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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  We Love It - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Dave McAfee - September 30 - 2:00 am

  We love the ride and the handling of our 2003 Explorer XLT 4WD. It pulls our boat extremely well, and has great low-end torque at the ramp. The power driver seat is very adjustable, and we like the lumbar support adjustments. The vehicle feels very steady and solid. My wife loves it. The turning radius is hard to believe. If you test drive one, be sure to do a slow 360 with the wheel to the post, you will be shocked!

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  Explorer keeps getting better - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Bama99 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Got the 2004 4WD Limited V8. Previous car was the 95 Limited 4WD V6, which I really liked. The 2004 has kept the best of the Explorer and added many improvements. The ride is much better, although it is still truck-like. The 17" rims really stand out and make the truck look great. DVD and CD changer are great options. The wife is a big fan of the dual climate control and the seat heaters. Didnt think I would want the 3rd row seat but it is really useful. Automatic 4WD provides extra sense of safety on the slippery roads.

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  Expected Lots more from this clunky V8 - 1992 Ford F-150
  By phish - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Overall, its your basic work truck. I wouldnt travel cross country with it, but if you have short distances to drive everyday and dont mind spending some cash for upkeep its worth the money. It has never broken down, but has been in the shop 8-10 times over the last year. The braking has been a mystery to me and to Ford dealerships as well. It pulls to the right, to the left, sometimes not at all. Also, it seems that anything under the hood that comes in contact with coolant, has had problems: heater core, water pump, weak hoses, you name it, its gone wrong.

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  good car - 2004 Ford F-150
  By dario - September 30 - 2:00 am

  is very good truck. Beatufull, powerfull and confortable

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  Ford Convert from Dodge - 2004 Ford F-150
  By 4x4bully1 - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Upon deciding to buy the Ford, I had a hoorible start due to a faulty 4WD actuator on the first day of driving the truck. The dealer has been fantastik and has it ready to give back to me. On the service line, I was told the only reason the new 04s are in service has been for oil changes. The clanking noise mine made really stumped them at first. A bad hub was first diagnosed but that did fix the problem. Next they discovered the vacuumed actuated diaphragm was not fully retracting, thus causing the splines to bang together in 2WD. Since this was a simple fix, we are taking delivery again with great hopes all goes well.

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  94 Extended Aerostars are great! - 1994 Ford Aerostar
  By EAB - September 30 - 2:00 am

  I bought this vehicle and so far put over 168,000 miles on it. It has never been on a hook. I changed the spark plugs once at 113,000 only because I felt guilty. Brakes are the only weak point.

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  Better buy GAP insurance - 2000 Ford Contour
  By lynb - September 30 - 2:00 am

  Alway in shop..never know whats wrong paid more to get fix then to but

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  owner - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By johnathan sexton - September 30 - 2:00 am

  these are realy good cars. we currently own 2 but we have owned 4. this car is a classic and part of a dying breed of automobiles. i love its large size.

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  got one 2015 F150XL - 2015 Ford F-150
  By Frank Lipscomb - September 29 - 11:46 am

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  A great car for your money! - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By J T - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Overall, a very impressive and well built car. Though the smaller of the two 3.0 engines, it offers a very reasonable amount of performance. The only drawback is the lack of comfort in the seating. A trip of more than 30 minutes leaves the driver or front seat passenger itching to stop and stretch, and makes comfortably resting in the passenger seat near impossible.