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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  It does what is can - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By rustygray - July 26 - 11:22 am

  I bought mine used from a dealer. I got a great deal, and the vehicle has been solid, fun to drive, and it starts daily, and with better tires and new shocks, it handles pretty well . But it is an SUV not a sports car, so as with any high centered vehicle, driver responsibility is a must. Mine is a 5 speed, and easy to toss around, slide sideways, and fun in the mud and dirt. Keep the oil changed, rotate tires, and air filter every 3k miles, should be okay.

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  A Lot of Car For The Money - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Todd Morris - July 26 - 11:10 am

  I buy cars for long-term service. I pastor a Baptist Church and drive anywhere from 20-30 thousand miles each year. My Taurus has performed flawlessly. Good power, decent mpg, great comfort, best handling car I have ever owned. It is a fun to drive family sedan, really drives like a sports car. I am thrilled with the car.

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  Great Car! - 2006 Ford Taurus
  By BW - July 26 - 10:30 am

  Good handling car. Smooth driving on the highways. Great on long road trips too! Leather seats are very comfortable. Bought mine used with 6,000 miles on it and I just love the car. This is the second Taurus that Ive owned over the years. A very reliable automobile. Nice family car with lots of room inside. Saved $10,000 compared to the cost of a new Toyota Camry.

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  Coming Up on 10K - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By Dan - July 25 - 10:20 pm

  About 50 miles south of 10K and this car has been flawless. Build quality is rock solid with excellent fit and finish. Plenty of power, quiet & comfortable cabin, extremely smooth transmission; excellent cabin space and a huge trunk. Only option I added was the Moon & Tunes package. Killer stereo which could be even better if it had actual subwoofers. Didnt like the blue or red interior accents, stuck with the black. Averaging a shade over 21 mpg in 50/50 mixed driving with the occasional aggressive launch/pass. I have no problem recommending this car to anyone in the market for a midsized sedan with a little pizazz.

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  300k 90 Stang - 1990 Ford Mustang
  By Tiger90Stang - July 25 - 3:50 pm

  I purchased this car in 11/93 when it only had 35k miles on it. It was well taken care of and most likely driven by a non muscle car enthusiast. That was until I got a hold of it. Now its 13 years later and less than 3k miles from 300k. Yes! Original 300,000 miles (proof with receipts).There has been NOTHING done to the engine or transmission. The only items replaced was the normal wear and tear items like alternator, brakes, tires, fuel pump, heater core, lock actuators, passenger window motor gear, struts and a recalled ECM. This car has been MORE than what I thought Id ever get out of a muscle car. It had great acceleration (100k ago) & still rides as smooth as new. A GREAT investment!

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  Hot Adrenalin Sport Trac AWD V8 292 HP - 2009 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By James Hatfield - July 25 - 2:10 pm

  Great Colorado Red color. Very eye- catching Adrenalin package. Love the 20" tires and special rims. The tonneau cover is very nice, convenient and weatherproof. AWD worked flawlessly in ice and snow in Ohio ice storm. V8 towed mother-in-laws car from Michigan to Florida without breaking a sweat. Fit and finish are beautiful. Sound system is excellent, as is Sync hands-free. Really great software on the Sync. Stupid flaws include: Truck bed storage compartment in bad location and useless when tonneau cover is in place; cannot get telescoping steering wheel; no grab handle on drivers door; marginal inside storage; no directional signals in sideview mirrors. Ford can be proud of this.

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  Disappointed so far - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Leadfoot - July 24 - 6:17 pm

  This car has standard bad traits of "performance" cars that are normally forgivable - poor gas mileage, high insurance premiums, etc. Even the severely minimalist interior (ie., cheap and uninspired) was explained away as being for the "serious" performance enthusiast. Three years after purchase, Im still waiting for my car to perform. It has no power in first gear - which is fairly important in city driving as you often dont get a chance to shift up before youre cut off. Gunning it to get high rpms looks kind of stupid in heavy traffic. This vehicle has also developed some suspicious rattles during its limited 4700 miles, including weird A/C noises. Maybe its a lemon.

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  Not what you would expect - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By disappointment - July 23 - 12:47 pm

  I own a V6 hardtop coupe. Its a beautiful dirt color with black racing stripes. The horse power stinks. 4.0L and only 210hp. I also have a Nissan 350z thats a 3.5L V6. It puts out 300HP stock. My Mustang is flawless in style and looks but I am very disappointed in the performance.

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  Built Ford Tough, But Quiet - 2006 Ford F-150
  By Greg Wilson - July 23 - 12:10 pm

  Ever since I first test drove the vehicle, I was impressed with the vehicles quiet drive, response, and handling as though it were actually a sedan. The cabin presence I believe is unmatched and rivals the attention to detail of most European sedans. The heat treated box frame demonstration on the TV commercial, the results are unbelievable ... superior ride, roomy interior cabin.

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  168K 96 GL - 1996 Ford Taurus
  By Russell Wickham - July 22 - 6:21 am

  I purchased my 96 Taurus GL from an individual when it had 64K miles on it, and drove it for five years and 104K miles. During that time, Ive had a few problems, namely the cam position sensor, the EGR valve, two window switches, and the transmission. First the 4th gear shift solenoid failed, and the transmission shop said it needed a full rebuild because the part is very hard to get to. That cost $1500. Two weeks ago the torque converter seal fail, draining all the fluid out of the converter and leaving us stranded. Aside from that, its been a good car.