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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  Stupid Fast - 2002 Ford F-150
  By NFLEagles1 - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I have about 3000 miles on my new Lightning now. Before it, I owned a 2001 4X4 Extended cab. After test driving a used Lightning with no intention to buy, I had to have one. Sometimes Ill just test drive cars I hear about to see what I think. Unfortunately, I chose the wrong vehicle to just "test drive." Two weeks later I traded in the old 4X4 Extended cab for my Lighting. Performance is unbelievable. A truck should not be doing this. At night I drive around looking for a street race. By day I tow around my ATV. I gave up 4X4 (for snow) and Extended Cab space for this, and I dont regret my decision at all!

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  Pleasant Surprise - 1999 Ford Escort
  By XQSME EH - October 7 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for a commuter car, got that but also some extras. I found the ZX2 to have suprising power, sufficient comfort to take a 500 mile trip and to hold its own at freeway speeds, bonuses all. I am 64" and 225 lb and didnt expect to get away with buying so small a car. I have so much confidence in it that I bought new tires warranteed for 100,000 miles!

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  2006 SEL IS Automatic - 2007 Ford Fusion
  By dave d - October 6 - 11:50 pm

  My new Fusion is awesome. Bought it new with 3k miles on it, the dealership used it for the commercial accounts salesman. It is the SEL model with auto transmission, and 4 cylinder engine. It drives great, the suspension and handling make it extremely fun to drive. I have gotten as high as 37 mpg on a trip from Bangor ME to Coventry RI, about 338 miles; that was a little bit more than a half of tank. I was skeptical about getting a 4 cylinder, but it has some good pep when needed, so no complaints. I was told the 4 cylinder was the same engine used in the Ford Probe. I have never been a fan of Ford, but this Fusion has changed my mind.

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  We love our Mustang - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By ED WAGENER - October 6 - 7:50 pm

  This is the most fun car we have had in years; it is also the only car we have had that we get compliments on from strangers and waves from other Mustang owners. We also drive a newer Cadillac, but when it comes to fun the Mustang is tops. Ours has the pony package with the 17 inch wheels and fog light in the grill, quite a looker in vista blue with parchment leather. The finish on the car is much improved over the other cars we have had. Also the seats with the support for the back is great (once you get it adjusted to your liking). As far as the fuel mileage is concerned I was impressed with the mileage. So far as I have less than 1000 miles on it, this car makes me smile .

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  Smooth ride, great value, and safe (Update 05/16) - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By Clark Shin - October 6 - 7:01 pm

  Updated 5/3/16: The sunroof started leaking with very small drips of water droplets through the front dome light area during heavy rain. Apparently, this has been an issue. Fortunately, the extended warranty covered the repair where the dealer replaced the sunroof glass. Without the warranty, Im told the repair would have cost me $1,400. Anyway, no more leak after the fix so far. Im taking a star off for reliability due to the sun-roof leaking. Still really enjoy driving the car though. Original Review: I was looking for a AWD sedan and found the 2009 Ford Fusion AWD V6 SEL to be the perfect fit for what I looking for to drive in the Northeast. I bought it 5 year old used car. The ride is smooth and the V6 provides very good power. The car is on the heavier side, but it feels sturdy and safe. The gear transitions are smooth and handles very well. For a non-luxury car, the quietness at highway speeds is completely acceptable. Navigation is very good and I like that it can be upgraded via a disk and not remotely. The seats are comfortable and the 2-level heated seats are great in cold seasons. I like the center compartment in the dashboard console where I can put a small tissue box and other small items. The sound system is great and bluetooth works very well. The value of the car is great. It does not look it and certainly it is nowhere near bonafide luxury, but with the SEL trim and the sporty handling with V6, this car has much to offer in comfort, safety, ride, quietness, and along with options such as navigation, rear parking sensor, heated seats and leather seating. There are some trouble spots, however. One major trouble spot is its ABS pump, which completely failed one day when driving over a pothole. I bought Ford PremiumCare when I bought the car and it paid off when the ABS failed, which I found out, is covered. I had to wait over a month for the local Ford dealership to get the part, because apparently Ford decided to provide a different ABS pump than the original one. My guess is that the original ABS pump was not very good, so Ford decided to assign a new one. Apparently, the brake is a common trouble spot with this year-model. Also, there is a cosmetic issue on the passenger side dashboard around the passenger side air bag. The outside material is popping out and you can see the yellow foam underneath it. I asked a Ford dealer and they said that it is merely a cosmetic issue caused by heat distorting the material, but it would not affect the air bag function. Visually, it is an eye sore. This is the only interior quality issue Ive noticed, which is a significant one in my view. Now onto some things I dont like about the car. The trunk does not lift very easily. When you open the trunk, it only unlocks and it is quite heavy to lift it. The car doesnt tell you when the window washer fluid is low, so you have to guess when the fluid level is low. The navigation location is low, so when you glance at it, your vision is almost taken completely off of the road. I dont mind the manual reclining lever. I do wish the passenger side seat controls were also automatic and not completely manual. Other than these issues, I really like the car. It feels solid, drives very well, and safe. I prefer the old school 2006-2009 design that is less flashy and aggressive looking than the newer Fusions.

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  love my 98 F-150 - 1998 Ford F-150
  By Bonnie - October 5 - 8:15 pm

  I purchased this truck in 2000, fell in love with it the first time I drove it. I still love my truck, wish this body style would come back. DO NOT like the 2004 and newer body style of the F-150/F-250. I still get compliments on my truck but I now have 94,324 miles on it. When I bought the truck it came with air bags over the rear tires which really helps when we RV tow, pick up gravel or other heavy loads. Its been a GREAT TRUCK! I still have it but am considering stepping up to a 3/4 ton. Sure wish FORD would bring back the 2000 body style. I added a magna flow exhaust on it (sounds great) My truck turns many a heads!

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  Love My 2010 Fusion Hybrid - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By roller joe - October 5 - 6:36 pm

  My previous vehicle was an Acura, This car is alot more fun to drive, and gets me 38 to 45 mpg day all the time. I only wish the re3ar seat folded, but that was the only place ford could fit the Hybrid battery! I would recommend this car to anyone who drives alot. It is like no American ever built!

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  Hutches 2013 Ford Edge SEL Sport - 2013 Ford Edge
  By Michael Hutchison - October 4 - 6:02 pm

  Great Vehicle

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  My Ford Freestyle Experience - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Karen Wheat - October 4 - 10:19 am

  I have really enjoyed driving this car. It maneuvers well and has plenty of room for my family of five. We have really enjoyed the great gas mileage. We get lots of comments about it, people ask what it is and say they like it, or they say they havent seen one before. Some people say the pickup is not that great, but it has plenty of power to me. We did have a couple of minor problems that required a trip to the service department, but they were quickly repaired. Overall my Freestyle has been a great car, and I would reccomend it to anyone.

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  This is a great car - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Sjacka - October 4 - 10:00 am

  I drove the Mazda 3 S with sport suspension first. Loved it and was sold on it until I drove the Focus ZX4 ST. There is no comparison -- The ST is far superior and significantly cheaper in the end.