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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  Straight Forward and Honest Review - 2008 Ford F-150
  By bigcntry - July 15 - 3:25 pm

  I purchased my SuperCab STX approx. 1 yr ago. The truck had 15k miles on it when I bought it, and it now has 41k miles logged. I have owned 4 Ford trucks in the past, and all were very good except for 1 lemon (1994 Ford Bronco). I traded in a Honda Civic that I was driving as a commuter car ----- couldnt stand it. I felt like i was wearing panties or something. Im a country boy and I had to get back in a truck. My 2008 F150 has taken us on 3 long trips and I also drive it on a 60 mile commute to work. I had to have the actuator motor replaced (AC part) and my Ford logo on the front grill (peeling) replaced, both covered under warranty. Other than that, this truck has been flawless.

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  Lovin the Edge!! - 2011 Ford Edge
  By slammersa - July 14 - 9:48 pm

  WAS a big GM Fan - after having several broken hearts over my beloved Bravada (left me stranded in Texas w/80k miles), mid life crisis Camaro (97k miles) and finally my cute little Chevy Colorado (for garden work). I joined my husband on the Ford bandwagon. We traded in my 07 Colorado (snifff) for this VERY NICE 2011 Ford Edge!!! The second I drove the Edge off the lot I fell in Love!!! XOXOXOX The Edge handles beautifully - with the rubber mat in the back I have plenty of room for trips to the Farmers market and garden store, and its great on long trips. Hubby even likes riding in the passenger side - he can kick back with plenty of room to spare!

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  Great car with one exception - 2012 Ford Taurus
  By indianaguy - July 14 - 3:22 pm

  Car is very comfortable and quiet. We live in a rural area and average 26 to 27 mph in every day driving and over 30 on the highway. We are surprised with both for such a large car. It is very comfortable with one major exception. The flat floor space on the passenger side is too small for an individual with larger feet. On a long trip it can become quite annoying. We have the limited and I believe that it is because of all the hardware needed to accommodate all the bells and whistles in the seat itself.

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  Loving it now - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By wifesgthaha - July 14 - 12:07 am

  I have always hated fords. I own a 97 cavalier z24 myself. has all the mods. getting ready for paint. nice. then i bought my wife her stang. its the 4.6 v8 5 speed. i am totally in love with this car. never thought i could find a ford this comfortable and the dual exhaust sounds awesome. mine now sounds like a [violative content deleted] bumble bee compared to hers. we are still trying to figure out if its a bullit or not. its got alot of the features and designs and the title says bullit gt but it doesnt matter. i am now selling my car to buy one like hers. lol

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  242,000 Miles and Still going! - 2001 Ford Focus
  By dyfwn - July 13 - 12:06 pm

  Yes I have 242,000 miles on my 01 Wagon. I have had to replace my share of tires and brakes due to the 600+ miles I drive a week. In the 5 years I have owned the car, which I purchased used with 66,000 miles it, I havent had a repair bill over $360. And that was for the water pump and the timing belt at 215,000 miles. My sercet, is to change the oil every 3,000 miles. Do not wait the 3 months if you are driving like I do.

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  Good Car - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By 08mustangt - July 13 - 12:38 am

  i have driven my 2008 mustang GT for 20,000 miles so far i have had no problems. i expected more acceleration but these mustangs will put you back in your seat much better than the V6. I like the interior much better than the previous 99-04 model. the seats are a bit uncomfortable especially on long trips. the back seat looks very uncomfortable but actually is ok.

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  Overall I love it! - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By mmason5 - July 12 - 9:52 pm

  I have had this car for about a month now and I am fairly satisfied. Im a single guy with no kids so I could really care less about the leg room for the back seat. Besides for a single guys sometimes its even better to collapse the seats down for a bit more cargo space. I love the exterior design and the interior of the SE model is very sleek for a compact car in its price range. You will LOVE the built in bluetooth/SYNC system. The only dissapointments I have is the jerky clutch/automatic transmission that does struggle at time when going from stop to 30 mph, after that it drives very smooth and it has excellent suspension for a vehicle its size. I have yet to reach 30 mpgs yet :(

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  Steering problems - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By ken153 - July 12 - 1:53 am

  I like the car but, I have a major problem with the steering. When I go around curves the steering wheel will not return to center. If I let it alone I would run off the road. I must pull the wheel back to center. This happens either left or right curves. I had the car back to the dealer for repair 3 times. They were not able to fix this problem. I decided to file a claim with my states lemon law. The car had 1,300 miles on it when I discovered the problem. I see this as an accident waiting to happen. Im hoping Ford will take this car back and give me a car that works.

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  A very impressive automobile - 2011 Ford Fusion
  By mrfreeze57 - July 11 - 8:47 pm

  Have had the 2011 I4 sel for one month, 1000 miles, it is a fantastic automobile. The 4 cyl. has plenty of power and all 3 times refueling, all 30 mpg or better with combined driving, and while I have read of complaints of the 6F35 transmission (this is the first automatic I have owned) so far have had not one irratic shift and it shifts so smooth one cant hardly tell when it does unless looking at the tach, and also it shifts out of the lower gears very quickly helping it get such good gas mileage. The fusion drives nice and the electric steering feels fine to me, the engine does make a bit of a snarl at high rpm (as most all 4 cyl do) but normal driving it is very quiet.

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  What it could be - 2011 Ford Explorer
  By 4tified - July 11 - 5:46 pm

  The all new 2011 Ford Explorer could be Fords best vehicle yet. It drives so well like floating on air with decent pep for a little larger than midsized SUV. The interior is upgraded with luxuries usually found in luxury brands. I absolutely love this vehicle BUT, its been in the shop twice already and it would be 3 times if I could have made the time to take it in. The MySync system and the cooling fan so far. Only 1500 miles and things keep breaking. I had my previous car for 3 years without an issue. It has been extremely frustrating. I love what it could be - if it was only realiable.