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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  One Awesome Car - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By Ben - November 29 - 12:14 pm

  We have only had this Fusion for a few months now and my whole family loves driving it. It rides so smooth, has minimal body roll and handles great. The steering is pretty tight too, but thats better than loose steering. Acceleration is very good, Id guess about 7.5 seconds to 60. Audiophile Stereo is definitely worth the cost, It sounds great.

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  Love This Car-2006 Freestyle Limited AWD - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By 9CLINE - November 29 - 12:13 pm

  Love this car, traded in my 98 Lincoln Navigator for it. We travel a lot and haul bowling balls too, so I am surprised at the room and ease to load and unload the vehicle when comparing to my SUV. This was a wise and fun choice. Doesnt feel as small and tight as a car; rides and sits higher too. I like to feel like I am higher so this suits the bill. Great car.

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  The Edge - 2010 Ford Edge
  By David - November 29 - 9:10 am

  After reading many of the reviews from other consumers and then becoming a Ford Edge owner I will disagree with several previous comments. The brakes perform fine plus the cruise control is very, very simple and intuitive. The dash display and sound system controls are simple and easy to use. On new topics from a personal viewpoint, we are impressed with the vehicle and recommend it highly. As a previous owner of two Lexus cars we found the ride to be Lexus like and very quiet inside. The driver has a sense of control with responsive handling. The fit and finish is excellent providing a sense of very high quality. We love the Edge so far and remain optimistic about our purchase.

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  My 1st Stang ! - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By StangGirl731 - November 28 - 9:36 pm

  This car is a blast. I purchased my 06 Performance White GT Premium about 4 months ago. It drives like a dream, its everything I ever imagined. I wanted one since the day it came out and Im not sorry for the purchase. I get a lot of compliments. So far I have not had any problems what so ever. I have taken it to the Ford dealership I purchased it from for oil changes and everytime so far everything has been 100%

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  The Car I Always Wanted - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By triangleman - November 28 - 5:30 pm

  I cant decide what I like best about this car. I have had so many people stop and look at the car and just say "its beautiful". Then I hop in and drive; its a blast, it just rips off the line and handles crisply. The seats are comfortable and the wind noise is better than my old Miata. The only disappointment is the Shaker 500 stereo; it lacks sophistication and the CD player is very finicky with MP3 discs. The door mounted sub-woofers cause the door handles to vibrate and hum when handling low frequencies.

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  sportrak rev. - 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By mark lascko - November 28 - 10:00 am

  had my sportrak for almost 2yrs.now still looks great, get many compliments. have had no trouble with it. great dependable ford quality!!! would definately buy another one!!!

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  From Benz to Bird..... - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By Ed Herz - November 28 - 10:00 am

  I just finished getting a 1986 Mercedes 500 SL roadster restored. The Benz is now a really nice car, & a real attention getter. But my new Bird is just so much more comfortable, & two decades of progress have made the Bird my daily (& favorite) driver.

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  T-Bird - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By MyT-Bird - November 28 - 10:00 am

  This is the best car I have ever had.

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  LOVE MY TBIRD - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By christine - November 28 - 10:00 am

  EXCELLENT CAR TO HAVE, ALWAYS NOTICED ON THE ROAD

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  Finally got one - 2004 Ford Thunderbird
  By bcubed3 - November 28 - 10:00 am

  It has a lot of power! Very responsive and the handling is excellent! Not as comfortable to the lower back after a reasonably long trip (over 2 hours)...But, all considered a GREAT and SWEET RIDE!