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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  Ford exploder - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Glenn.t - September 9 - 9:57 am

  A quick review of my 2004 Ford Explorer . Purchased used in 2011 . Comfortable ride . Once it hit 120,000 thats were things started to go down hill. Ball joints , power steering pump. Wheel bearings. Head lights . Turn signals. And most recently , a transmission. Dropped around 7 grand total in repairs to keep on road , the last 18 months. Gas mileage is down right crappy . My advise would be not to buy one of these ford exploder.......

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  The best of the worst F-150 2005 keep the rubber - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Earl Weidenhammer - September 8 - 2:02 pm

  my 2005 f-150 with A 5.4 engine as been A very good truck EXCEPT for spark plug replacement no other problems my milage is 127.000 I am lucky to have A very good 2005 f-150 truck

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  Update September 2015 of my 2010 initial review. - 2010 Ford Ranger
  By Billy Rockfish - September 8 - 1:50 pm

  If you can find a good used Ford Ranger of this vintage, buy it. The only non-maintenance item that ever gave me trouble was the fuel pump. It quit at around 38K. Ford replaced it under warranty (Honolulu Ford) no questions no cost. Truck is getting ready to turn 70K. I have the 2.3 Litre DOHC four with the 5-speed automatic (drop down menu does not let me select automatic). Did my 60K servicing at 57K replaced the Continentals with Firestone Discovery tires (better quality) brake job done at 63K (amazing since I drive in the City and County of Honolulu which is well known for having heavy traffic). Replaced the Ford stock shocks with Monroe-Matics. Still a stiff and jounce-bouncey ride, but after all - it IS a truck! A/C still blows ice cold and I am VERY PLEASED with this little truck. I will keep this forever as most people out here keep their Rangers for many miles and many years. Impossible to find a used Ranger on Oahu there are some in lots on Maui. A drunk driver plowed into my Ranger and it was almost totaled, however an expert body shop (approved by my insurer) did a good job on the repair and is very much roadable with no degradation in driveability or safety. This 10 Ford Ranger is one of the best vehicles Ive ever owned and last Sunday (9/6/15), I got the best economy ever with 30.5 mpg. Great truck !!

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  Worst mistake Ive ever made - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Kabasta Edward - September 8 - 1:21 am

  I cant begin to say how much I hate my car. The transmission gets fixed all the time, the alternator fail, battery failed, sterling failed, interior melted and my plastic door closer broke while making a high speed turn. I have had to use Fords roadside assistance 4 times in 3 months. Worst car Ive ever owned and Ive bought some cheap cars!

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  Great Family Car - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Helpful Ford Owner - September 7 - 10:11 pm

  Bought this car used with 14,000 miles on it back in 2008. I have the "Advance Trac" version with the 4.0ltr V6, they were the really base model and I dont see many of them around. They also didnt have the gobs of chrome the other models came with, which means mine has aged pretty gracefully and looks a lot like the more recent Expeditions. Its been garaged kept and I have given it regular recommended maintenance. I have managed to put over 90,000 miles on it since I purchased it, aside from a leaky thermostat housing which I replaced myself at 50,000 miles for about $80 total, its been a good truck. First Ill start with the negatives. At very low speeds the transmission feels like there is a guy in there with a sledge hammer shifting gears. The back seat is not really that comfortable for adults, its really sad, I think my 01 2dr Explorer sport had a more comfortable and roomy back seat than my 06 4dr. The motor has a lot of low end torque at low city speeds which is great, but at highway speed the V6 struggles when it comes to passing. I am a pretty easy driver but I can barely coax over 16mpg out of it with a mix of highway and city driving. My car is pretty bare bones and I like it that way, not much to go wrong. AC works great, so does the heat power windows are nice and so is cruise control. Front seat is very comfortable for me and I like the commanding view. Its very torquey on the low end so it does well around town. Ive never towed anything but I bet it would do ok at low speeds, Id hate to take anything heavy on the highway though. For the last 5 years it has been the commuter vehicle for my family, fits two children in the back comfortably and 3 in a pinch. LOTS of room in the trunk for stuff, and believe me I have needed every inch. I dont have the fold flat 3rd row of seats, but I do get some pretty nifty storage compartments under the deck instead. Im very happy with my Explorer, its been pretty dependable. I had an 01 Explorer Sport which had over 170,000 miles on it when I got rid of it (still ran well too) so I hope that this one will last as long.

