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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  I like it! - 1991 Ford Explorer
  By desertamber - July 5 - 11:13 pm

  Well since we bought it a few years back, its actually been a great vehicle. Ive only had to replace the brakes once and now the clutch is starting to go...my fault. I was real bad at driving a clutch back then.

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  FX4 Awesome to Drive - 2006 Ford Ranger
  By afmkolo79 - July 5 - 8:43 pm

  Ok so I traded in a VW Jetta and got this truck. Friends of mine were like what am I thinking, but when we took it off-roading for the first time everyone was impressed! A friend has a Nissan Frontier (2006) and I was able to get through stuff and his frame was scrapping. So much for that wider body on the Frontier. I love this truck and the price for what I got was unbelievable. All those people that complain about not having a crew cab, maybe you should consider a sedan cause trucks haul things not people.

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  American Dream? - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By jminichino - July 5 - 8:28 pm

  I bought the car used at 19,000 miles and now have 130,000 miles on it. It has been a rough 130,000 miles. I change the oil every 5,000 miles and rotate tires. Thermostat has gone out twice, electrical system shorted out, causing $1,000 dollars in repairs, and my windshield wiper motor went out. Repairs keep adding up and I dont find it surprising that Ford is going bankrupt. I would love to buy another Ford, but I doubt that will ever happen again. American car companies need to invest in quality and durability or they are done for.

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  Sticky 4-wheel Drive - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By john - July 5 - 3:51 pm

  The truck runs and drives great. We enjoy using it for fun short trips pulling the pop-up camper. However, every time I engage the 4-wheel drive it wont disengage without multiple attempts and switching it back and forth. This happens even after service to the drive line.

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  WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN! - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By dmw - July 5 - 3:08 pm

  My Explorer has had transmission work done on it 3 times in 3 years. It seems like as soon as the one year warranty runs out, so does the transmission. I also have to replace brakes at least twice a year and my check engine light wont go off even after I had the oxygen sensor worked on as instructed by the mechanic. This truck has given me nothing but problems from day one!

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  05 F150XL work truck package - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Mike - July 5 - 1:38 pm

  It has the best ride of any previous Ford trucks. The frame is stiff enough to cancel out the pothole vibrations that usually shake the beds of most trucks. The V6 isnt fast, but it hauls well with the 8ft bed full of gravel. If you drive with the torque instead of revving up, it returns about 20 mpg. Dead reliable for over 30k miles now.

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  Ford tough - if you dont use the aluminum bed - 2016 Ford F-150
  By Joe Shukovsky - July 5 - 7:06 am

  I rented a ford truck to carry some material and dropped a toolbox by accident into the bed, puncturing a hole. I had to pay for it and it cost me over $1000. Unfortunately, this happens a lot as now I see Chevrolet is doing a test it is advertising that its steel bed holds up while Fords can no longer do the same. So you get better gas mileage in the Ford but if you make a mistake a drop a moderately heavy item in the bed, you will have a hole in the floor. See this video from Chevy: http://www.chevrolet.com/silverado-films.html

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  Vidio screen exposed to sun, hard to see - 2016 Ford Taurus
  By Gus Valeri - July 5 - 6:57 am

  no comment

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  1999 Taurus SE - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By katie - July 4 - 9:19 pm

  The Taurus is a surprisingly good driving car. The ride is very comfortable and the handling is better than I expected. The A/C is excellent. The controls are logical and easy to use. I bought the car with 115m on it and expect over 200m with frequent oil changes and other scheduled maintenance. The car has been outstanding so far.

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  Extremely happy - 2002 Ford Expedition
  By SMA - July 4 - 6:18 pm

  I assumed I would eventually get an SUV but put it off for some time. My last car was an AUDI and I loved that kind of performance. However, I decided to take a test drive for kicks. Granted performance was not the same as my old car but I was sold on the feeling of safety and being able to see traffic better. After researching this vehicle I made the move and Im even happier than I thought I would. It fits more cargo and passengers than I thought it would comfortably. The ride is also surprisingly smooth considering its roots in the F-150. I have also found it reasonable to get in and out of (although I have heard the 4WD model is tougher). Gas is as expected. No complaints so far!