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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  Wonderful car - 1994 Ford Tempo
  By Cindy311 - July 21 - 3:21 pm

  This car is a lot of fun to drive. It handles well, isnt bad on gas mileage. Mine just got totaled in an accident and Im very upset. With about 144K miles, it still cost me just routine maintenance! 5 speed manual transmission, brakes, engine, power steering, EVERYTHING original equipment. HIGHLY recommended.

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  Spacious, inexpensive, and smooth - 1997 Ford Taurus
  By HT - July 21 - 6:55 am

  This is a great used wagon for the money if you can find one that has been used gently, i.e., was maintained on conservative intervals. Theres easily enough room for 5 people, and the cargo space is truly enormous. The base Vulcan engine (145 hp) lacks power but is quiet and smooth. The upside of the cars tremendous weight is its stability and, while no one wants to go head to head with an SUV, this biggie wagon feels solid. Ive been quite happy.

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  F-150 FX4 Reg. Cab 6.5 SB - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Moses - July 20 - 4:40 pm

  This truck is very reliable, and very powerful for its size. With the 5.4 Liter V8, towing and off-road capabilities are almost limitless. However, I have encountered shifting problems with the automatic transmission very early on. The interior isnt very comfortable for long trips. The interior build is questionable as well; lots of plastic parts that can break very easily. I am very hard on my vehicles, and change almost every 5 years, and this truck has held up better within the first year of ownership than any other Ford vehicle Ive driven. Overall, it is a reliable vehicle and very fun to drive.

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  Love It and I Have a Heavy Foot - 1994 Ford Escort
  By Toy Soldier - July 19 - 6:00 pm

  I bought it used with 10K miles on it for my ex in 95, but needless to say I have it now. It runs well. I have placed it in the shop twice for acceptable repairs - starter and clutch. The suspension is a little soft so handling sudden swerves might cause some zig-zagging for control afterwards (learned that the hard way) :). All in all it is a reliable car with a strong core and years of engineering behind it. My A/C sprung a leak (in 2000) behind the dash ($800 to replace the entire system). Outside of that it is a great starter car.

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  Nice Car with some problems - 2000 Ford Focus
  By L.A. Driver - July 19 - 2:16 pm

  Im a first-time buyer and I purchased this car used. Within the 1st month, water kept fogging up the headlights (dealer wanted to charge me $300). Ive had to replace the brakes twice in 2 years, and the brake pedal squeaks (loudly), had two recalls, and it rattles, and it produces too much brake dust. The interior side panel broke already and the latch on the passenger seat broke so you cant adjust seating anymore. While some of these problems can be rather annoying, I still love the car. I broke the family tradition of buying only Japanese cars when I got this one.

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  1999 Ford Explorer - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By Anonymous2002 - July 19 - 2:00 am

  I typically buy foreign cars, but decided to try an American made car. Started with a 1996 GMC Jimmy. This was a piece of crap and I dumped it after the warranty ran out. So I decided to try one more American made car. I checked out the Explorer. It looked really nice. The inside was designed nicely. I have had this car for 4 years now and it has been wonderful. I plan on keeping it for at least another 4 years.

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  LOVE MY PONY! - 1999 Ford Mustang
  By SOPHIE - July 19 - 1:58 am

  Have never had any problems with my 1999 Mustang convertible. I love this car! Am considering trading for the 2005, but having a hard time parting with this one.

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  Diesel is the only option - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By JimM - July 19 - 1:43 am

  My diesel Excursion gets better mileage than my neighbors Grand Cherokee and my other neighbors Blazer and frankly, they are dumbfounded. They cant even begin to comprehend what it is like to be able to travel 800+ miles on a single tank of fuel. The idea of being able to tow their boat up to their lake home without having to stop for gas doesnt seem possible to them, because it isnt. One of the big 3 needs to continue producing a full-sized, diesel- powered SUV. Buy one of these trucks while you still can and make sure you buy a diesel. Will a diesel hold its value? Try even finding a used diesel Excursion that has less than 100,000 miles on it and see how much the owner is asking.

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  Born to Last - 1996 Ford Escort
  By Need2know - July 19 - 12:52 am

  My Escort has 129,00 miles and is still going strong. My friends wanted me to purchase a new car years ago, but I am glad I didnt. Beside normal maintenance (oil, belts, brakes, spark plugs), I replaced the water pump and radiator. Sure those last two repairs costs a few bucks, but it is a lot cheaper than a new car payment. The car has always started (even in the MN cold). The car has plenty of power, but I dont believe in going over 65 miles/hour. If you want a car to do 90 on the interstate, this car isnt for you Small cars do not handle the road vibrations and noise at high speeds. My only real complaint is that the speedometer went out in year three.

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  First Explorer - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By Fred - July 18 - 11:29 pm

  I am delighted with this SUV. I previously had a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero Sport 2WD and a Chevy Blazer 2WD. The V-8 power is great. It far surpasses both the Montero and the Blazer. The luggage area is bigger than all of the other SUVs we looked at. The Explorer has all of the features of a luxury car with the towing ability and 4x4 off-road features.