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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  Served me well - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By Intel Timmy - June 18 - 9:46 am

  Look in any car buying guide and youll read to stay away from this vehicle. My 3.8 liter Windstar served me well and all I can tell you is that I sold it a few months ago with 187,000 miles and I never had a problem with it. I religiously changed the oil and rotated the tires. It has tons of interior room, decent gas mileage and a pretty smooth ride. I hauled 1,100 lbs of bagged rocks behind the third row seat, numerous 4 x 8 sheets of drywall and other things and it kept going strong. Of course, I washed it once a week, waxed it twice a year and kept up the vehicle very, very well. I sold mine a few months ago for $2,000 and probably could have gotten more.

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  wolf in sheeps clothing - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By justin - June 18 - 9:43 am

  The car rides wonderfully. I traded in my 2003 Audi and my 2003 Mercedes to consolidate to this one car. I already packed the trunk and folded the back seats down to carry about 1200-1400 pounds of bricks. I get comments all the time ... THATS a FORD? WOW! It is refreshing to see domestic automakers stepping to the plate with their new designs. Welcome to the new millennium with this model, Ford.

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  Great car for the price - 2000 Ford Focus
  By jwo7777777 - June 18 - 8:15 am

  Handles like a good rally car. It can take corners at speed, but has a slightly higher ride height than other vehicles of the same size. I replaced the swaybar(stabilizer bar) bushings with stiffer polyurethane for a little less body roll. I have driven this vehicle for 7.5 years and have enjoyed it immensely. Sure, some things had to be fixed under recall, and some things broke that I had to pay for after the warranty ended, but overall I am happy. I have had worse experiences with cars I bought new. The bucket seats are built for average frames or smaller. Wide shouldered or heavier people (250+ lbs.) will notice marked problems after several years

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  Fair quality truck - 2000 Ford Expedition
  By mikeg - June 17 - 11:23 pm

  this truck had 3 problems so far. The differential had a recall, and the dealer didnt have the tool to repair it a year after they sold it to me. Next the wiper motor had a recall for fires. Next, the rear wiper locks up intermintantly. This vehical definitly drives like a truck, feeling unstable over 60mph. Not supprised though. The truck is comfortable and lots of room inside. Major drawback is after 18 months of payments (at .9apr, I still owe $30k, but the trade in and resale value is only $20k. Major depreciation! Unless youre keeping it long term, not a good deal. Better off leasing if you can negotiate a good deal.

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  Love my Focus! - 2000 Ford Focus
  By Jen - June 17 - 4:21 pm

  Ive been a truck girl my whole life, but had to go to a car for better fuel economy. It wasnt a hard switch. I can flip down the back seat and fill up the cargo area, tow a small trailer, put stuff on the roof rack or put passengers in the back comfortably - all while zipping around (zippy engine) getting great gas milage & being able to park anywhere! The ride is smooth & quiet, handles great, has comfortable roomy interior, and the exterior looks alot more stylish & modern than most other station wagons. Ive put on many miles, keep up on maintance, but have had no problems. It is very reliable. A very fun & versatile car, and consumer reports rates it tops. All & all, I love this car!

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  The V6 comes alive in the Ford Fusion - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Frank Buchanan - June 17 - 1:21 pm

  Due to fuel concerns I went from a custom 06 Mustang GT to an 08 F150 and then quickly moved on to the Ford Fusion V6 with 6 speed auto. Thought we have only been together one month we have traveled almost 7000 miles. She has been dependable, with no break downs, comfortable with electric adjustable driver seat, entertaining with the 8 speaker audio system and I must say we seem to be compatable. I like speed. She can give it to a point. I average 29.9 mpg highway at 70mph and 24 city if I am careful. A car crashed into us at 50 mph and the Fusion kept everyone safe from harm. She is being rebuilt by the dealer as I write. I am more than happy with this car.

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  My Tempo is money saver - 1994 Ford Tempo
  By really nice car - June 17 - 10:42 am

  Hey, I got 94 Tempo and its a great car. I dont see why people dont like it. Great on gas. Believe it or not but I get 37 to 42 mpg with my coupe. As long as you treat it nice it will treat you nice!

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  2007 Fusion I-4 5A - 2008 Ford Fusion
  By Rick - June 17 - 10:26 am

  We needed an efficient family car, and went with a 2007 Fusion. It was $5-7K less than a similarly equipped foreign model.It constantly gets 29.8 mpg with 65% hwy and 35% city driving. We have a K&N air filter installed and use synthetic oil to protect our investment in our attempt to go green. The car constantly turns out good fuel economy and if a comfortable drive for family trips. The 4 Cyl. engine lacks power, but once on the hwy (with the cruise set), it doesnt matter. The Aux input jack for our ipod is great for long trips. My wife drives about 50 miles round trip to work and she loves the interior and ride handling. Though in the city, the 4 banger needs more pep.

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  27.3 MPG on the highway - 2008 Ford Edge
  By fxstc9 - June 17 - 2:23 am

  Fell in love with the exterior styling while following a Ford Edge. The interior is very comfortable. The seats feel like they are constantly hugging you and the placement of the controls are spot on. I bought my Egde right after the test drive. A nice quiet ride. Wind noise is a thing of my past. I did a MPG test at 65mph I got 22.3mpg at 60 I got 25.3mpg and at 55mph I got 27.3mpg. I know 55 feels slow but its a 25% savings and I dont have to worry about passing anyone. Plus who wants to get to work in a hurry. It has plenty of get up and go when you need it and its very agile but stable. I dont miss my 13mpg avg F150 super crew Lariat one bit.

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  My 1st V8 - 2007 Ford Mustang
  By sk13 - June 17 - 12:42 am

  Initially I was worried about fuel mileage but anyone wanting one should not be concerned. My mixed driving has returned anywhere from 19.8 MPG to 22.0 MPG and I did a highway test to see what I would get there and it turned out 26.7 MPG running 70- 75 MPH! The engine is fantastic, revs smooth, revs fast, tremendous torque will pull from anywhere in the rev range, can run down almost anything on the road. Interior is roomy and trunk is very usuable. Has tremendous ability to handle curves and also turns tighter than my 04 did. Looks superb, I get positive comments often.