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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  My Ford - 2000 Ford F-150
  By hoonf - May 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 2000 F-150 XLT extended cab 4 x 4 in Nov 1999. It has been used for work, play and travel. It goes when other vehicles are setting. It is one of the best vehicles I have ever bought and I buy my fair share. I would recommend this truck to anyone.

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  what a basic truck should be... - 2002 Ford Ranger
  By daniel963 - May 21 - 7:36 pm

  Trucks are getting too FANCY!!! Nobody really has a true basic model at a reasonable price... except this Ford Ranger!!! Even the S-10 is climbing up in price.

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  When God gives you lemons, make lemonade - 2015 Ford Fusion
  By paul - May 21 - 11:22 am

  I am one of the unlucky people that got a lemon. Thankfully, its a lease and they will get it back soon enough. The car is haunted with some kind of electrical problem. On three occasions, weve come out in the morning to go to work, and the car is totally dead. Towed to the dealer by Ford Roadside Assistance (a joke at best, but thats another story), and the battery was supposedly defective. Replaced the battery, and that lasted a month. Next two times, ....they cant find anything wrong. I suspect some sort of parasitic drain, but what do I know. We are just going to try to get to the end of the lease, and get rid of it. Hopefully, my wife will not get stranded, or worse, injured. We were Toyota people for years with no issues. We wanted to "buy American", so we switched to Ford. Guess thats a fail. (Warning...DO NOT let a tow truck operator use a hammer and a wood wedge to jimmy open the driver door enough to get to the inside handle. Theres a little access latch right behind the exterior door handle......yes...this really happened!!) BTW, I could not select the proper model from the drop down menu as it wasnt listed. Its a SE, 1.6 liter ecoboost

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  Whoaaaa. - 2003 Ford Escort
  By Echer - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Top choice. Bang for your buck, indeed.

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  Poor Road Handling - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By Robin Hood - May 21 - 2:00 am

  I have driven to mountain ski resorts and on major highways transporting college students and I am completely disappointed in the expeditions road performance. It sways badly when heavily loaded whether it is on the mountain road or the highway. The gas mileage is not as good as they predicted, it is much worse, even when I am not loaded down. I found my old caravan fit much more college furniture and dorm room items than the expedition. The only positive thing I can say about it is that the seats are incredibly comfortable, especially the front heated seats.

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  I LOVED this car - 1994 Ford Probe
  By nunyerbiz - May 21 - 2:00 am

  Recently retired my 94 Probe GT. I bought it in spring of 95 and put over 100,000 miles on it in 8 years. Almost scary acceleration, when properly tuned (with the 5 speed manual). Insane handling abilities. Ive only had a few major repairs, but they were all VERY expensive. After 8 years, the amount of parts that needed replacement simply made it impractical to keep driving. I needed a new clutch (115000+ miles on the original isnt shabby tho), new drive axle, new brakes, new moonroof, etc.

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  My car review - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By phatchump69 - May 21 - 2:00 am

  I owned an 1987 ford taurus brand new in 3 months the ignition went, and went again after a year. The car stauled constanly after 25000 miles. Then in 2000 the new ones came out, and they were good looking. There were not many cars on the market that you could get key less entry, leather seats, and a 200hp V6 for under 20000 grand. So i decided to take it. Little did i know that there were 5 recalls in 3 years, and when they went to fix the recalls that seemed to be with the brakes, the switch, and tail lights they could never get it right. So I was back and forth to the dealership. So much fun right.

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  Good Truck, bad safety - 1999 Ford F-150
  By drewjk - May 21 - 2:00 am

  See IIHS 40mph offset test - very bad performance, would not buy another based on this test. Safety is bad, however drives good and is reliable Good quiet ride Great engine power Has been reliable Paint quality questionable some rattles Stereo CD player overheats and quits playing

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  Lovin my stang! - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By Ga Girl - May 20 - 10:00 am

  I just traded my 2000 V6 standard for the 01 GT automatic. Its a fun car to drive, but the brakes could be a little tighter.

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  Much Better... - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Hexxman - May 20 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive, handles great, a real head turner...