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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  Yikes! Don"t ever purchase! - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Jim - July 19 - 7:27 pm

  Last September my wife and myself purchased one of these dang vans, well folks in been nightmare after nightmare. Well put a whooping $5000 in repairs in the van to this point. Oil cooler lines and cooler. transmission, oh and another thing the three back spark plugs where ceased in the motor. And they where the original plugs. And then was the brakes. Another nightmare and another $1900. Yeah, if youre rich and want to get poor fast, then purchase on of these crappy, money taking vans. But dont say I didnt warn you. Run. If the dealer trying to sell you one. Fast! Are you running yet!

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  Better gas - 1997 Ford Expedition
  By justin - July 19 - 7:26 pm

  I bought my exp in June. I like it a lot. It has 220,000 miles in it it is a very good SUV. I like it a lot safe for my kids but I got spark plugs done. It gets good gas now like 16 miles a gal.

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  2007 Escape Review - 2007 Ford Escape
  By EscapeDriver - July 19 - 12:47 pm

  I love my escape. I always wanted a black SUV and when we drove the escape, I knew this was the right SUV for me. Ive had it since 2007 and havent had any problems! Its incredibly reliable and fun to drive. I would definitely get another escape in the future

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  Ford FusionSE auto - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By DoubleG - July 18 - 11:08 pm

  I have the gray Ford SE Automatic. Good riding car. Fairly quite interior. Drove a Honda, Altima, Hyundai. The Ford won out. City driving about 18 MPG and I mean city driving. Stop signs on almost every corner, red lights, heavy traffic etc. The few times I had it on the highway I got anywhere from 33 mpg to 35 mpg. Only minor complaint is the controls are to low on the dash and the elevated rear shelf in the back makes it a little harder to back into a parking space. I will add a rear spoiler to solve that problem. Overall a very good car.

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  Transmission - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By disappointed - July 18 - 6:14 pm

  Transmission slips or clunks into gear. Recall did not fix problem. There are pages of Fusion owners on internet with same problem. My car is at dealers for the third time (counting recall) for this dangerous problem.

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  Awesome Ride - 2008 Ford Edge
  By Coach - July 18 - 6:04 pm

  Had my Edge for 2 yrs. No issues what so ever. SYNC is the best invention EVER! Have no issues mating any phones with the sync system. Nav system is easy to use. The seats are more comfortable than my wifes new Cadillac SRX . One and only one issue that keeps raising its head is the trim on the roof (panoramic roof) rattles.

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  3rd Ford Truck - 2010 Ford F-150
  By Paydirt - July 18 - 2:57 pm

  This is my 3rd Ford F150, and its the best. I love the QUIET ride, its superb reliability, & its solid stance. In all three trucks, I never had a rattle or a squeak, nor a misfire in the engine. Whats the big deal about the power? It has 320 hp, and it will damned well get up & go - faster than the other two I owned. I had owned 2 Z28 Camaros in the 90s, and Im used to power. In 6 mos. Ive never floored the accelerator however, I did push it half-way down to pass a couple of cars on a long, steep hill. It roared & "slung" me up and around those cars without a sweat. I also love the "throaty" exhaust tone the engineers have given it. This truck is quality & class, through & through.

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  Not so good for intense driving - 2001 Ford Escort
  By kevin - July 18 - 12:50 am

  I have to drive a lot between places, and this car I bought in 06 with 70,000 miles for only $4,000. The first two years were good, up until 110,000 miles. Transmission needs work now, things keep braking on this car (leaks) unfortunately at this point, the upkeep is getting high I might as well buy a car. A/C blows weak, and my compressor wont make cold air now. I dont know how anyone gets 30 MPG on this. I usually get 350 Miles on a tank, and the tank is 13 gallons, so its 26 MPG for me. Good first car, rides a bit low for me, and dents easily.

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  1995 Thunderbird LX 4.6 - 1995 Ford Thunderbird
  By Tom Francis - July 17 - 6:55 pm

  Just bought the car (07-12-2010) Was garaged looks almost mint, 64,000 miles runs and looks great. An elderly lady owned it, $2,300 The Kelly Blue Book and NADA do not due this car justice. And yeah, the cup holders are in the wrong place.

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  Made the switch to American. - 2011 Ford Taurus
  By Marla - July 17 - 6:24 am

  After 20+ years of driving mostly Lexus and Toyota, I finally made the switch back to an American car. My Taurus has been both a pleasant and a surprising experience. This is a solid, quiet car, with fantastic handling and turning. It is loaded with creature comforts. I had considered a BMW, but many of the options with my Taurus werent available, or pushed the cost beyond what I was willing to pay. The interior is plush and comfortable. The sync systems makes almost everything hands free for safety. I am pleased to say this is an American car that competes quite nicely with foreign makers!