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:

• 

  Great looks, value crummy reliability - 2001 Ford Escape
  By SoCal commuter - March 31 - 12:21 am

  Bought new 29,000 miles now. Have replaced SINCE WARRANTY ran out at 27,900: 2 power steering pumps, steering column, brakes at 26k, tensioner unit, tires, power brake assist motor, power steering hose, air filter unit, and 2 other engine repairs that details escape me now but each ran more than $200 in parts. Also, there is something in the engine manifold which cannot be fixed but is a "known issue" - theres a TSB on it - high-pitched squealing from manifold, Under warranty, about 5 breakdowns/year first three years. Always something new. Im going back to Toyota or Honda. This is the worst build quality I could imagine.

• 

  Its okay - 2001 Ford Expedition
  By Lulu - March 31 - 12:19 am

  Big repairs, but we put on big miles, too. We are on our third set of tires. Have had to replace the front hubs at about 160K miles. Amazingly comfortable for a big old tub thats as worn out as ours is. Midway, we had to replace the gas tank because it was warped and that cost about $900.

• 

  Ford got it all right - 2007 Ford Edge
  By Tom - March 31 - 12:00 am

  I bought the SEL Plus and traded my 2003 Expedition. We found that the space inside the Edge is a lot more than you think. We travel regularly with 4 pets and it works great for us. The styling is nice, hard to believe its a Ford! With all the incentives, 0% financing, you have to consider this over the Acura MDX for 47k. Youll save a ton of money and be happy with your new car too! The moonroof is amazing, good powerful engine, nice sight out the large front window and a huge amount of back seat room for adults to sit. We just drove it 600 miles and got about 21 mpg with it loaded down, including stops and traffic. To me thats all you can ask for.

• 

  I LOVE MY TBIRD - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By mayra V. Perez - March 30 - 11:10 pm

  It is a fun car to drive and if you are a people person you will love it. I must meet about four people a week that want to talk about the car! I love the way it drives and handles smooth.

• 

  Wileys Bird - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By Mr. Cs Bird - March 30 - 10:24 pm

  The car is fun to drive anywhere, whether it be in town or out in the country. People on the street or in cars next to it are always giving it a thumbs up and it fits in, in any circle. The trim inside and out might be a little subdued for some, but that is what the retro look is all about isnt it? A couple of my friends have BMW Z3 and a 3 series convertible and they are nice too, but they werent made to bring back that nostalgic feeling of old.

• 

  Reliable but cheap - 1997 Ford Escort
  By kris - March 30 - 2:40 pm

  We have had this car now for three years. It is reliable and easy to fix ourselves when it breaks down. It accelerates fairly nicely and the steering is nice and easy. The ride is rough you really feel every bump and sometimes it feels like we are riding inside of a bouncing ball. The interior quality is lacking, but it was never meant to be a top of the line car. The seats are uncomfortable for long drives.

• 

  Will replace at warranty expiration - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Tom - March 30 - 2:04 pm

  Fairly solid feel and good amenities. Front seats are not comfortable. Have had transmission problems that have not been repaired after several trips to the dealer. This is my 2nd Explorer and will be my last. Am very disappointed in the early problems that I am having and will get rid of it at 36,000 miles.

• 

  Third times a charm! - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Third times a charm - March 30 - 1:44 pm

  I had a 1987 Mustang GT that I swore I would never trade. Well that fell through when I set my sights on a 1999 official 35th Anniversary Stang. This car is absolutely amazing. Its muscular yet sexy at the same time. This is my third Mustang and by far my favorite. Were keeping this one and already saving up to buy a 05 as a daily driver. I tell you what that 4.6 V8 has so much power its amazing.

• 

  Couldnt be happier - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By wildtexas - March 30 - 6:06 am

  The vehicle is fun to drive and provides superb gas mileage for a small size SUV -- better than even the 1992 Toyota Corolla it replaced in our family. We have a premium, fully-loaded Ford Escape Hybrid with moonroof, leather seats and the GPS Nav, and we couldnt be happier.

• 

  First thoughts - 2011 Ford Shelby GT500
  By Van - March 30 - 2:00 am

  I just traded in my 2009 GT500 for this car, and while there were many similarities, the 2011 w/ SVT package and Electronics package is leaps and bounds ahead of the 2009. At first it was the more European design elements that caught my eye. The meaner cowl, the larger and better designed forged wheels, the sleeker interior. The extra 50 horses arent bad either! After driving the car, I found it had so many more amenities available from steering wheel controls, to voice activation, to personal climate control, to phone synching, and other personalizing touches with new security and driving modes using the ESC and TC.