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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  A Girls Truck - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By teresa - February 11 - 11:00 am

  The truck is great for anything a woman may need a truck for. And still have room for kids, dogs and other things we might need to haul around on a day to day basis.

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  drive train vibratin 3 valve knockn junk - 2005 Ford F-150
  By David Quinn - February 10 - 2:00 pm

  Ive been a loyal Ford brand buyer since 65; 23 units to date. My new 150 SuperCab 5.4 is a drivetrain vibrating 3 valve knocking nightmare. The dealer has had the vehicle on three separate occasions with excuses that started with the tires and now says a counter balance is needed to reduce (?) the vibration. I do not care if they changed driveshaft vendors and are having problems. I want a drivetrain that turns true. Period! The new 3 valve setup runs rougher than corn cob. The dealer blames it own Mother Ford and says the techies have not come up with a patch for the computer program that runs the darn thing without disturbing the tranny. I am in shock, mourning and complete disbelief.

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  What a value! - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Tim - February 10 - 12:36 am

  After driving my dads "new" 2007 Crown Vic LX I hit autotrader to see what kind of prices I could find on Vics.. I stumbled upon a 2005 LX Sport with moonroof, 32,xxx miles, priced at $12,750! Wow! What a car for a price like that! Ive owned 1 front wheel drive car and driven many, I cant stand them.. Torque steer, odd weight distribution, hard on front tires, etc. The Crown Vic is perfection of a RWD full frame platform derived from YEARS of feedback being used in the most abusive of driving conditions, and boy did they ever get it right.

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  seans review - 2004 Ford Focus
  By sean55697 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I like this car. There have been only 253 yellow SVT focus made. The handeling of this car is better than any other. It is very fun to drive.

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  Cant go wrong - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria
  By Michael - February 5 - 5:30 am

  When a car manufacturer makes a specific model for many years you can be relatively sure it will be problem free; such is the case with the Crown Victoria. The LX is quiet and smooth with decent acceleration, fine handling and semi-sporty looks. Its not a monster V8 with gobs of horsepower but has enough to merge effortlessly into traffic and quickly get up to speed. I bought the car to commute but also because of its FIVE STAR Safety ratings for front AND side impacts(with side air bag option). It also comes with built-in side impact beams on either side. The NHTSA rates it as the safest large sedan available. As a victim of two not-at-fault accidents safety is paramount to me.

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  Not Bad - 2007 Ford Five Hundred
  By Dave - February 4 - 4:06 pm

  I had read that Ford did a good job of packing a lot of features into the 500 at a decent price point. I found one at a local dealer that was priced very fair, Love the car, pleanty of pep, nice features, plenty of room for long legs.

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  :( Poor Gas Mileage - 2004 Ford Focus
  By drocksme - February 4 - 10:00 am

  I love the sporty look of this car. Fun to drive, easy to park - I live in the city.

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  explorer sport - 2003 Ford Explorer Sport
  By sprcoop - February 4 - 10:00 am

  has been a great vehicle which i use generally for pleasure driving so the typical suv gas mileage hasnt been an issue. no problems to date.

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  Its a Ford, not a Lincoln - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By leatherneck - February 2 - 10:00 am

  So far no problems. My only concern is the so called maintenance free automatic 5-speed transmission. No dip stick to check fluid level. Love the Michelin tires. Drives smooth. It feels secure when driving on the highway. The V-6 feels like a V-8. The only other minor thing I should mention is the rear trim around the rear window. It seems to be separating. The vehicle is only 8 months old.

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  Navigation not so good. - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By NAV man - February 2 - 10:00 am

  Problems with navigation system. The hardware is exceptional, the software package is poor. There are large gaps in its maps, for WY in NAV sys only covers one city completely. I say that tongue and cheek because there are probably black holes with that location as well. The neighborhood I live in has been around for over 25 years but there are parts the software considers us off roading. There are other software packages with complete maps, eg LEXUS. Also, most dealerships dont load the software until you pay for the vehicle so you cannot see the gaps. In its defense: software works great for maps it has but who whats to be lost with a clueless NAV sys.