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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  Taurus Underated - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By Carl Knechtel - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Mine is the SES model with the 200 hp V- 6. I now have 36,000 miles on the vehicle and have had no problems. Cant understand why Consumers Report does not seem to like this car much. It is a lot of car for the money and very dependable.

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  Good Truck Overall - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By loulicker - April 25 - 2:00 am

  Good Truck Overall. My front end keeps going out of alignment and I do not go off road. My other cars are driven on the same roads and do not have problems. It irritates me. The gas mileage is poor. I like the 5 speed automatic transmission because it shifts into the power curve of the next gear and also runs right up to the red line when asked to do so. I did not get a limited slip and that was a huge mistake. Without it, I squeal tires off every stop.

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  43000 miles report - 2000 Ford Focus
  By loolala - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I got my car in June 2000 when it had only 11 miles. IÂ’ve had good mileage since day one, and it has remained around 31 to 32 mpg. Besides about 5 recalls it got and a couple of fixes under warranty, it has been virtually maintenance free. Total operation cost in 2.5 years is $10620 with 43000 miles. Cost per mile is just less than 25 cents! If you want to know how I get those number, check out Town Hall under Ford Focus ZX3 #2367.

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  I like it, but I wont get another one. - 2000 Ford Focus
  By sschultzy88 - April 25 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car after a deployment to Germany, where I got the chance to drive a Focus on the Autobahn. German model had a Turbo-diesel and four wheel disks, which arent available here but made the highspeed rocket ride more controlable and economic-topped out at 220 km/Hr, approx 140 MPH. Great car! Mine makes noises when going over dips and bumps in the road. There is also a "clicking" noise that comes from the gear box while idling in neutral. Ford build quality leaves much to be desired, and even though I like the Focus I wont get another one.Its still a fun car, fair to good all around. Good stereo, but alas not the best of the Xplode line either.

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  Loving it - 2002 Ford Escort
  By Ericalacoe - April 25 - 1:05 am

  I love it! It drives really good. Fuel in this car will last a very long time and with the way gas prices are right now I still can fill my tank for a little under $20. I cant beat that and I know that. I get about 300 miles in the city per tank! So it is awesome. Fun lil car to drive and it is a pretty smooth ride.

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  Traded a Lexus LS400 - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Peter Leech - April 24 - 9:35 pm

  I have not had the slightest trouble & I cannot believe how well it handles, rides, looks etc. I was a new car dealer myself for a number of years, Ford, Chev-Olds, Mercedes Benz, & a BIG used car operation. Also raced production cars for years. My Freestar starts, stops, handles, is completely rattle free, very good stereo & DVD set up, tows well with factory trailer towing equipment, reasonable price for such a satisfactory vehicle. A Honda dealer friend lent me an Odyssey for a week & I decided that overall I considered the Freestar Limited to be the better vehicle.

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  Perfect Vehicle! - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By Ford King - April 24 - 7:43 pm

  This is my second Taurus SES. I tried to go to a sports car again and I decided I wanted the Taurus instead. I really enjoy the drive and the way it rides. The side airbags and ABS are very good options to have. My favorite option is the traction control. This option has helped me in some tricky situations especially in the snow. I have never gotten stuck in the snow even when ten inches deep. I will probably always want to have a Taurus until I am ready to purchase a Five Hundred or until I get tired of my Explorer. This is a lot of car for not much money and will last forever!

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  The Best! - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By A.Gray - April 24 - 6:50 am

  Id been looking foward to this car since I saw it at the auto show in NYC last year. Now that I own it all I can say is WOW! The Command Seating gives you real confidence. The cars overall stature is impressive. Handling is better than the Taurus. Interior space is overwhelming. Exterior design is flawless. Heads turn when you drive by. This ones a keeper. Great Job Ford!

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  Extreme commute in comfort - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Momofthree - April 24 - 3:46 am

  I have owned this Escape for about six months and have put 19500 miles on it already. My commute is 120+ miles a day and I feel like it is five. There is no vibration, road noise is minimal and I can see without blind spots even with teenagers in the backseat. I am a 59" woman and have no difficulty with seat positioning or steering and love the fact that it turns on a dime. Turns so smooth- Just like my old 76 Bronco from high school. Also have a toddler and the carseat latch features are so easy. Plenty of kick room for her legs too. Perfect height for placement of little ones, she can see out and I have no more back aches from the bend and stretch of buckling her.

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  Good and Bad - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By ageesey - April 24 - 1:43 am

  I just bought a new Expedition to replace an older 2000 model. The newer model has a bigger engine, better acceleration, but a pretty bad blind spot when merging left. There is a TON of room on the inside, can fit just about anything with the seats down, including lounge chairs.