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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  Beautiful but a pain in the butt. - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By PinkLady - July 1 - 2:00 am

  I was so excited when I found my dream car in my favorite color (I have the rare Iris anniversary color..a pink/purple) but the car has been nothing but a nightmare. At 116k my head gaskets blew. Other replacements: power steering pump, thermostat, thermostat housing, entire exhaust system, wires controling the head lights, and more. I love this car, its fun to drive, but now that its finally running great Im going to get rid of it before something else goes wrong.

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  Look Out - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By powerplant - July 1 - 2:00 am

  I have had my ranger Edge supercab 4.0 for 3 weeks. I would not get black again. Everything ok except it came with no back seats. Didnt realize they were optional until purchased. Need to put out a crew cab model.Would not purchase again. Cant compete with crew cab trucks. I ended up with a 2 seater vehicle ! Would not use dealership again, they are not user friendly.

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  Even Ford cant figure out whats wrong - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By xFordMan - July 1 - 2:00 am

  Check engine light came on, fixed sensor for $150 at Ford dealer. Came on again in a week, had to pay for another diagnosis, but pointed again to sensor which was just repaced...dealer perplexed as to what could be worng said "its fine those lights always come on". Next ABS light and the red brake light came on together which according to the usre manual sidnals a fault in the ABS system...deal diagnosed again but could not figure out why those lights came on. This is a vehical with what could be nice features but it is not built to last. WE still owe $3600 on this beast and was hoping to have a few years w/o paymnets...I learned my lesson next time a Toyota.

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  Still going strong - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport
  By jake4146 - July 1 - 1:31 am

  219k miles and still going strong! Just used it to move a trailer full of Moving stuff across the state. Couldnt be happier. Its crazy how stuff lasts when taken care of.

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  My 500 - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Kerry Ayers - July 1 - 12:16 am

  As soon as I saw it, I wanted it. This is my first Ford. The interior styling is elegant and functional. The CVT and the 3.0 six have plenty of power for me. I wanted a car with AWD and not an SUV. Compared to the VW, Subaru and Volvo, I got more car for my money. The car is built well, tight and maintenance free. I had no adjustments or complaints at my first service.

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  Eco boost is the best of both worlds ! - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By Mr. Austin - June 30 - 9:36 pm

  A lot of car for the money ! You can have three of these compared to the price of one Mercedes SL. I had three SLs and do not miss them one bit ! Especially the repair bills ! Everything was $1,200.00 minimum. The Mustang is a a fun and iconic muscle car for a lot of value for your $. With more affordable matinence. Love it!

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  Looks good but..... - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Ford for life - June 30 - 5:20 am

  I liked the car - so I bought one. Its relatively fun to drive, but I can tell that Ill be getting rid of it in a year or two. It requires "work" to drive it and thats not always what I want out of a car. I looks awesome and sounds great but steering is tough and the response is tight.

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  Wonderful car! - 1993 Ford Probe
  By Probe_luv - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Love this car! Even though the idle control has been bad for a year, I drive it everywhere and love it. 169000 miles and still going. And easy to fix, if you can find the parts. It does what I need it to do and I can fit my golf clubs in the trunk.

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  Buy One Of These...NOW!! - 1994 Ford F-150
  By Solomon2 - June 30 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this 10 year old truck for 2.5 years, and I absolutely love it!! If it got better gas mileage, itd be the greatest vehicle ever. Ive hauled 2.5 yards of mulch in it, towed trailers, and the previous owner towed his boat to the beach regularly and the truck still runs perfectly. He and I have replaced very few items on it, and it still runs like new. Its extremely comfortable and reliable. I plan to keep it another 10 or 15 years. And since its such a popular vehicle, tires and many other accessories are fairly inexpensive. Also, it has a good safety rating. No body makes trucks better than Ford.

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  Great Truck - 1997 Ford F-150
  By BBinTEX - June 30 - 2:00 am

  144000+ miles with no problems except minor shift problem between 2nd and 3rd that showed up at around 100000 miles. So insignificant that I had not had it repaired when I got another Ford truck. No other repairs or problems except normal tires and brakes replacements.