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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  4 Years and still going strong - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Tony - May 21 - 12:47 pm

  Bought my ZX5 with 5000 miles on it in Dec 03. As of today it has 82,000 on it and other than routine PMs, it has never been in the shop for repair. Gas mileage averages about 27 combined city/country driving. It is an awesome little car. I see another Focus in my future

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  Better than Expected - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By flin1 - May 21 - 10:00 am

  We bought this van mainly because it had been sitting on the dealers lot for around a year and we got a great price on it. Id driven a rental Windstar and liked it and my wife thought we needed a van for our 5 person family. Weve had good luck with Fords and this was no different. It is surprisingly quiet, and smooth riding. The base engine gives pretty good power and also pretty good mileage. The dealer service has been excellent on a few minor problems, radio and a minor paint problem.

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  ford escape - 2002 Ford Escape
  By gerald shepard - May 21 - 10:00 am

  love the car- only fauly is -no outside temp. reading

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  SUV Comfort - 2006 Ford Expedition
  By No. Cali - May 21 - 2:20 am

  This is my second Ford SUV. My first Ford Explorer was such a joy, I couldnt wait to afford an Expedition. Its spacious and very comfortable in seating and routine road handling. The interior is welcoming and functional. The seats are just the perfect height with just the right amount of support. The Expeditions are the better priced SUVs when considering functional useage, size, and family accommodations. Three of my family members bought Tahoes, but enjoy road trips in my Expedition better (rear seat entry/exit and seat comfort) as well as the configurations for cargo capacity over their Tahoes. Also Expedition standard features (XLT) result in a better cost.

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  My ZX3 is a workhorse! Im sad to sell! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Chenago - May 20 - 12:06 pm

  Ive been driving my little ZX3 for seven years now. It has been a wonderful little car. Yes, its true that I it had some recalls, but thats all over with. I can haul almost anything that I want. The purchase price and the cost of gas still dont add up to the cost of a hybrid. It will carve Highway 55 with the best of them and Ill pass them at the pump, because Im getting 35 mpg. It has spunk in the city and cruises easily on the highway. The stereo rocks. In seven years Ive replaced the battery, window crank and the ignition switch. Im very sad that Ford isnt bringing back the ZX3 in 08, so Im selling and purchasing a new 07. Heres to another seven years!

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  2005 F-150 - 2005 Ford F-150
  By John - May 20 - 6:42 am

  Drives and rides well. More than adequate power and torque for pulling a full size bass boat (my primary reason for purchasing).

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  Very peppy car - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Slimm - May 19 - 8:27 pm

  I love my car. I have no regrets of buying this car since day one. It has a great amount of power for such a little car. I love everything about this car. I would recommend the Focus ST to anyone that still needs a sedan but also wants a little power

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  Luv My Bird - 2003 Ford Thunderbird
  By David R. Adinolfi - May 19 - 9:38 am

  I bought this 2003 TBird primarily for my wife. We started our special car life with an MGA 40 odd years ago. It was fun, but now in our older years we appreciate the amenities in our Bird. It has good power, special looks and its fun to drive. It is really comfortable for a car this size and we appreciate that since neither of us is small. And it will accommodate 2 full sets of golf clubs. We couldnt ask for a better, and for us, practical fun car.

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  Muscle - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By Bryan - May 18 - 4:30 pm

  The vehicle is everything Ford designers intended it to be. This automobile is sleek in every aspect; the exterior and the old body design to the sporty look, not so much the European look on the interior.

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  At 209,000+ Miles, Still a Great Car - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By explorereb98 - May 18 - 2:58 pm

  My parents gave me this car as a graduation gift in 2004 and it had 146,000 miles at the time. It was a great car for me and it took everything I threw at it. It never left me stranded and other than the usual mechanical issues that come with a car with around 150,000 miles, it was all in all a great car. I just traded it in for a 1998 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer and hope that this one is as good as the other.