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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  Great Fun - Poor Quality - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By cheapskate2 - March 15 - 12:46 pm

  I just loved the look of the 2005+ Mustangs when they came out. Finally I got a 2007 GT in 2008. Pros: Great styling inside and out. Has that great V8 muscle car sound and feel that makes it fun to drive. Cons: What is standard trim on most cars like aluminum accents and painted mirrors and such would cost many hundreds of dollars to get for the mustang as aftermarket parts. Engineering and build quality is very poor - 2005 to 2009 mustangs plagued with many problems including stalling, water leaks, suspension clunks, interior rattles, freezing e-brakes, etc. etc. Not a car for where it gets below freezing or rains a lot.

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  Great value ! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By MIKE E. - March 14 - 7:56 am

  Bought in jan.2008.The only issue was a recall on transmission clunking in reverse...dealer fixed over a year ago for free, no problems since.For the price you get a lot of features and room to haul a lot of stuff on vacation, or a trip to the home improvement center.Excellent in snow even with the cheap tires I have on it right now... a lot of other vehicles were getting stuck this winter while I drove right around them no problem!Not as good as Toyota/Honda but I hear that the new Edge and Flex are now on par with them.Great overall truck for thousands less than the competitors...just do the maintenance and you should have no problems.

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  Muscle Car Returns - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Steve - March 14 - 7:50 am

  I grew up during the muscle car era when they ruled main streets all over America. With the mid- 70s oil crisis muscle cars slowly faded away. Finally, John Coletti, another baby boomer finally resurrected the power and feel of a muscle car. With a 2004 Mustang GT, I had to shift down to 3rd gear to get decent torque and yet feel more power in 6th gear on the highway for passing in the SVT Cobra, making highway driving a dream! The SN95 is the ultimate aerodynamic body style ever made for the Mustang and from the front, nothing beats the 03-04 SVT Cobra fascia. Compared to all other performance cars this is the ONLY one you could get new for under $40,000.

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  LOVE IT! - 1991 Ford Escort
  By xxchrist_rockerxx - March 13 - 5:40 pm

  LOVE this car, bought it with 80,000 miles on it in 2005, fresh out of high school. in less than 4 years ive more than tripled the mileage, and its sitting at 261,000 miles right now and still running strong! EASILY gets 32mpg city, 35 highway...i would recommend this car to ANYONE, but not mine because its not for sale! If you get one, take care of it...it will last you forever!

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  Great car for the price - 2008 Ford Focus
  By BLM - March 13 - 12:14 pm

  Replaced my 2005 Escape which I loved - but needed better gas mileage. Boy did I get my moneys worth! I have gotten as high as 42 mpg on a long trip, and even regular commute nets anywhere from 35 mpg to 39 mpg depending on how fast highway traffic is moving. I got the 5-speed standard - its less expensive and way more fun to drive - you can really take off in a hurry when you need to. Loved my Escape - but this little gem is really winning me over - Id replace it with another Focus in a heartbeat when the time comes!

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  Good car, few faults - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By Scott - March 13 - 12:11 pm

  I bought this car 2 months ago, and have had nothing but problems. The next morning after i bought it, somehow there was a hole in the exhaust and i needed a completely new one. Dealer replaced it after much arguing, and now my check engine and check suspension light are on, I believe i need a new mass air flow sensor and a ball joint. On top of this, my ABS sensor failed, and it doesnt work. Apparently this truck passed safety, but it definitely shouldnt have.

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  Indestructible - 2006 Ford Escape
  By April - March 12 - 7:54 pm

  I love this SUV. I put high miles on every year, drive 6 miles of dirt roads every day, and I have never had to have this SUV back to the dealer for any major warrenty work. This thing runs like a bear through snow, and is so comfortable to drive. I will be buying another one in a few years, and will be givig this one to my nephew for great college vehicle.

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  Economical car, but not a "cheap" car - 2009 Ford Focus
  By CellBlock - March 12 - 12:41 pm

  My Focus was the first car Id ever purchased, and while I wanted an affordable car, I didnt want to settle for the typical stripped down, no-frills, econobox. It has a lot of power and speed for a compact press the accelerator and it gets moving. It also has some "luxury" features, like cruise control, Sync, a 6-disc CD changer, and satellite radio, that you cant normally get in a car that costs less than $20k. The gas mileage is also phenomenal for a non-hybrid car. While using it just for my incredibly short commute that consists of more parking lots and sitting at red lights than actual driving, it gets about 18 MPG. Get it out on the highway and 40 MPG isnt out of the question.

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  Ive had enough of Ford - 2003 Ford Focus
  By karen - March 11 - 11:56 am

  At first I loved this car, but now.. It eats tires, Ive have 2 solenoids replaced, shocks replaced twice. Fuel Filter, enertia switch replaced and still I find myself at least once a week with a dead car. If I let it sit about 30 min then it starts fine, mechanic cant find the problem but it sure stinks to sit in the daycare or walmart parking lot while I wait the 30 min. Im looking for a new car and I can assure you it will not be a Ford product.

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  2004 MUSTANG GT CONVERT. - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By KJEHLE - March 11 - 10:00 am

  SEATS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE.DESPITE THE SMALL INTERIOR THE FEEL IS ROOMY.HORSEPOWER IS MORE THAN SATISFACTORY FROM THE 4.6 LTR V-8.VERY FAST.