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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  Love this car !!!!! - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Blue SVT - February 13 - 10:00 am

  One the most fun cars to drive. I have driven Porsches(924s, 944, 911), Mustang GTs, Camaros, BMWs(540i, 840i,330i) and for thousands less this ranks up there with them. I get looks from Mercedes, Porsche,BMW owners because how original the car looks (yes, it stands out even though there are thousands of Focus cars on the road).

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  SVT Focus 2002 2 DR - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Dawei - February 13 - 10:00 am

  Very nice car. It is affordable and econimcally nice. It should be souped up and it will dominate the competition.

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  Practical, reliable, still fun - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By MThunder66 - February 13 - 1:53 am

  Great all around car. I bought it second hand and have put well over 10,000 miles on it. Good acceleration, good handling, plenty of room for four and a big trunk. I would definitely recommend the 24V motor - 50 extra HP, and huge difference in acceleration and speed over the regular 12V motor. No squeaks or rattles on the road. Fast enough to merge anywhere with no problem. I have gotten as high as 27 MPG on long trips with the cruise control set at 72-74. Overall, a great car for a reasonable price.

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  Crash Test Dummy - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By kevo71 - February 13 - 1:03 am

  I really liked my truck. It drove well and got fairly decent mileage (20MPG). If you noticed I have been referring to my truck in the past tense. I totaled it last week. The front wheel was knocked off, the cab was warped (drivers door would not shut) and the frame was bent in two places. The car that hit me was a Dodge Intrepid that hit me while sideways in the front left corner of the bumper and continued through the wheel. The truck held together well and I and the other driver walked away without any serious injuries. I had it for a year and a half and received from the insurance company about $1000 less than what I paid for it. Im buying another just like it. I also have an 88 w/250k miles.

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  Fun Car - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By solo - February 12 - 11:27 pm

  Great car. Looks great, performs great, just cant be beat for the price. Only problem I have is that I cant shift into 5th over 75 mph without the gears grinding a little.

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  Enjoyed every mile of it - 2001 Ford Escape
  By Christianne Nunez - February 12 - 3:59 pm

  From the moment I saw it I fell in love with the looks (both exterior and interior). When I bought it and had the chance to drive it, I loved it even more. It has been reliable (great engine power when street lights turn green, and when having to advance slow moving vehicles, which I attribute to the combination of its light body and 6v engine) and it has been fun, making me look and feel younger. Great for outdoor activities (going up the mountains or the beach). Huge trunk capacity.

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  Excellent small SUV - 2006 Ford Escape
  By bnny911 - February 12 - 3:33 pm

  I loved this model so much that I traded in my 2001 Ford Escape for a 2006.

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  low maintenance and reliable - 1991 Ford Festiva
  By HRS - February 12 - 1:26 am

  I bought this car when it had 25,000 miles on it. 11 years later, it has 227,000 miles on it and is still going strong. It has only let me down once in 11 years and the cause was just a cracked distributor cap! It has been the best car Ive owned. Can it make it to 300,000 miles? To be continued ...

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  A happy Ford Five Hundred owner! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Christy - February 11 - 6:46 pm

  I have had a Toyota Camry for about five years. It was time for a new car and I thought I would just buy a new Camry. We decided to try a few others and found the Five Hundred. Lucky for us! Its beautiful, everyone looks! The ride is wonderful. If I had to say anything negative at all it would probably just have a little to do with the materials of the interior doors. I feel that for a small amount more than I would pay for the Camry, I got sooo much more with the Five Hundred. Im loving it!

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  1st and last Ford i will ever buy!! - 2015 Ford F-150
  By mike thomas - February 11 - 3:20 pm

  i have always been a GM guy. But when I went to buy a new truck in December of 2015, I decided to be un-bias and drive all the half ton pick up trucks on the market. Then make my purchase based on exterior styling, interior comfort and design, performance, and mpg ratings. Well to be honest I liked the FORD F-150. So I bought the truck brand new with 9 miles on it. XLT Sport 2wd with 302A interior. Loved the truck. Then at 2800 miles my driver side ball joint came off and my truck was sitting on its driver front tire and rim. Luckily for Ford I had just exited the freeway to get a bottle of water and some sunflower seeds. I am an outside salesman, so I drive a lot. Well when backing out of my parking spot at the gas station it broke off. So I call ford and they tow it to the dealership I bought it from which was about 10 miles away. No problem yet. When I get to the dealership the tell me I have to pay for a rental car, because I did not buy an "extended warranty protection plan." My response was, "Why would I need an extended warranty for a brand new truck with 2800 miles on it? An extended warranty plan is after the factory bumper to bumper warranty is over." They told me, "Ford doesnt give rental cars unless you have an extended rental agreement. Because of the amount of cars that come in every day to all the dealerships with warranty issues." Bottom liner is I bought a 45K truck and neither the Ford Dealership, or Ford Motor company would give me a rental car while my truck was in for a manufacturers defect. So I will never buy another FORD product again. Just a side not you all should know FORD quit using cotter pins in like 2012. Must be part of their weight savings, for fuel economy push.