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:

• 

  My Truck - 2005 Ford F-150
  By docinmiss - September 16 - 10:16 am

  This is a fine truck. performs well. Never required any repairs. My main problem is seeing where the front end is when parking. My other dislike is the depth of the bed. I cannot reach items in the bed without a stick or rake. Id prefer a shallower bed myself. It drives extremely well. The ride is smoother than most autos I drive.

• 

  Bruces Mustang - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Bruces 04GT Mustang - September 16 - 3:59 am

  One hot car. 5th gear is only used after 60. It is amazing that at 80, it is turning just 2000 rpm. No joke. I took a trip at 60 to 70 mph and got 22.8 mpg. Most times I get right around 19 to 20 mpg. It is very difficult to find information about this car. How many were manufactured? HP/WEIGHT ratio. How much are the commemorative medallions valued at. I have six of them. I have special wheels bought from a noted tire dealer. I have been offered $250 or more for the original alloy rims. Why are they worth anything at all? 3 people have offered me at least that much money.

• 

  Stone Cold Reliable - 1997 Ford F-150
  By BTE - September 15 - 11:13 pm

  My F-150 has been a pleasure to own. I do wish for more torque from the 4.6 at times, but that is really due to the OHC design which predictably displays the opposite power making characteristics of what should be in any 4x4 truck. I added 4.10 gears to mine to make up for the lack of torque and it improved off the line performance considerably with little effect on gas mileage. At 140,000 miles all I have done is standard maintenance and it runs like a champ. The interior has held up well too. It seems better built than the new F-150s (noticed the cheap plastic fuel door on the current trucks). My tailgate is heavier than some but if you cant lift it then buy a Honda or a Subaru.

• 

  Great Family Car - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Brandy T - September 15 - 1:59 pm

  I bought this car when we were expecting a second child. Its roomy enough for all of us. The trunk has a TON of space. Love the extra features of the SEL, but with the extra power comes less than optimal gas mileage (22 mpg city, 26 hwy). Since I only drive 12-15k/year its not too big a deal.

• 

  IMPRESSIVE - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By eileen - September 15 - 4:20 am

  I traded in my Honda Accord for the Freestyle. IÂ’m so happy I did. It looks great, gets the best gas mileage in its class, its roomy. And best of all, our dogs absolutely love it! We put all the back seats flat, cover with a fitted sheet (queen, fits perfect!) and comforter, roll the windows 1/2 way down & our dogs are in heaven. We cant wait to take road trips in it. I absolutely recommend it to families & active folks with kids or dogs, or sports enthusiasts. We have the SEL in white/gold trim. ItÂ’s sharp. For us, its perfect. But most importantly, the safety features, comfort, mpg & fact that it suits not only us, but our dogs, sold us on this one. Enjoy!

• 

  Gas Mileage - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Amie - September 15 - 12:56 am

  Good concept, but doesnt live up to my expectations. Gas mileage around town is 14-15 mpg, not much better that the 12 mpg I was getting from my 5.4 Expedition.

• 

  big block gas hog - 1993 Ford F-250
  By big johnson - September 14 - 9:34 pm

  The truck is great. The mileage is lousy but it makes up for it in the power and torque.

• 

  Freestyle the best kept secret - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Jaybird36 - September 14 - 10:38 am

  After a summer of driving the kids around I have to say that the Freestyle is the great family hauler. Have a 2001 Windstar and decided to see if the Freestyle would as good a hauler as a minivan but with a better ride and comfort. Well, the answer is "YES". There is not as much interior space as a minivan but I am over it. The Freesytle is great!

• 

  20000 miles & perfect - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Bruce - September 14 - 10:26 am

  Leased an early 2005, Jan 2005. Now have 20,000 miles. Car has been perfect. Only recall was the gas tank straps. Extended trip this spring from N MI to S FL resulted in an average mileage of 25 mpg driving 75 mph average. We get 20 mpg in town like clockwork. CVT has worked like a charm. AWD is awesome in the winter, as good or better than my 4x4 F150 Lariat. We will be leasing another in Jan 07. The dealers cant find used ones. No one is letting this car go.

• 

  The seats and exterior are best points - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By PEP - September 14 - 10:00 am

  We drive the explorer back and forth from AZ to CA. Great comfortable front seats, usually gets just over 20 mpg. 4 doors are more convenient but I like the look and solid feel of the 2 door. I get lots of compliments on the metallic red color.