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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  Nice low cost wheelchair van - 2010 Ford Transit Connect
  By lazybum - November 7 - 6:43 pm

  I am a physically challenge guy who uses a power w/c. Since Im 62" tall I require a vehicle with a lot of headroom. My faithful 92 E-150 had a raised roof but after 16 winter road salt seasons, it was getting all rusted out underneath. Not safe anymore. New w/c vans cost $50K+. I was able to put a Bruan lift in a new Trancon for just under $30K total, and Ford sent me a rebate for $1,200. I get 23 mpg in mixed driving with the A/C on and thats what the Trancon is all about. The headroom is perfect for me. My main gripe is the rear springs are very stiff. Going over some interstate overpasses at 70 mph even with the 330 lb w/c lift in the back is brutal rough, but hay, its a work truck.

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  Cruising in the suburbs - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Steven Salloway - November 7 - 4:30 pm

  This is a nice car. I test drove many cars in its class. This one beat them all and for less money! The gas mileage is great. The car has scored very high in safety features. The back seat is the largest you will find anywhere. It has a timeless understated look to it that everyone seems to like. For such a large car the fuel economy is going over its sticker. It has raised seating that allows for better visibility

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  Freestyle is fun, utility, and economy - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Jim Kinney - November 7 - 1:19 pm

  This has been a surprising vehicle. I wanted a simple, run-around truck to use mostly in town. I found myself looking for reasons to drive it on long trips. The mileage easily averages 27.5 mpg at turnpike speeds. The power is adequate, and the hauling capacity is amazing. The 6-7 seats are handy, too. Its been to North Carolina, St Louis, central Texas and Colorado. I live in northern Oklahoma.

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  Ford tough for me - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By derekt98xl - November 7 - 3:55 am

  I was always a Honda Toyota guy. Then I bought the explorer and has been very reliable. Just maintanence, and I believe that is the key with any car. Some people get angry if their ball joints or suspension parts fail but you have to consider they are a part of regular maintanence. In the past I bought a couple Hondas that had everything wrong with them a week after the purchase simply because of lack of maintanence. So from now on I only buy cars with maintanence reports. Which makes sense if someone goes to the trouble of keeping all those records they must have taken good care of the vehicle. Most of the time those are the vehicles with Nice and clean interiors.

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  A great car - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Brian - November 7 - 1:33 am

  We bought the Focus after driving the Escape, RAV4, Corolla, and Civic. We bought the car in DC and live in St. Louis; on the trip back we got almost 34 mpg. Since then we have put almost 1000 miles city and highway at almost 31 mpg. Great to drive on the highway, super quiet. Sound system is quiet, opted for the 6 disk package. We got a SES with the safety package for the same price as a SE w/ safety package, convenience group, and the sport group. Out the door price $14,088. Easy on the wallet for gas, insurance and payments, plus a 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and you have 36,000 bumper to bumper. Great deal, fun to drive.

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  Ford Flex Review - 2009 Ford Flex
  By Diane - November 6 - 8:45 am

  We love the look. We love the room in 1st and 2nd seat, but the back is small for legroom. Very good storage. Gas mileage isnt as good as we would of liked. The worst thing about this car is the brake noise. After having it 3 months the brakes started growling when used. It got worse and worse. Weve had it in the shop 3 times. They said they fixed it but got it home and after 2 days, growling cont. Dealer said nothing else they can do because Ford doesnt know what to do. 2 other Flexs from this dealer came in with the same problem. One other problem is the neck rests. They do go ahead too far. We wouldnt get this car again unless brakes were good. Now were stuck.

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  From to freestyle to FLEX - 2010 Ford Edge
  By bhsohio - November 5 - 6:58 pm

  After having a 2005 ford freestyle limited AWD, and turning the fstyle in for the FLEX I am so far impressed with Fords improvements. The only improvement would be in fuel mileage- I am avging 22.3mpg, as compared to the fstyle at 21.9 which was larger and AWD though the performance of the 3.5L 6-Auto is far superior to the 3.0L and CVT. The comfort is phenomenal, better than Cadillac DTS seats. The style, design, ergonomics, and cargo capacity, along with the vista roof make for a very enjoyable and fun vehicle. Extremely practical, fun, and stylish & brisk performance. Edmunds recommended the rouge or venza, but those shld not be considered for obvious rsns. great CUV from a grt company

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  Amazing - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Threnners - November 5 - 3:20 pm

  I now understand why there are so many Explorers on the road -it is simply amazing. For a vehicle that is physically 4 years old (the build date is 2005), it still drives and handles like it just came from the factory. It drives like a big marshmallow - you rarely feel anything on the road, and I have yet to have an issue with it. Mileage wise I average 18.8- 19.1 MPG weekly. Its just a great truck, and after driving a money pit Mazda Tribute for years, its a welcome relief.

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  Great Vehicle - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By J117 - November 5 - 10:00 am

  This explorer is great. It handles, runs, and drives excellent and I love the body style. It is 1000x better than the 1999 v-6 that I had. No problems as of yet.

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  AWSOME - 2004 Ford F-150
  By M-MUSATNG - November 5 - 10:00 am

  THIS TRUCK IS AMAZING I CAN WAIT TO BUY THE NEW 05 LIGHTING SO I CAN BEAT THE DODGE SRT10.