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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  Solid 97 Aerostar - 1997 Ford Aerostar
  By 97Aerostar-Dad - March 7 - 3:31 am

  Other than a thermostat replacement, new brakes, and tires, this van has been trouble free for me for over 5 years.

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  04 Expedition - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Rob Trez - March 6 - 10:32 pm

  Very convenient vehicle with great towing capacity. Typical 5.4 liter is noisy and loves gas. Second Expedition I have purchased because of reliability and ease of operation. Family friendly easy to access third row.

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  2004 Excursion with 6.0 powerstorke - 2004 Ford Excursion
  By Kim W. Baldwin - March 6 - 6:13 pm

  Purchased this vehicle used with 21,000 miles. Bought it for the room and reliability of the diesel. To date the average fuel economy has been good at 18.7 mpg/average. Plenty of room and power. This vehicle has the dvd option that I would not have picked if the vehicle was not purchased used but found that the grandkids love it. So far no complaints.

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  good choice - 2005 Ford F-150
  By will - March 6 - 3:06 am

  F-150 has a lot of upgrades from the previous body style. Better interior, more safety and anti-theft devices.

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  Ford Has a Winner! - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Cathie B - March 5 - 11:53 pm

  I am a Realtor in Nova Scotia. I looked quite a while before finding the Freestyle. I drive in all kinds of weather and I live on a hilltop. I am sold on my Freestyle. My clients rave about it too. Its better looking than a van and has all the room of my former 87 Grand Marquis wagon with more comfort & AWD.

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  My Second Ford Bronco - 1996 Ford Bronco
  By G Martin - March 5 - 12:15 pm

  The truck has been "bullet proof", never been towed, never any major mechanical failure. Regular maintenance is average to high, but that goes with owning a 4WD truck. I keep it well tuned and regularly serviced, so I guess I shouldnt expect problems operating it. It is the perfect vehicle for hunting or fishing, carries 4 good sized adults comfortably with all their gear. Good towing capacity as well, nicely stowed. Its a shame that none of the auto makers consider a vehicle like this. Id be in line to buy a new one tomorrow.

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  2004 ZX-3 (2.3L) Automatic - 2004 Ford Focus
  By atl_focus - March 3 - 5:47 pm

  My model is the "premium" ZX3 with the 2.3L engine. It is fully loaded and I picked it up for $11,500 with only 11k miles on it. If you dont have this engine, you are missing out...it really makes the car. I was looking for a hatchback to replace my truck and had one of these as a rental. I liked it over the Honda Civic Si, Golf/GTI, Protege5, Mazda3 hatchback, etc. Great handling and performance (145 hp), and decent mileage (24/30). Decent build quality for the money couple of minor problems so far.

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  Good Van - 2002 Ford Windstar
  By rhinobrecht - March 3 - 2:19 pm

  The Windstar has been very reliable and enjoyable in general for us. The sliding doors tend to stick a little especially on cold mornings. The seats are very comfortable and the amenities are good for the money, I think. I believe the 02s only had the VHS (no DVD) available for the entertainment system so we opted not to get it. I wasnt overly impressed with the Chevy Venture in design or comfort for the same price (although they did have the DVD player). There have been minor problems, but overall its been reliable and a great van for the family.

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  Squeaky brakes - 2001 Ford Focus
  By cyn_flo - March 2 - 10:00 am

  I purchased this car after driving a rental focus when I totalled my escort. Since the day I got the focus the brakes were an embarrassement. They squeaked so loud, it sounded like I needed a full and complete brake rehaul. Very embarrassing to drive when the car was only a year old. If I parked for 5-10 minutes, the brakes squeaked just as loud. Did not matter what the weather conditions were. They finally had to replace the brake lining, which improved the noise, but it was still there. Have had the car in for a few recalls in 2003. Did not have good luck with the ford escort either. Dont know if I want to go with a windstar or not?

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  1990 Festiva - 1990 Ford Festiva
  By festiva - March 2 - 8:40 am

  This has been a great car. Has more then paid for itself over the years. I got this car just as a joke but now the joke is on me.