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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  Love it! - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By 2008 Ford Fusion 5A - July 22 - 8:27 pm

  Traded my 2007 Explorer, have owned this car about 2 weeks and everything has gone OK. The oil filter protector (under the car) got broken in the first 5 days of having it! I dont know how it happened but some how it got snagged by something and broke! Gas mileage is alright, Im only getting 20.6 MPG but being new and mostly stop and go traffic its to be expected. Other than that its fun to drive (love taking those curves at higher speeds) good build quality, though the black interior needs special care or it will dry out and look dry/sun bleached. Have the sport package and the bigger wheels and suspension makes everyday driving a little harder but its great for the value! Overall I love the car!

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  Perfect EXP - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By D.ARN - July 22 - 3:12 pm

  I love this vehicle! Its 10 years old now and I only have 84000 miles on it! I drove it from MN to CA towing a trailer and it was fine! I never want to give it up! When the rest of my family all has new cars I just want to keep mine. The only thing was the airconditioning needed to be recharged. Its a forever keeper even in this fuel shortage economy.

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  Had many Fords before but..... - 2001 Ford Windstar
  By Party of 4 - July 22 - 3:03 pm

  We bought it used with 71K miles. As we drove off the lot the engine light came on. The dealership we bought it from fixed it-twice. Little things such as sliding door sticking/not unlocking, passenger door lock sticking, & the rubber between the doors come off. Now we took a vacation 700 mies away & on the way back the tranny at 82k miles literally dropped when driving up major mountains in Southern OR. Ive always been happy with Ford, but not too happy on this one. Will but will buy again

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  Its a keeper - 2004 Ford Mustang
  By Paul K. - July 22 - 1:59 pm

  I was attracted to this car by its sharp looks and great performance, and after four years, I still love it. It may not be the fastest car on the road, but its the biggest bang for the buck, and will surely blow off most of the boy racers. The horsepower and torque figures are claimed to be 305 and 320 respectively, but the dyno has shown substantially higher numbers. This is my fourth Mustang, the last one being a 98 Cobra, very similar to this, but I like the Mach better. Gas mileage is really very good for a performance car at 23 - 28 mpg. If you can find a clean example at a decent price, go for it. Ill be keeping mine for a long while. Its sure to be a collector.

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  Excellent Truck - 1998 Ford F-150
  By carambo - July 22 - 12:05 pm

  I have had many Fords but this truck has been the best. Very very few repairs except those from wear and tear like oil change. I live in the woods so it gets a beating and holds up. I get about 21 mpg driving while my husband gets about 18 mpg with this truck. I truly love this truck and dont want to trade it in for a more fuel efficient vehicle!

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  Ford Ranger 2008 Supercab 4x2 I4 Auto - 2008 Ford Ranger
  By Eric - July 22 - 10:52 am

  I have driven 2186 miles and have averaged 20.48 miles per gallon with the AC on all the time in Florida. Its a fun truck to drive. The interior is well designed but, the back cab area is hard to use. If one side of the rear cab area opened the interior of this truck would be perfect. The truck has average power. I dont feel like other drivers are pushing me from red lights and stop signs. I am an average driver, not very agressive and not very slow. The cloth seats and carpet are nice. The steering wheel is positioned very well for long drives. Overall I am very happy with this truck and I am sure that I will keep this truck for a long time.

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  great small wagon - 2005 Ford Focus
  By richard e fisher - July 22 - 10:36 am

  Great gas mileage; very, very good acceleration; maintains cruse speed.

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  Excellent car for the buck - 2006 Ford Taurus
  By Dee - July 22 - 10:31 am

  Great car for the money. Fuel economy, roomy inside as well as the trunk. Cant complain other than the road noise is a bit loud, but the radio works well!

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  Nice value. - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By dambina - July 21 - 3:02 pm

  Honestly, we bought our Fusion because it was priced significantly lower than the Camary and Accord. With just over 4K miles, it has exceded all of our expectations. Weve averaged over 23 mpg city and 32 mpg highway, which is a bit better than EPA estimates. It drives quite well and handles very well in traffic and on turns. Our family of four just returned from a week long vacation and we were able to fit comfortably inside with all of our stuff! Weve had no problems so far, although SYNC has had bad voice recognition.

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  Will not honor warranty - 2007 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By skydiver1 - July 21 - 1:41 pm

  The high voltage battery cooling fans are under warranty for 8 years, 100,000 miles. Ford will not honor this warranty and I had to spend over $900 to get this fixed. Others have gotten Ford to honor this exact warrantied item after much runaround. I will be taking Ford Motor Company to small claims court very soon.