstar 2003 SE - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By marcovi48 - May 12 - 3:23 pm

  I have a 2003Windstar SE.I like this van a lot but I have a lot of electrical problems,the alternator change 3 times power locks after 4 months of haven this car stop working.transmition replace at 81000,abs light always on and now my rear axle broke in half,so can not say that this is a good car for the $32000 that I pay,

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  Been very good - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Eric - May 12 - 2:52 pm

  Weve had one problem, the throttle body, which has been somewhat common. Had to wait on the part because of the collapse of the auto industry. This has been the only issue we have had with the car. The problem only existed when we idled for long periods and when it was hot outside. It is very reliable and comfortable on trips. I have four kids and we all fit with comfort. It is about as safe as a car can get, and all-in-all a great purchase. Too bad no one else figured out how good these cars are. May not be beauties, but they are great for families that need space.

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  Very good car but... - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By Lee McCormick - May 11 - 5:33 pm

  I bought the 2300 4 with a 5 speed stick shift. Im past the age of caring much about speed, and its fast enough for me. The tranny is a bit stiff going between 2nd and 3rd. Its fine if I shift at low rpm, but if I rap it out it frequently misses 3rd unless I double clutch it. I drive pretty sedately so its not really a problem. My main complaint is about the fuel economy. I get all they claimed, but I know they could do much better. My last car was a 1998 Mercury Marquis with a 5.0 liter V8. It got at least as good gas mileage as my little Fusion. I think they are sand bagging. I think it should be getting at least 35-40 mpg on the highway, and thats without any fancy technology.

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  Tough as Nails - 1995 Ford F-150
  By Texas Native - May 11 - 4:20 pm

  I bought my truck at an equipment auction. It had the 4.9L 6 cyl & 5 speed. When I bought the truck it had 105k miles on it. When I sold it 11 years later it had over 250k miles on it and still running strong. I averaged around 18MPG most of the time. If I drove only highway I could get up to 21mpg for a full size truck that is very impressive. I used it for work, and for fun. I hauled many heavy loads and full trailers with ease. I wish Ford would have continued th3 4.9L with the newer trucks. In my 11 years of owning it. I replaced a clutch, brake pads and a radiator. I bought it for $7k and sold it 11 years later for $3k. I wish I would have kept it -)

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  Fix or Repair Daily.... Never buy one!! - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Ricardo - May 11 - 3:58 pm

  First i will list all of the good qualities. It is fuel efficient, spacious, has an easy to operate radio, great for long distance trips, but its no Toyota. Now the bad, airbag light in instument panel has been on 8 times. Six times in 09 alone. apparently the techs cant get it right. My transmission went out at 61,000 and had to get rebuilt. The back door lock on the passenger side (which is rarely used) stopped working around 17,000 (covered under warranty). Road and engine noise is unbearable on a windy day. Thankkfully the radio mutes that out when played loud enough. Miles at purchase: 5541 Current Miles: 77100

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  2008 Escape - 2008 Ford Escape
  By gcedmondson - May 11 - 3:36 pm

  Dealership was great to deal with. I loved driving this vehicle through the winter. It went through the snow wonderfully. I never had to wonder if I would be able to get round. I would recommend if you own an 2008 to be sure to do the recent March 2010 recall for the Transmission fluid cooler. I took mine in to be fix only to find out that I was miles away from ruining my Escape.

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  Fun Truck - 1991 Ford Bronco
  By matt greer - May 11 - 12:10 pm

  I bought the bronco with 150k on it,so I knew there would be some issues.I only paid 2k for it.The bronco hasnt let me down yet.I use it to pull a ski boat and go camping.Its,strong,durable,and a lot of run.Its not a tahoe though.No smooth ride,multi sensored,electronic everything,overpriced soccor mom truck here.I average 15mpg and can tow fairly well.With the removeable top a bronco is an oversized jeep that can easily multi task with the modern suvs.Just not as refined,complicated,or expensive.

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  Impressive - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By LastPatriot - May 11 - 7:58 am

  After driving an Infiniti QX4 for some time, I was ready for a better fuel sadan w/o giving up the comforts of what I was used to. I had never really considered a Ford before because of past history but with the reviews on Comsumer Reports about reliability of the Fusion, I figured it was worth the look. So far, at 54K miles there has not been one problem and the comfort/quality is far beyond what I had come to expect from Ford. Fuel is about 18-20 in town and 29- 31.5 on the highway (about 70mph). Overall, the Fusion is an impressive car when considering the cost with what options Ford is offering. SYNC is a really nice touch.

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  Love This FX4! - 2010 Ford F-150
  By BR549 - May 10 - 6:24 pm

  Only have about 250 miles on this so far, but love it. I got this to replace my 2005 Taco. The interior layout is almost exactly like my old truck, but with more horsepower, more room, more bells/whistles and more creature comforts. I want to get the engine broken in before I report any actual mileage.