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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  Well spent money - 1997 Ford Escort
  By PizzaGuru - August 31 - 2:00 am

  Best compact car ford ever built! If your looking for a dependable car this is it. Ive got 130,000 miles on it and its still going strong. No major problems ever. Our other car is a Dodge Stratus.....Its always at the repair shop. The Escort will probably outlast me.

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  I love my ZX2 - 1998 Ford Escort
  By BonBon - August 31 - 2:00 am

  My car is great. Good gas mileage, reliable, small (but not too small!), sporty....Ford did a great job.

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  semi-satisfied owner - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By rtbill - August 31 - 2:00 am

  bought used with 7400 miles in like new condition. now have 58000 and it has never cost a dime in maintenance except for routine oil & filter changes. brakes & steering very good. heater & air very good. ride comfort is awful. 5 speed sloppy & difficult to shift into first when at full stop. difficult to enter & exit. shoulder belt height is non-adjustable and constantly pulls out of seat back plastic loop. all in all an inexpensive car to own and has great looks with Cobra style wheels & tires. Poor traction with this tire package when streets are wet however.

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  Excellent Buy! - 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By nauboey - August 30 - 8:50 am

  The Sport Trac is a great truck/SUV! Its great for everyone including familys. This thing has so many features that I dont know where to start. My Kids love it and my wife perfers to drive it over her Mustang and Audi!

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  Ford should get out of selling cars - 2012 Ford Focus
  By M. Israel - August 30 - 8:13 am

  Nightmare! Transmission/clutch is out. The car is sitting collecting dust. Took the car in while still under warranty for transmission and clutch problems. Expecting them to replace the clutch but instead they cleaned the clutch checked it on the computer and said it was fixed. 3k miles later I took it back in for the same problem. They said the clutch is out and it is no longer under warranty and they were not going to fix it. It will cost me $2000 to fix with no guarantee that the clutch will not go out again. Prior to this happening I had a car accident because the car shut off while I was driving. I though I did something wrong but to find out it was the transmission. Besides that the dealer said there is a 3 month wait on the clutch. The law firm that is representing the class action lawsuit said they go to court in 2017. In the meantime, i have a lemon and I cant make lemonade. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN CAR! [non-permissible content removed]. How can the Japanese make such great cars and America puts out such crap?

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  Fun Car To Drive - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Al - August 30 - 5:36 am

  Ive owned four Mustangs, 1984-GT, 1986-GT convertible, 2000-V-6 and a 2000-GT (auto) and now a 2005-GT(5-speed) So far this is the best of all. The performance is great and handling is better than any of the above that I have owned. Gas mileage is good (20 mph in town and 22-24 on highway. Have to be careful what brand of gas (87) that I use to get the above mileage. Just about everyone that sees it gives it a thumbs up!

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  Love at first sight? Not really, but... - 2009 Ford Flex
  By GeeMan - August 30 - 3:20 am

  A solid home run from Ford Motor Company. When I first saw pictures of the Flex, I didnt get it. It was polarizing. But that was the genius the designers were going for. You either loved it, or hated it. Initially I was stuck right in the middle i.e. dont love it, but dont hate it either. But the more I saw the vehicle, it started to grow on me. Then I had an opportunity to ride in one, boy did my feelings change immediately! From that point forward it was , I want one. So I bought one. Turns out to be one of the best purchase decision Ive ever made. What a fabulous vehicle. Dont believe me? Drive one.

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  3rd Expedition but my 17 Limited is the BEST- - 2017 Ford Expedition
  By Jeff K - August 30 - 3:15 am

