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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  Super Crew FX4 XLT - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Calcbunny - October 8 - 2:00 am

  I love the truck, the FX4 rides good. Wish I would have gotten the 6 disc in dash CD player. Experienced a shutter problem in the rear. Dealer replaced the drive shaft and yoak assemble at 5000 miles. Still have the problems. Ford will look at it on 4/4/02.

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  2010 Mustang GT Premium Convertible - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By gspfan - October 7 - 10:52 pm

  Just bought the car new a few weeks ago. Have been enjoying it ever since. Lots of compliments on the car, especially the color -Kona Blue metallic. Plenty of power, decent comfort and handles surprisingly well for its size. Nice stereo. Sync system works well but takes a while to figure out.

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  I Like This Van - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By NChawk - October 7 - 7:42 pm

  I bought this van new in June 2003 with 5 miles on it. About half the time Ive had it, there was a high idling, throttle problem. Once they figured out to replace the throttle sensor, and then the throttle assembly, it has run great....and Ive got over 140,000 miles on it now. I had to replace the transmission at 112,000 miles, which cost about $3,300. It gets about 22 mpg on the highway, and 17 in town. It has all the whistles and bells and they all still work....although I wish they had had the DVD instead of the VCP. Im happy with my Windstar and expect to keep it for another 3-4 years.

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  Solid Little Runner - 2009 Ford Focus
  By Gary in WI - October 7 - 12:07 pm

  I purchased a new SEL with two options (ABS/ESC and Auto Tranny). I now have 3000 miles on the odometer and the car has performed flawlessly. Gas mileage has been good - 35 mph and getting better. I bought this car as a daily commuter, putting on 75 miles per day and in this regard, it has been ideal. I looked at Madza 3 and the Mini Cooper, but the price-point and simplicity of the Focus appealed to me. Also, having rented many small cars, I have had better-than-average experiences with the Focus. Overall, Im happy with my purchase and would do it again.

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  The cargo van of the future - 2010 Ford Transit Connect
  By soundman - October 7 - 2:00 am

  Have put 7000 miles in less then a month. Ride is decent, mileage is good, handling is good, reliability has bin great so far, radio & wheels dumped after one week! Needs a turbo, upgrades on interior options would be nice, bigger wheels & mirrors could be useful options. Overall a great first attempt, now lets fine tune the details, give us the options needed to brig it up to full potential!

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  Things can go wrong - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By Linda - October 6 - 9:44 pm

  My T-bird has had 6 engine coils replaced in less then 52,00 miles. The radio/CD player replaced 4 times. The engine thermostat replaced along with fan assembly. The hard top leaks and ford refuses to fix. It is normal to have some leakage. The brakes replaced 4 times. No I am not hard on brakes. The driver side rear quarter panel no longer lays flat with rest of body surface. The car stopped dead on the 15 freeway coming from Vegas in the fast lane without warning. The black paint faded in spots. The soft top frays in two areas. The T-bird fun to drive. But very expensive and does not provide the quality expected from Ford. Or does it?

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  1999 Ford Contour 4 Dr SE Sedan - 1999 Ford Contour
  By Marshall - October 4 - 8:23 pm

  I have had this car since 2001 and despite it not being the best looking car on the road, it has been a great car and I cant justify replacing it. Since purchase I have only put about $1200 into it which are thing I consider normal replacements (timing belt and front control arms) after nearly 10 years. One thing I would like to note is that after 118000 miles, my last fill up I averaged 30.73 miles per gallon. I consider this excellent considering the mileage on the car and the fact that I usually drive between 70 and 75 on the highway. Overall, this has been a great car. Not a chick magnet but a darn good car worth keeping.

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  Not bad overall! - 2009 Ford Edge
  By eddy649 - October 4 - 8:15 pm

  After owning four GM Suv"s in a row, I tried the Edge feeling the GM line had fallen behind. I have been very impressed with the vehicle itself but disappointed in some of the "amenities". The IP is very difficult to see in low light conditions-this in itself will prevent a repurchase as both drivers feel it is dangerous. The radio (LED) is archaic ,difficult to read . The privacy cover behind the back seat is a joke.

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  2002 - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By qa9031 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  Have transported, king size mattress, mulch for the yard, scuba equipment, boating equipment all with relative ease, great vehicle.

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  A Long Wait....A Quick Disappointment - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By KO4321 - October 4 - 2:00 am

  This brand new truck was purchased as a college graduation present to myself. Nine months later, I had to be given a brand new engine. My dealership was excellent through all of my problems. But, I felt Ford should have shown me some type of support (even just a letter of apology). A year and a half and 2 recalls later, I am very disappointed not only in the quality of this vehicle but in the lack of customer service that Ford has shown me. Without the tonneau cover, the back is too light and slides in rain and snow.I am young, and will own several more cars in the future. However, none of them will be a Ford.