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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  Solid - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By jamie1968 - July 5 - 10:00 am

  Solid vehicle with a solid reliability history I also have a Toyota Highlander and for about the same money I believe the Highlander is a better suv

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  Fun and practical - 2006 Ford Focus
  By JamieB - July 5 - 2:56 am

  This is the third Focus Ive driven and again, I am impressed with its bang for the buck. The Focus handles well and has a nice peppy engine, particularly with the standard transmission. I "downgraded" from a very nice VW Jetta to a new Focus and must say that the Focus is more fun to drive and handles just as well as my $27K Jetta! And is so much cheaper to maintain. My only complaint is with the sound system, which is a little muffled sounding compared to what you might find in a more luxury-style car. If you just want a practical, reliable ride to work and around town thats fun, this is it!

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  Want XLT with REAR SEATS - 2010 Ford Transit Connect
  By WGcrafts - July 4 - 2:03 am

  I test drove (50 miles)the Ford Transit Connect XL Van. I was hoping to get a XLT with rear seats during the car clunker program. I really liked the Transit Connect. It handled very good. I do not plan to use this for long trips - power was sufficient for my 30 miles and less trips. I plan to use this in my Craft/Show business. My 22x15x12 inch folding top boxes (24+ ) fit perfectly in the XL. I need this to be Parkway legal so rear seats are a must. NO information was available (online, at dealer, parts department detail sheets, booklets) if the seats can be removed. NO XLTs are available in my area to see rear seats. Now clunker program is gone I can wait using my Chevy Astro Van for now

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  Fun but annoying - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Bryan - July 3 - 7:56 am

  I bought this car because it was all I could get financed for. It is fun to drive, and not too hard on the eyes. The advertised gas mileage is complete horse puckey, but I still average about 24 mpg. On long road trips I get about 31. The rear shocks squeak loudly, and the "upgraded stereo" sounds horrible. But all in all, it handles like a little race car and the get up and go is nice.

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  not too shabby - 2005 Ford Five Hundred
  By baglumper - July 3 - 6:13 am

  just bought this car it now has 400 miles on it. car is very comfortable, looks great, lots of people think it is a lexus at first. front seats are great, fuel economy 25.6 on the road but not broke in yet. back seat leg room huge, and the trunk grand canyon size. would definitely recommend to familys of 4. price was great, got this one for invoice $24000.

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  So far so good - 2012 Ford Focus
  By weilo - July 1 - 7:59 am

  So far I am really enjoying the 2012 Focus SE I got with the 6 speed automatic transmission. I did a good bit of looking around and finally settled on this car. I hear some of the other comments and agree that the transmission thing takes a bit of getting use to. They told me to bring it in at 3000 miles to get the first oil change done on them. I have not had any problems. I make an 85 mile round trip every day to work plus some running around town dropping kids off and such. I am getting between 34-36 miles per gallon. I took a 212 mile trip and got 41.6 per gallon.

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  06 Escape XLT - 2006 Ford Escape
  By dakota - June 30 - 10:06 am

  The convenience of the 6 disc in dash CD is great. Plenty of interior room for hauling or keeping passengers comfy. The acceleration is normal even when put into passing mode. The view out the windshield is superb but because of the 3 headrests in the back, viewing behind you can be a little work. Overall Im very pleased with the 06 Escape XLT and have recommended it others.

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  Revised Focus - One Month Later - 2007 Ford Focus
  By Ian - June 29 - 12:20 pm

  So far, Im one month into ownership of my 07 ZX3 SE. No major issues, however there have been fit and finish issues. One of the wheel nut covers from the hubcap flew off and the head restraints wouldnt stay up. The dealer has been excellent with resolving these issues. Overall, the interior feels cheaper than the old 02 Focus with regards to small details like the radio display. Otherwise, car is holding up well and Im very happy with it. Long term reliability isnt promising. Lets hope Ford surprises me - My expectations are low.

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  I Like It - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By ralo - June 29 - 2:00 am

  This is my first Suv and I really, really like it. It doesnt drive like your typical SUV because of the suspension. Combine that with all the other features and Id recommend an Explorer to anyone looking for a fun, reliable SUV.

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  Great Truck! - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Adam - June 26 - 7:23 pm

  What a great truck! The quality of the 2004 Ford F-150 is outstanding. I know that Im driving a truck because of its aggressive stance and ride height, but sometimes the quietness and comfortable ride have me thinking Im riding in a luxury sedan (i.e. Crown Victoria). The only downside is the sluggish feel of the throttle when accelerating. They say its because of the trucks weight, but the 5 star frontal crash rating should cancel that negative out. If I had it to do over again, I would buy mine with the 5.4 liter instead of the 4.6 liter. Overall this is a great truck!