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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  good car/bad gas mileage - 2001 Ford Taurus
  By donnabella37 - February 3 - 2:00 am

  This is basically a great car, very comfortable for our family of four. However, Ford must have miscalculated the city mileage. The sticker claimed 20mpg city and 27mpg highway. The best that I have gotten is 15mpg in the city. The highway gas mileage is a lot closer to being accurate, but unfortunately, my commute is all in town. Great on long road trips.

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  Reliable - 2000 Ford Taurus
  By Bud - February 2 - 8:46 pm

  Tauras has been very reliable. only issue - Fuel pump replaced @ 38,000mls - covered under OEM recall. Nice design. Happy at 56,000mls.

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  Police Interceptor - 2004 Ford Crown Victoria
  By automaniac9 - February 1 - 11:29 pm

  This car is great value for the money, especially used; thats if you find the perfect one. Now, this being a police version, it does ride a lot firmer than the standard car, but since the seats are so comfortable, it almost doesnt matter. Being a police spec car also means that it gets all the powertrain improvements over even the LX Sport. I was even lucky enough to get one with matching seats. The wheels on the car do rust quite easily; my car has 159000 miles and there is quite a bit of rust on each rim. The power delivery is very broad in this car, but I found that it loses power when getting close to the redline. It corners pretty flat, but its easy to upset, especially in the rain.

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  great but a few problems - 2003 Ford Escape
  By johnboy - January 29 - 10:00 am

  i love my escape but transmission went at 15,000, bearings at 30,000, back winshield wiper broke after 20,000.it is fast strong engine, always willing, strong feel to truck and perfect,size. feel bad i have so many miles on(30)it and Im not sold on how reliable its gonna be from here on in. (although first car i ever owned that i havent had to put on break pads, etc. with this high milleage. it has never let me down but im still leary about reliability. will not keep it past warranty! also it was great in the snow!!ok now i think i talked myself into looking at another one.

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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Joe Coplan - January 29 - 10:00 am

  My 2003 Expedition is fun to drive. It has all the power that anyone would need. Nice looking SUV.

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  A Lovable Beast of An SUV - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Expo - January 29 - 10:00 am

  Well this is my second Expedition & I truly love it. The ride is 100% better than my 97 Eddie Bauer model. The one thing that surprised me is on my 97 the door ajar light needed to be fixed 3 times & sure enough it has happened on my 03, FORD FIX THIS PROBLEM!!. The interior is comfortable & the new body is sleeker & less fussy than the previous models. I think the Expediton will be my auto choice for many years to come.

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  Best Explorer yet!! - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Vergez - January 29 - 10:00 am

  I have rented various Explorers through the years and this model is by far the best. I have also tested Mitsubishi, Toyota and Infiniti SUVs and my truck beats them hands down in roominess even with third row. It also rides very smooth and quiet even with 5 adults.A great value for the money.

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  love the windstar - 2000 Ford Windstar
  By whitesatin - January 29 - 12:23 am

  leasing a 2000 windstar LX w/dual air and quad seats. Love the room in this vehicle. Ride is smooth and seats are comfortable. We take out the passenger seat so that entry into the back is easy in, and easy out,even for grandparents. We did however have to replace the rack/n pinion at about 20,000 miles. It was makeing a horrible whining noise. Thank God it was under warranty. This is our second lease for the windstar. Moving on to the third in the spring of 2002.

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  Work Horse - 2001 Ford Econoline Wagon
  By Haulin Kids - January 27 - 3:10 pm

  Our 2001 E-150 with Traveler package is the most versatile vehicle I have ever owned. It is the ultimate trip vehicle with the VCP with its cargo room and towing capability. We have almost 50K miles and havent had any mechanical issues. When purchased the vehicle was about $7 K less than a comparable SUV and about $4 K less than a comparable minivan. Other than off roading it is much more functional than a SUV. Mileage isnt even that bad (up to 18 mpg), comparable to many smaller SUV models.

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  READ this BEFORE you buy - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Donna - January 27 - 4:23 am

  I LOVE my Explorer, BUT, beware before you buy one. Make sure you buy the extended warranty as mine expired in 3 years. I have only 26,900 miles on it and heres the diagnosis I just got from the service department. It needs drive chain replaced at a cost of $878.00. It needs clutch packs in the rear end differential at a cost of $800.00. It needs solenoid packs in the transmission at a cost of $800.00. It needs a fuel dampener at a cost of $240.00. WHAT on EARTH? I drive and maintain my vehicle as well as I did my own children. Ford engineers arent doing their job. I was told they recalled the 97-99s on the drive chain but apparently they didnt fix the problem for the future ones.