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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  Still Seems New - 1999 Ford Ranger
  By David James C - July 7 - 11:09 am

  Ive owned the 4x4 extended cab ranger since 2000, 2nd owner. This truck still seems new to me, even though it has 50,000 miles on it. The only problem is with the 4x4 electrical engagement. There is a problem that will cost me about $500 to fix. Dealer has to replace electrical box on transfer case. Choppy ride is only draw back. Otherwise fit and finish, interior and exterior are still great. Ford replaced the "Firestone roll over tires" for free. All in all Im still happy with this truck, and it is a shame to see such low ratings. Ive been through the new Ford pick-up plant in Dearborn - it is state of the art, and super-environmentally friendly!

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  Great Ride - 1996 Ford Taurus
  By Fred - July 7 - 1:40 am

  Original owner -- 9 years other than the idler pulley, no problems at all. Great gas mileage for such a big car -- 26-30 on the highway. Long wheelbase gives a great ride. Handles well in snow and ice. ABS is super. Great car for long drives.

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  Good after 12,000 miles - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By rtboch - July 6 - 9:46 pm

  I have driven the 500 for about 8 months and have about 12,000 miles on it. So far its all good. The AWD worked great in the snow, the ride is good and the interior is excellent. No rattles or problems at all. It has all the advantages of a luxury car. I looked very seriously at the some high end caddies and BMWs and am very pleased I did better with my 500.

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  nice choice - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By RON - July 6 - 6:22 pm

  Having come out of an Audi TT I was at first disappointed in the workmanship, especially interior quality. It has stood up very well however and it seems to have lost its chintz factor as I got used to it strange.

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  Owned Two Probes - 1995 Ford Probe
  By Kayster - July 6 - 3:54 pm

  I first owned a 1994 Probe and never had a problem with it but now have the 1995 SE and had nothing but one problem after another. Especially with the o/d light coming on and flashing on and off. This made the transmission completely go and just had to fork out $1700 to replace it. A great car to drive but sorry transmissions.

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  Nice Care with some design flaws - 2005 Ford Thunderbird
  By Dave - July 6 - 1:23 am

  Beautiful Car! I love to drive it. Chose it over a Z-4. Large doors for easy access but become problems when parked in garage or parking lot. Interior plastic could be much better quality. Bottle holders on arm rest really get in the way. Performance is exceptional and will leave everything on the road behind. Golf clubs fit in trunk. Sound system is outstanding. Dealership was excellent, especially pricing. Options needed include day/night automatic mirrors and heated outside mirrors. If I had to do it over, would probably buy the BMW 3 Series convertible.

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  So far, so good - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By mom of 2 - July 4 - 8:58 pm

  I dreaded moving from my Subaru to a minivan, but I love my Freestar! Bought it used (it was a corporate lease) and saved about $15,000 off new price. The 4.2 liter engines gives me plenty of power and considering the size of the vehicle, Im not unhappy with the fuel economy. Ive gotten about 18 mph so far. I like the feeling that Im driving the vehicle, its not driving me, like with the Caravan and Sienna I tested. I will buy an extended warranty just in case. Time will tell.

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  01 Ford F-150 - 2001 Ford F-150
  By chris may - July 3 - 9:28 pm

  Great overall truck, reliable and handles a workload well. I like the way this stepside truck looked and I was impressed with the way it handled.

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  Sport Trac - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By strac - July 3 - 10:00 am

  An excellent "cross-over" vehicle. As a previous two-time Explorer owner, I always had to borrow friends pickup trucks in order to haul anything big. Now I have the best of both worlds; a luxury SUV, and a place to carry my bikes!

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  Bang for your Bucks - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By wjfawb0 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The modability of this car makes it the best pick for a high performance daily driver. For only a few hundred dollars (cold air intake, exhaust) you can make over 40-50 HP in power improvements. About $500 will get you a supercharger pulley and tune which can net well over 100HP added to the rear wheels of the car. The stock forged internals of the motor have proven to be reliable to 700+HP. Great car to tinker with. See SVTPerformance or Modularfords for forums and articles on modding. :)