  This is a review of the 2017 Limited Expedition, the spot below only showed 2016 Do your research, the Tahoe is a very good truck but they REDUCED the powertrain warranty to match Fords for 16 or 17. The older ones also didnt fold the 3rd row seats flat & had to be removed to use the space which is a p.i.t.a.! One of the major reasons I bought the Ford was the new engine. After dealing with leaking headgaskets on my 99 and a blown head gasket on my 03EB(pour&go stopped the leak) and also raining inside the truck as much as it rained OUTSIDE & various electrical issues as the result, I was really looking hard at the Tahoe due to its very good reliability record. At the end of the day though, the new Ford with its 365HP/420ftlb (or 375/470ftlb depending where you get your specs) engine & substantially lower cost made the decision for me because I have no latent loyalty to Ford or anyone else. OK, on the the truck. Ive only had this truck for a few days but this truck is nice, VERY nice! It does an excellent job of blocking road & engine noise while have terrific acceleration. You really have to drive it to believe it. I’m used to driving the old 5.4L V8 for the past 15 years and this engine is in a whole different class. The acceleration is truly phenomenal for a V6! Strong and smooth without jerking or feeling like you are straining the engine in the least, it just goes where it’s pointed….in a hurry if you kick it in the ass! The braking is strong and sure for a nearly 3 ton mass of steel. It wallows slightly at higher speeds, maybe a bit more than its competition in the Tahoe. The Limited model does not have the electrically enhanced suspension as stock so maybe that would make it more stable but its not unruly, just treat it like a big truck and youll be fine. The tech features abound with multiple 12 volt power ports (2 in the drivers compartment) and there is even a 120volt outlet in the 2nd row seating area (mounted on the rear of the drivers center console). The sound system is excellent but Ill admit to not being a true aficionado so decent sound sounds great to me. The fit & finish throughout are much better than my 03 Eddie Bauer expedition and the on-board computer allows for easy setup for your personal needs. The steering column comes with motor operated tilt & telescoping steering wheel that work in conjunction with the seat, adjustable foot controls and mirrors with memory for two drivers. The motor operated folding mirrors are a nice feature to avoid damage if driving through a tight space as are the power running boards. You can also have the running boards automatically deploy as you open each door, leave them out all the time or retracted all the time, your choice! The sunroof (moon roof) is tinted which is a nice touch that wasnt on my older model. Two days after I bought it, the morning temperature was 32 degrees and I used the remote start for the first time. It was SO nice to climb into a fully warmed, heated seat truck! Yes, you can even get a heated steering wheel but I do not have it and Im not sure if its available on the Limited as an option or not. Using the computer setup, you can setup the remote start to heat or cool the truck based on the outdoor temps or “last setting” or auto. I have not changed the factory setting for it yet so it was nice and cozy when I got in. I have several options on this truck so I’m not 100% sure what is standard and what was an option but I wanted heated and cooled seats and evidently the controls and the ducts for the air is already in place because at one point during the discussions the dealer was willing to swap out the seats for climate controlled seats (3,200 buck option) so that means the wiring is already in place as are the air ducts! Something to know if you buy a model without them! I also wanted the sunroof and hopefully this one won’t LEAK like my ‘03EB did! The power lift gate means that you can now open or close the big door from the driver’s seat. There are also trailer brake controls mounted on the dash as well as “trailer settings” within the computer setup so if you are towing a trailer, the engine will use different shift points and God knows what else….here’s two quotes from Ford: “Integrated with the anti-lock brakes and trailer sway control, the available Integrated Trailer Brake Controller (TBC)* synchronizes vehicle and trailer brakes for seamless braking, even when towing a large boat or camper-trailer. TBC controls are easy to use and well positioned, just to the right of the steering wheel.” AND “Accessed with controls on the steering wheel, the information is displayed in the gauge cluster. Input, track and save information about specific trailers and manage how you use them. A trailer name, its trailer brake control settings and mileage can all be stored. The off-road tools include displays of lateral, vertical and turning radius information and the 4x4 system and traction control status.” ENJOY!

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  Ford Escape XLS - 2003 Ford Escape
  By bchamp - August 30 - 2:00 am

  This has been a good mini SUV with few problems. I had my radio/CD player replaced and my tires are not wearing as well as my previous "Ford Explorer". I get 20.2 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. The tan interior cloth shows spots "very easily" compared to gray or a pattern design cloth. I think Ford should have included privacy glass to protect children and making a cheap roof rack a $75.00 option and floor mats an option still bothers me. The XLT comes with these things but you will not get the value back on re-sell.

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  Way Better than Toyota Camary - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By jones86 - August 29 - 12:50 pm

  After searching for months, I came back to the Fusion. This car is a winner! The styling is unique. The V-6 is worth a little less MPG than the 4 cyl. - as it shifts flaulessly, is very quiet and has plenty of power when needed. By far the handling is the best. After learning the underpinnings are from Volvo, "no wonder!" I thought - as my last 2 cars were Volvo and this car handles like no other import car. The interior is fresh and simple - not gaudy like Camrys fake beach glass glowing controls and old folks boring "bisque" color scheme. Get all the options even if you think you dont need them - I did and Im glad - very good value.