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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  tops - 2004 Ford Ranger
  By maytagman - May 10 - 6:29 pm

  Just a fine truck, works and plays hard then drive it to dinner. Mine has 75,000 miles - nothing but normal maintenance, i.e. oil, brakes, tires.

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  I Love My SUV - 2006 Ford Explorer
  By Sammy Langston - May 10 - 5:00 pm

  Im a missionary and I travel a lot over the country of Mexico and it really is comfortable to drive and ride in. I travel with my family and feel safe in the handling and response of the vehicle in the mountains and in off road performance. Everyone that has traveled with me says that it truly is quiet and that it is comfortable too.

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  Dreamcar - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By Seraphim990 - May 10 - 3:35 pm

  The best car in the market at the price they sell for. A sports car with 390 HP for less than $35,000.00, WOW. Very fun to drive. This car attracts attention everywhere I go. Yes, it turns a lot of heads in town. The Eaton supercharger sounds really nice when you punch it. Thats what this car was made for. And finally, a Mustang has to be the most upgrade friendly car in the market.

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  Excellent Vehicle - 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Rich Arnold - May 10 - 7:10 am

  Our vehicle has so far performed as advertised. Weve gotten acceptable MPG though it is very dependent on driver habits. In order to exclusively use the electric motor, you must gently accelerate from a stop. This of course is difficult if you find yourself in front of traffic. The quality, ride, and features are great.

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  A lot more than expected - 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid
  By axlbertp - May 9 - 5:06 pm

  5000 miles already doing 40~ MPG in 40 miles to work each way, fun to drive, Excellent braking capacity, and very agile and precise in hard braking, very good accel 4 a hybrid, like the sync but needs to get ued to it nice dashboard, and very confortable with most controls on the wheel very nice car, forget the prius that lags in evrything my only con is that is a little high in the interior excellent the michelins and semi low profile tyres works very well I like it, I believe I will put 100k miles in 3 years here...

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  Love my Escape! - 2003 Ford Escape
  By ccoccia - May 9 - 10:00 am

  Overall, the Ford Escape is a great buy for the money. After totalling my Explorer in 02, I was hesitant to go to a smaller vehicle but have been extremely happy for over a year now. I feel safe and confident in the Escape... sitting up higher in traffic than a car (for visibility reasons) with a lot of interior room.

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  very fast car - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By fast car! - May 9 - 10:00 am

  this car is very fast. smokes a corvette and w/ a few cheap mods it can beat a Z06. it handles great and its much more comfterble than most sports cars. the only problom is that spoiler doesnt provide any downforce.

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  Great Truck! - 1999 Ford F-150
  By smith - May 9 - 7:33 am

  We sold our 2004 Explorer last summer to buy our 1999 Ford F150. We love it - actually more than our Explorer. We bought it so we could pull a camper cross-country when we were moving. My family has always loved Fords but my husband was a Chevy man until this purchase. We pulled a 26 camper loaded with belongings through several mountain chains - when we started through the first set of mountains, my husband said if we make it all the way there with no problems, Ill be a Ford man. Not one problem! In fact, that was last July and we still have had no problems. We put new tires on it when we bought it and have had the tires rotated and oil changed - THATS IT! Highly recommend this model.

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  LOVE MY MUSTANG - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By mustangtommy - May 9 - 1:15 am

  I purchased a 2005 premium Mustang convertible its a steel blue with a black top. I love My Color for the different colors you can make the dash. It has a 500 watt stereo system in it. iI just purchased the pony grille with the fog lamps in it. I get so many compliments on the car. I am going down Carlisle PA to the Mustang show.

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  Nice Job Ford! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Fusion Fan - May 8 - 8:00 am

  Our Fusion is the base S model, and it is a terrific car for the money. The ride/handling compromise is just right, and the powerful brakes have excellent pedal feel. The body is solid and is quiet at speed for a mid-priced sedan. I was concerned that the 4 cylinder with automatic would be underpowered, but it revs freely and is just fine for a family car. Plus, the 4 gets respectable mileage and its light weight contributes to the nimble handling. The 5 speed automatic is good. We shopped Accord, Malibu, and Camry, but the actual selling price for those comparably equipped would have been $5,000 to $6,000 higher! The Sonata costs a bit more and lacks the sharp handling of the Fusion.