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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  This is truly the most bang for your $$$ - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By andrewpc01 - October 23 - 2:00 am

  Amzaing power off the line. The supercharger is a little on the loud side but man does it ever get you from 0-60 in 4.7sec. This is my 4th Mustang going back to a 67 and including 2 Fox bodies, and by far the quality of 2004 Cobra surpasses them all. But, lets face it, it is still a Mustang. The car does rattle and hum in weird ways. I was very surprised to see subframe connectors when the car was up on a lift. The exhaust is also a little tame for the car. Invest in an after market exhaust (Steeda makes a really nice one), and go have some fun! Believe me very little on the road will be able to keep up with you.

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  fuel gauge problem - 2004 Ford Focus
  By naturebuddy - October 23 - 2:00 am

  I purchased a focus ZTS in 5/04 it has been serviced 4 times once for a recall on the heated seats & 3 times with a fuel gauge problem their seems to be a softwear problem our 1st problem occured after filling the tank the gauge stayed on empty the dealer said ford told them to clear the computer memory & put in a new code the 2nd time we again filled the tank this time it read 1/2 tank the dealer replaced the sending unit the 3rd time the gauge stayed on full after 150 miles then after 200 miles the gauge read between full & 3/4 when it should have read at half tank because when we filled up it took 8 gal with a 14 gal tank now they say the float wasnt set properly on the sending unit

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  Terrible Gas mileage - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By ChasBmn - October 23 - 2:00 am

  If I knew the gas mileage was going to be so bad I would have bought a Full Size Truck.This truck is going to make be go broke buying gas!!!!!!!!!

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  best buy - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By retired11th - October 23 - 2:00 am

  Great car, to bad they will not be building them anymore.

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  Tough FORD - 1997 Ford F-150
  By srr7sk8r - October 23 - 2:00 am

  F-150s are the greatest trucks out there. Havent had any problems and no complaints. Built tough.

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  Noticed no recent reviews- thought id add mine! - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Justin - October 22 - 8:50 pm

  Ive owned this vehicle for a year now and bought it used on craigslist and got a great deal on it. The previous owners had all records and maintained it really well with the exception of wearing out the leather in the backseat with their childrens car seats a little. Ive put around 10k miles on it and am currently at 135k. Ive driven it from Atlanta to Key West and all over the mountains of north Georgia and Ive loved every second of it. Ive always been into the appearance of this model and in shopping around noted the recurring problems of interior plastic parts breaking (something mine doesnt suffer from) and electrical/wiring issues. One thing I wish I had been aware of beFORE purchasing this wagon was the issues with the wiring harness in the rear trunk hatch. Its a shame that Ford has not recalled effected models since it seems to be a widespread issue. I managed to rewire mine and all seems well, but what a nightmare it was to do. Advise to anyone thinking about buying one, check and see under the rubber boot that houses the harness to see if the wires have already been replaced... its likely it will need to happen at some point, so be aware of that fact. On long rides Ive been happy with the comfort and level in which you can adjust the drivers seating position. Some complain they find the car uncomfortable, but as the driver I dont. I have had my significant other tell me that on long rides it wasnt super great with comfort for the passenger. For every amenity you get with the price range these sell for, for model anyway, its made me feel a little spoiled. Heated seats, leather (that has held up incredibly well for a now 10 year old car), heated and electric mirrors, etc... all great features. I have also seen in many of these that the coating and labeling on the interior knobs wears off. Mine doesnt suffer from this issue either, and every time Ive cleaned it Ive done taking care to make sure it stays that way. The cargo space is ample, and got even more so once I realized that the backseats fold all the way down after lifting up the bottom of the seat first. My only issue with this the one time Ive needed it was that after remaining in that position for a few days it left some pretty gnarly marks in the leather from where the backs of the seats rested while pulled down - in the end however, it came out and all was well. Also it should be noted that partly why the previous owners opted to sell the car was due to the fact that the back seats dont have headrests. Not having children and rarely carrying more than two adults, this hasnt been an issue for me. Odd that a wagon would not have this included. Gas mileage has been better than advertised despite most of my day to day driving being inner city driving. Very pleased with that. This reminds me however that when I purchased the car the caveat was a new thermostat needed. I took it to my mechanic who then informed and showed me the lengths that Ford went to to save space (and weight) to achieve the fuel economy it does. Some repairs are a bit more complicated (and time consuming) than they might otherwise be with other models. In my case, several other parts had to be removed to get to the thermostat adding to the labor costs. Overall, Im very happy with this car and hope I continue to be as it ages. I intend to keep it around for a while... definitely happy.

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  Great Truck - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Diane Sapp - October 22 - 6:20 pm

  I had a station wagon but wanted a truck, but also the room for my grandkids. With this truck I have both.The bed seems small and I was a little worried about that for I have horses, but it will hold 3 bales of hay. So it is just perfect for me. I have leather interior that is very comfortable.To sum it all up I love my truck

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  Best of all - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By ChewToy - October 22 - 12:26 pm

  I traded my Prius for this car because the Fusion is so superior. Its more comfortable, quieter, better looking, the radio is better, it gets better mileage and is just plain more fun. Bottom line, you cant go wrong here. Dump your existing hybrid and get the fusion. For sure.

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  2013 C-Max SEL - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By kkellyp - October 22 - 9:55 am

  3 mos, 6K miles later, love my C-Max SEL, would buy it again today. Way more comfortable than Prius V with WAY better acceleration and handling. I drive 65% freeway, heavy foot; MPG slightly disappointing 36+ most of the time, but in town on level roads in traffic I can easily top 42 mpg. Love the handling, 17" wheels and seat height, rear-seat fold-downs/cargo space, driver seat controls (wish passenger side had them). Dont love the less-than-hoped for MPG, and the driver seat gets hard on long trips. DONT love flat-fix stuff instead of a spare tire; already had two punctures (surprising for Michelin tires!), but warning lights gave me enough time to get somewhere for fixing.

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  Improve gas mileage - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Roy - October 22 - 6:23 am

  Traded In our Windstar for the Freestyle In hopes of better gas mileage. Didnt work. Mixed driving shows 16 mpg. Drivers seating Is cramped. Im 64" and my right knee rests against the console. After 15 minutes or so of driving my right knee Is getting sore. Imagine a long trip.