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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  Couple of bugs but a good car. - 2002 Ford Focus
  By GCM - August 23 - 2:00 am

  Overall I am pleased with this car, but I have had a couple of annoying bugs to work out. It handles well, especially in snow, is fun to drive, and the wagon is especially versatile with lots of space for cargo and people. I did have the problem of water leaking in the passenger side, and the floor mat pulled out of the trim, but Ford took care of it promptly. The doors constantly locking is a bit annoying, and the seats are somewhat uncomfortable on a long drive for my 61" 190lb frame. (The padding digs into the back of my legs.) The design is well considered and stylish, but the build quality is poor. Overall value is still pretty good.

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  Enjoyment - 2005 Ford Escape
  By freiberg - August 22 - 12:20 pm

  With only 1100 miles, the fuel economy is between 18 and 21 all city driving. With the 3L V6 it is more than responsive for a small SUV and is just a lot of fun to drive. Agility is another quality that I truly enjoy in rush hour traffic.

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  2003 Excursion - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By McDuck - August 22 - 2:00 am

  We really like this rig. Ive owned two Suburbans and I like this Excursion much better. I am amazed by the fuel milage with the 7.3 diesel-- 18 to 20 mpg. We got the Eddie Bauer version and the drop down DVD is a huge hit. Might buy a second one if I can get a good enough deal. Only complaint so far is poor visibility out of right side mirror. It would benefit from a larger parabolic mirror.

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  Hucks Expedition - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By Grover Engle - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the vehicle at a low interest sale. I got a good price from the dealer. I had an Exlorer but wanted a bigger vehicle. This fit the bill. It has enough options to make it a pleasure to drive. I get around 18MPG on the road and about 13-15 in town, which surprised me. 6 CD changer sounds great. So far, so good.

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  2nd Ford - 2003 Ford Ranger
  By FordIsGood - August 22 - 2:00 am

  I purchased this truck four weeks after buying an Explorer with the 4.0L V6 and 5spd auto. I was so pleased with the performance of the Explorer I decided to look into the Ranger. The Ranger feels very solid, the engine is strong, and the transmission is silky smooth. The ride can be rough on less- than-perfect roads. Gas mileage is reasonable for a truck with this size engine.

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  Great family vehicle - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By denny2 - August 22 - 2:00 am

  overall good family vehicle.

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  Too many quality issues - 2002 Ford Taurus
  By rjhalm - August 22 - 2:00 am

  The interior and exterior design of the car is beautiful. Good performance from the 24 valve engine. This is my first and last Ford to buy though. In ten months my car has been in the shop seven times. I have had the shift gate, passenger side door seal and brakes replaced in the first three months. Now the car has been in the shop for ten days to replace another shift gate, the steering wheel and is in for the third time for vibration and noise in the drivetrain and they cannot figure out what it is. Not what I expected from a new car. I think I bought a lemon and Ford is dragging their feet. Will never buy one again.

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  A Solid Car for the Right Price - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Mark - August 21 - 5:53 am

  After 6,000 miles I am very satisfied with my Ford Five Hundred. I have a fully loaded AWD Limited. The amount of options and features available for the price is an excellent value. I purchased this vehicle when gas prices were at their peak in hopes to achieve better MPG than my F-150. I am very satisfied with the MPG I am getting (about 19/20 city). I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who is in the market for a sedan. I have an issue with the electronics in the instrument panel and interior lighting that causes the lights to dim and flicker periodically. I am not sure if this is a widespread problem or if I have a faulty component.

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  Power! - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By skypilot - August 20 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the X for 2 months and 7000 miles now still great! Power up the wahzoo, pulls our 5000 lb. boat like its not even there. Wanders though... steering is vague and directional control is minimal, it just doesnt want to go straight down the road, gotta pay attention all the time. The 6.0 engine is the only way to go, 16.5-21 mpg, kills anything youll see from the other engines.

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  Sensible Car - 1998 Ford Escort
  By squad57 - August 20 - 2:00 am

  This is the first new car that I have ever bought and it was a great investment. I had it paid off in 4 years which was great. I have never had anything major go wrong with the Escort and it rides smoothly. I get great gas mileage down the highways.