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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  Bang-For-Your-Buck - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By revdrluv - January 24 - 10:00 am

  It has been nearly a year now since I bought my mineral grey mustang coupe and I am very happy with it. I love the torque it has, especially when compared to other sport coupes on the market. The mustang is not the sharpest driving tool. It is an old school design, but that just gives it more character than the sometimes sterile japanese alternatives. To have fun you have to get the manual tranny in this car. I have had no reliability problems.

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  Taurus SE - Fine Car! - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Band Man - January 24 - 10:00 am

  We recently replaced our 1997 Escort with a 2002 Taurus SE. We love the features, the color (true blue), and ride. Lots of room inside. We also received a free bottle of touch-up paint in the mail via myford.com - that was a nice surprise!

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  The factory didnt tighten WHAT?? - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Postmortemcowboy - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I bought my brand new 2002 ford focus on a thursday... by the following monday (only 200 miles later) i was experiencing a popping/grinding noise coming from the front right which appeared to be suspension related. So took it back to the dealer. Well it seems the factory forgot or just didnt tighten the sway arm links on the front passenger side, not only that i did find a rubber moulding that wasnt properly installed. The factory needs to employ people who dont forget to tighten up STEERING components. This could have been a fatal accident waiting to happen. Needless to say the dealership paid for the rental for a day and didnt charge me a dime to fix my car.

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  2001 Sport Trac - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By jlathem - January 24 - 10:00 am

  I love the truck. It is my first truck so I wasnt ready for the extreme fuel consumption. It fits my needs perfectly however. I looked at all of the competetors and chose this truck. I am not one to purchase a vehicle on impulse.It performs all of the duties that one could ask of such a vehicle. It handles and rides in an acceptable manner for a vehicle of this type. ( If you want a Caddy buy one )The build quality is excellent when compared to other mass produced vehicles.

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  This is a big step up... - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By FlaGator - January 24 - 10:00 am

  This truck is a lot better than its predecessor. The improved styling is really nice. The interior comfort has really been increased and it is a lot more functional.

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  GREAT FUN AT LOW COST - 2003 Ford Focus
  By 1BadEgg - January 24 - 10:00 am

  Couldnt be happier. Lots of car for the money. Got a ZX3 Premium for mid 13s. Lots of room for a compact, Zetec engine with a 5 speed is a must. Have never been in a position where I was underpowered. Ride is good, a little noise, but acceptable. Seat height and wheel up/down/in/out option is great.

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  A Mustang is a true Legend - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Brian - January 24 - 5:27 am

  Im a college student and 18 years old. I just recently bought a 1999 Mustang GT anniversary edition. I bought it for $10,500 w/ 51,000 miles. To tell you the truth it was a heck of a deal. But for all the people who are reading these to get an idea about what people think about Mustangs, I will give you my honest opinion. The Mustang GT is fast. 0-60 is around 5.5 secs. And the roar of the engine is to die for. And it handles really well. I mean really well. The car is built to last a while, I can tell you that. The disadvantage is the gas mileage, seating space, and the winter. I average around 18 city and 22 highway. The backseats are a little too small. Overall its a great muscle car!

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  So Far ... Good Vehicle - 1999 Ford Expedition
  By gp63 - January 23 - 11:34 pm

  I purchased this vehicle new in 1999. The reason I purchased it was because it was a vehicle I could use to haul the entire family and it had 4WD. It has lived up to my expectations. I have found it easy to drive not at all tiring, and it has only had limited issues since I purchased it. It does have/had two problems which seem to be the norm for FORD: 1) front brakes do not last past the first 10K miles and 2) the accelerator develops a slight stick when accelerating, which will require a few hundred dollars to have the accelerator et al. replaced. There was a minor issue with the rear wiper, which was fixed when they replaced the motor. I would definitely consider buying another.

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  IF only the brakes worked! - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By daisyq07 - January 23 - 5:51 pm

  The interior color gray is kind of boring. But my huge concern is the brake system. If I have to stop quickly and I press down on the brakes, it will stop THEN keep going after it stops! It is very scary and I feel totally unsafe. I had them checked 3 times and each time I was told that it is just the way the car is. Be very careful if you get this car! It is very roomy. The seats are not comfortable after a short ride. It is kind of sporty looking and can switch lanes quickly, which is nice.

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  Overall a great truck - 2001 Ford F-150
  By Eric1565 - January 23 - 3:11 pm

  Ive had my truck for 5 years now, and had relatively no problems. Oil change every 3-5k and been through one set of tires (40K, Generals stink!) and now getting ready to buy another set of tires @80K). Performance, well its a 6 cylinder with a 5 speed, so it is not too bad. Plenty of power for around town driving, have not done much towing of heavy stuff. Had to have the tires aligned at 80K ... not bad. The interior is designed VERY WELL. It is very comfortable, layout is very good. Overall a great truck.