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:

• 

  Always wanted one. Glad I have one. - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By J. Cunha - March 27 - 2:10 am

  Very happy with this 2006 Explorer, even for an XLS with Sport package, its awesome. Great looking on the outside, beautiful on the inside, I just couldnt be happier.

• 

  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Rebob59 - March 26 - 12:30 pm

  Im a little bit biased here since I am a FORD employee. I love this car! I have wanted to have either a Camaro or Mustang since I was a teenager just starting to drive. Now I finally have one! The dealer I worked with was fantastic. I told the sales person that contacted me what model I wanted and the colors I was interested in and in a couple of hours they sent me window stickers of several cars that meet my wants. I picked the one that most appealed to me, since it was at another dealer my dealer had to make a swap to get the one I wanted. My wife drives a Camaro and the one thing I really like about my Mustang is that I have more head room in it than the Camaro. The Mustang also has a better visibility than the Camaro. I have the ecoboost model and love it. It has the perfect blend of performance and gas mileage. I drive 70+ miles a day and usually drive at about 80 Mph and I have gotten as high as 30 Mpg the average is usually about 28 Mpg. I would highly recommend this car to any one that wants a sporty car. Its fun to drive and well worth the money

• 

  So far so good only 852 miles so far - 2016 Ford F-150
  By Donnie - March 26 - 8:58 am

  Love this truck. had a 2000 Silverado great truck i drove it 256,000 miles only things that went out were 2 wheel bearings and a fuel pump, and i still have a 2009 silverado with 165,000 miles had to replace a seal in the rear end but its been a great truck! had a Toyota Tacoma and it was a rust bucket that rode like a radio flyer wagon. So now i decided to go with a new Ford Went shopping and found i really like this new ford the body is made of aluminum. Great idea ford!!! now i dont have to worry about the salt. This new ford drives very well quiet and handles great. The 2.7 feels like a big V8. I test drove the truck then i told the salesman that he must have got the wrong window sticker on this one because when you mash the peddle it takes off and i mean it takes off!! that sold me on the 2.7 I hope this truck is as reliable as my Chevy trucks. So far its a joy to drive and it has so many features. I love the back up camera! and the sliding glass sun roof with a 36 gal fuel cell yea thats right it has the optional 36 gal fuel tank. love it. probably wont like it so much when i have to fill it up from empty. but gas isnt that bad right now. you will never know you are in a v6 unless you open the hood. Dear Toyota why cant you make a truck that doesnt rust away never again Toyota! one more reason i went with Ford it wont rust away like the Toyota. only way i would ever buy a Toyota ever again is if they made the whole thing including the frame from aluminium!

• 

  Excellent Overall - 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By alexv - March 26 - 6:23 am

  I use mine daily in the constuction industry. I travel a lot and commute daily around the Dallas area for projects. Overall, the truck is great. Excellent acceleration, interior room, decent trunk space & adequate towing. It is highly functional for the American family. Plenty of room for the kids in the cab & space in the trunk to bring stuff home from Home Depot. Lumbar support is nonexistant, as long trips can be brutal on the lower back.

• 

  This is "the" Mustang to have! - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Kevin Ray - March 26 - 5:23 am

  Yes, there are some Mustang enthusiasts that do not like the new design. It is quite different from previous years models. My opinion, the new body design is beautiful and even if you dont like the new design just drive the car and you will be hooked. There is nothing that I dont like about my 2016 Mustang GT. The car is awesome. The interior is made of high quality parts and materials. The previous years Mustangs did not have this kind of quality in the interior. This is why I never bought a prior generation Mustang. The car is a joy to drive. I was back and forth on the question of automatic vs. manual transmission and I opted for the automatic. Now days I believe there is more emphasis on quality automatics than manuals. I just dont want to deal with clutches in the future. I drove a 2015 Camaro on the same day that I drove the 2016 Mustang. The Mustang was the hands down winner in my opinion. Ford did a great job on this car.

• 

  47 MPG maybe not a lie but sure aint true - 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By john1932 - March 26 - 12:22 am

  If you can get anything over 30 MPG in town you can not drive over 25 and need to coast to stops. On the highway 35 MPG is what you get. Back seat leg room not there, trunk small even considering battery pack. Driver side window molding coming off so I am gluing it on. Am I disappointed of course but everything above I can live with except the total deception Ford has put out on the MPG one might expect.

