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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  Great - 2000 Ford Crown Victoria
  By susanherna - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Mileage is excellent. I get 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

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  I love this thing! - 2010 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By St Mari - September 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive put almost 13,000 miles on my Hybrid since getting it in March. It came loaded, with options I didnt need or want, but now that I have them, I cant imagine not having them.

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  Great car! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Prash - September 11 - 9:14 pm

  My wife and I bought this car since it was exactly 14k. Corolla and Civic were more expensive and Sentra had worse mileage. I did not want another Accord because of the price. I have had this car for about 3 yrs now and now have 103k miles on it. I never changed the tires until one blew up at 102k, Jiffy Lube messed up my gas line due to a gas filter change and I had to get the entire gas line replaced. Other than changing oil, trans oil, coolant, tires, serpentine belt..no major problems. I would recommend this car to everyone. I drive 170 miles everyday and get about 33-36mpg. Why would I want a hybrid giving me 40k and costing me 24k?

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  Best Vehicle I have owned! - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By Lovin it - September 11 - 8:50 pm

  I have only had my Freestyle a week, but I am already in love. It gets great gas mileage and so user friendly. And it has all the bells and whistles. And seats 6 for hauling the kids and friends. And the CVT transmission is a true asset. This is Fords best kept secret. I let my dad drive it and he swore he felt it shift. He still doesnt get it. Best thing ever spent my money on.

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  Fun To Drive! - 2008 Ford Mustang
  By Luis - September 11 - 10:16 am

  Ive been wanting a Mustang for as long I can remember. I always wanted an older classic one, but they have become too expensive. I finally bought one this year and I love it. She rarely gets out since I drive my company truck most often. But when I do take her out on Sundays Im amazed how nice she drives and how sporty she looks. I wouldnt change my Stang for anything.

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  Nice SUV - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By Stephen - September 10 - 11:46 pm

  I noticed that a few people also have had the starting and stalling problem that I did for so many years. I attributed it to the cold winters in the Pacific NW. When I move to Arizona I still had the problem. I paid the dealership to find the problem and they did. It was a bad intake manifold gasket set. I paid $100 to find the problem and $20 for parts and fix it myself. Never again had the problem. I had the transmission replaced two years ago due to a broken fluid pump motor. I also have been told that the timming chain guides need to be fixed or replaced.

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  2009 V6 Premium Pony Package 5-speed - 2009 Ford Mustang
  By Bond - September 10 - 7:06 pm

  Was looking for a sporty coupe, loved the styling of the Mustang, and found the interior roomy, Im 62". Have owned 5 weeks and have logged 3000 miles. Performance is snappy, with good acceleration, and surprising handling considering the archaic suspension. Pony package has rear anti roll bar, big cornering improvement over base V6. ABS and traction control recommended. Averaging 28+ MPG in mixed driving, gets 33 on the hwy. Exterior is beautiful to my eye. Interior is also sharp, but Ford saves money on materials, lots of plastic. Leather buckets quite comfortable, but could use more side bolstering. No squeaks or rattles so far. Hard to beat for the money. A lot of car for 23k.

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  Love IT! - 2006 Ford Escape
  By Tess - September 9 - 8:26 pm

  I just traded in a Land Rover (Freelander) for this Ford and can not believe how much better this is. I had the Land Rover for only 13 months and had no idea how much I disliked it. The Escape is a great value and very, very comfortable and I am very happy that I made the trade.

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  Great Truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Dave - September 9 - 4:20 pm

  This is a great vehicle. I drove some 2002-2003 Corvettes looking for a good performance vehicle. This SVT is as good a performer as the Corvette in a straight line unless you get the ZO6 option. This has been a pleasure to drive and have had a ton of good feed back on the truck.

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  ford focus - 2004 Ford Focus
  By sarahsnell - September 9 - 2:00 am

  i love everything about my car!!