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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  Practical, reliable, still fun - 1999 Ford Taurus
  By MThunder66 - February 13 - 1:53 am

  Great all around car. I bought it second hand and have put well over 10,000 miles on it. Good acceleration, good handling, plenty of room for four and a big trunk. I would definitely recommend the 24V motor - 50 extra HP, and huge difference in acceleration and speed over the regular 12V motor. No squeaks or rattles on the road. Fast enough to merge anywhere with no problem. I have gotten as high as 27 MPG on long trips with the cruise control set at 72-74. Overall, a great car for a reasonable price.

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  Crash Test Dummy - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By kevo71 - February 13 - 1:03 am

  I really liked my truck. It drove well and got fairly decent mileage (20MPG). If you noticed I have been referring to my truck in the past tense. I totaled it last week. The front wheel was knocked off, the cab was warped (drivers door would not shut) and the frame was bent in two places. The car that hit me was a Dodge Intrepid that hit me while sideways in the front left corner of the bumper and continued through the wheel. The truck held together well and I and the other driver walked away without any serious injuries. I had it for a year and a half and received from the insurance company about $1000 less than what I paid for it. Im buying another just like it. I also have an 88 w/250k miles.

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  low maintenance and reliable - 1991 Ford Festiva
  By HRS - February 12 - 1:26 am

  I bought this car when it had 25,000 miles on it. 11 years later, it has 227,000 miles on it and is still going strong. It has only let me down once in 11 years and the cause was just a cracked distributor cap! It has been the best car Ive owned. Can it make it to 300,000 miles? To be continued ...

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  Satisfied original owner - 14 years - 1992 Ford Ranger
  By atnfmc - February 11 - 1:23 am

  This Ford Ranger is my second in a row. I purchased this one because it has air conditioning and I need it here in South Florida. I have maintained it on schedule and have garaged it whenever possible. The only large expense has been the clutch. Because of the position of the slave cylinder it is impossible to service the slave without removing the housing for the master cylinder, too. So, clutch work is expensive. All else is original and works well.

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  Cool little gas hog. - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Lil D from Richmond - February 10 - 2:51 pm

  Im far more impressed with the Escape than expected, this being my first Ford vehicle. Good execution. Engine power, handling, space utilization, and price are great. Gas tank is way too small for its consumption. Cruise distance is just fair at best at 280 to 300 miles per tank for highway. Guess that was an agreement between Ford and some oil company. Should have outside temp and compass standard (or optional) for XLT model, their most popular model.

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  Good Buy - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Ford Rules - February 10 - 2:47 pm

  Got this car in July of 2005. Great deal with incentives and finance rates. The Focus has a better suspension than my old Civic and you sit a lot higher. Very roomy inside and no problems with 10k on it. Getting about 26mpg in city and 32mpg highway.

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  an ok buy - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By zachary - February 9 - 9:36 pm

  Im a Toyota man, but purchased the Ranger whenI was tight on cash. Ive had the truck almost three years and have had 2 problems. At 13k, a water hose burst. At 55K the inertia switch shorted out. At 71k engine is still running strong, interior is comfortable, all electrical is functioning properly. My biggest criticism is the brakes. I had the original set replaced around 50k and ever since then they have given me problems. I had three new sets put on between 50k-70k and each worse than the set before. The dealership says they need to be "worn in" but after my extended warranty expired, Ive taken my chances and dealt with seems to be a cheap design flaw or careless mechanics

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  expensive transmission repair - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By dave king - February 9 - 8:29 pm

  Ran good for the first 40,000 then $2300.00 transmission repair due to electronics. Lifters rattle under small hills. Oil pressure guage broken. I have towing package but only towed a small boat three times. Glad it wasnt more -- a lot more would be broken. I WAS a FORD nut. No more.

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  Disappointed - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By Dave - February 9 - 12:48 am

  My wife and I traded in our Chevy minivan to buy a new Taurus because we have a family, and wanted a car to get better fuel economy. What a big mistake! From day one this car has gotten the worst fuel mileage of anything I have ever owned. The stated fuel mileage is suppose to be 26mpg highway, HA what a joke, were lucky to get 19mpg. We dont drive fast (55 to 65), and the dealer said the car is fine. Our minivan (Chevy Astro) got 23mpg on the highway steadily, even though is was 1500lbs heavier and had a bigger engine, and my 4 x 4 Dodge with 95,000 miles gets 20mpg! I wish I had never bought this piece of junk.

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  Good solid truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By MikeB - February 8 - 5:13 pm

  So far, the F-150 has been a reliable, good looking, comfortable vehicle. The fuel mileage averages around 15 MPG which I think is pretty good considering its size. I have no complaints.