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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  Great Value - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By MCSCI - September 20 - 2:00 am

  nice, reasonably priced wagon. more comfortable seats than Sable version

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  My Ranger - 2001 Ford Ranger
  By trainerboy - September 20 - 2:00 am

  I have loved my Ranger. The styling , performance and fun to drive aspects have been very pleasing!

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  A good family car. - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By joe - September 19 - 6:26 pm

  The car drives very well. I have 3 kids and they have enough room for long trips. The trunk is big. In the snow it did very well. I do have two things I do not like. It lacks power and my dash has a bump in it that Ford says it cant fix. The bump showed up within 4000 miles.

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  5 - spd. ZTS 2.3L PZEV w/145 HP - 2003 Ford Focus
  By Tire Sniffer - September 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive only owned the ZTS for 2 weeks. So, far it has exceeded my expectations. The 2.3L PZEV engine has more torque than the Focus SVT engine. I test drove a Suzuki Aerio and Dodge Neon for comparison. Both are noisy and unrefined compared to the Focus. I hope that Ford has all the past reliability issues solved. With the $3K rebate, it is a good deal for less than $16K out the door.

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  Its not that bad - 2004 Ford Taurus
  By regassert - September 19 - 10:00 am

  First off, 52 Horses per Liter with normal aspiration is not really poor at all. The Ford Explorer with SOHC produces 52.5 horses per liter of displacement. So that being said, if youre going to buy a Taurus, I would get the Duratec DOHC engine option instead of the OHC 2 valve per cylinder V6 that the SE has. This car is good for what it aims to be good at, inexpensive and good enough. Ford seems to have resigned the Taurus to being a fleet car, which mine is, and thats ok.

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  Watch the trans - 1995 Ford Taurus
  By Packers00646 - September 19 - 2:00 am

  Very expensive parts when they need to be replaced, A rebuilt Trans is about $2,000.00.

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  Gee, we must be one of the lucky ones! - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By liberty1211 - September 19 - 2:00 am

  We bought our windstar with @45k. Less than two years later we have 85k on it. It has traveled very well for us. So far we have only fixed the front brakes and some wiring damaged by a mouse that got in our van! Brakes are sometimes squeaky and engine runs loud - but this appears to be the case with every other Ford I see (or hear) on the road. So far, I like my van!

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  The most reliable car ever made. - 1991 Ford Escort
  By Rob k - September 19 - 2:00 am

  I have had my escort for almost 2 years now and it is the best purchase I ever made. It only cost me $1400 to buy and I have only had to replace 1 tire for $35. So far it has averaged out to less than $70 a month for the time Ive had it. I dont have any doubt it will last me for well over another year. I plan on driving it until it breaks down, I may drive it for another 5 years. If anyone is planning on buying one I strongly recomned it.

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  Hanging On To My Youth - 2003 Ford Thunderbird
  By Tcocove - September 17 - 2:00 am

  At 55, my Tbird is helping me hang on to whats left of my youth! A neighbor had a 57 and I just loved his car and dreamed that someday. My Tbird rides a little heavy and sometimes feels like its floating. Both inside and out, it is just retro beautiful and everybody who sees it has a Tbird story to tell me. My story happened last Oct. when a Park policeman pulled me over for speeding. He told me that he had a 56 and that mine was the first new one he had seen on the parkway. He asked me if he could drive mine! And who would say no to a policeman? 15 minutes later he returned with a big smile. By the way, I didnt get a ticket!

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  go machine - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By jimmy463 - September 17 - 2:00 am

  I have found this vehicle to be energetic, responsive, and highly maneuverable for a mini-van. I was pleasantly surprised by its agressive acceleration and superb cornering ability. Its interior is very functional, though back seat room is a little tight for me at 6 2". It is comparable to other mini-vans though. Its strongest point has been reliability. It is like an energiser bunny. It just keeps going and going. I have had no maintenance problems!