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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  Had this one a while - 1996 Ford Contour
  By big rick - November 30 - 10:36 pm

  Bought this Contour in late 1997 with 18,000 miles, and had it ever since-2L four and 5 speed manual makes it a fun- to-drive econo car. Replaced battery and alternator at 43000 m and valve cover gasket and spark plugs at 85000 m. Mine gets great mileage and never has left me stranded. These cars might fall apart if they are flogged hard, with light construction and 2750 lb curb weight. But mine is still fun to drive and has cost me next to nothing to own.

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  F-150 - 1996 Ford F-150
  By AJ - November 29 - 11:29 pm

  Truck is solid. I bought this truck as a toy and put long travel with coilovers and have beat the heck out of it. Now it is used to tow my trailer and has never left me stranded. This is the best truck I have ever owned and have no negative comments. The only time this truck has been in the shop is to diagnose the check engine light which ended up being the faulty JET performance chip, do not buy one.

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  Keep on rolling baby! - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By doratheexplorer - November 28 - 10:53 pm

  212,000 miles. Doesnt leak or burn oil. Just hauled a 4,000 pound trailer from VA to NC at 70 mph with no problems. 4x4 works great. Have had to replace door handles twice, and headlamps finally got so bad I needed new ones. Besides that its been batteries, tires, oil, brakes and a kiss every now and then. I love this truck and will have it till the wheels fall off. But then Ill probably put them back on and just keep rolling baby!

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  Reliable little car - 1999 Ford Escort
  By Kevin - November 28 - 10:06 pm

  Bought this car way back in 2000 and it has never ever left me stranded. Looks nice, has good interior room for the driver and front seat passenger. No big repairs, just the usual cost of ownership stuff. The 5 speed is actually quite sprightly, and takes off very fast from a stop. Handling is very nice, Ive driven it in some of the most cornersome roads in the Oregon mountains and coast and its been great. Even had this baby on dirt roads/forste roads. Tough as nails. Its got 208,000 miles now and still starts every day. Pity Ford no longer makes these or I would buy another.

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  Roar - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By Roar - November 28 - 6:31 pm

  Overall this car is great for anyone. It doesnt have 350 horses under the hood but its got so giddy up. Its quick and always reliable. I have owned a Pontiac Trans-Am and this Mustang GT and by far I like driving the GT.

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  Definitely Drive One - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By RS - November 27 - 12:01 pm

  What a wonderful car! Always liked the look of the 500 (more so the Taurus) and the safety features on this car are second to none. I have the Safety/Security Package, Comfort/Convenience Package, and the Reverse Sensing System. All of which were absolutely worth it. Looking for something to stuff a couple of child seats into and lug around the necessary stuff too. My friends chuckled at me when I got it. That is until I took them for a spin in it and then it was, "Wow!". My wife liked it so much, she went out and got a Taurus X a month later. Fords have come a long, long way and their tag line is spot on. Drive one, indeed.

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  This car has been sooo good to me! - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Aileen - November 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought my ford escort in May of 1998. I have never had a serious problem with this car (other than the ac compressor giving out at 65,000 - but it IS florida). This car has never let me down. The reliability is excellent and for only a 2.0 it hauls ass!!!! I wish I would ahve got the one witht the sun roof!

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  Terminator (2003 COBRA) - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By ISEPIC - November 27 - 10:00 am

  Total muscle... ford is rating this at 390 HP, actually all people I know who had it dynoed so far has dynoed at 415- 420 hp (engine)... wow. Add a chip, pulley, exhaust ($1200) and youre very close to 500HP.... wow! :) With a warranty! Cant beat it for under 34K

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  Great for a first car - 2012 Ford Fusion
  By Dylan - November 27 - 2:35 am

  This is my first car and I absolutely love it. Its been reliable thus far, and has treated me as well as I have treated it. Its taken me cross country from Florida to California without breaking a sweat. I purchased the car in November of 2014 with 31K miles, and 21k miles later (at 52K), Ive only done the required maintenance. No mechanical issues whatsoever. The interior is great. There are many plastic surfaces but theyre nicely padded and feel good to the touch. The leather seating surfaces have held up well in the Texas heat and have no signs of fading or cracking. There are a few rattles inside the cabin, but none of these affect the overall experience in my case. The car handles very well. Its quiet on the highways, road noise is at a minimum. Turning radius is brilliant; Ive never had to ask myself if the car will make a U-turn in a tight space. Brakes are very responsive and inspire confidence. The electric-assisted power steering provides sufficient feedback and is overall a great feature. This particular vehicle came equipped with blind spot monitoring, a rear-view camera built into the rearview mirror, and cross-traffic alert. They give an additional layer of protection when changing lanes, backing out of or into tight spots, and provide audible alerts. Very good system, although it has failed a couple of times in harsh weather (read: rain), although the manual does explain this can happen so Ive shrugged it off. The I4 engine is good and takes you up to highway speeds in a reasonable amount of time. The 6 speed transmission does seem to struggle sometimes at low speeds. Rain-sensing wipers are a hit or miss sometimes; theyll activate when there is no moisture, or wont activate when it is raining. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this vehicle. The features offered cant be beat for the price I paid for it. I plan to keep it for at least 10 years.

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  Ford 150 Supercab - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Rick - November 25 - 7:13 pm

  The truck SEEMS big when cornering or parking. I think the 21 inch wheels make it unnecessarily high off the ground. I had to replace a tire and found most manufacturers dont make the standard tire size (not Goodyear, not Bridgestone, not Goodrich--only Michelin and Cooper).