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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  best truck i ever had - 2004 Ford F-150
  By csbarnes - June 2 - 2:00 am

  i like the truck and the only problem i ever had with it was the back doors, the molding between the front and back door on the back door was bent out by the front door. But besides that it has been a great truck and i love driving it everyday.

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  great truck, beats my ZO-6 - 2004 Ford F-150
  By kdittler - June 2 - 2:00 am

  runs & drive great, passes with ease,carries a good payload & boat & golf clubs, not a single rpair service.

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  Love this car...sometimes... - 1994 Ford Escort
  By Need 4 Speed - June 1 - 11:24 pm

  Ive had my Escort for almost a year now. I love it, except for when things go wrong or when theres people in the car with me. The car is great when youre alone and is reliable (some of the time) - you wont want this car when it has problems, one problem leads to another. All of my problems are because of up keep (bought the car not even thinking about it). Its in the shop as I speak. Its shifting rough and the engine is sputtering. I dont know? I was also driving without a outer tie rod and stabilizer link a few months ago. Ive learned if you want an Escort, keep the maintenance up. Spark plugs, fluids, clean fuel, etc. This is why my car has everything wrong with it otherwise good car

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  Worst Vehicle Ever... - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By Jose - June 1 - 10:00 pm

  Worst vehicle ever. When we first bought the vehicle from the dealership the A/C did not work at all, only one car key was issued, and it had aftermarket tire rims that a tow truck did not even have the size of the lug nuts. The worst part was the fuel economy. $20.00 worth of gas will only give you approximately 40 miles of diving in the city. Most of all the customer service and repair service was no help at all. Once you drive off the lot your on your own. And theres no trunk space or interior space.

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  No power accessories just a truck. - 2004 Ford F-150
  By rfstormchasin - June 1 - 8:47 pm

  Some people have ordinary hobbies, well storm spotting is mine. When I went to find a truck I didnt want all the power accessories in it because I put enough in it myself, but I needed a V8, extended cab and the tow pkg and I got them. No "fanciness", its a truck. And my wife loves it, thats a big plus. I had a 1997 F150 and i loved it. At first I wasnt crazy about the new body style of the 04s but it grew on me. I wouldnt do without it now.

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  More fun than imagined... - 2005 Ford GT
  By BL - June 1 - 8:28 pm

  An absolutely awesome example of beautiful kinetic sculpture. More fun than I ever imagined it would be to drive. Better than 10% improved performance on the Bondurant High Performance Driving School autocross times than their Corvette Z06. Baggage capacity stinks but works for the overnight trip.

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  used Ford Aspire - 1997 Ford Aspire
  By arlene - June 1 - 7:53 pm

  Bought this car used, paid $500 for it - put $800 into it for repairs, well worth it. I drive it in central Florida were it belongs (no hills). My only fault I find is the fuel tank only holds 10 gallons and I have to stop every four days to fill it up. If we have to get out of our area, we would never reach the next state without stopping twice for gas.

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  Lot of car for the money... - 1999 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Bryan S. - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car from a private seller with 61,400 miles on it in EXC shape. It had all options other than traction control and the trip computer. It has simply been one of the finest cars I have ever had the opportunity to drive. It rides great, has been stone cold reliable, gets decent milage for a large car (25MPG with cruise set at 60MPH), TONS of room, and it has plenty of power for passing, hills, and towing. I would not hesitate to buy another Crown Vic at all based on my experience with this car. It is a solid BUY.

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  Highly Recommend - 2003 Ford Escape
  By FordMamma - June 1 - 10:00 am

  I just traded in my Jeep Larado for a Ford Escape. The difference in the feel of the drive is drastic! The Ford is very smooth drive like a car. I would say the interior is the same size as my Jeep Larado only I feel I sit lower. The back window the opens up in the back trunk is an asset for a person in a hurry. The back is very roomy in comparison the the Honda CRV or the Rav4. Great air/heat system. The CD/sound is wonderful! I feel very safe in this car and saftey was important for us. Wonderful gas milage. For the price I feel I got a lot of car. I did A LOT of research and feel that I chose the best car for our family.

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  No more Ford ! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By yves - June 1 - 10:00 am

  This car is garbage. There is the list of problems during the past 30 months, (Ouf, I sold the car last week). 1. Rear wheels bearings,(3 times) 2. Master cylinder, (2 times) 3. Water inside the car, (2 times) 4. Fuel gauge. 5. Front disc replacement at 20 km 6. Rattles in console 7. 4 doors hinges replacement. 8. 6 recalls. 9. Rust on the rear trunk. 10. Rattles on the rear suspension. 11. Anti pollution system failure. 12. Water in the front lights. etc, etc ...