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:

• 

  A fun car to drive - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By rip3000gt - December 5 - 2:00 am

  My mustang has good power (if you want more get a GT) and it handles well in dry conditions. In wet weather starting on a hill the wheels may slip a little. In the snow, I dont know. The exterior and interior have awesome looks. I dont have the Mach stereo, but the stock one sounds great anyways (some people thought I had a system). For a sports car it is very comfortable and there is plenty of room in the front. I am 6’2” and 290 lbs. and there is plenty of room. The only complaint is no key lock on the passenger door and when you put a drink in the cup holder it gets in the way of shifting into 2nd. I also get about 24mpg.

• 

  Starting Problems - 2002 Ford Escape
  By jewff - December 4 - 11:16 pm

  We love our Escape. Great V6 power. Plenty of room inside. A joy to drive. With 2235 miles ours failed to start. After 20 minutes it starts right up. Technician was on road test and it stalled on him-started right back up. Brought it back to dealer to check computer - no codes and wouldnt restart. Fords Technical Department told them to install new fuel pump. No problems since. It runs stronger than ever now. We still love our Escape but we now wonder!

• 

  Camry or Accord......think again! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By GoFusion! - December 4 - 3:02 am

  Let me start this off by saying that this is my first car. My dad owns a black 09 Fusion with the sport package, and I loved the way the car rode, handled, and looked. When shopping for one, I searched for one exactly like my dads, and I ended up snagging a red 08 Fusion with the same sport package with 85k miles on it. This car was previously owned by a Ford technician, and it drove like one. The trunk is huge....enough to swallow multiple bags of mulch from the Home Depot. Excellent front seats, a unique yet fresh design, and bulletproof reliability merely adds to the multi-talented nature of this car. The Camry had worse reliability and reviews for the same 06 to 09 period as this car, yet it sold by the thousands just because it was a Toyota. The thing I like the most about my Fusion is the handling, as it is extremely neutral and gives excellent feedback of the wheels and road alike. My biggest gripe might be the 2.3 liter four banger under the hood, as it only produces 160 hp. Or it could be that some of the paint in the front started to peel after having it for a year, but a new paint job could fix it. That said, the five-speed auto transmission gives crisp upshifts, and makes the car feel a bit faster than the 158 lb-ft torque rating suggests. Ive had no problems under the hood or with the quality of the build, plus after three years, it has aged beautifully. This car should last me a very long time. And when it does expire, I know exactly what my next car will be......and it wont be a Camry!

• 

  Ford Ranger - 1990 Ford Ranger
  By pjdellarco - December 4 - 2:00 am

  I have had zero problems with this Ranger. It is at 120,000 miles and still running strong. Body is in great shape, very minor surface rust in normal locations - and paint looks very good. Vehicle has never been garaged and is in the Northeast.

• 

  my f 150 - 1994 Ford F-150
  By mbailey - December 4 - 2:00 am

  excellent truck, have owned for 8 years now . not one break down during this time. will definatly buy another one.

• 

  f150 - 1997 Ford F-150
  By muddywest - December 4 - 2:00 am

  Had problems with transfer case caused by defect. It was finally properly repaired after about 3 tries.

• 

  Good Truck, but watch for the service - 2000 Ford F-150
  By ALS9900 - December 4 - 2:00 am

  Good truck but I was unfortunate that my standard transmission shifting gears went bad after the first year when I had 10,000 miles. Worse than that was to deal with the service department when they told me that there was nothing wrong with the truck and it was in my mind only. I had to finally contact the the head supervisor to see my problem(it was obvious). The problem was addressed and fixed. I have not had any more problems since.

• 

  179k Miles... so far. - 1994 Ford Explorer
  By Slumlord - December 4 - 2:00 am

  This has been the best car anyone in my family has ever had. Bought for $7000 with about 30k on it, still going very strong. Has to replace the water pump at about 100k, aside from that only gas, oil, tires, brake pads and love have gone into the car. Gets 23 MPG or so (no joke drove from pittsburgh to indy on 3/4 of a tank), heat is hot and A/C is cold. Very strong acceleration and plenty of room to pack friends in.

• 

  good - 1998 Ford Expedition
  By artdorrie - December 4 - 2:00 am

  Very dependable and durable. A bit rough riding. Good AFWD feature. Smooth trans and engine. Air suspension somewhat of a problem. Pump and other components have relatively short life and fairly expensive to replace.

• 

  Praise for the Ford Escort - 1995 Ford Escort
  By EBS - December 4 - 2:00 am

  Although many people malign Fords, I have been very happy with mine for the past 6 years. It has 138,000 miles on it, and it is still running strong.