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:

• 

  My Crown Vic - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Arnold - January 5 - 12:33 am

  This car is a winner. It accelerates well, cruises without any problem and handles well in tight situations. No wonder law enforcement relies on this car to be its "police interceptor." I love this car.

• 

  Great Basic Car - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Bill - January 4 - 1:42 pm

  Bought this car in 9/05 with 35K on it for $9,100. Has everything you need really. V6, auto, electric, cruise, CD, ABS. Ride great, power good enough, smooth shifting, not bad looking. Ive put 30k miles on it in a little over a year and had NO problems other than turning the rotors, which need to be done again. I drive a lot of highway miles and get slightly over 25MPG. Following Fords manual you need 5/20 Synthetic oil which is a little costly. I love this car. Nothing fancy but a nice ride and decent gas mileage for a V6 and reliable so far (I did buy an extended warranty just in case). Would definitely buy a USED one again. There are so many of them on the street they are a great buy used.

• 

  Luv my "Little Ugly Truck" - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Brenda Scott - January 4 - 3:50 am

  Ive wanted one of these since they first came out in 2001. Ive always said "they are so ugly that they are cute". I was finally able to purchase one in March of 2005. Mine has the bed extender, the split tonneau cover, the moon roof ... the works. It handles very well and I love the roominess. I also love the separate heating and cooling controls for the backseat passengers. I am not pleased with the gas mileage. The sticker promised 15-20 mpg. I usually get 13.2 miles per gallon. Quite a big difference from what was promised!

• 

  Lots of Bang for the Buck - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By Mike - January 4 - 12:35 am

  Bought this car used with 18K for $10,500. Car has 42K now and it has been a very reliable and solid car. No major problems so far. It rides great, solid feel, firm almost sporty handling for a wagon. Quiet on highway and good mpg. I average 22 city/hwy without trying. Looked at SUVs before buying but the price was about 5K more. I use it mostly for business, constantly loading paper in and out (I own a printing company). Even with 800lbs of paper it handles sound ly with no surprises.This car is not sexy or fast but if you want to get around with lots of stuff or a family and not spend a fortune then its worth looking into. Overall I am very satisfied. This car is a good fit for my needs.

• 

  Fun to Drive - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Fred J - January 3 - 7:32 pm

  Very good seats good support.

• 

  Only one complaint - 2003 Ford Escape
  By Dan - January 2 - 2:33 pm

  I have had no problems with the car except that it is not that great in the snow with the original tires. I recently put on all terrain tires and now it is great in the snow. I have put about 50,000 miles on it in two years and I have not had a single problem!

• 

  SVT = KEWL - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Anonymous - January 2 - 4:46 am

  It is a blast to drive, a big difference from my 01 Focus. Interior looks a lot nicer and I grew to love the red exterior color I have. Bought the car with issues (bad previous driver), there are quite a # of TSBs on the car but nothing major.

• 

  still a minivan - 1996 Ford Windstar
  By stephen - January 1 - 11:10 pm

  We bought this car new in 96 because everyone else in the world owned a Dodge Caravan. Drove it for 8 years and 130,000 miles before I wrecked it. Never had any major engine/mechanical problems but Fords electric system is a joke. The speedometer went out at 90,000 miles, and for the next 3 years it waved between 40 and 90 MPH, so it was unclear how fast we were going. Helped us to slow down though. I rear ended someone going 45 MPH and sustained a broken ankle and some minor scrapes and bruises from the airbags which deployed. To this day, almost a year later, I continue to have shoulder problems resulting from this accident. Served us well, but not too protective!

• 

  So far so good - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Skreppy - January 1 - 10:00 am

  I was a little sceptical about owning the 2000 Ford Focus SE (5spd Dohc), a debute car, but so far it has proved me wrong. Aside from the pesky recalls and affordable maintenance the car has been a very practical and fun ride.

• 

  This thing is a monster! - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By JimmyJohns - January 1 - 9:07 am

  A true beast of a car! With V8 power flowing through dual Flowmasters this is the best sounding and looking car in town! With a top speed thatS too scary to even test (160+) and take off that will just about set you in the trunk, This car is fun to drive and very fun to own. The Mach 1000 sound system is one of the best I ever heard with a six disc in-dash CD changer and 4 watt amps mounted in the trunk. Go test drive this car, its so much fun you will laugh out loud, I did!