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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  Girls Truck - 1997 Ford F-150
  By reelqueen - February 26 - 11:11 pm

  Loved the truck as soon as I saw it. Didnt think I could drive and maneuver it. Found it to be a great ride and tows our boat with no problem.

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  Fords Best Car - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By rizer - February 26 - 10:56 pm

  Ford has come through with an awesome car. I traded in a Taurus for the Fusion. Actually went to buy Five Hundred and test drove Fusion and was hooked. Every time I drive i get people asking me what kind of car is that. Everyone thinks it is a Mercedes or Cadillac and it costs far less. Best car I have ever driven and everyone that has seen it says they want one; awesome car.

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  I have a Lemon! Do you? - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Rockn Ark - February 26 - 7:08 pm

  I purchased my 2004 Freestar Limited after an accident ruined my mint condition 94 Aerostar from the rear. As of 02/01/05 the dealership has replaced the CV joint twice(1st one fell out at the dealership 2nd one was found to be defective by my husband). It took 14 days to repair it the 1st time (going on their lot and taking one from a 2005). On Monday it will have been at the dealership for 8 days because the right passenger tire must be replaced due to vibration while driving at 45mph. I have owned this car for 57 days and it has been at the dealership for 22 days of this month. I call this a LEMON!

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  Not What I Expected - 2017 Ford Edge
  By Tom Teichgraeber - February 26 - 6:52 pm

  I rented this car for a week and drove it 300 miles in combined highway and city driving. I own an Acura MDX that is a few years old and have been thinking of buying a new car. One that I have considered is the Edge. After driving the Edge Titanium for a week, I find that there are some good and bad aspects to the Edge. The good is that the car seems well made and has a nicely appointed interior. Interior controls are easy to learn and to use. The navi system works well and has a nice large screen. Performance is OK, but acceleration is not particularly quick. I noticed two things that I really did not like. One was visibility out of the car to the front and over the hood and the top front quarter when turning. Compared to the MDX, the hood seems inordinately high and one feels like one is staring out over a very deep dash and long hood from a big, heavy vehicle. The other aspect of this is that the A pillars seem set back too close to the driving position and they noticeably block vision forward and make it harder to see when turning corners. One cannot see a curb or lane marker stripes when turning around a corner (like driving into a driveup lane at Starbucks or just turning on a street) and this gives a sense that you cannot tell where you are turning on the road. The other noticeable thing about the Edge is that it feels ponderously heavy when driving in city traffic. By that I mean that just moving lane to lane feels like one is moving a much larger, heavier vehicle that this SUV really is. The Acura, on the other hand has excellent visibility out the front and drives like a car, although it is a larger vehicle than the Edge. The only way that I can describe it is that it is mega times lighter on its feet and you can see out of it. In my opinion, the Edge is a nice overall package, but the limitations I experienced eliminate it from ownership by me.

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  1999 Ford Windstar Van - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Jim - February 26 - 10:52 am

  We have had several problems with this vehicle. The paint started to flake off the roof at approximately 65,000K with Ford denying any widespread problems with paint. The electrical system has been problematic causing the dash to flicker and door locks to work erratically. The valves have made noise since we bought it, with Ford unable to find a problem. We have also had front suspension and power steering work. When called about the paint problems, the dealer said I would have to call Detroit...but claimed NOT to have Fords 800 number! I AM THROUGH WITH FORD PRODUCTS!

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  My favorite vehicle of 45 purchased - 2005 Ford F-150
  By bobbocineht - February 26 - 2:46 am

  Ive had sports cars, sport utes, econoboxes and motorcycles. This truck is by far the most solid, comfortable and road-worthy vehicle in my driving experience. Its a keeper.

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  Bad car - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By Toyota - February 25 - 3:49 pm

  This Ford always breaks down. The pickup is okay on this v8. The car gets an average of 14 MPG city 17 MPG highway. The Taurus has a smooth ride yet not as smooth as my wifes wonderful brand new Honda Accord. The Taurus has a good stereo with cheap low quallity leather. So far, I have been in the shop 2 times in 4 months and 14,000 miles.

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  Great Family Vehicle - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Sylvia de Valcourt - February 25 - 3:26 pm

  With the arrival of our 3rd child we test drove several SUVs and chose the Expedition. We test drove the Nissan Armada, Honda Pilot, Toyota Sequoia, and two minivans. We needed room, AWD or 4WD for beach excursions, and towing for a recreational boat. Ive hauled as many as 7 people (with luggage) comfortably and everything from 6 ft. tables to 8 ft. long 2x4s. The highway ride is smooth and passing is a breeze with the 5.4L engine. Turn radius is surprisingly tight for a large vehicle. My biggest disapointment is the mileage. We knew it would be bad, but we dont even get 14 mpg. We drive mostly highway miles and try to keep rpms to 2K. Our 2001 F-350 7.5L TD averages a better 19 mpg.

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  Almost drives itself - 2015 Ford F-150
  By David Moore - February 25 - 9:56 am

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  Less than crisp handling, but lots of space... - 2013 Ford Edge
  By Mike - February 25 - 6:46 am

  We bought a used 2013 Edge six months ago and I have to say, its not the best handling vehicle Ive ever driven. There isnt a whole lot of road feel, as it feels that Im sort of just pointing the Edge in a particular direction. The cabin is pretty quiet, but road noise intrudes to a moderate degree. Im not sure if its the Michelin Latitude tires or something else. Overall ride is quite good, but can instantly be upset by road defects such as potholes. You get a rather "jarring" effect. Driver and passenger comfort are a plus, esp. with the electric seats. Rear seating is comfortable as well and theres lots of room and lots of storage/hauling space. The gauges are pretty easy to read. There is a big learning curve with the navigation system, which can be very frustrating. Theres also a learning curve for the heat/vent/air conditioning controls.. It took my a while to figure it all out. I imagine these controls as well as the often frustrating nav system would have been redesigned in later models... And if you have a hard time seeing at night, the headlights are a weakness in my opinion. I find I have to keep on my high beams on dark, back roads to see properly. Mileage combined is around 22.5, and on long highway trips its around 25 or so - if you are easy on the pedal.