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 Value - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By D Dixon - August 2 - 6:36 pm

  Have had this car for over a year now. Find it to be very comfortable and easy to drive. I get the low end for mileage, but it really does great on the highway. You can carry people in the back with great comfort and room. One problem fixed under warranty and the two safety recalls.

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  Great car....for the price - 2006 Ford Focus
  By johnnash - August 2 - 5:56 pm

  This is a great car...for the price. If it cost as much some competitors Id have trouble recommending it, but you get a LOT for the money here with rebates etc. The ride and handling combination is very good for the class. I like the 5 door hatchback...it is more practical than the 3 door but sportier than the sedan. There is plenty of room up front. Im 64" and have no problem fitting. Im getting around 33 mpg overall with the manual transmission and I read they improved mileage for 2007.

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  Great for its Price - 2005 Ford Focus
  By trevor - August 1 - 11:10 pm

  This is a great car for its price. The interior could use some redesign, for example you cant roll down the window when you have a drink in the door cup holder. It is extremely responsive - "its low center of gravity allows you to take corners faster than you realize", (at least thats what I said to the officer who pulled me over last weekend for taking a corner too fast). The sound system is beefed up compared to other cars in its class. Also the mods that are available are endless.

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  10 year T-bird anniversary - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By rsu11 - August 1 - 11:52 am

  Just gave my 10 year old T-bird a makeover - new paint and carpet. Why? Simple. The car deserves it! Why pop for a newer car, or an older classic, when this one fills the bill so admirably. Great performance with the 4.6 V8, good suspension with IRS in the back, decent brakes, a comfortable interior for two people and styling that still looks good. Low maintenance costs and 19 mpg around town just make me smile more behind the wheel. The retro styled Mustang will probably be my next car, but not until my T-bird dies, probably many years from now. This car is like finding an Armani suit at a yard sale. A bargain with style!

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  Very good car - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By Mohamed Morsy - August 1 - 12:14 am

  It is definitely one of the best cars I have ever owned. It is very stable on the road and it feels very safe to drive. However, they were some problems such as the rear lift got stuck, the center lock motors problem, the paint peel from the hood. but it is still one of my best cars because of its spectacular mechanical performance.

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  It was a great car - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By txoldmf - July 31 - 3:42 am

  The car never gave us to many problem. They do have problem areas, headlight socket over heat, air compressor are weak. Engine strut support break easy. The big problem is the instrument panel. A problem Ford, and the NTSA knows about. The problem is weak solder joints. Ours went out, Total cost for parts and labor 1300, A third of the value of the car.

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  Buy a newer Taurus - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dondi - July 30 - 5:16 pm

  Bought this vehicle with 19k miles on the odometer and remaining factory warranty. For a small V-6 (3.0) it performed very well. The 6 speed auto always had a gear appropriate for the traffic needs. At 53000 miles the rear rotors went metal to metal. Found that many owners go through rear pads every 20k miles. Ford has offered a pad with slightly different material that lasts as long as 30k miles. I did the repair myself and found that it had already been done before. My wife and I are very conservative drivers so the "premature" brake wear was a real concern. At 53k miles after the brake issue, we found a large oil leak coming from the rear main seal area. Traded to a Chevrolet Impala

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  Been a good car! - 1995 Ford Contour
  By KRocks - July 30 - 4:27 pm

  Were the 2nd owner on our 2.0L 4 cylinder GL model. We bought it with about 30K on it and are at almost 121K now. We bought this exclusively as a back & forth to work runner and its served its purpose well. We still get 28- 30mpg but its starting to nickel & dime us a bit. Its really been a great car and the problems weve started having are things youd expect with a car this old. Weve recently had to replace the timing belt, water pump, brakes, and the costly item was the catalytic converter. Wouldnt hesitate to buy another one with lower mileage.

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  Great First Car - Except For Repairs - 1990 Ford Escort
  By Gmercedesbenz - July 30 - 10:29 am

  This was my first car, and for $500, Im not complaining. I bought the car with 77,000 miles on it, and it has now 87000 on it, but not without a few replacements. Alternator, starter, distributor, and some front end work was all the major repairs. But I cant complain about the 30+ mpg! A little more horsepower would be nice, mostly for passing on the highway. But she still does 75 mph with ease on the freeway. Highly unrecommended for a first car!

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  Best first car ever... - 1998 Ford Escort
  By Jldude - July 29 - 2:56 pm

  I bought this car 6 months ago, and have put on 10000 miles since. Have never had to replace anything yet. I use synthetic racing oil and the engine is just as good as any import. My biggest praise of the car is its mpg. I get a hair over 40 on the highway. Ive never gotten below 35 mpg. Also the engine is very fun at higher speed with the 5 speed. The biggest complaint that I have with the car is the noise. The tire noise is actually much louder than the engine noise on the highway. It is a very rough engine when its idling at a drive through. If Ford still built these with a higher overdrive and a better interior, it would dominate.