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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  Love it - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By sixatbat - July 12 - 1:42 pm

  If you are looking for a fast truck, the ranger is definitely not for you. I own an xlt 2wd 3.0 v6 super cab. Surprisingly, this truck has a lot of low end torque. Ive pulled a 96 my buddys 96 Buick Regal across 2 towns 3 times. I also pulled his Dodge Durango home as well. It can also haul 40 bags of mulch, no problem. After the timing belt was replaced, fuel milage was pretty good for a v6, around 22 MPG overall. Ive had to replace a water pump, alternator, ball joints, battery, and a fuel filter. But it can do anything when called upon. Drove it to Alabama from NY and back and from NY to Virginia and back. Terrible in the snow, but for the money, its a good, reliable vehicle.

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  Love this car! - 2010 Ford Mustang
  By lba0 - July 12 - 8:01 am

  I recently bought a 2010 Mustang Convertible (base V6 automatic). What an awesome ride! It has more than enough power to get me into trouble, and is an absolute beauty. The lines are amazing. Id recommend it to anyone.

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  Average car, but will not buy again - 2005 Ford Focus
  By magastratus - July 10 - 7:18 pm

  I bought this car in 2007 with 30k miles, and had to replace transmission before it hit 70k set me back about $1200. Previous reviews about the interior being especially noisy are accurate. Gas mileage is lower than what I expected. A lot of minor things go wrong with this car. The vent selector switch broke, so it is stuck on blowing air on my feet. I have yet to get this fixed, so I am uncertain what it will cost. Armrest was also flimsy and broke within 6 months. It also takes a very long time to warm up during the winter, and will sometimes have issues starting cold. It will always eventually start, but not without some hassle. Not terrible, but buy something better if you have the $$.

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  My Prim is growing up! - 1997 Ford Aspire
  By kkandprim - July 10 - 5:42 pm

  I received my 97 Aspire about six months ago as a gift from my fantastic grandparents, and immediately named her Primrose. Prim had 38,000 miles when I got her, and the previous owner kept detailed records of all maintanence. Shes been a fantastic little car with amazing gas milage and small, inexpensive repairs. I certainly plan to keep her for as long as shell hold up to my busy lifestyle!

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  Skeptic Turned Convert - 2012 Ford Flex
  By nateinphoenix - July 10 - 4:46 pm

  As a man in his mid-thirties, I watched the "dad-mobile" shift from the station wagon in the 70s to the mini-van in the late 80s, then again to the SUV in 90s and finally to the present day cross over (which will eventually inherit the "dad-mobile" moniker as soon the current trend is recognized for the mainstay is has become). I swore that I would never surrender my manhood to drive anything that could be confused with any of those humiliating words. Yet, from the moment I reluctantly test drove, to the moment I enthusiastically purchased the Flex, I have loved it and have no regrets! The interior space is phenomenal, the finishing clean and refined, and the ride excellent! Thanks Ford!

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  F150 Ecoboost w/poor fuel economy - 2011 Ford F-150
  By harleytacoma - July 10 - 10:35 am

  I have owned my 2011 Ecoboost for 6 months now, have 8500 miles on it, and am very disappointed with the fuel mileage that I’m getting (best on HWY is 15.8 & worst is 12.7, 14.075 AVG over the 8500 miles on my truck, calculations were done by hand). My 2008 Tundra was getting better mileage than my Ecoboost, and it was lifted 3” with Oversized 20” wheels. I traded my 2008 Toyota Tundra in on my F150 after viewing the video that Ford produced touting the engineering that went into this truck, the torque it produced, and all this with great fuel economy. Right now I’m trying to find a dealership that will buy my F150 so I can go back to a Tundra!

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  I Love This Car - 2013 Ford Edge
  By catseye - July 9 - 10:06 am

  I now have 1000 miles on my new Edge and I LOVE IT. One adjective that comes to mind is "Refined". You get the feeling that a lot of attention has been paid to the design and ergonomics. Its very stylish and comfortable. On a recent trip I averaged 25 mpg (V6). The tire pressure monitoring system warned me of low pressure I had picked up a nail somewhere that I would not have noticed until the tire went flat. The performance is great and really kicks in when passing. (BTW, I dont think you need AWD added cost, added complexity, reduced gas mileage. I live in Montana and believe that the traction of front wheel drive will be very adequate.)

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  Amazed - 2013 Ford Mustang
  By phreaks115 - July 8 - 7:47 pm

  I got my 2013 GT Premium Convertible and have been surprised at how much I really like it. I have never really been a fan of the newer (1980 forward) Mustang designs until I saw this one. The new front and rear design is great. The car turns and handles well, even with the solid rear axle but not as well as the Mazda MX-5 which I upgraded from. The 5.0 V-8 is powerful and responsive with the 6 speed manual and when you stomp on the pedal, it always brings a smile. The upgraded Brembo brakes help a bunch and although you can feel that the car is heavy, it still is a load of fun to drive. Plus the car turns a lot of heads

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  Still great after 9 years - 2003 Ford Thunderbird
  By birdfan - July 6 - 10:39 am

  I bought my new Torch Red Premium with the hard top, select shift and full red accent interior in September 03. With 53K miles, it still looks new and gets noticed all the time. My wife and I have 5 kids and 3 grandkids, so we have a Honda Odyssey as well. The T-bird is our date and anniversary trip car, as well as my daily driver. It has been very reliable, with an occasional coil pack replaced under the 10yr/100K warranty. I plan to grow old with this car!

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  Mustang Sally - 2013 Ford Mustang
  By 13vert - July 6 - 6:34 am

  Ive owned this car for a couple of weeks now and 700 mies. So this is a first impression with 700 miles on the odometer. The 5.0 convertible puts a smile on my face every time we go for a ride. I love the retro styling (old enough to have seen it the first time) and the exahuast note with the top down. Just took the first leg of a 140 mile trip and it performed flawlessly. It is a base model GT convertible with M6 and 301A tech package, which includes SYNC. For the trip with a little preplanning we managed to get everthing in the trunk for a 4 day trip (wife and myself) including a small cooler. Would I buy it again? Yes!!!