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:

• 

  Great Car - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By Brad Billmaier - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I currently own a 1995 Taurus SHO. The last of the "true" SHOs. I enjoy the car, but i dont need a manual transaxle in a sports sedan. if i wanted to run the gears myself id buy a SPORTS CAR. Thats why im looking into the 3rd Generation SHO. They look great, perform good, and there is nothing like rolling up on an unsuspecting 5.SLOW and SHOing them the dual oval pipes out back.

• 

  Trouble-free Excursion - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By Lee Johnson - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 2001 Excursion Limited for nearly a year (April) with no troubles or visits to the dealer for repair. Its equipped with the PowerStroke Diesel. I tow a 9000lb travel trailer. (Ive added a Helwig anti-sway bar and Bilstein shocks, and Ride-Rite air springs.) Our family of 4 (sometimes 5) can travel long distances reliably and comfortably, with all luggage and gear inside. Fully loaded, Ive gotten as much as 22.7mpg on the highway (65mph with cruise control). I recommend this vehicle for anyone needing space, diesel performance and economy, and reliability.

• 

  Great van, great value and versatility - 1996 Ford Aerostar
  By Pat Hurley - March 26 - 2:00 am

  This van continues to impress, doing everything we could ask of it and much more. We haul kids, dogs, home improvement supplies, LOADS of groceries, tons of vacation stuff, and all without a complaint, a whimper, or a problem of any kind. It isnt fancy yet its remarkably comfortable. If you change the oil every 3000 miles and change the other fluids and belts on time, the Aerostar will never die. It has few drawbacks and many, many virtues that vans which cost many thousands more cannot compete.

• 

  Not good - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By mkahler - March 26 - 2:00 am

  Ive had nothing but problems with this vehicle and the dealership. Many recalls on this vehicle. Many small exterior problems, like the edging coming off, missing caps for rear wipers. I purchased two of these at the same time.

• 

  Started out Great - Not so sure now! - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By hybrid_veteran - March 26 - 12:22 am

  Absolutely loved my C-Max at the beginning. Solid, great handling and lots of power compared to my earlier Prius. Perfectly satisfied with the 39 MPG as well given my lead foot. My only concern from the start was reliability. Now at 15,000 miles and am a bit scared. Clock changes time by itself whenever it wants, but thats no big deal. The real concern is that the doors are starting to creak very badly. Hope its just the weather stripping but may be body flex, which isnt particularly fixable. If all that weight on basically a Focus frame turns out to be a mistake I see big problems ahead for this car.

• 

  What an awesome machine ... - 2013 Ford Mustang
  By JScotty - March 25 - 1:50 pm

  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This car is all about V-8 acceleration, aggressive styling, and rough-around-the-edges American nostalgia and attitude. Its about the mechanical beauty and intoxicating exhaust note of the Coyote 5-liter V-8. Its about feeling a little bit like Steve McQueen every time you drive to work. And its about your kids actually wanting you to drive them places. The Mustang GT is not perfect, but nothing else quite compares - its more of a state of mind than a car. Buy the premium package with the 401A upgrade and you have little to complain about in terms of interior appearance and materials. Still some hard plastic, but hey, this is not a BMW. My wife has one of those and the interior is nicer but you pay dearly for it. My only complaint is as follows (who buys a car like this and then complains about gas mileage, noise, or rear seat accommodations?): The interior storage spaces are not well-designed. I cant keep my sunglasses or anything else useful in the door pockets, since as I dont have suction cups on my fingers, retrieving them is a two-handed operation involving scraped knuckles and bad language. The cup holders are horribly placed for a manual transmission car. The first month I owned the car I kept deploying the console bin lid with my elbow. These things make little sense to me in a car thats built mainly for the fun of driving. But thats really it.

• 

  Awesome - Highly Underrated - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By mike w - March 25 - 10:43 am

  This car is definintly not for racing, but for a luxurious ride with the family, this is it. This has the largest trunk I have ever seen and the ride is so smooth. The 500 sits higher than other cars so you feel like youre driving a SUV but youre really in a car. I love it.

• 

  Mustang LX 5.0 - 1990 Ford Mustang
  By rm2285 - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Excellent vehicle. Very fun to drive. Well built, pretty fast.

• 

  Venerable has another definition - 1994 Ford Mustang
  By Mustang Franco - March 25 - 2:00 am

  When people look in the dictionary for the word venerable, they should see a picture of a Mustang right above it. I purchased my 1994 Ford Mustang GT coupe in May 2001 with 59,000 on the clock. I owned it until November at which time it had 65,000 and was totalled by a major collision on the interstate. While I owned it, I have never had more fun inside, outside, or around another car. It has fantastic performance which is easily upgradable, plush comfort especially with leather seating, and timeless good looks.

• 

  Awesome - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By Curt G - March 25 - 2:00 am

  Awesome Car