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 Excellent - 2001 Ford Explorer
  By Owner - April 16 - 12:30 pm

  I still love it even though its 6 years old, and even though I now make more of a Lexus salary than Ford. Very reliable. In those 6 years its been into the shop exactly once for new brake pads. Great for hauling and towing. I easily haul a 4,500 lb. boat, plus wife and two kids and associated stuff. Great fuel economy. Much better than the newer design.

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  Awesome Truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By jsetapart - April 16 - 10:00 am

  I could not have asked for a better- looking, more comfortable, rugged truck. By far the smoothest truck Ive ever had the good fortune to set foot in.

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  awsome - 2004 Ford F-150
  By raw - April 16 - 10:00 am

  the best truck ever made

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  Love My Ford - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By Linda Walls - April 16 - 9:13 am

  I drive the Ford Five Hundred only and its a lease but its going to be MINE. This is the sweetest car Ive ever had and Ive had many including other Fords, but nothing stands up to this. I have 15 grand kids and they love to drive my car. They say they love the style and comfort. And they have many makes and models between them. This is the car for me. When I drive I go on 900 mile trips and my husband is so relaxed in our car and he has a bad back and knees so you can see were the comfort is. Oh yeah, it was a Mothers Day gift from my husband. He has always been a Chevy man but we both own Fords. He has the 2004 350 dually and loves it. We tell everyone about our car and truck.

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  Why the 300c, when you get Fuel Economy - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Robert StJohn - April 16 - 5:30 am

  The fuel economy is no hype. Its right on target. Legroom in backseat is like a limo. Trunk and cargo space is almost as spacious as the Taurus Wagon (Ive had 3 for over 200,000 miles) Little storage spaces are convenient and well placed. One minor drawback is that it has trouble accelerating onto an interstate ramp up hill. It is a small price to pay for the fact that Ive gotten 31.5 MPG on the highway.

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  My Baby! - 2005 Ford Focus
  By ariana - April 15 - 6:37 pm

  I plan on keeping this car for the next 50 years! Ive had no problems with it at all, and the gas mileage is fantastic on the freeway. The EPA estimate is 35 HWY for my model, and on my last trip I got 34.8, while going 70 or more with no AC. No mechanical problems at all, and its compact size is great for maneuvering in Los Angeles. The car costs nothing to operate besides the $19.99 oil change I get religiously, and gas.

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  Excursion-a fun trip and room to stretch - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By FOZ - April 15 - 3:33 pm

  Although this was a "Big Boat", it was still fun to drive. The power and economy of the 7.3L/TD was just awsome. We felt comfortible, safe, and secure in our "boat", even our Great Dane agreed. On several trips, the unit always performed to expectations and more. There was always enough room for everyone and everything. Even pulling a trailer was a joy. We hardly knew the trailer was there. We would gladly replace our present vehicle with a newer one (2005 being the last of the line), but for the right price. Right now they are still over priced on resale and under priced on trade values.

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  VERY Impressed so far! - 2011 Ford Fiesta
  By FeistyFordFiesta - April 15 - 7:56 am

  My little automatic 1.6 engine is quite peppy! Im averaging 32 mpg in the city, and have seen it as high as 42 on the highway. The "electronic assist" feature should be very useful but may require getting used to. It got confused when I tried to merge quickly into fast moving traffic from a stoplight that was on a steep hill and in a sharp turn. Next time Ill try it in "L" gear. The front seats are comfortable and the drivers seat is very adjustable, as is the steering wheel. The storage trunk is nicely sized for such a small car. There are four cup holders for the front seat. It has a nice tight turning radius and is super easy to park!

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  Our new pony car named Ruby - 2016 Ford Mustang
  By Ann Harris - April 15 - 4:17 am

  Our first Mustang was a 2004 GT convertible 4.0 automatic. Sassy was a fun little car, not a lot of zip but a ton of fun and we cherished her for 12 years. Then we bought our new 2016 GT convertible with the California Special package. With Ruby, it was love at first sight. If she were human, she would sound like Mae West with that throaty growl. She handles and rides like a dream and that much horsepower should be illegal. We are a retired couple yet we feel like kids when we drive this car, just for the sheer fun factor. We love her and plan on keeping her in the family for a long time.

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  Dont get the navigation system - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By larrybrac - April 14 - 12:43 pm

  I love my Escape Hybrid with one major exception. The navigation system is the worst piece of electronic equipment I have ever owned. It will not allow the user to input anything except at an absolute stop. The processor is so slow that the map is unable to move when the vehicle is in motion. Instead, the arrow on the map jumps for a few seconds, then the map jumps to catch up. The user interface is so bad that it is very difficult to even get a destination into the system. The screen is so small that you need a magnifying glass to see it. So much for Fords motto about "Innovation". The best thing they could do is fire the electronics engineers and buy an aftermarket Alpine system.