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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  A few problems here & there. - 2000 Ford Focus
  By KaitlynK383 - December 21 - 7:01 pm

  I bought my car from a used car dealership. Its been pretty good. I keep having trouble with its engine though. Somehow the tps sensor, or something like that isnt reading anything from my engine. So my acceleration reallly really stinks right now. My horn also stopped working--not good, at all. I had a little problem a couple months ago with my abs--it ended up to be a loose wiring problem. Which has been happening a lot. Other than that, I love my Ford Focus. I think it is acting up just cause it has a lot of miles on it. It gets really good gas mileage. I drive it a lot. And I still only have to fill it up, on average every 1 and a half weeks.

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  Nice Gas Sipper - 2008 Ford Focus
  By focus - December 21 - 1:36 pm

  Like everyone else, gas prices pushed me towards an econmical vehicle. I drove the Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Cobalt. For the what you get for the money, Focus wins easily. I have the Automatic SES. The suspension on this car makes it fun to drive. It doesnt lean much through the turns and provides a comfortable ride. Im still on my first tank of gas and the computer is reporting 35mpg of mixed driving!

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  Fun, nice looking repair prone car - 1996 Ford Probe
  By Robert Ranzer - December 21 - 10:59 am

  I bought my GT new. While it is a great looking vehicle ive had a few problems. Recently had the top and lower idler pulleys in the engine go. That would have been fatal for the engine without a little luck. At 50,000 miles I had the ignition distributor assembly go. The engine just shut off in rush hour traffic. $700 for remanufactred part. Radiator in 04. Water pump in 03. Spark plug wire set in 02. R/F and L/F axles in 03. The rear lift on the hatch loses it,s ability to stay up. Had that fixed before. The car leaks coolant and a little oil. My mechanic says dont worry about it cause its not worth fixing. I know the car is old but it has only 60,000 miles on it. Fun to drive.

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  Love it! (even after 2 warranty repairs) - 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By Kyle - December 21 - 4:13 am

  Ive had my FEH for 4 months now. I love it, it makes my daily commutes in traffic so much better. The sync system is awesome, same with the hands-free phoning, and the satellite radio. Ive been getting about 36 mpg - plus its kinda fun try to keep the tach in the green (battery mode) while driving, it takes a little practice to get good at it - sometimes I even find myself hoping traffic will slow down so I can recharge! On the downside, I have had to take it back to the dealership for two different repairs, will go into more detail below. Overall I am extremely happy with the purchase and would recommend the FEH to anyone (as long as its still under warranty). Its a great vehicle!

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  Nice seating room - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By Sharon OConnell - December 21 - 1:20 am

  My husband and I bought this vehicle because of the ease of handling and the amount of seating capacity. We love that its so easy to enter and exit the vehicle. We dont have to stoop to get in or out. The visibility is another plus, but theres only one thing I would change, and thats the reflection of the dash on the windshield. My husband takes a crew with him to broadcast football games for his local radio station, and theres plenty of room for all 6 (big) men in the Ford Freestyle. Even with a big load like that, it handles easily and doesnt feel "bogged down" on the freeway. Our criteria in any purchase is, "Would we buy this again?", and thats an unqualified, yes, definitely.

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  Drive It Like I Stole It - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By luangtom - December 21 - 12:01 am

  I got back into the Mustang as a retiree and do not regret it. It is a fun car to drive and fulfills all my needs as a daily driver. Ya gotta love the V8 using regular-gas. It is also easily personalized and that is what I am in the process of doing.

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  A truck for all-time - 1994 Ford Ranger
  By Hedgehog437 - December 20 - 10:45 pm

  Bought the truck from a pal with 11,000 miles on it in 1995. Its loaded 4.0L V-6, PS/PB/AC/cruise/tilt/Captains chairs, the works. I now have 74,000 miles on it and it runs like its brand new. My wife loves it because its big enough to haul her annual landscaping supplies, but small enough for her to be comfortable driving. People still offer me hard cash for this little gem, but I couldnt replace it for under $20K. It gets about 20mpg consistently, the A/C will freeze you out, and its tough! This would be a perfect truck for someone who doesnt need to tow large trailers, etc.

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  Great Car - 2009 Ford Fusion
  By Doug - December 20 - 10:20 pm

  I went on our first road trip. I was surprised at how quiet, comfortable, and efficient the car was. I didnt get tired driving at all. We averaged 33mpg going 70mph on the freeway. The 4 cylinder isnt like a V6, but it is very adequate. When I had to pass it had no problem getting up to speed. The only thing is that Im 6 and I have to lower the seat to have adequate head room. I love the sync.

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  Better Than I Expected - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Karl - December 20 - 4:12 pm

  Have owned this car from day one and has proved to be a very functional, practical vehicle. It also has a nice smooth ride and most surprisngly very reliable. Other than normal oil & filter changes, the only thing Ive had to replace was the rear brake pads at 25k miles which Ford covered anyway. Just replaced the original Continental ContiTact tires with General Altimax tires which seem to fit well with this car. So overall, no complaints and hope to keep for another 5 years.

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  Better than a van - 2006 Ford Freestyle
  By FRITZ - December 20 - 1:27 pm

  In the Northeast, there is always the threat of snow, sleet, etc. We had a good run with AWD Astro vans, SUVs,and Subarus. But for the money, this is hands down the best wagon/van/suv!! Average 21 MPG in local travel, dont get much highway use. Rivals any AWD/4WD vehicle we every owned in sloppy conditions. Hope Ford just keeps refining and building this vehicle.