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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  Good car, good price - 2006 Ford Focus
  By jacob - August 14 - 1:23 am

  I bought this car in December of 2006, and after previously owning a Mustang I thought it would be less fun to drive, but I really like it. It gets great gas mileage about 25 city/37highway. It is also great for long distance road trips and after having it for 1 1/2 years now I havent had any problems at all. The car is fun to drive and a great commuter for anybody.

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  Satisfied Driver - 2012 Ford Focus
  By ave345 - August 14 - 12:28 am

  I am a college student and my Ford Focus now has 1000 miles. What can I say, I absolutely love my car. I am a car enthusiast and come from a family who has owned Fords since the 1980s. The transmission takes getting used to but once you know how it performs the ride is good. I got my Focus in silver and let me tell you it is a head-turner. Learn how the transmission shifts and you will see the power and economy work.

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  2007 Five Hundred Electrical System - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Jean - August 13 - 4:29 am

  When i bought this car it was awesome. Drove great, rode great, and was roomy. Transmission had to be repaired at a very high price. Now at 182,000 the Instrument Cluster or whatever is causing the intermittent cluster failure is driving me crazy. I has a spot soldered on it, didnt work. Bought a replacement used, didnt work. Had the first one rebuilt, didnt work. Had all my negative wires cleaned and sanded, though it worked only to see it doesnt. It is a notorious problem with this year. I have done nothing but research and I find so many people have this same problem. Wish I could figure out what the problem really is because it keeps me from my travels. Oh by the way, Ford Dealership said it was the cluster..ha!

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  Amazing Car - Too much fun - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Darrell - August 13 - 2:50 am

  The car is fun to drive and very comfortable during distance driving. Ive owned it 2 months and still cant get the smile off my face. The only negative is the interior. The plastic is cheap but the overall car makes up for it. The car is a head-turner.

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  Reliable and Utilitarian - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Rick Smith - August 13 - 12:03 am

  This is the second Sport Trac I have owned. The first proved to be so very useful that my wife and I had to buy another. I like all of the features and it rides very nicely. I dont need a "real truck" and we need a vehicle with a back seat.

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  Troubled Taurus - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By Big_Guy_Green - August 12 - 4:34 pm

  The week after my girlfriend bought this car with 43000mi on it, she took it on a trip from central MN to Colorado. They encountered problems the entire way! It stalled 3 times in the mountains, twice needing to be jumped, and once more when they got back in MN. 5 trips to the dealer and 3 batteries later, we thought it was fixed. Now whenever the temp gets above 65 it will sputter at idle and accelerate like tortuise for the first 150 feet. Also, we started learning why this car is called "disposable" when parts started falling off and breaking in the interior. Not to mention the annoying heat shield rattle and fuel cap sensor! At least it gets 28mpg avg. Well get a Malibu next time.

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  Not to my expectations - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By mosinoi - August 12 - 9:27 am

  I have a 2002 Explorer, which I bought in 2001, when the new line first came out. Transmission was bad from the time I took it off the lot, brand new. The dealer could not fix it, and last year 166,000 miles later I put in a new transmission. I also have the "door ajar" light problem, even though the door is closed. The drivers rear wheel bearing broke about three years ago, now the passengers side broke, too, at 192,000. I guess for the mileage it has it has served me pretty well. But I was expecting to get a lot more from this care for the price I paid ($32,000). I would not buy a Ford car again, thats for sure. Ill go with the German imports.

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  Never Again - 1991 Ford Taurus
  By NEVER AGAIN - August 11 - 8:22 am

  This was a great performing car. Fast, handled great and very comfortable. However, after 6 months, the transmission went out. I took it to a Ford dealer in to have it fixed. $2500. They said it would be guaranteed and covered at any Ford dealer in the US. Well, I moved to GA and the transmission went out again. Dealer said it was my fault for not checking the trans fluid. It was a manual and there was no way of checking it. I had it repaired again. $2500 again. 10 miles after the warranty was up, it went out again and they would not fix it unless I paid another $2500. I gave the car away at that point.

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  Swaying Impressions - 2003 Ford Focus
  By WrstPirateever - August 10 - 8:28 pm

  For a 2 door, this thing is fun to drive. Pretty good acceleration, and plenty of trunk space once the back seat is folded down. I couldnt believe it when I fit my new 42 inch TV in there and noone else could either! The back seat is useless for passengers unless they have no legs. Very tight quarters back there. Now for the bad. Ive never had so much trouble with traction especially on wet roads. I also have less than 60,000 miles and Ive already had to have a brand new transmission put in (luckily covered under warranty) and new tie rod ends. Now Im having issues with what I believe is the air intake control. Finally, this thing eats through tires like crazy

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  2 month review - 2006 Ford Focus
  By Biker8 - August 10 - 7:10 pm

  Bought the car for work/commute 2 months ago as gas prices were just eating me alive. Drive about 30k/yr. After ablut 5k mi, Ive had no issues. The car has 29k mi. I do have a wheel bearing noise in front otherwise, everything else works fine. Im actually surprised how comfortable the car rides. Performance is reasonable. Car looks somewhat cheap inside however, its not an expensive car. For the money, its much less expensive than its Japenese counterparts & much better than its American counterparts. Overall, for the money I definintely buy another Focus. By the way, Im getting over 30 mpg combined. I am however, conscious about how I drive it.