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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  Better than we thought - 2002 Ford Focus
  By bbsrover - August 30 - 2:18 pm

  We bought 02 Focus SE (auto) in Jan 2002. So far it has 60k miles. Happy with its overall reliability and handling (considering its a FORD). Its fun to drive. No powertrain or any powered parts problem. Its an economical car and some parts such as tires and rotors have worn out fast. What have been repaired/changed include: all 4 tires (less than 3 yrs), 2 front rotors (less than 3 yrs), spark plugs and wires (4 yrs), one rear light bulb and drain plug (less than 3 yrs).

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  Good Car - 1990 Ford Mustang
  By Dan - August 30 - 11:52 am

  No major problems in 108k miles. Even with the v8 it was a bit underpowered compared to modern performance cars. Traction was extremely poor in snow. Seats were comfortable and controls easy to use. Tire selection was limited for the standard rims. Fuel economy could be better. Exterior design was dated, even at the time.

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  Solid Truck - 1997 Ford F-250
  By Dan - August 30 - 11:34 am

  No major problems (yet). Mine has the small v8 with tow package so it is slow going up hills with a trailer. At 100k miles transmission is starting to have rough shifts when cold. Havent done much towing or city driving and it has a cooler as part of the tow package. Original Goodyear tires lasted 92k miles! Still on original disk brake pads at 108k miles. Best truck I have owned.

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  Hill Country TX Review - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Canyon Lake, TX. - August 30 - 10:49 am

  Prior to our purchase, we test drove Chevy HHR & Equinox (neither impressed us), Suzuki Grand Vitara (lacked performance) Saturn Vue (lacked style) Jeep Compass (poor quality). Were happy with the Escape. Handles the hill country well, excellent quality, ride, performance. We also like the appearance over competitive makes. Nice features, but gas mileage in our 4WD model is not impressive (16 mpg) and we need darker window tint to handle the Texas sun. Impressive driveability on wet & dry roads.

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  Found On Road Dead - 1999 Ford Escort
  By NoMoreFords - August 30 - 10:36 am

  This car seemed to work alright up until about 65,000 miles...then I found myself in and out of the dealership/repair shops every few months. I would not buy a Ford again, lesson learned.

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  Great Car - 2003 Ford Escape
  By JohnG - August 30 - 9:52 am

  This vehicle has met my expectations since my very first test drive. It was great to feel the smooth acceleration as I stepped on the gas and listened to the mighty little 3.0 come to life. It handles the road and curves like something that you might expect in a European concours. Its been loyal and fun to drive and my girls, the 100 lb. yellow labs, love it too!

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  Great small SUV - 2007 Ford Escape
  By Jerry R - August 30 - 6:38 am

  The Escape is a relatively inexpensive, fun-to-drive small SUV that also happens to get pretty decent gas mileage. It has more cargo room than I had anticipated which has been a very welcome surprise.

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  Wow, the best of the suv world - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Tim - August 30 - 12:48 am

  Fords only problem with this vehicle is that it doesnt have the ad budget that Ford puts on its other vehicles. We drove a lot of suvs and crossover vehicles. The first thing we noticed is the ease of getting in and out of the vehicle. You dont climb in, you just get in. Ours has every option I could dream up. If you have kid, get the dvd option, it makes long trips much more bearable. I did a lot of research on this vehicle before we bought it, the only real comparative/negative that I could find was it was under powered compared to other crossovers, (Buick Rendezvous, and Chrysler Pacifica). We drove those. With the Freestyles CVT transmission it doesnt need 245hp. Passing is scary fast.

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  Perfect car for Anybody - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By JCD II - August 29 - 8:25 pm

  My mom bought this car new. It is so comfortable to drive and operate. I am 16 and I know plenty about cars. My mom bought a new 93 Taurus at the same dealership we got this one. We hated to see our old one go. It had over 200k on it, yet it still ran perfect. The Taurus is perfect for long vacations or just to go to town and back. Either way, this is the best car we have ever had. When I graduate in 2008 Im taking this car to college. Its probably going to have 200k on it then, but I dont care. I have faith it wont skip a beat. Its been such a reliable car, I can always be sure that when I turn the key, the ol motor will start right up. I will always recommend a good ol Ford Taurus.

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  Ford Contour - 2000 Ford Contour
  By Brian - August 29 - 11:12 am

  My car just hit 60,000 miles and still running strong. Have not had to put any money into it other than routine maintenance. Gets pretty good gas mileage for a V6 with great power. Had some problems with the dashboard for awhile but was able to glue it back on. Its not afraid to be pushed around corners because of its great grip. Great car and power for the money that I paid.