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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  Awesome car. Dont stop making them! - 2003 Ford Mustang
  By LoD728 - April 2 - 2:00 am

  My first new car.I have the auto and premium package.Its extremely fun to drive and has a good amount of power to satisfy me.I like the exterior/interior dimensions and inside panels.Its all driver oriented and lights up nice at night.Small and cozy inside. Back seats are fine.The mach 460 sound system is amazing.All it needs is an American flag on the back.

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  Cobras - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Jeremy Stumbo - April 2 - 2:00 am

  I aboslutly love my Mustang Cobra. It runs good and is a fast car.

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  Great so far - 1999 Ford Expedition
  By balty - April 1 - 1:14 pm

  I hate driving trucks, but got this thing anyway. And Im impressed. Note that my rating is relative to other trucks -- I drive a Continental normally, so these grades arent relative to it. For example, for a truck, my fuel economy rating is 9. Compared to the Continental, itd be about 4. See what I mean? As a 62" footer, Im comfortable. Power is so totally there, I dont know what the complaints are about -- and remember, Im used to a Continental. Im used to climate control -- set it and forget it. Itd be nice if it were standard on the truck this expensive (yeah, I could have looked harder). I replaced the stereo with a junkyard model with CD/cassette (2000 Explorer stereo).

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  Love it ... wish they still made it! - 2003 Ford Windstar
  By STL Lover - April 1 - 2:30 am

  The minivan gets fantastic mileage and is extremely comfortable to drive. I think it does much better than the Odyssey ... Ive used both extensively.

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  Taurus review - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By JohnnyVero - March 31 - 10:05 pm

  My only complaint is that the brakes dont have the stopping ability that most cars have they feel spongy. Otherwise I like everything else about the car.

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  Excursion - 2005 Ford Excursion
  By eugene - March 31 - 9:16 pm

  Overall super satisfied. We have the 6.0 diesel which makes this large vehicle not only comfortable but efficient. Getting 18.5 average which is better than our minivan or either of our Jeeps. we use it to tow a 30 foot travel trailer which it does with ease. Went from Maryland to Knoxville Tenn. on one tank with trailer in tow at traffic speeds. Much better than my old 460 Ford - three times as much fuel to go same place.

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  2004 Ford Ranger SuperCab 4Litre 4x4 - 2005 Ford Ranger
  By FMD - March 31 - 8:51 pm

  I bought this truck after looking at vehicles for about 2 months. It was the best deal out there. Anyways, so far I really like it. Goes great in the snow even with the open rear. Shift on the fly is cool for 4WD. Also awesome handling offroad. On the road, has good handling. Although, the truck shakes a lot when you hit a medium sized bump at any speed above 30MPH. A little weight in the bed does a good job dampening that down though. Gas mileage leaves a bit to be desired. I average about 17MPG mostly city driving. Not the greatest, not the worst either. Dependability has been good, always starts. Had a transmission problem at 5000 miles. Dealer fixed. Other than that love my truck! :o)

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  After one month... - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By cr - March 31 - 12:16 pm

  Weve had the car for just over a month and have been quite pleased with its handling and comfort. All the extra features make the car fun to drive on long trips with 4 people and it handles great in the snow and rain. We had hoped for better MPG in the city, but highway mileage is appropriate for a car of its size (or even smaller). The higher seating puts it at a very nice, neutral level (no getting up out of a car or down out of a truck) and the seats are very comfortable.

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  Fun car - 2002 Ford Focus
  By BigJrff - March 31 - 10:00 am

  Tight, crisp handling on 16-inch low profile (205x50) tires. Delivers decent power from a sweet sounding, twin-cam engine at 4-6000 RPM. Precise rack and pinion steering gives good feedback. Very comfortable inside. Lots of room for big people. Nice sound system with 6 cd changer in the dash. Good ergonomics. Neat, edgy exterior and interior styling. Flexible cargo carrying configurations possible with 60-40 fold down rear seats (which are also quite comfortable). Good head and legroom front and rear.

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  Hard to find manual transmission SUV - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Midwesterner - March 31 - 10:00 am

  We looked long and hard for an SUV with a manual transmission. The 2002 Escape has met our expectations and then some. Easy and fun to drive.