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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  Proving me wrong.. - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By CJ - December 2 - 4:51 am

  I bought my expedition a little over a year ago. It had 48k miles on it and was three years old. I had never owned a ford before and was unsure as to how it would last i had always heard unsettling things about fords. A little over a year and close to 28k miles that ive put on the odo, i can say happily that i love my SUV. Im not easy on vehicles, i love to offroad even if the vehicle isnt desinged for it. My expedition has taken all my beatings and adventures with my family with pride and is running strong. so far the only problem is the rear HVAC system that has begun to knock and not work as intended but i still have a warranty on it.

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  My dream car - 2009 Ford Mustang
  By J.P. Lynch - December 2 - 2:09 am

  Bought a 2008 V6, traded it in for the 45th anniversary 2009 GT. Mustang has always been in my blood and Ive been wanting this car since it debuted in 2005. The 2009 has a cool 45th badge and mine comes with the GT appearance package. I love the retro style more than new 2010. So proud of this car. Amazing fun to drive. ADDICTIVE torque and super fast for the money. I always wished I had been young in the 60s, now being young in the new millenium feels pretty close! Great car great job Ford!

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  06 Focus SES ZX5 AT - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Sgeur67 - December 1 - 2:48 am

  Purchased my Focus SES ZX5 new. Love it. getting 25mpg city/30mpg hwy at 70mph. Original Pirelli P6s were super noisy, replaced them after 400 miles with Goodrich TA radials. Quieter than the P6s and far far better traction in snow. After 54K mi brakes are still great, no noise, no squeaks, no dust and still now wore out. AC is always cold when you really need good and cold. This car has all the power you need for every day commuting and quite comfortable on 4hr trip too. I would buy another 4dr hatch if Ford made it. Great little car.

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  Burrr....my feet are cold! - 2008 Ford Explorer
  By Lynziee - November 30 - 9:14 pm

  This is actually a company vehicle for me. Ive had it 2 years and put on over 51,000 miles so I have spent many hours driving in this truck. The major problem with this specific model is that the floor heat on the drivers side does not push out as much heat as the passenger side. So, the passenger is roasting and the drivers feet are still frozen. With no dual zone climate control this is a problem. I took it into the dealer and they said they knew of the problem and tried to redirect the vents but were not very successful. So, if you drive it by yourself or live in a warm climate you are fine. If you drive in the cold and like to have company, this may not be the vehicle for you.

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  Decent student car for the money - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By SDLA - November 30 - 8:58 pm

  Great car overall. The body construction is solid, and it has comfortable seats. This is a great student car for the money just boring to drive and look at.

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  Decent Ride - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By Adam - November 30 - 4:50 pm

  2nd owner at 40k. Sold at 72k. In my short time with the car I had no problems at all. It drove well and the only things I had to do were oil changes, battery died, and tires. I liked the look of the car. Interior was all leather and matched the car well. Only reason I got rid of it was because I live in NY and I cant stand driving it in the winter. Its RWD, and even with brand new snow tires and bags in the trunk it was still iffy. As far as driving it, it rode fairly smooth. needed a wheel alignment towards the end of my ownership so it got a little shaky but nothing terrible. I will say this though. I owned an automatic v6 3.8l and it was not fast at all. grab the GT stick if u wantspeed

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  family car - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Benjamin Wallace - November 30 - 12:42 pm

  Great room without sitting up on the air like most SUVs. Very comfortable, especially on long trips. Does have a bad blind spot on drivers side rear. Plenty of power but because of transmission it is deceiving. Can not feel transmission change gears with CVT. Plenty of room in back seat but 3rd row is for toddlers or small kids only. Loads of room with 3rd row laid flat.

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  Best car ever - 1997 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Coinneach - November 30 - 4:13 am

  Note the amount of miles I drive: in any other car, this much seat time would be intolerable. Ive owned several Crown Vics: theyre comfortable, reliable, and safer than anything else in the full-size class (ask me about the time I was rear-ended at extremely high speed during a blizzard). You can drive them like an old man if you wish, or you can put your foot down and fling them around with abandon. Ive brought 3 very large friends along on road trips, and none of them had a single complaint about the car.

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  Good reliable compromise vehicle - 2007 Ford Edge
  By melhof - November 29 - 12:58 pm

  Bought this vehicle for $20,400 NEW in 2007. Thus far it has performed without any problems. Great interior room, a true three adult rear seat with good travel comfort. Mileage as advertised, but less than desired. Replaced factory radio with double DIN CD/DVD/receiver and speakers. Also considered replacing cloth with aftermarket leather. Could have had a near luxury vehicle for an investment of less than $23000. If you buy one at a reasonable price, you will not be disappointed. Skip the pricy options. Vehicle comes with everything you need, even traction control. Seats are comfortable and adjust easily. Rear seat folds with a single lever. Roomy, stylish, comfortable, quiet, stable.

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  2006 Ford Freestyle - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By dbldsdad - November 29 - 8:45 am

  I have owned my Freestyle for 4 years and have accumulated almost 100,000 miles. I drive 70 miles a day round trip to work averaging 25 miles per gallon, but up to 30 on the freeway. However, I am on my fourth set of tires. Putting SUV/truck tires on will make them last longer. This crossover is just too heavy for car tires. Because of my milage the trade-in value does not equal the actual value...