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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  Loved it! - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By fivestar7777 - March 27 - 1:41 am

  I loved my expedition for 8 years until my daughter recently totaled it at a 4 way stop. Very comfortable, dependable and safe. Good vehicle (tank) to have your teens learn to drive. The only real gripe I have is the gas mileage which was about 11. When the gas price went to $4.50, it hurt! For the past 3 years, the transmission shifted hard from 1st to 2nd. Made me nervous to think the tranny might be going out but it never did. My mileage was almost 100K.

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  My Review - 1993 Ford Mustang
  By Fadedgirl - March 26 - 8:37 pm

  I got this car for my 16th birthday! It is the most amazing car ever! But the gas mileage is poor. And the transmission had to be rebuilt! But overall. I love my car. P. S. I get a lot of head turning driving down the street!

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  Mixed bag - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By alex - March 26 - 4:14 pm

  Having put 9K on the car, here is what IÂ’ve come away with so far: The 6 cyl is solid and steady, but feels lethargic at times. The engine response is reminiscent of a pickup truck, and even the manual tranny does little to remedy this. Doing 80 on the freeway in a straight line, the car feels planted to the pavement, but if you hit any sort of uneven surface while turning above 30 mph, the experience is unsettling for both the car and driver. If the pavement is anything but bone dry, the Stang needs skill and a steady hand. With the V8 and the suspension you get, the GT is certainly worth the extra few K.

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  Major problem with transmission - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By sharon sine - March 26 - 9:48 am

  I purchased my 2007 freestyle in April 2088 with just over 10,000 miles. The transmission went in 2009, not sure of mileage and had to be repaired. This month at approximately 48,000 miles it went again. Service decided to would be more cost effective to replace with a refurbished transmission. The car is only 3 yrs old! The refurbished transmission (not new) only has a limited warranty and was told by service that if it goes again after warranty, it could cost 3000 to 5000 dollars to fix. I believe Ford new about the problems with the transmission on these cars and purposely failed to tell of potential transmission problems.

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  Lasted a long time - 1997 Ford Explorer
  By Chauncey - March 26 - 12:10 am

  I bought my explorer from carmax with about 36k miles in 98. Initially I had a lot of minor problems going back and forth to carmax and then 1 big problem that never got fully resolved. I had a problem with heating and a/c system switching from heat to air conditioning. After that no major problems with this vehicle lasted a long time 226k before it died on me. The body and interior held up very good still in very good condition. Had a lot of class for an SUV and fun to drive and take on long trips. Overall I was very satisfied with my explorer got my money out of it.

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  Great Car! - 1995 Ford Mustang
  By Melissa - March 25 - 9:38 pm

  I owned this car. It was a great car. Fun to drive. Very little problems for as old as it is. I was involved in an accident however and the car is now totaled. I do miss it. Side impact, if anyone is wondering, this car is safer than you can imagine. Built very strong and very safe. I will miss the mustang and am contemplating buying another one in the near future.

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  This Is An Unbelievable Car!! - 1997 Ford Aspire
  By Jeff Tranchina - March 25 - 9:19 pm

  Put 70,000 miles on her in 5 years. Now sits at 145,000. This car is just unbelievable! 38-42 mpg CONSTANTLY. We live on the Big Island of Hawaii, where climate conditions, especially rain and humidity are severe. The car never misses a beat. Normal maintenance like alternator, tires, battery, etc. The 5-speed is crisp and quick. No electrical problems, ever, due to the simplicity. Ours was made by KIA. We cant kill this car, nor do we want to. Going to keep her until she dies! A/C never lets us down. Engine perfect, and burns NO oil (I change oil every 3,000 miles). Geckos live in the car (cant keep them out), as do other creatures, but the car is friendly to all. Highly recommended!

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  WOW What a Car - 1993 Ford Escort
  By Car Crazy Kid - March 25 - 8:18 pm

  I purchased this car for my daughter to drive as a reliable, economical, fun to drive vehicle. It is that and a lot more. She has a van but needed economy for her drive to work, this Escort does it all.It gets 34 - 38 mpg, has plenty of go with the 5 spd and never fails to start or go in the snow. I knew what we were getting, we had a 92 LX and a 94 GT, really a shame Ford stopped making this car. The fold down seats and hatch features are great. Its fun to drive around town, turns on a dime and never takes a back seat keeping up with much newer cars. It IS noisy and rides a little rough but for under $750 what do you expect. Past experience says that maintenance will be inexpensive as well.

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  Love My Ranger - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By sjaj1 - March 25 - 11:47 am

  I have a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 and the front end is shaking real bad. The steering wheel at 30 mph moves from side to side about a 1/2". I checked for wheel weights, they are all there. I am thinking ball joints, tie rod or tie rod ends. Sometimes in excess of 60 mph feels like wheel may come off.

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  Focus SE Review - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Dont text and drive - March 24 - 9:04 pm

  In October of 2010 I will have had my four door 2009 SE Focus for two years. Some options I got were cruise control, 5 speed manual transmission, Black cloth interior. The only problem Ive had was that a cheap two dollar spring for the clutch pedal broke, this didnt affect the cars driving ability in any way that I could see and it was a quick fix. Other than that the mechanics of the car are doing great, this car is both a peppy and smooth ride it is very fun to drive. I would very much recommend the Focus to anyone looking for a quality car for a reasonable price!