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:

• 

  2001 Bullitt Mustang - 2001 Ford Mustang
  By frank - February 10 - 5:33 pm

  This is the most fun to drive car Ive ever owned. It is a great daily driver as well.

• 

  Comfort and fun all in one - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By J Weaver - February 10 - 4:12 pm

  This has been a great vehicle that is adaptable for all our lifestyle necessities and desires. While providing functionality it also affords comfort no mater what the age.

• 

  Fun ride, no complaints - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By NavyWife - February 10 - 4:23 am

  Love my explorer. Front seating is very comfortable. Rear is ok. Plenty of room for my husband and I and our 2 dogs for travelling. fun to drive. Very maneuverable. Great turn radius for such a large vehicle.

• 

  I may be alone, but I love my 00 Focus! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Cornicus - February 9 - 4:43 pm

  This car is the best car Ive ever had. I bought it used, and it was a rental before it went up for sale. Sounds like a horror story right? WRONG! This car is fantastic. I love it. It is beyond reliable. Ive had it going on 2 years, put 13000 miles on it, drive it every single day, and it just gets better and better. Ive only had to deal with a thermostat, 1 recall, one old dead battery and 1 old dead battery cable. Even with those problems though, it would get me where I needed to go, no matter what. I love it, and I havent read any good reviews so heres one. Best Car Ever! And adorable to boot! Main points: uber reliable, and if something does go awry, VERY simple to fix.

• 

  power to tow - 2003 Ford F-150
  By boscoe - February 9 - 2:06 pm

  We purchased the F150 5.4l v-8 for its powerful towing capability. We tow a travel trailer that weighs in @ 7200lbs. dry/wt. We have the 2wd SuperCrew with auto transmission. We live in northern California and the F-150 Triton 5.4l v8 has no problem at all pulling over Donner Summit or over the Siskiyou Mountains into Oregon. The ride is very comfortable, for I am 64" and I not small in stature, and the handling is smooth. Very road worthy when pulling the trailer. I am very satisfied with the overall performance and comfort of the F150 SuperCrew. The mileage when pulling trailer in cruise control @ 55- 60mph range in overdrive is around 11- 12mpg. Not pulling trailer about 17mpg, not bad for a truck.

• 

  The most for your buck - 2008 Ford Taurus
  By Antonio A. - February 9 - 10:45 am

  I am a proud owner I love the Comfort I love the size and I love that its all wheel drive great a celeration with 265 horsepower however at 178000 Miles I get very poor fuel economy 13.5 on a regular day to the gallon shifting you can definitely feel it but it compensates with the greatest acceleration

• 

  Good, but junk - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By Ken - February 8 - 8:02 pm

  This is a powerful car. Fun to drive. Took it from Wisconsin to Arizona with no problems. But ... this thing is junk. Ive had to put so much money into this thing. Brakes, fuel injectors, air conditioning, tie rods, steering column, had it in for transmissions problems 5 TIMES, engine noise (dealer cant find the problem). As soon as I hit 75,000 miles, WHEN THE WARRANTY WAS UP, the front end started making noise. Oh also, the steering makes a loud squeaking noise. Typical Ford product. Nice car, if you have the money for regular maintenance. By the way i only have 75,000 miles on it. My Chevy has 182,000 miles with no major problems.

• 

  Ford Explorer - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Victorianlady - February 7 - 11:53 pm

  A practical but totally fun car to drive.

• 

  I like it - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By Flaford - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I recently purchased this vehicle and found both the dealership staff and the quality of Ford to have improved remakably since I last bought a Ford.

• 

  Glad I bought one - 2003 Ford F-150
  By Badpony - February 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the truck in April and I love it. I have had one minor problem with the cab step light on one side but the dealer fixed it right away. The truck rides great and the quality has been excellent, my only complaint is that the truck feels a little under powered but the pros are far greater. I get positive comments about the look of the truck all the time. Good job BLUE OVAL!!!