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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  BRONCO - 1993 Ford Bronco
  By BRONCOL - February 6 - 2:00 am

  WONDERFULL TRUCK/SUV CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL, THIS TRUCK IS VERY RELIABLE EXCEPT FOR THE GAS MILEAGE... GASSSSSSS SUCKS!!!!! BIG TIME

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  excellent for what it is! - 1994 Ford Bronco
  By trailerman - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Purchased used with 91000 miles on it and now have 108000. 351 is smooth, consistant and capable of hauling virtually anything. Trany is reliable but unremarkable. 4wd is crude but effective. Interior functional but comfortable. Easy vehicle to work on. Rust is forming in all the usual places and tailgate design is poor. Excel. turning radius, ride quality not bad. NO MECH. PROBLEMS, V.DEPENDABLE, NO RATTLES OR SQUEEKS. Looking to impress yourself not your neighbors, Looking to make friends with a "real truck" not a SUV, this rig is perfect. Strong and functional. Feels like an old good friend.

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  163K - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By fuzzywuz - February 5 - 2:00 am

  Good SUV until the transmission went out @ 163,000. But that should be expected. Before that barely any problems to mention.

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  An oldie but a goodie - 1993 Ford Escort
  By Adrienne - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This escort has been an extremely reliable car and has never had any problems starting and never died out. When driving this car I was confident that I would get where I needed to go.

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  An oldie but a goodie - 1993 Ford Escort
  By adrienne - February 5 - 2:00 am

  This escort has been an extremely reliable car and has never had any problems starting and never died out. When driving this car I was confident that I would get where I needed to go.

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  Not a fun to drive, but it never dies - 1998 Ford Escort
  By likesoccer - February 5 - 2:00 am

  I bought my Escort because it is what I could afford at that time. It had only 20K and looks almost new. I have been driving this car on daily basis for 2 years and put 30k on it. Escort is a plain, compact, low-priced seden. There is really not much fun to drive it. The engine, transmission and brake system works fine for commuting daily, but performance is mediocre. Overall it is a reliabe car and gives me great gas mileage (~28 city and ~36 highway). I have never had any problem with its mechanical quality, even after one collision and one weather disaster. I changes the oil regularly at local Ford dealership. A great car for daily life!

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  Transmission is a criminal offense!!! - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By saxophobe - February 5 - 2:00 am

  We purchased our 98 Ford Taurus because it got such a good rating on the Edmunds and Consumer Reports sites. This car was reportedly owned by someone that worked at the dealership and only had 40 K on the odometer. At 81 K, our transmission failed and we had to get it rebuilt to the tune of $2700!!! This was for a car we were still paying on and had < 100 K miles?!?! Ford wouldnt do anything about it either. If you buy one, get the extended warranty.

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  What a pleasant surprise - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Stevebro - February 5 - 2:00 am

  The best handling SUV weve ever owned (and weve owned a lot of them). Power is more than adequate with the base 4.0 6 cyl. Seats are a bit hard, but supportive. Sound system not the greatest, but then again, its the standard one. In hindsight, we should have opted for the upgraded sound system.

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  No problems - 1997 Ford Aerostar
  By Lefty - February 4 - 2:00 am

  Most trouble free vehicle I have ever owned. Now have 102,000 mi. No mechanical failures. Just normal maintenance, and even that Ive slacked off on. Took the beast on a 4,000 mile road trip with 93,000 on the ticker. Flawless, safe highway driving. Got an amazing 23 mpg on the open road. If you can pick one up with modest miles on it, do it.

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  Good all-around vehicle - 1993 Ford Bronco
  By 80skid - February 4 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my bronco about 2.5 years ago with 105,000 miles on it. It was a little underpowered with the 302 V8 so I added a chip, duel exhaust, headers, and a K&N air filter and now it performs pretty well. The bronco now has around 124,000 miles and runs like its almost new and the tranny shifts well. Great for off-roading and the push-button 4x4 is a plus. Love the styling and wish Ford never discontinued the bronco. This vehicle can and will do just about anything you want. Its rugged enough for offroad fun, short enough to park into tight areas, powerful enough to tow a boat (torque wise, it lacks horsepower), and is roomy enough for lots of storage.