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 looking and fun but some drawbacks - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By rocpat - January 7 - 11:05 am

  Overall I love my Mustang GT. Its very fun to drive and makes a great daily driver. The style, performance, and sound cant be beat for the price. I drive mine year-round and only the worst snow storms will slow it down. It also gets decent gas mileage when driven with respect. I constantly get around 30 MPG on the highway and 18 MPG with mixed driving. My only complaint is the build quality could stand to be improved. Ive brought it to the dealer numerous times to have various parts replaced. None were serious, mostly just to fix rattles, clunks or other odd noises the car was making. Other than that the car has been reliable for the two years Ive owned it.

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  Dark Horse - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By James Little - January 7 - 10:05 am

  I bought my Mustang used. I have always loved the Mustangs. The only problem I had with mine is somebody changed the rear end oil and didnt seal it properly. I had to replace the gears and lsd. I replaced the 3.27s with 3.55s. Amazing. I have alot of mods: intake, exhaust, gears, suspension, rims, tires, shifter, audio, hand held tuner. The car responds well to mods. Through on an Eibach Pro System Plus Kit with good tires and the handling becomes go kart like. I recommend buying a Swarr Bar for the rear axles if you have a GT. This will make the car more predictable on take off and in corners. Only true problem I have had is the traction control kicking in too fast. I just turn it off.

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  Better tranny - 2007 Ford Explorer
  By James - January 6 - 6:53 pm

  Bought used in December 2008. First car payment and not impressed yet. Tranny had to be worked already. Supposely had the certified check over and they forgot to reset oil light and do the recall tranny then. Hope this is not the beginning of seeing the dealer every month. Gas mileage is terrible reads only 12.3 avg. But I love the look and the interior especially the leather seats and dual climate control. Have not haul anything yet. I so far enjoy it though

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  Good value for the money - 2008 Ford Explorer
  By Baxter - January 6 - 3:55 pm

  Went from an 07 4Runner to the Explorer. Really love the Sync system and the softer ride. Seems to be a really solid vehicle and very capable. "Classy" seems to be a word that is very appropriate for the Explorer, expecially given the re- design of the front end. Given that the V-6 gets similar mileage to the V-8, wish I would have gone with the V-8 now for the extra power. Would also suggest going with the upgraded stereo system as the standard unit is very mediocre. However, I feel the Explorer is a very good value for the money.

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  Escape - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Mary Jo - January 6 - 8:40 am

  Fun car to drive. Very comfortable. Just the right size for me.

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  Freestar - 2006 Ford Freestar
  By dale - January 6 - 1:37 am

  I will never buy another Ford product in my life. After buying this van I changed my thought about Ford, we have had nothing but problems with it, in and out of the shop who knows how many time. Has a druming noise coming from the breather they say they cant fix. Problems with the front end, and on and on with this thing. But I see they did circle the problem on the Ford emblem. It should say junk!

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  Good bang for the bucks - 2005 Ford Focus
  By ThePassenger - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I purchased my Focus couple weeks ago. I was debating between Sentra SE-R or ZX3. Although SE-R has more power I liked the ZX3 styling more. I was very suprised how responsive Focus was. 2005 version has few more horses under the hood compared to the previous years. I only have few hundred miles so far, but so far so good.

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  Great SUV Crappy Cup holders! - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By cctexashoney - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I love my truck. It got an amazing 18 mpg on highway driving. Totally caught me by surprise. Storage is limited when u have the 3rd row seating. Sometimes it thinks before it goes. But overall it meets all my needs and has not let me down.

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  Quality Vehicle - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Mr. Banker - January 5 - 10:00 am

  Overall, the Explorer is a quality vehicle, capable of hauling, towing just about anything. Great family vehicle and daily driver.

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  New Ford Owner - 2004 Ford F-150
  By nutz1017 - January 5 - 10:00 am

  I used to drive a Maxima, but found it to be less than practical. I needed a truck so I got the F-150, and its pretty sweet. The power is sufficient for me, lots of cargo capacity, exterior styling is the best and the interior is deluxe. I had always thought Chevy had Fisher Price interior styling. I did consider the Titan but wasnt happy with my last Nissan expeince, so I went with Ford. I do notice some vibration/shaking when driving at 65MPH. Maybe its poorly balanced tires or just a tight suspension. Ill have it checked out.