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  Wow! - 2015 Ford Expedition
  By Eric Oleson - September 7 - 6:25 pm

  Wow, what a vehicle! This is our fourth Expedition. The first three were great but we decided to scale down to an Explorer, which was a great vehicle but just not the same! So we got another Expedition and what a Wow it is! Ford has taken an already great vehicle and has made it better. Yes we love the comfort, the fact that you can see forever, that physics is always on your side should there be a crash, handling is impeccable (it will walk through anything) but now it has a power plant that puts the old one to shame. It has so much more power that I actually have to be careful when accelerating or Ill invariably leave precious tread on the road from peeling out. Look, this is not a GT by any means but it sure is fun when I experience that feeling of the head being thrown back at the changing of the light! And oh, did I happen to mention that our mileage has increased by well over 20%? Our recent trek to Chicago gave us 18.3 M/G - not bad for a behemoth!

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  Perfect! - 2013 Ford Escape
  By Eric Oleson - September 7 - 6:08 pm

  We wanted a reliable, safe car for our 17 year old and I know we have found it. The all wheel drive will keep her on the road and IF something happens to run her off the road she will be in one of the safest vehicles in its class. Amazingly it is comfortable even for my 6 2" frame - Wow! And the panoramic sun roof almost makes you feel like you are in a convertible. My only humble issues with the Escape is that the Nav is not as intuitive as a Garmin Device and the Climate controls are a bit too complicated. But these are small matters compared to the overall Five Star nature of this great car!

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  Fun to drive! - 2011 Ford Focus
  By Matthew - September 7 - 2:35 pm

  I love driving my focus. It grips the road nicely and its light frame makes for easy lane changes and highway entries. This car has some ZIP to it. I would feel comfortable driving this across country due to its reliability and comfort. The interior doesnt feel cheap. I expected a little better fuel economy, but its ok. For a small car, I dont feel low to the ground.

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  Former European car owner - 2015 Ford Mustang
  By Mike - September 7 - 11:24 am

  I went to the VW dealership in my GTI to look at the new Golf R. I noticed a new GT sitting in the used lot for a few thousand less than the R. I fell in love with the looks of the car, and after spending some time driving it decided that it was for me. Why? Ive never liked the design of the previous GT, but the updated exterior is one of the best designs out there right now - not a bad angle on the car. The interior is vastly improved. I actually enjoy being in the space instead of feeling like Im compromising. The premium interior is, in my mind, the way to go. Air conditioned seats are one of mankinds greatest inventions. I found all of the electronics intuitive and mastered the system within a couple of days (Ive had some cars that I never figured out after 3 years). Many cool customization features on the interior. My car came with the performance package. I also think that this is a must have. The mustang feels like a proper grand tourer. The suspension is firm but not jarring, and the steering feel is among the best Ive experienced on a new car (and better than the new GTI). It is not a sports car, but it is always fun to drive. The solid handling, amazing engine note and acceleration, and the outstanding shifter and steering make for a car that I always look forward to driving. After driving it for a while, I realize that Ive reached the age where driving a grand tourer makes me happier than a frantic adrenaline machine. If you havent test driven one and dont see yourself as a Mustang type, go test drive a new 5-series and then try the Mustang - its cheaper, better looking, better to drive, and generally mullet free.

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  Very poor transmission - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Ken Harrington - September 6 - 10:53 pm

  I have a 2014 Ford Focus, and the transmission is terrible, it is very tight and jumpy has shuttered for the entire 15 months Ive had the car. When I go up a hill it stalls, and in traffic, I get the 6 minute "transmission overheating" message. I wish I bought another car.