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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  2004 Trophy Pkg 40 Anniv Conv Mustange - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By dah - February 27 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the car almost a month, i decided last august i was going to purchase one not even realizing it was the 40th anniversary ive been driving SUVs for many years now and have a 78 corvette limited ed official pace car 25th anniv in storage with low miles so i wanted something i could drive not put in storage that looked good and was fun and this car definately meets all the requirements i hoped it would My sister and i went shopping for her last Saturday for one, and she is now picking up hers today

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  Nice little truck - 2006 Ford Ranger
  By Shane - February 27 - 12:38 am

  I went from an old F-150 to this, and being 63" it was definitely as step down in size. That being said, I fit in it and it gets a lot more mpgs than my last truck. It is quiet and fun to drive.

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  Great Car Seriously - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By chenz380 - February 26 - 10:55 pm

  I got brainwashed by people saying Toyota is reliable vehicles and American cars are junk. I found that to be not true so I went with my dream of getting ether a mustang or a camaro/firebird. This car cost me $2800 and it has 143K miles and runs great compared to my Toyota Celica with 70K miles having gone through 3 engines. Warms up great, runs great even in -20F weather, and contrary to people who cant drive rwd in the snow, it handles fine in the snow unless you like drifting which I LOVE to do! The people who had bad luck just found a lemon and didnt know any better. Like any car, a poorly maintained car wont last long. Get your used cars checked before getting tricked by salesmen.

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  Sensible 7-Passenger Solution - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Guillermo - February 26 - 8:08 pm

  My wife and I kept an eye out for a Freestyle for quite some time and finally found a great deal. The engine is well laid out (designed by Porsche and acquired by Ford-Cosworth). The AWD is taken from Volvos. The continuously-variable transmission (CVT) works remarkably well. Safety features are many, including ABS, traction control, and frontal and side- curtain airbags. The flat-folding seats, including the front passengers, are extremely convenient. So far its been reliable. Mileage has varied from 13-17 in the city to 24-26 on the highway while carrying five passengers. We cant wait for the summer!

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  My first Ford - 2005 Ford F-150
  By Steve - February 26 - 5:33 pm

  Ive been a Mercedes-Benz and Honda guy for more than 10 years, but I was in the market for a low budget full-size pickup truck. The leasing incentives offered by Ford drew me into the dealership, but in the end Im also thrilled with the product. Its incredibly comfortable, quiet and easy to drive. Whats more, I was surprised with the fuel economy, as I logged 17.2 mpg on only the second tank of driving. I wouldnt put much faith in other Ford products, but its pretty obvious the F-150 is the companys crown jewel, and I will consider another when this lease ends.

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  One of the best cars Ford made - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Jay - February 26 - 4:25 pm

  We own Ford Focus for almost 8 years and I have to say we had the least problems with with cars from all other cars we owned in the past. I never had to take this car for any major repairs. This is a very simple and quite reliable car. I had more problems with VW Passat and Saab 9.5

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  Happy camper - 2009 Ford Ranger
  By Pleased Owner - February 26 - 11:57 am

  2009 is the first year for the Sport in a 4CYL. I never would have driven one exceot my employer bought a fleet and the mechanics told me to test drive tone. I was surprised with the 4cyl guts. My gas mileage is 20.5 around town and one one trip it was 23mpg. Didnt look at any other models because I am stuck on the dependabilty of Fords. Great truck for the money.

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  Great Car, Great Value - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By angelC - February 26 - 8:03 am

  I wanted to treat this car with kid gloves. However driving in the DFW metroplex in rush hour traffic doesnt allow for such. Shes handled everything with grace, style, speed, and accurate performance. The additional driving height gives me a much better view of traffic in front of me even if its a tall vehicle such as an SUV or pickup. The steering wheel mounted controls were 2nd nature after just a couple of hours. Unlike some of the competitive vehicles I can easily see out the rear window for going in reverse. The A/C system cools down the car fast and keeps it cool. Corners great. Accelerates smoothly. Comfortable seats front and back. Conveniently located cup holders. Love everything.

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  Best truck made in America - 2009 Ford Ranger
  By Chris - February 26 - 7:09 am

  I bought this truck in 2009 and so far have put 1000 miles on it. So far so good havent had a problem with it yet. Im not sure about fuel economy though, I have the 4.0L V6 and I get 14 in the city. Im suposed to get 17 in the city and 20 on the highway. Other than that i love this truck. Its the best one That you can buy for the money. I wouldnt reccommend this truck unless there is only two people in your family.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By mejollyredgiant - February 25 - 11:30 pm

  OK Ive only had my license for 4 years but Ive owned and test driven quite a few cars. By far this is the best and funnest car, for the price, Ive ever had. So far all I have had to replace was the battery and the alternator which for me was super easy and took like 5 minutes total in labor. So far I have only put on a short shifter, BBK cold air intake, MAC off road mid-pipes, and an SLP loud mouth cat-back on it, but I hope to do more soon. The worst gas mileage I have ever gotten with this car was 18 mpg city and thats before the mods, which now I never see below 20 mpg city even if I race it and highway is at about 28 mpg being relatively nice to the throttle!