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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  Stangn - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By monksta - November 25 - 11:29 pm

  Bought it......loved it....what more can i say.....i would recommend it to a friend, an enemy so i could make new friends:)......from the V6 to the Cobra its all good......although i bet the Cobra is funner

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  Initial Impressions - Great Car - 2008 Ford Taurus X
  By ACarr - November 25 - 9:16 pm

  We upgraded an 04 Tribute for the Taurus X. The X is quieter, has more cargo and people space, has all the safety features standard, and gets about the same mileage - we got 25 mpg on our 40 mi drive home with the car. Fit and finish look fine. Nice ride.

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  Satisfied First Time Ford Owner - 1996 Ford F-150
  By birddog - November 25 - 5:20 pm

  I bought this vehicle new from dealership. Moved around the country several times with the military, pulling a fully loaded U-Haul trailer each time (maxed out the GVWR for this vehicle). I was surprised by the towing performance since the engine is only 220 HP (5.8L). I never had a complaint with acceleration or stopping performance, even at max GVWR. When not towing, it has OK pickup (its a truck), and corners about as well as a truck can. Ride is smooth compared to other 4WD trucks, but off-road (I live in the mountains so do a LOT of off-road), the truck is superb. Not a hint of mushiness in the suspension. Not sure how that is (usually you get one or the other, not both).

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  comfortable ride, good fuel consumption - 2001 Ford F-150
  By p.r.grass - November 25 - 2:34 pm

  This vehicle has been mostly to my liking. The small v-8 has plenty of power for day to day driving. Towing up to the Ford-recommended limit is adequate but the engine complains. Knew this going in, that 95% of my driving would be non-towing. Overall mileage an honest 16 to17 mpg. Trade-off made sense to me. Computer engine control system is balky and produces knocking regardless of load or fuel grade. Not a serious problemm, just an annoyance that must be accepted as part of the engineered-in compromised characteristic of the smaller engine. The 17 inch wheels produce a very comfortable ride. Excellent road travelling car: have put most of the mileage on travelling all accross the country.

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  Pepe1 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Pepe - November 25 - 2:30 pm

  I purchased this car for the leg room in the front and back seat area. Also for the trunk space. I realy liked the way the car looks and drives. I average 32 miles to the gallon with this car on the highway and about 22 in the city. I do a lot of road traveling and this car has never let me down for room, comfort and gas mileage. I true love this car.

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  96 Explorer 174k and still running great - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By mdmadv@hotmail.com - November 25 - 12:33 pm

  Purchased used off a lease w/ 17k miles. Has had strict maintenance program, synthetic oil every 4k, transmission service every 20k, flush coolant system annually. Normal driving 16-17, highway 20-21 mpg. Original transmission overdrive just failed after 174k. In shop now. Will repair and give to my son. I would buy another Explorer or Escape If you service the vehicle it has a better chance of lasting.

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  Extremely pleased and surprised - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By JER - November 25 - 3:16 am

  Even though the majority of the reviews were positive for the Ford 500 I hesitated to purchase it because of some of the negative comments I had read. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! I put on a lot of mileage averaging 800 to 900 miles per week. I took my new 500 Limited with the CVT transmission on a trip from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Atlanta Ga. to Nashville Tenn. through Stanton Va. and back to the Eastern Shore (1975 miles). Gas mileage was between 26 to 27.5 MPH. Ride was like sitting in your easy chair. The stereo system was excellent, and the car had plenty of power for traveling highways with speed limits up to 75 MPH. It is a good looking car. I would highly recommend it.

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  GT - 2005 Ford GT
  By jrobbi - November 25 - 2:22 am

  its better than the pictures and performance is great.

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  Warning! Faulty Left front Strut - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Big Dan - November 25 - 1:30 am

  Bought it in Jan. 05. We love it! However from the beginning a thump has been heard coming from area of left front-end. A road trip to Scott City, Kansas revealed more noise. A terrific dealership there determined the left strut may have been improperly mounted when the car was built by manufacturer. They replace and corrected mount and everything has been perfect since. The next time we trade Im taking the Escape and buying my wife a new one.

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  Excellent car, no problems ever - 2001 Ford Escort
  By wwolf - November 24 - 11:00 pm

  ZX2 looks good, drives well, very easy on gas. Have had it for almost 4 years and not a single repair. I recommend it to anyone who wants a sporty smaller car that performs well.