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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  Nice littler car - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Nice little car - September 13 - 11:47 am

  With a few little tweeks I can get About 38-40 mpg on the highway at around 65-75Mph. Its not the fastest car but Its absoulutely the best car for fuel economy and reliability. I put over 33,000 miles on it in 24 months, and it still run great. Road noise is a problem but $350 or less if you do it yourself will fix the problem (Road noise foam or strips).

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  An American Classic - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By NavyDoc - September 13 - 2:00 am

  I get lots of looks and comments at stop lights. Nice acceleration. Incredible sound system. Not too bad gas mileage, all things considered. My mineral grey with black convertible top and black leather interior stang looks great. My main complaint is that, on 3 separate occasions, the gas flow to the engine shut off when I was decelerating with the clutch pushed in - probably a computer chip problem that can be fixed by the dealer at no-cost to me. I plan to keep this car forever, although I will likely be buying a 4-wheel drive Escape for winter driving.

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  Original Explorer - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By Britton Maier - September 13 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely awesome vehicle! You cant buy an SUV like this any longer; the new model does not compare to this one.

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  F150 4dr SuperCab - 2005 Ford F-150
  By malibut100 - September 13 - 12:40 am

  I find the vehicle to be very comfortable, and would recommend the vehicle to anyone shopping for a pick up truck

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  My T-bird - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By my t-bird - September 12 - 12:31 am

  Very nice car. Very fun to drive. The 4.6 V8 is pretty powerful too. The ride is really comfortable as well. Punching the accelerator on the high way and getting up to 80 MPH is very fast and comfortable with the nicely styled seats. Its also very easy to spin the tires. This car has a lot of power even when your going 60 MPH. My overall is that I love this car a lot. Recently I added a 1,500 watt radio with 2 subwoofers and 6 new speakers and 2 amps. Sounds awesome. Nothing better than driving in a T-Bird with the windows down and the stereo blasting!

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  Oh! My Freestyle - 2007 Ford Freestyle
  By MyFreestyle - September 11 - 10:58 am

  Some say Freestyle is Fords best kept secret, and it is! Volvo Chassis and structure, Volvo AWD mechanism. 5stars crash protection all categories. Highlight is the CVT Transmission, silky smooth adequate acceleration with no shifting points. CVT provide great real world fuel economy better than EPA, the best fuel efficient V6 crossover in its class. Interior is so quiet like a luxury car, so is the engine. Theater seats in 3 rows, the rear passengers got great views of the road ahead. All seats are 1st class spacious, comfortable. Dash and interior fit and finish look good, the grains and soft surfaces felt fine. Exterior style slowly grew on me, "Go anywhere" look! Smooth over bumps, etc.

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  Freestyle is a perfect fit! - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Nomoreminivan - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I love my new Ford Freestyle, even after I was hesitant to buy an American Car. I wanted the extra seats of a mini van, but not the bulk. I also wanted the all wheel drive, but the Siennas were way out of my price range. The ride is so smooth and it manuevers like a car. It really looks and feels like a much pricier luxury car, and I could not be happier!

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  Easy Transition - 2005 Ford Focus
  By courtdug - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I previously owned a Ford Escort and was reluctant on going to the Focus. The transition has been wonderful! I love the way the car handles, its very quiet, I love the speedvolume and the size of the car. Its spacious and comfortable!

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  I love my Sport Trac! - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Lindzay71676 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this truck. You get the best of both worlds as an SUV or as a truck with the bed on back. The interior is very luxurious with all the extras. My best vehicle purchase so far!

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  Great SUV gas mileage! - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Cheryl K - September 11 - 12:40 am

  As an owner of 4 SUVS and ready to get rid of one I decided to look into getting the Escape Hybrid SUV for its gas mileage. I bought the AWD upgraded 2007 gold Escape with grey leather seats (no option in leather color), rear beeping system, moonroof and navigation. The interior is almost as nice as my 2005 Gold Expedition Limited and the ride is smooth and pickup is fine. Its not as roomy as my Expedition but its comfortable. I love the gas mileage and am averaging 30 mpg which is double my Expedition. Its a very quiet running vehicle and sometimes at a stop light its on battery and I dont think its even on but it is when I press the gas! And it also holds my four golden retrievers!