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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  my ford - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By alec4455 - November 21 - 10:00 am

  it is a fun car to dive around town and take kids to places

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  Good Things - 2005 Ford Explorer
  By coolj - November 21 - 10:00 am

  GOOD

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  Too Many Repairs! - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Matt Nelson - November 21 - 2:00 am

  With small children we bought this car in part because it does well in the crash tests. It rides well but has had too many problems! The front end has been replaced, the transmission overhauled, gaskets blown, etc. It now has 80,000 miles on it and has cost several thousand more in repairs than my camry (which I sold at 230,000 miles) ever did.

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  Good Car - 1998 Ford Escort
  By SSOASS - November 21 - 2:00 am

  Note: My reliability rating are based on my past 99 escort. Good littel car, fun to drive. Interior recalls all the American sports coups of the 1980s, this car doesnt look at all foreign, unlike some newer Fords. Nice pickup, great handling.

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  Ford does not solve the many problems this car has. - 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
  By nymphfisher - November 21 - 1:03 am

  The Ford "Sync" feature does not work properly. The voice recognition feature does not understand anyone I know. Ford is aware of the problem and has installed several software updates, it still does not work. This makes the GPS feature useless. If GM "On-Star" is a "10", I would rate the Ford Sync a 1. It is very frustrating to try to use. The car has just stopped running on two occasions and required towing back to dealer. I was told there was a "computer glitch". The car has NO SPARE TIRE!!!!! No jack or lug wrench. They put a can of "fix a flat" under the seat and if that doesnt work, you will need to be towed!!! How stupid is that????

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  Great Bang for the Buck - 1995 Ford Escort
  By talford1 - November 20 - 2:00 am

  The Escort has to be one of the most bulletproof designs Ford ever put on the road. The GT ups the ante and makes an econobox into a really fun package. The interior comfort is great. My car has over 120,000 on the odo and I drove it straight from Florida to Michigan with no discomfort. Great seats. Some of the items are indicative of an earlier mindset (i.e. cupholders that are only large enough to hold a can), but the interior is still roomy and functional. You cant beat a hatchback for functionality. This thing swallows just about anything with the seats folded down.

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  I-4 S pros and cons - 2010 Ford Fusion
  By FISHER - November 19 - 12:30 pm

  Pros: I-4 (4 cylinder, 175 hp) has good acceleration (Im used to V-8s in big cars). Excellent turning radius. The seats are very comfortable. The trunk room is good. Cons: at 61", I find the shoulder belt to cross my upper body below my left shoulder in my most comfortable driving position; this is a definite drawback. The rear deck is high and limits visibility to the rear. There is no rear perimeter alarm to compensate for this. The numerous control buttons must be memorized for use while driving as they are small and the labeling is small.

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  The most fun car to drive - 1996 Ford Thunderbird
  By otoluva - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I just dont understand why on earth Ford stopped making this beauty. I have a 96 V8 and love it more every time I get behind the wheel, its been very reliable and pleasure to drive.

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  Not Bad! - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By JNOEL - November 19 - 2:00 am

  Had the car since April 1st (april fools day) Not the exact model I wanted. Got suckered into a black model instead of metallic blue, but at least I got leather seats and heated mirrors. Whoopee! (sarcasm) I wish that Ford would use a different tire company than Continental. They go flat if you look at them wrong! My 94 Taurus had more pick-up than this, but it also got reallly bad gas mileage. Traction control is a good idea. My Jeep slips all over the road if its even sprinkling outside. The Taurus holds to the road really well with the TC.

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  Great Car - 1993 Ford Escort
  By ford-4-me - November 19 - 2:00 am

  This has been a great car. Orginally bought after a divorce when needing an in-expensive car to get me by. Well, 10yrs later, still have it. Minimum maintainence, Replaced tires & battery & rear springs. Thats it!! Great, dependable car, fun to drive especially in snow. Still looks (near) new today.