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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  120,000 Miles and still drives fine - 2002 Ford Focus
  By bigticket42 - January 21 - 6:27 pm

  Bought this car because of gas prices. Bought it with 120,000 miles on it. The car runs great. Good gas mileage, not great but I have the ZTS with the sportier engine in it. I am 66" and I have good room. Trunk is good sized but the opening is not big enough. Traction in winter rime is terrible. Need snow tires. Problems are that the fog lights at this time are not working, not sure why. The control module for the traction control and ABS is out so I have to manually pump brakes until I get it fixed. Other than that it is a good economy car. Probably not up to the standards of the Japanese or a Jetta but better than a Chevy Cavalier from 02 and probably as good as the Neon from 02.

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  Great pickup! - 1991 Ford Ranger
  By Brad Potter - January 21 - 2:13 pm

  I bought this Ranger used with 70,000 miles on it. It was a commuter vehicle and also used to haul firewood, gardening supplies, etc. Its been a super vehicle.

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  Escape 4x4 - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Damian - January 21 - 11:33 am

  The bad thing, you need to check your blind spots at least twice. Dont be in a hurry. If you are 6 and heavy set, this is not the car for you. Other than this, great look, excellent power house and handling.

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  2004 F150 - 2004 Ford F-150
  By michaeltk1 - January 21 - 2:44 am

  The truck has the standard 4.6 that has good power and torque but could be better. It is an XL model but came with a lot of standard features. It is minimal but its what I like. But with a family of five I have to make sure everyone is comfortable when we all have to go in it and it does that well. I have only had one issue and that was with the trailer wiring and I will have to pay for that one myself because I didnt discover the defect until after the warranty expired! A longer warranty period would be nice. Overall it has been over 52,000 uneventful miles. I am planning my next Ford truck purchase and it will be an F250 or 350.

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  great handling but mechanical trouble - 2001 Ford Focus
  By Scott - January 20 - 3:49 pm

  I have experienced quite a few mechanical issues with this car and I would not buy another.

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  Great So Far - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By Craig - January 19 - 11:44 pm

  Bought the van a month ago and have put about 3000 miles on it. Absolutely love it. Quiet ride, great highway gas mileage. Glad I bought the Ford over a Toyota or Honda. Third seat that folds into the floor is awesome, just as good as stow and go.

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  I really like this thing - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By imaxmagee - January 19 - 8:10 pm

  My company installed some charging stations which prompted me at least look at some plug-in vehicles. I just couldnt bring myself to consider the Prius (plus it only goes 11 miles on electric), and the Volt was really nice, but just too small. That left the C-MAX, and I couldnt be happier. I am absolutely amazed at the quality of the car. It feels great all around, and I swear, they fixed everything I hated about every car I have had before it. I plug it in at work everyday and that is it. My round-trip commute is about 20 miles, so it really gets me home and back. On the weekends, I just drive it as a hybrid and it works great. The only thing I dont like is the turning radius.

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  Great Truck - 1996 Ford F-150
  By kryke1 - January 19 - 2:32 pm

  This is a great truck. I use it for hauling horse trailers and construction. It is great for going up hills and for 4WD. With a few extras it has great handling and speed.

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  ZX3 Pitch Black - 2005 Ford Focus
  By desm0derek - January 18 - 8:11 pm

  Bought this car after researching smaller models. Found it was designed by an esteemed designer. Looks are terrific and the finish is excellent as you would expect from a Euro designed car. Driving is a hoot and the performance is more than acceptable. I also managed to get 2 high back chairs in the large rear after folding the seats down. Economy is 30mpg at all speeds although if you use the power higher up it drops slightly -- 27ish. All in all I am very pleased with the car and actually chose this over the BMW 323 because of the price differential the BMW didnt offer the extra edge to warrant the price. The Mazda 3, Nissan, Toyota and GM vehicles were a bit lacking in quality.

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  Not bad at all - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Carrera - January 18 - 10:00 am

  I think this drop top is a great bang for the buck. It has aggressive and beautiful styling and will give you the power you want. I love the shifter! But the cupholders are too close to it. Someone in the ford company messed up here! When you shift to 2nd or 4th you always hit it cup, leading the contents to conveiniently spill all over! But i find the interior to be comforting, it flows away from you, leaving the feeling you have more space. This car will make you crave what the 8 has in store. The leg room is no problem but dont place to be bringing anyone around in the back seat comfortably, but then again, this is not to be mistaken with a minivan!