• 

  Full Use/Longivity/Satisfaction - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By Sabrina - March 25 - 1:31 pm

  I have owned a 1999 Ford Explorer XLT for 18 years and I must share with you that I have never been on the side of the road with engine problems. This was my "dream" car at the time of purchase and it NEVER disappointed me, through travel, family and regular use for work transportation, (including big dogs, kids, moving & craft shows). We have traveled across the United States during the extreme heat of summer and used the air and no worries! I have always purchased the best tires and was taught at an early age after getting my drivers license that maintenance is KEY to a healthy car. I treated it well with auto checks regularly and in return my car performed well and still does. Now that it is older, my maintenance costs remain low because the only thing I have to fix is from natural wear, like brakes, belts, filters etc. My leather seats held up well with the exception of my seat , which got the most use. I just really wanted to share how happy I have been for the past 18 years with this vehicle!

• 

  2008 Ford F150 XL 4.2L Auto, 6.5ft bed, 2WD - 2008 Ford F-150
  By MtnRoad - March 25 - 12:07 pm

  Bottom line up front, the truck is great. I have 81,000 miles and have not had any mechanical problems. My truck has the 4.2L 6cyl engine. Its true what expert reviewers say about it not being a truck youll burn out in. The 4.2L is for casual normal drivers. It has plenty of power for getting up to speed, and passes other vehicles fine on the highway. I have not towed with it but I have read the 4.2L has plenty of towing capacity. PROS: The 2008 model still looks like a modern new model. Although my truck is only 2WD it sits up real high so visibility is great. The cabin is very roomy. I also have a mid 90s F150 and the drivers door seems much further away and safer in my 2008. The ride is comfortable, and my gas mileage is not too bad. I dont mistreat my truck and it seems to preform well, maybe at least 20mpg. The model I have is just one up from the base cabin. I have the two regular doors and two smaller side doors that can open up if the main doors are open. This extra little door has a small window which is perfect for visibility when changing lanes. What Im saying is there is no blind spot like the lowest base model with no extra door and small window to see through. If you look left on that model to change lanes youll be staring at an interior rear cab column which will force you to lean forward to look out and back from the side window. There is no back bench seat on my model, just enough room for tool boxes, golf clubs, etc. Its substantial and not a tiny space behind the front row which I really like, although in hindsight I would prefer to have the larger back seating area with the fold down bench seat. CONS: The truck is awesome, but there are a few issues I need to address. The rake on the truck tilts forward, and rain collects in the bed of the truck. I regularly have to back the truck out of the driveway to lower the tail and let the water drain out. I think in the long run this could become a major problem for rust. I live in Arizona and the truck is rust free, but the winter rain and summer monsoons we get collects in the bed forward towards the cab....that is bad. There is a bed liner, but the factory bed liner has large access holes on the sides near the bottom. rain gets in there and I know the water is sitting. Im actually afraid to take the bed liner off to see what has resulted. The A/C on my truck blows cold and the fan is great, but every time the A/C kicks on I can hear a slight squeal coming from the engine compartment. So far it has gone on for a couple years now and the A/C still works fine but I expect this will be a problem in the future. The belt seems tight so this might be something for buyers to look for on used models. Some drink holders would have been nice on that fold down middle front seat which I keep down all the time. There is a retracting flimsy plastic double drink holder that comes out of the center of the dash, but its cumbersome to use, and may not be usable for stick shift models. There is no AUX or USB on my model. If you want that youll have to upgrade the stereo or buy a model that has it. REPAIRS: The only thing I have had to repair was the rear axle was slightly bent causing a vibration. I think that was from pulling out of parking lots and the rear right side skipping off the curb in tight situations. I treat my truck very well but a few times Ive had the rear right side roll off the curb turning out into traffic. It only happened a few times so I was surprised to see the axle was bent. Runs smooth after my repair and Im super careful now. SUGGESTIONS: Buy a F150 with power windows and door locks. If you have room in the garage get the model with the fold down rear bench because it adds so much more versatility. The reason I bought my truck with a 4.2L 6cyl is because I read a lot of great reviews on that engine, and it has a timing chain instead of the timing belt. The chain should last the lifetime of the truck. In Arizona its common for trucks to go beyond 200,000+ miles so the timing chain is nice to have. My 1995 F150 has 170,000 rust free miles (4.9L 300ci 6cyl with timing chain).

• 

  Traded In 1998 for 2002 - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By limbert08 - March 25 - 10:00 am

  The 2002 explorer is a significant upgrade to my old 1998 XLT. It almost feels like 2 different vehicles, the 02 has great handling and quieter engine. I got a used 2002 with 18,000 miles on it for less than $20,000. I think it was a fair deal

• 

  great car - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By gpdorward - March 25 - 10:00 am

  so far an excellent machine