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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  Useful & reliable - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Boston driver - March 3 - 9:50 pm

  Bought this car new in 98. Its been very reliable and a great city car for maneuvering and parking and mileage. Decent pickup with the five-speed manual. Wet-road handling got better with new tires at 50k. The trunk opening is very small, but with the back seats down you can stuff a lot in. E- brake is starting to fail at 73k.

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  Bad Performance over 2 years - 2001 Ford Focus
  By MAEH - March 3 - 10:00 am

  The Good things -Exellente Handling -Confortable -Great Sound -Very Good Space in front, im 6.6 tall The Bad things -Regular Quality on interiors -Engine is not so good, very good power at the start (Brand New), but the car lost a lot of power with the A/C on, especially if you live in places with very high temperatures (115-120 F), -Fuel Cosumption, Regular -a litle bit noisy on the high ways The Ugly thing -just 2 years and a half with the car and i dont whant it any more

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  2003 Mustang Convertible STD - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Mike5 - March 3 - 10:00 am

  This is the 2nd Mustang I have owned, the first being a 01 Mustang Conv. Its simply the best 4 seater convertible for the money. The car looks great with the top down and the auto top is easy to use and opens quickly. It has enough power to be fun but not dangerous. Its a solid smooth ride which is exceptional for convertibles.

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  Good but not great - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Mack - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I am happy with my purchase overall, The 260 Horsepower is a bit over- rated, I was dusted by a BMW330 6 cyl ! supposedly only 225 HP ??. I would like to see Ford go back to the 5.0.

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  Good basic car - 1997 Ford Escort
  By Godboldm - March 2 - 2:15 pm

  I got this car after graduating college. Basically because I wanted an economical car that could move stuff. The Escort wagon seemed like the perfect choice. I was really impressed by how well it starts in cold weather conditions. With a new battery, it has started up great, even with a windchill of -30. The cold did take a toll on the interior, one of the rear locks (the thing that sicks up) snapped off. I guess it got really brittle in the cold. So be careful! It is a bit sluggish, but what can you expect from a basic economy car? It has delivered what I expected. So far, I cannot complain.

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  Texas Sport Trac - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Austin Guy - March 2 - 8:40 am

  I have owned my Adrenalin addition Sport Trac for 4.5 years. I am very impressed with the reliablity and versatilty of this SUV. Besides routine maintenance I have only had to replace the battery. Love the fact I can throw firewood in the back and travel with 4 other people without having to own a crew cab truck. Minor trim issues but more irritating than anything. Ungainly design, gas mileage is the same as a larger SUV, needs more horsepower..but overall, very happy.

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  The Everyday Scort - 1995 Ford Escort
  By TMoney - March 1 - 11:01 pm

  The Escort LX 2dr is a nice small car for a beginner or anyone. I was surprised how well it kept up with rush hour traffic. The 1.9 liter may be a small motor but it will move. The Escort is tight in steering which is good because it handles the corners well and its very fun and easy to drive. Its easy to park. An Escort may not be like a real high performance sports car but its still a nice dependable car. I currently drive my car to school and work and Im happy to say that its a good running car. Hard acceleration is zippy. It may not be as fast as some other cars but itll do. Now I see so many Escorts around now its like its a popular compact car.

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  50/50 - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By Twinklesparkle002 - March 1 - 2:57 pm

  Im 50/50 on the good and the bad, but I guess for the price, that it is good. I love how it takes corners, but I hate having to fight the locks while holding a baby. Car seats do not fit in the back seats unless you want your chair kicked or hugging the dash. But I love how it gets up and goes.

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  Crown Victoria LX - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By CrownVic420 - March 1 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car a bit over a year ago and i loved it more and more since i got it. It has a bit of a rattle on the door and the cup holder but its all good. But the tape player automatically seeks if you go 30 seconds without playing a song but it works. The left shocks and struts squeak when i turn left which concerns me a little. But i think their ok. The seats are big and comfortable and it is very roomy which is great because Im pretty tall. The gas mileage is good for what it is i usually get about 20 mpg in a good day and 26-28 on the highway going at 80.

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  02 F150 - 2002 Ford F-150
  By Ultimatebravo - February 28 - 10:43 pm

  I really loved this truck up until the transmission went out at 38,000 miles. Ford did not cover it and it cost thousands. The truck also has excessive piston slap and it has had its oil changed every 3k or less. Im in the market for a Dodge now, Ford really needs to work on their quality.