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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  Great truck, bad gas mileage - 1996 Ford Ranger
  By Johnny - March 15 - 1:03 am

  I love this truck. Its my first vehicle, and I find that it has fantastic performance (mild during regular use and aggressive in those "stoplight excursions" with other cars), decent stereo, good ride, looks awesome, s like it, and its never broken down. only thing that i dont like is the cupholders. big aftermarket for lowrider or off-road markets. i love this truck, it does everything i want it to and more.

• 

  Good overall vehicle. - 2002 Ford Expedition
  By klkrause - March 14 - 6:49 pm

  I have been a bit disappointed in the interior fit-and-finsh, but overall am pretty happy with this vehicle. Now that I see the 03s coming out, though, I wonder if we should have waited ...

• 

  2000 Excursion - 2000 Ford Excursion
  By Will - March 14 - 1:26 pm

  Our 2000 limited replaces a 1986 Suburban. We tend to keep our cars a long time. The Suburban was a reliable and hard working truck. Our Excursion is essentially the same size as our old Chevy, gets better gas mileage, and tows our trailer with ease. Mileage solo is a constant 15mpg on the highway, we do not use it as a town car. It is comfortable, quiet, and thus far reliable. The Excursion easily fits in our garage. We feel that our new truck is very appropriate for our life style.

• 

  Do your research.......... - 1996 Ford Taurus
  By Re-Think the Ford - March 13 - 11:09 pm

  I bought my car five years ago, used, and since then I have had several mechanical problems with it. I have already replaced the transmission once, and it now needs another one. At $1000 a pop, I cant afford to keep this car. Not to mention, had to replace the alternator, heating system, struts, brakes....need I go on? Id definately rethink purchasing one of these cars, unless youre rich and can afford to fix it every 3 months!!!

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  Dads pickup - 1990 Ford F-150
  By farner - March 13 - 9:58 pm

  good farm pickup. Had light use, mostly on oiled roads.

• 

  Ford - 1990 Ford F-150
  By Cale Osborn - March 13 - 12:32 pm

  It has been a good truck.

• 

  First Car - 1990 Ford Probe
  By Soup - March 13 - 2:08 am

  My 1990 Ford Probe GT Turbo I bought from a friend for $2750. Id say it was about a fair deal. I was really impressed by the number of little things that make the car fun to drive. I would recommend buying this car if you have $3000 or so to buy a car. Just be sure it has an Owners Manual with it because mine doesnt and i cant figure out some little things on my dash. It has a lot of giddy-up of the line if you can drive a standard. It runs a quarter in 14-16 seconds.

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  1993 Taurus LX 3.8 - 1993 Ford Taurus
  By Letsrock - March 13 - 1:20 am

  Ive had problems with the starter wires falling off their connections. Easy fix once it was found I had the ignition lock cylinder detach itself from the switch ( Engine wont shut off with key )NOT an easy fix, and no doubt the dealer would charge a hefty price to fix, if your mechanically inclined you could fix it, if not good luck preventing yourself from scrappin it. These are the only probs Ive had.

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  I have a few complaints - 2001 Ford Excursion
  By Christy - March 12 - 10:50 pm

  COMPLAINTS: 1)My brakes (the discs) have been 2) my brakes have been replaced 3 times due to warping. 2)I dont expect much for a large SUV, but 10mpg is unacceptable. 3)Maneuving into parking spaces is extremely difficult and parking spaces are too small. 4)It is VERY difficult to push the 2nd seat forward to get to the 3rd seat. 5)This vehicle has an extreme amount of roll when cornering.

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  Its a keeper! - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By naladraw - March 12 - 11:40 am

  I bought my Ranger in 1997 with only 19000 miles on the 2 year old truck. I have had absolutely no mechanical problems with the truck in the past 5 years. The 5-speed manual transmission paired with the 2.3 L engine can be a little lacking at times. When it comes to comfort I have been satisfied with the bucket seats on long drives. All the inside controls are easy to use. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the 1995 Ford Ranger.