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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  Bad Ball Joints - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Kathy Hoppes - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my second Ford in 6.5 years. I have spent several thousands of dollars for repairs that are a direct result of poor engineering on the part of Ford the first was a 95 mustang convertable v-6. I had to replace the head gaskets 3 times before I bought this explorer now I have had tons of recalls,bad ball joints and the transmission is slipping.All together I have spent 50000.00$ plus all the repairs and the 89 nissan I traded for the first Ford is still on the road. I guess everyone knows what my next car will be. Not a ford.

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  Fun to Drive - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
  By nerd2z - March 8 - 2:00 am

  Even though it will only hold 2 people in the back seat, there is a ton of room up front and the cargo space is excellent. My dogs have had a blast in the back area! The truck drives very well on the highway and is very comfortable. I wish it got better gas mileage, but it is a truck with a good engine.

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  sexy but>>>> - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By sportracker - March 8 - 2:00 am

  great looking vehicle,stand alone looks for price.(by the way i like black) owned a honda prior to this purchase and spent a whole $4.00 on repairs in 3 years and 100,000 miles.second trip to the gargage for brakes in 6 months on this one im still crossing my fingers because i still love it.

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  Great SUV - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Indy Explorer fan - March 8 - 2:00 am

  This is my wifes first SUV and she loves it. We looked at many others, but for the price, we couldnt beat the Explorer. The Automatic 4WD works seamlessly on ice, and the leather seats are great for long drives. We went without the 3rd row seat, and boy, are we glad we did. Without kids, we would much rather have the storage space. Our only complaint so far is the fuel door location. Drivers side would be nice. Also a handle for closing the tailgate would come in handy...especially for shorter people.

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  In the mountains - 2004 Ford Focus
  By JCFISH - March 8 - 2:00 am

  I have been very pleased with my SVT.It does really well in the mountains as it seems to always have a gear to climb any pass rapidly!.I was concerned about the gas milage but am getting 25 mixed and 30 on the highway and I use 87 octane which seems to work fine at our high altitude.This is a world class car and not just for the money.

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  dont make the mistake of buying a focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By allgdgary - March 8 - 2:00 am

  i had one problem after another with the focus. after it got about 5000 miles the fuel economy was about 12mpg instead of 33mpg. I had to have brake work done 4 times while I had it. In the end I traded it in and only got $5800 while i still owed 14000. I would have to say that I would never buy another Ford Product.

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  Comfort plus - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By greylady - March 8 - 2:00 am

  it is the most comfortable car i have ever driven, I love the interior its like i am in my living room. The only item I would change is to be able to open the rear window.

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  Upset in Oregon - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By Domestic? - March 7 - 10:41 pm

  I lived in a small town with big weather. Two weeks after I purchased the truck it snowed a lot. Ive had nothing but problems with the four wheel drive since and the 5 star dealership couldnt care less. This is not the first Ford Ive ever owned but Ive had about as much luck with all. Like a lot of people I know Im going to try a Dodge and if that doesnt work out Ill begin looking in the foreign markets. I hear Toyotas doing interesting things with their 4x4s.

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  Reliability and Fuel savings - 2001 Ford Escort
  By Linda M - March 7 - 8:08 pm

  This is my second Escort. The 1st one I had (1991) finally died after 265,000 miles on it (Nnver changed engine or tranny). This one has been dependable so far, but is noisier inside. I think the interior is not as plush since it was a fleet car. So ... on long rides it can get pretty loud. But the fuel economy makes up for this.

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  Bought this for my daughter for college graduation - 2016 Ford Escape
  By SMT - March 7 - 1:01 pm

  ........ because her POS used vehicle was nickel and diming me badly. This thing is sweet. Too small for me, but she is tiny. No leather, no sunroof. NAV package, 2.0 ecoboost (this thing flies!), nice firm power seats, great dash layout, tight firm steering. Wonderful little car. A little pricey, but I think it is worth it for what you get. I guess everything is pricey these days since I havent bought a new truck since 2004.