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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  FUN TO DRIVE - 2004 Ford Focus
  By sgr - March 4 - 10:00 am

  VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED TO REPLACE A LEASED TAURUS. THE FOCUS WAGON IS A HIGHLY USABLE VEHICLE,EX., HAULING BAGS OF LAWN SUPPLIES, CABINETS, HOME REPAIR SUPPLIES,ETC. COULD NOT CARRY IN TAURUS. IMPRESSED WITH POWER OF 2.3L ENGINE.

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  Wonderful Car - 2004 Ford Focus
  By JLUFORTE - March 4 - 10:00 am

  We traded in our 1998 Camaro, and trust me this new car rocks! Tons of mod options... that arent very pricy. I love it, the MP3 player is a definite plus. Thank you!

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  More luxury features than my Benz C-Clas - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Colorado Dave - March 4 - 10:00 am

  I just traded a 2001 F-150 SuperCrew XLT for a 2004 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, both with the 4.4L Triton V8. There is no comparrison between the two. The 04 feels like a much bigger truck, and the Lariat has so many luxury appointments that it puts my 2002 Mercedes-Benz C-320 to shame. This is truly an amazing ride!

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  this car is awesome - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By chunkles62 - March 4 - 10:00 am

  everything was great interior exterior how the car works ,looks, feels,and rides it is also really fun to drive.

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  One Good Truck - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Bahamaroot - March 4 - 9:37 am

  Have had the truck for two years and plan to drive it to its grave. Love the comfort and the design. Rides and handles better than most cars Ive driven. Buy far the best truck I have ever owned.

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  2001 Ford Focus hatchback - 2000 Ford Focus
  By BT - March 4 - 9:15 am

  Roomy interior, high off the ground, easy to maneuver, lots of pickup. Good gas mileage.

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  Great car! - 1990 Ford Thunderbird
  By areldthomp - March 4 - 9:11 am

  I drove this car for over 325,000 miles. Yes, you read that right over 300,000 miles. I bought it in 1993 with 74,000 miles. It spent 4 years in Alaska without a block heater and no problems. I had the transmission rebuilt once, head gasket replaced, and radiator replaced. With regular maintenance it ran beautifully for additional 6 years. It still runs great. I would buy another one if they still made them in this body style. Have had it since 1993.

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  dont know yet - 2003 Ford Escape
  By benni - March 4 - 2:00 am

  My husband and I bought this vehicle used. Its been ok. Going from a Saturn SL2 to this is pretty amazing. It sits so high. Getting in and out is wonderful. So far we are fine with this suv. I dont like where the windshield wipers are next to the steering wheel. The brakes make a lot of noise other than that it seems like Ford did an ok job with this one we will see in the future.

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  I Love my 05 Ford Mustang Premium Coupe - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Premium Coupe - March 2 - 2:53 pm

  My title says it all. I wasnt in the market to buy when I did. The retro styling, six cylinder gutsy engine and tough automatic transmission did it for me. It has way better performance and gas mileage than the 1996 Mustang GT I owned previously. Getting into the car is a little tough sometimes in the winter with a winter jacket on, but once in the cockpit its wonderful. The sound system is killer and much better than in the house. The frontward curved head rests are a pain. I have driven only about 4500 miles in it since purchasing, but I want to keep low miles because of the investment potential for this car. Of all the cars and trucks I have owned, this one is the most fun.

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  A good, economical SUV to drive - 2006 Ford Escape
  By atg61 - March 2 - 11:05 am

  A good, economical SUV to drive and it serves most purposes. Although not a very powerful engine (4 cylinder) it easily makes up for it in fuel economy. Because of its size, it is nimble and can squeeze in spots better than your average SUV yet still is able to hold/transport almost the same amount as bigger SUVs without giving up a lot of space. The base XLS model is no frills but has options that you would not expect. A good value over all and I am quite satisfied.