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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  jglynn - 2004 Ford F-150
  By jglynn - September 3 - 10:00 am

  This the most fun truck I have ever drove . Lots of room and style .As Ford would say It ford tough . This the best F150 built to date . It has a real smoth ride . I pull a camper and some I forget it behind me until I llok back and see it . Buy one today you wiil be glad .

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  a - 1996 Ford Crown Victoria
  By srcOR - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Buy the police package if you can find one in good shape. I have 140K on mine with no mechanical problems whatsoever. For the price, you cant beat it if youre looking for a solid, rear wheel drive, V8, full size vehicle that can drive like a smaller car.

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  Fun but quality lacking - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By viking093 - September 3 - 10:00 am

  Rear bumper and wheel housing weak. Electric windows squeak. Interior not well insulated - road & engine smell strong.

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  Consider The Focus vs, Civic and Corolla - 2008 Ford Focus
  By Alan - September 3 - 6:33 am

  I traded for my Focus 4 weeks ago. I test drove both the Focus and a used Corolla. The SE Focus had a more modern interior and with the Sync System beat the Toyota S-Type hands down. The Focus lacked the accelleration of the Toyota, but the new Focus with sunroof, spoiler, Sirius and Sync was $2K less. I took the Focus on a 1600 mile business trip and am only more pleased. I am a conservative driver, but I still maintian 65 to 70 MPH highway speeds. My average fuel econony for the trip was 36 MPG even burning 10% ethanol for half the trip. Commuting nets >32MPG. Trunk space was ample and you have the option of dropping the rear seats if needed. Looks are fine. In summary, I love my Focus!

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  basically a good truck - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By red rangerman - September 2 - 11:40 pm

  Acceleration is good but highway speed acceleration not so good, rear sliding window leaked and had to be replaced, 6 cd player isnt very good -- cds get stuck inside and sometimes wont eject, been in shop twice for this and still does it, door ajar light comes on intermittently, is a beautiful color of red -- basically a good truck.

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  I love it! - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By knukscrim - September 2 - 12:50 pm

  This is the "boring" refined auto I have been waiting for. I love having a car that just performs well and does not demand that I coddle it! The 24 valve engine is smooth but peppy, and the mileage is not bad either.

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  Cant give it up! - 1998 Ford Expedition
  By Carter - September 2 - 11:00 am

  I hesitated to write a review for fear of jinxing myself but my EXP has been a great truck. Bought new in late 97. Now has 112k on it. Other than routine maintenance and replacing a few seals here and there, nothing major has gone wrong. I love loading up the family in it, putting big dogs in the back and heading out on a road trip, confidently. The biggest improvement I made was to put Michelin LTXs on it. The stock Goodyears were junk. Its a totally different ride with the Michelins.

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  Such a pretty car! - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Lucia - September 2 - 7:53 am

  When I first spotted this car I thought it was a Mercedes with its overall good looks of distinction. I instantly fell in love after looking at so many cars. It drives like a Cadillac with a smooth ride and the extra room inside is reminiscent of the big cars of yesteryear. My husband who is an auto mechanic swore he would never own a Ford, but was highly impressed with this car. He says the only down side is the engine is too small for such a large car. Hes into speed while Ill take comfort and smoothness of ride any day.

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  Try again - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Chad - September 2 - 12:43 am

  I will never own another FORD again. Where do I start. The motor is flat and lifeless, the transmission is sloppy with bad programming no wonder it gets terrible gas mileage (18-20mpg highway). The brakes are soft, the carpet is cheap, the rear is noisy on the highway, the rear floor is more uneven than my lawn. After spending 6 months with it and reading additional reviews, I realize I made a bid mistake buying this van. It is the highest cost to own minivan out there. I would not recommend it to anyone. Save your money and buy something good.

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  My rear wheel drive BOX - 1993 Ford Aerostar
  By Audwin Ross - September 1 - 10:51 pm

  Great van to own and drive around the place. Very comfortable to sit in the drivers seat. Only problem is with the ignition switch that has problems with the ears where you have to line it up just right to get the key in to start the vehicle. 3.0 engine has an excellent track record, which makes this a much better and reliable van than the sorry 3.8 liter V6 that Ford put out for the Windstar. That Windstar was a failure and disgrace to the FORD name. Ford should bring Aerostar back with a few improvements. The best thing about it is: you guessed it "REAR WHEEL DRIVE" -- that is music to the ears of mechanics and people like me that are not big fans of front wheel drive! GREAT VEHICLE!