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:

• 

  Not bad - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Charlie - June 4 - 10:19 am

  It is going on 3yrs and about 30,000 miles and no major problems. New brakes as others have mentioned were replaced (covered by Ford). The tires need to be replaced soon. Gas mileage okay (about 18-20 city). Ride is good with plenty of room. Wondering if extended warranty is good idea as with any vehicle.

• 

  Great car, fun to drive, ZX4 ST Focus - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Jim Monk - June 4 - 10:10 am

  Great car loaded with features if you get the ST. Fun to drive 0 to 60 in 7.5 seconds. Car listed for $19,790 loaded up, got it for $15,000 with rebates and employee pricing. Had to tint the windows darker. Get the side air bags for extra safety. Has a great sound, you can hear the exhaust, unlike Hondas and Toyotas. Who wants a car that does not sound cool? This car has it all, looks, speed, great sound for a 4 cylinder.

• 

  Good, but not great - 2008 Ford Edge
  By VekinTexas - June 4 - 9:37 am

  I felt compelled to buy an American car due to the current economic crises. This is my first Ford & I really liked the exterior design. The car drove good & overall the interior is comfortable & roomy. After 8 months of ownership, I wish Id bought foreign. While I have had no major issues, I feel American cars are still behind in design & quality. The AC is pathetic. The driver side does not blow. This is a bad thing in Texas. I inquired @ the dealership I have my oil changed @, the service manager told me it was a design flaw & they had tons of complaints, but there was no fixes for the issue. Not what I wanted to hear. The dashboard gauges are hard to see in low lighting conditions.

• 

  Running it until it dies - 1994 Ford Taurus
  By demonspeed - June 3 - 9:44 pm

  I was doing some reminiscing about my parents car - their Taurus. They bought this car when I was still in HS, and I learned to drive on the thing. Its been over a decade since, and they still have the car. Approaching 200k miles, theyve rebuilt the transmission twice, replaced the alternator once and replaced the rear springs twice. Other than that, its needed nothing. I blame the second transmission rebuild on a bad rebuild in the first place. Nonetheless, this car has seen it all and it still keeps going. My parents, as frugal as they are, will not ever get rid of it until its absolutely dead. Oddly enough, I dont see it happening any time soon.

• 

  Best all around SUV - 2008 Ford Escape
  By Clayton - June 3 - 9:23 pm

  I dont understand why all the bad reviews, I bought this used in Nov 08. My oil cooler lines also went, I was told at the time that its a common problem with the Escapes, but mine was fixed under warranty in a day. Lots of room for 4 people, great gas milage, enough pep for me for an SUV, these are not made to win races. I did add a K&N air filter and got more horsepower and better milage.

• 

  THE BEST CAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By stangster - June 3 - 9:00 pm

  I cant say how much I absolutely love driving this car. I bought my 2006 Mustang GT in May of 2006 and could not be any happier with my purchase. You can immediately feel the power of the 4.6 liter engine and trust me this car gets everyones attention. I would recommend this car to anyone hands down!

• 

  Love my Stang - 2002 Ford Mustang
  By dcstang - June 3 - 5:57 pm

  I have always wanted a convertable for my long commutes home. This is real therapy. I love my car- it has been very reliable. No problems AT ALL from 60-110,000 miles Ive had it. Soon it will need some maintanence, but probably expected. Gas mileage could be better, but its an older car with a TON of power under the hood. Pretty comfortable, but the back seat is impractical for adult use. I think only small kids actually fit. Good sized trunk for the size of the car and it always feels safe. I like the traction control feature and the handling is superb. Its an easy ride, although mine is a little loud which makes it difficult to hear sometimes. Its been a great ride and lots of fun!

• 

  Lovin it - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Bronco7 - June 3 - 4:43 pm

  2006 Legend Lime GT, love every once of it and never tire of driving it at any speed. Great muscle car for under $30,000.

• 

  Very Unreliable - 2002 Ford Focus
  By Berry - June 3 - 1:55 pm

  This car has been the most expensive piece of junk. Ive replaced: the master and slave cylinders, shocks and struts, fuel injector pump, alternator, rack and pinion (TWICE!!!!). The front doors stick horribly. The air conditioning unit rusted out. The enire muffler system fell off. The ABS brake system only sometimes works and now I cant use the parking brake because it seizes my rear passenger tire and wont allow it to rotate. It wears unevenly on my tires even though I have had them rotated and balanced. The air conditioning needs to be recharged every summer. Im a mechanical engineer and I take excellent care of my cars. I will never buy another Ford again.

• 

  Ford. Come on, you can do better! - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By mzyeung - June 3 - 5:15 am

  I bought it used for 2 years but it was very low in millage. When the car was 6-7 years old, Out of the blue, the transmission just blew in the Highway. I was disappointed. Everything was perfect for a long time. We love American cars at home but it disappointed us every single time. We bought a new Hyundai Sonata recently.