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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  The Life of the Ford Excursion - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By David Vanderbilt Nus - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I think that this is a great car, really, I have had Range rovers in the past, still do and have had sububrbans, and I prefer this always. I Last and not least I have been hearing rumors that the excursion will cease to be in production after 2005, and I really hope Thanks, Charles Nussbaum

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  I love my Excursion! - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By kblair2001 - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I drove the Expedition, I drove the new 4 door F-150...neither of them compared to the Excursion! The engine is awesome, the interior room is unbelievable and the driving performance blows me away. I LOVE it!

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  Great Big Ride - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Powermom - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I love my Excursion. I always wanted one with the Powerstroke and it has been everything I thought it would be. Smooth ride, GREAT engine, space, power, fuel economy - what else can I say. Oh yeah, and it looks great, too! My husband always had diesel pickups that I had driven and I knew I wanted one in this. It was a super choice. If you drive a lot and want superior engine performance, interior space and comfort, this SUV is the ONLY choice.

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  Awesome Vehicle - 2009 Ford Flex
  By Jeff - April 8 - 1:43 am

  Quite possibly the best American vehicle that Ive ever owned. This vehicle rides smoothly and the AWD version of the vehicle got 24.6 MPG on a long distance trip of 1300 miles. This is 2.6 MPG better than the EPA sticker. The designers of the vehicle seem to have thought of everything including a 110 V AC outlet at the back of the 1st row center console. Must order sync on the vehicle too so that you can make hands free calls (legally required in some states) and also can control your music player or thumb drive with music on it. Seats are amazingly comfortable and ride quality is better than a minivan. Buy one and youll be impressed too.

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  Found a basic XL 2015 work truck - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Mark - April 7 - 5:14 pm

  The base 6 cyl 2.7L turbo is very strong! I LOVE the Ford engines. I also have the new Navigator L 3.5L and it is very fast for such a huge dinosaur. The F-150 is currently getting 23 mpg combo which is outstanding. Considering its the base XL with no carpet and vinyl and just extended cab, I get a lot of compliments on its looks. Sync works well with my Iphone and I hooked up a portable sirrius/xm radio and the speakers are very good in the base version. For a cheap base truck, the fit and finish is outstanding. This a good family truck as my kids can load all the sports gear in the bed and fit adequately in the rear seats for medium to short trips. We will take our Navigator to Florida. Sounds like I am a Ford salesman but I must tell you that I have always purchased Toyota and Subaru but the Ford line is strong and reliable based upon consumer magazines and my friends. This base XL makes more sense than an SUV in most cases. Buy a loaded F150 and you are close to Navigator pricing. Look at the XL and learn to save some money with no one else noticing!

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  great first car! - 1995 Ford Escort
  By pacothechihuahua01 - April 7 - 2:00 am

  When I had just turned 16 I asked dad for help getting a car. He didnt tell me but went out and bought a 95 escort that was a company car and had 153000 miles on it. To top it off it was purple. I wasnt crazy about the color but i was glad to have my own wheels. I no longer have this car because it finally died, but i cant complain since it had over 200,000 miles on it, not sure of actual milage because odometer broke and i have to get a new one that read 100k less than what i had on it. great car, few problems , inner tie rods. brakes!

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  Good Family SUV All Around - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By Willis - April 7 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car in 2000 because our family needed a larger vehicle than our 1998 Ford Explorer. I had earlier looked at Expeditions and really liked the looks in 1998 and wanted one. It drives well and has really good reliabiliy. The only problem so far was an odd, groaning idling at stoplights, but it has been fixed and not as problematic. If you are considering any Expedition, I think you will find it at least plaeasing.

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  F.O.R.D.= Fix Or Repair Daily - 1994 Ford Explorer
  By Catfish - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Within the first yr I had to get another trans put in. Then the gas gage stopped functioning, so I had to count and keep track of my my miles. I was told by Ford that it might cost me over $300 to fix whatyever the problem was, fuel sender,gage,gas tank, etc,etc. The second yr I started hearing noises up front whenever I engaged the 4 wheel drive. Theres something wrong with the way the wheels engage when the 4 wheel is put on. Thats going to cost me about $600 to fix. This past month,(march), the trans went again. Another $1600 for a so-called remanufactured one with a one yr or 12,000 mile warranty.

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  Wow - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By JD42 - April 7 - 2:00 am

  Like most have already wrote this car has been a hastle, it has been lots of cash in keeping it running. Just about the time you begin to trust it something goes out again. I love it so much and it looks darn good but unreliable.

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  1995 SILVER MUSTAGE GT - 1995 Ford Mustang
  By SIDNEY - April 7 - 2:00 am

  1995 MUSTAGE GT - DEMANDS RESPECT- HANDLES EXELLENT IN GOOD WEATHER/DRY ROADS- OUT PERFORMED MY EXPECTATIONS NOT GOOD ON GAS I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT IN SNOW - AND HANDLES POORLY IN HEAVY RAIN