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 too impressed - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By buckwheat - September 29 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Taurus, and overall is a decent package. Since new, it didnt idle smooth, ran rough, and surged when stopped in gear. After 400 miles Ford replaced half of the fuel system and fixed a rattle in the front inner fender. These are common issues. The first 4k or so I never got better than 20 MPG, but now I get 19 mpg city/ 24 mpg highway and average 22 mpg overall. The biggest gripe I have is with the seating. After driving long periods of time gives me back trouble. The root of the issue is the driverÂ’s floorboard. As it comes back to the drivers seat it narrows and leaves little room.

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  not reliable car - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By bad car - September 29 - 2:00 am

  this car is 4 years old and is tearing apart inside.

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  Nice - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Mike Cummins - September 29 - 2:00 am

  This car has done the job for me very good.

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  Reliable Lariart - 1997 Ford F-150
  By Lhr Vati - September 29 - 2:00 am

  This truck was an excelent purchase. Ive never had a single issue with it and it has been a reliable workhorse.

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  DIESEL POWER THE ONLY WAY - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By 6509481 - September 29 - 2:00 am

  LOTS OF POWER WITH THE 7.3L, UNDER FULL LOAD AND TOWING 7500LBS, THE BABY GETS UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS FAST. WITH NO ONE ELSE BUT THE DRIVER ON BOARD YOU AND BLOW THE DOORS OFF ALMOST ALL SPORTS CARS AND TRUCKS OFF THE LINE AND HANDELS GREAT IN THE TURNS. LOYS OF ROOM FOR LUGGAGE BE HID THE 3RD SEAT. A MUST FOR ANY FAMILY WITH MORE THAN 2 KIDS.

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  2002 Ford Taurus SE Sedan Honest Owner Review - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Nick - September 28 - 9:04 pm

  I purchased my 2002 Ford Taurus in April 2016. It is my first car, and it had just about 86,000 miles on it and cost $2,900, a fair price at the time. Throughout the time Ive owned this car, the experience I have gained from owning this car has been completely average. By this, I mean that nothing about this car really stands out while compared to other cars of its class. Its a vehicle that was built for the purpose of getting you and any other passengers from point A to point B. It isnt as comfortable as a luxury sedan, but it also doesnt feel like a pickup truck going down a dirt road. Its average. It doesnt have the power of a new Audi S8, but its also not as slow as a Yugo. Its average. Its not as mechanically sound as a Toyota 4Runner, but it wont leave you in the dust like a 500,000 mile Cavalier would. Once again, its average. Getting into the drivers seat, I immediately notice something very convenient; door handles in just the right spot where you dont have to pull at a weird angle just to close the door. Ive noticed in newer Fords (such as a 2013 Fusion, 2012 Fiesta, 2012 Focus, 2012 Edge) that the interior door handle (driver side) is placed closer to the steering wheel, meaning youre pulling the door shut in an uncomfortable position which gets on my nerves every time I get in. Also, the center console feels very roomy and makes for a comfortable arm rest when it is not folded back into an extra seat. Sometimes the little things really count! An adjustable steering wheel and electric seats and pedals with easy to use controls makes finding the right position very easy, however the seats arent ones that I could still feel comfortable in after a long drive. Although the entire vehicle isnt enormous, it has a very spacious interior able to fit 6 total people! Im 511 and have plenty of headroom and my knees arent constantly hitting the bottom of the steering wheel. The trunk has plenty of space as well, and should fit all of your basic needs without a problem! My experience driving my Taurus varies every time I get in. On some days, it accelerates very well and gets me up to speed without a problem. On other days it feels slow and sluggish, as if Im driving with 3 other 200 pound men in the car with the AC on when Im only driving by myself on the same roads I go down every day. One thing that is consistent however is that it struggles to go up any slight hill. Another trait about my Taurus that is inconsistent is the shifting. Sometimes it will shift into the next gear (accelerating from about 25-35mph) at around 2800 RPMs and go down to about 2100, but other times it will go all the way up to around 3600-4000 RPMs before it shifts, despite the fact that I dont drive any differently on those 2 occasions. In terms of its reliability, I feels as though its days are numbered. Every day it gets me where I need to go and has not given me any huge trouble. The only real problem that I have had with it in the past 10,000 miles was 2 bad starters and a dead battery. Other than that, the only things that needed to be done was a new AC blower motor, windshield wipers, alignment, and oil changes. The current problems that I have as of March 2017 are a bad passenger side reverse light, a belt that squeaks when wet, and possibly a dirty throttle body (sometimes the gas pedal gets stuck while in resting position). The gas mileage isnt horrible, but it doesnt feel great either. I get about 250 miles out of a full tank, considering Ive been driving at or slightly over the speed limit every day for about 2 weeks. If I have to do any highway driving or 30-ish minute long drives multiple times a week, a full tank might only last a week or less. All in all, my Taurus has served its purpose as my first car; getting me where I need to go without having to spend a ton of money on it. All in all, I would recommend the Taurus to somebody who needs to transport multiple people on a regular basis but is on a tighter budget. For someone such as myself who doesnt transport more than 1 or 2 people regularly and doesnt need to travel more than 5-15 miles round-trip every day, the Taurus isnt the vehicle that really suits my lifestyle. In April 2016 when I bought my Taurus, its value at 86,000 miles purchasing from a dealer was $2,900 between Edmunds and KBB. As of March 2017, the value of the same car with 86,000 miles from a dealer is about $2,200, and Im afraid that the value will keep on going down throughout the next few years. For me, this wouldnt bother me as much if I didnt consider selling it in the near future. All in all, it has served me relatively well in the past year, however, at 95,000 miles I dont feel as though it will keep being reliable and hold up very well for the next few years, nor will it hold its value for very long.

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  Super truck - does everything I need it for - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Zap0007 - September 28 - 4:38 pm

  I have owned my truck since new (2004 ST XLS with a hard Tonto cover and bed extender) I get about 18-24 MPG depending where and how I drive - I would love to had better MPG. In 135,000 miles all I have had to do is regular oil changes, air filter, liquids, tires, brakes, rotors, and replaced front ball joints (normal maintenance stuff) It has been very dependable, the power locks have stopped working but that is acceptable I may have them fixed in the future. I paid less than $18K tax and all out the door new in 2004 and I have gotten my moneys worth I plan to keep mine for another 5 years (my 8 year old grandson) wants it - not sure it will last that long, we shall see. :)

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  Great Car for Tall People - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Steve - September 28 - 12:50 pm

  I love this car. I drove a Ford Explorer 2 door prior to this car and I have more driver room in the Escape. I am 67" and love the room in this car. I loose a slight amount of vision on the side because the seat goes back so far. The gas mileage is great. My only concern is that the materials for the dashboard controls seem a bit fragile and I wonder how they will hold up in the long run.

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  its a work truck people` - 1992 Ford F-150
  By work truck user - September 28 - 2:00 am

  If you use a truck for what its ment for this truck is great. The 4wd system hasent failed me yet. i went tru last winter and was able to dirve the truck thru all the snow we got and still pull people out of snow banks. the 5.0 is a good strong motor i havent had to replace anything but a u joint and some tires but that is normal usage of a 4wd truck. If you dont like upkeep dont buy a 4wd but deffently buy a ford the out last all the others.

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  F150 - 2002 Ford F-150
  By QASupv - September 28 - 2:00 am

  Comfortable Ride and convenient features. 4x4 is excellent in the snow. Plenty of room in bed with the optional bed extender.