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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  Not Happy - 2002 Ford Focus
  By clarkdnr - May 30 - 10:00 am

  Initially it seems as though you get a lot for the money with the Ford Focus. Once you really spend time with the car, however you learn that you have been ripped off. Mine is in the shop for the 4th time in one year. Currently it is having a trunk latch repaired, theres been a recall on bearings and they have to completely rebuild my transmission. Everytime service has been a nightmare (rude, unknowledgeable, difficault to get a rental). Watch paint job on delivery. The interior, though well designed is made of low grade materials. Im going back to Toyota!

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  Rollover Risk - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By rlayton4 - May 30 - 10:00 am

  I wouldnt recommend this vehicle-- particularly for young, inexperienced drivers--because of the high risk of rollover. My daughter (age 17), while driving on gravel, hit a loose patch of gravel and rolled the vehicle 1-1/2 times. I personally attribute the accident to: 1 - the design of the vehicle; 2 - road condition; and 3 - inexperienced driver behind the wheel

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  Well Deisigned, Poorly Built - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Focus ZTS Owner - May 30 - 2:00 am

  This car is fun to drive, looks good, and has great interior room for a compact. Gas mileage is OK but not great (about 25 - 26 mpg on mixed hilly curvy roads and in-town driving). The quality of the workmanship leaves much to be desired. There have been numerous recalls. In addition, Ive had a variety of things repaired under the warranty (door panel trim, headlights, gas gauge, squeaks, accelerator cable mounting, brakes, and loose trim).

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  ford expidition - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By mo - May 30 - 2:00 am

  very nice car to drive and very nice exterior disighn

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  2002 Explorer Pros/Cons - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Wayne - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Ford did a great job on the 2002 Explorer Limited. I made a mistake and ordered it without the running boards. It is difficult for shorter people to get in and out of. The other poor feature is the seats. The lumbar support is wimpy. When I sat in it at the dealership, I believed the lumbar support to be adequate, however after driving it on a long car trip Ford should have increased the amount of lumbar support. Other than these two minor items, it is a great vehicle with no defects of any kind.

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  Stylish but grew unreliable over time - 1990 Ford Thunderbird
  By NWTransplant - May 30 - 2:00 am

  I got a base 90 T-bird at 59K miles and was happy at first. Satisfying performance, good cornering, spacious interior & trunk, and great styling thats unique to the old style big personal coupes. Hated the motorized seatbelts though. Thats a bad substitute for an airbag. Around 85-90K miles, it began to deteriorate despite my careful maintenance: air conditioner compressor went dead, alternator died, battery literally exploded under the hood, and transmission required a costly rebuild after it got its fluid and filter changed at 90K. Head gasket blew a few months after I sold it at 93K miles. Not a good prospect for long- term reliability.

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  2000 Ford Crown Victoria LX - 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Officer_ndogg - May 30 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car for the money. The V8 engine performs very well, moving this big car to 60 in a pretty decent amount of time, and it gets decent fuel mileage. The ride is very smooth and soaks up bumps with ease. Handling is good for a car this size. The interior is very spacious, though the back seat is not as big as youd imagine. Controls are a bit dated (it comes with a cassette player) and quality can be an issue. Overall, you get a lot for your money in a car that can outperform most more expensive vehicles.

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  A Fast Fun Daily Driver! - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By The Extreme - May 30 - 2:00 am

  Almost 7 years & over 142,000 miles later, I have no regrets. This car has never leaked oil - not even one single drop! It still runs strong and idles smoothly. In all those miles, the only major unexpected repair cost Ive had was a $300 mass air meter. In short, take care of a Mustang and it will take care of you. Mine sure has - I was blown away by the Mustangs reliability. Even my wife, Ford-hater she is, will concede on this one. I wanted a GT (still do), but the fun factor is still here, and in a car that has four seats (no matter the rear two are small). Im getting another car this summer... another Mustang!

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  Bullitt 2001 by Car2nz - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By Bullitt01 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  (PRO)When looking to trade out of my 1998 Cobra convertable, I drove many Ford vehichles, not limited to Roush and Cobras. The comfort and styling of the Bullitt was for me. I get more looks and comments than with the Cobra. (CON) Squeaky windows, squeaky struts, parking at the far end of the parking lots and slower than my ol cobra :( Other reviews state that the Bullitt model is a $3000 upgrade. Try doubling that or more; with no dealer markdowns at $27,000 for the Bullitt in comparison with a GT you can buy for about $20,000 with markdowns. Only 5 horsepower diff., maybe the potential for more HP is there?

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  Best - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By snokid19 - May 30 - 2:00 am

  My sport trac is the best becuae its the best of both worlds. Its a truck and an SUV. It can switch between 2x4,4x4 high, and 4x4 low. Thats great for rough roads. The sport trac compared to the avalanche(from what Ive heard about it) is better because its easier to convert and better gas milage.