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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  Mileage not up to expectations - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Ann - March 22 - 2:33 am

  I have been driving my hybrid Escape for 2 months. I love how it handles and accelerates but I have been disappointed in other features. The gas mileage is rated at 29 to 32 mpg. The highest I have gotten so far is 24.6 mpg for any city/highway combination. Ford has said it takes 10,000 miles of driving to "break it in". I paid a lot of extra money for the high mileage feature and now may not get what I paid for. Also, the interior fabric and door covering is of a lesser quality. Mine was wrinkled and I had to take it to the dealer to be steamed. I love the low emissions and the way it drives. If the mileage increases, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a midsize SUV.

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  cheap transportation - 1994 Ford Aspire
  By Breanna - March 22 - 2:00 am

  I have owned this car for almost 4 years. I have had problems with the following: does not like to start in the rain, change plugs and wires yearly, passenger side door & hatch leaks in the car wash, front bushings (very expensive part), and the gas tank and related items. I think it’s a good car if you can get scrap parts, as new parts are VERY expensive . I bought the car with 90,000 KM in the year 2000 and it has 145,000 KM now, it has cost me about $70 CND a month to maintain over the 43 months I have owned it. Good cheap transportation if you don’t have far to drive.

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  Bad decision to buy this car - 1997 Ford Thunderbird
  By Peter Wojnar - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Stay away from this car if you are in the used car market. Suspension components wear out prematurely. The rubber components become brittle and fall apart. Ive spent $800 changing suspension components. First suspension repair after only 3 years! Also, the transmission developed a leak. Ford must have admitted a problem regarding transmissions as they paid for 80% of the repair, even though the vehicle was out of warranty.

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  i love this car - 1991 Ford Festiva
  By frylok - March 22 - 2:00 am

  this is the best car they make ive been everywhere offroad street winter and never got stuck

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  What a lemon! - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By kitfox - March 22 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe all of the things that went wrong with this vehicle! Transmissions, count em, we did two, now needs repairs again! Went through brake pads so fast we thought they were faulty! Little things always went wrong, but $$$$to fix...gas gauge went, required entire new dash, ignition, still usable but a pain in the neck, all four door handles were broken and floppy. on and on and on...to top it off, very tippy and unstable feeling....finally rolled it!

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  great truck - 1992 Ford F-150
  By trk2621 - March 22 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my pickup for almost 2 years now, and I had no problems at all. It runs and looks fine!

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  A Blast To Drive - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By Woo Hoo - March 22 - 2:00 am

  My Aunt Gave Me This Car And I have Had Nothing But Fun In It, She Took The Best Car To It And Never Gave Her Any Problems, I Got It With almost 100,000 Miles On It. But The Clutch Has Never Been Replaced And It Still is Like new. 4 people have learned how to drive in it. im only 16 and its the best car i will ever have.

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  LOVE my Mustan - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Kirsten - March 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought my dream car in a 2003 Mustang G.T. in redfire, loaded with a great stereo, leather, etc..what a car!! I love driving it everyday!!! Its fast when you want it to be and comfortable for 2 with a good sized trunk...have gotton tons of compliments on it and do not have one complaint..love it!!!!!

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  Much room for improvement - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By William - March 21 - 11:26 am

  I like the truck a lot. Nice styling, good features like the bed extender and bed cover. Lot of room in the back seat. Good off road capabilities, both in 4H and 4L. Only problem are the side steps which are quite low and tend to touch the ground off road. My biggest problem is my dealership; the after sales service is as bad as can be. Build quality is fair and reliability not as good as a Japanese make.

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  Out of the SUV! - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Frank Higgins - March 21 - 10:30 am

  This is really a good car. It is versatile for the family. We sold our Toyota Sequoia and Toyota RAV4 to use one car for around town and on trips. The Freestyle fits the bill. The price is fair too!