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 my 2001 ZTS - 2003 Ford Focus
  By maj123 - January 26 - 2:00 am

  Id consider the SVT model if they do a 2004 model.

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  Lemon:Transition at 16,000 miles! - 2001 Ford Escape
  By jj - January 22 - 12:36 pm

  The first time my 2001 Ford Escape XLT broke down, it was a result of the Serpentine belt falling out of my car due to a loose belt. The second time my Escape left me stranded onthe highway, was due to the V6 transmission. At 16,000 miles my car needed a new transmission. Ford Motor Company promised me an extended 100,000m/ 6 yr. powertrain warranty at no cost. I have yet to recieve the paperwork from Ford I now laugh at their "Committment and Quality" commercials.

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  Meet Isabella - 2006 Ford Mustang
  By Katie - January 22 - 11:43 am

  I fell in love with this car at first sight. I had been casually looking for a convertible for about 3 years. When I first saw it on TV in January 2005, it stopped me dead in my tracks. I have always had a sweet spot for the old Mustang GTs, but knew it still had some bugs. What turned my head was the retro body style. What hooked me was how the car performed. After my first test drive I was blown away. The car felt very stable on the road and around sharp corners (really fun actually!) If you were to consider getting the Mustang GT the one thing I would absolutely insist on would be traction control. The GT still has a light rear-end (much better than 2004), traction control is a must!

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  Definately! - 2003 Ford Expedition
  By Expy-lover - January 21 - 10:00 am

  Had the thing for near five years; its only a lease so weve got to turn it in in a few months. Love it, the nice firm seats are a plus but it would be nice to have a soft passenger seat. Only for short drives, that is. Great power, roomy interior. Great buy. The new ones dont have th same spacy feel. These trucks can go over everything. When I first acquired this I ran over every curb. I have a son who loved me flooring it so I did on a strait. Its got power, but lacks accelleration

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  25K and not a problem yet! - 2003 Ford Focus
  By ZX3me - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Love this car for commuting, so much fun to drive. Havent had a single problem or warranty repair ...yet, very reliable. In a pinch have had to fit my family of 5 in it...no problem, has a lot of room for a small car. Its just a blast to drive and i am consistantly averaging 30 MPG even when revving it off the line. Its been a great car plus I scored a 60mo Ford loan at 0% APR!

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  Pleased with 2008 Escape Hybrid - 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid
  By George S - January 17 - 11:03 am

  I bought this for the boss to replace a mini-van we outgrew. We wanted to downsize but not give up comfort and the ability to haul stuff from time to time. Oh yes, we wanted to use less gas as well. The Escape Hybrid did all these things for us. It gets a consistent 30MPG which certainly meets our expectations. We have not had any trouble with it whatsoever. Frankly, I didnt expect it to be this good but Ford, so far, has exceeded my expectations with regard to reliability. As an engineer, I appreciate and respect this as a technological achievement. The shop manuals for it have been enlightening and entertaining. To the boss its "push this to go; this to stop". It works for both of us.

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  Explorer Sport - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport
  By mm - January 16 - 6:40 pm

  Bought it used from a dealer who used it in the winter. Great vehicle for New England snow storms. Built well, low maintenance costs. MPG is not great, it has a smaller tank so it sometimes seems worse than it is. Towed approx. 1500 lbs. easily, sometimes felt like I wasnt towing anything. Rides real rough, had to replace rear shocks at 22,000 and front at about 45,000. Overall not a bad car.

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  Expedition Review - 2004 Ford Expedition
  By JLinn - January 16 - 10:00 am

  The Expedition 5.4V8 is powerful and when towing our 2500 lbs. camper you dont even feel it. The ride solid, quiet and very smooth over rough roads. I really like the interior space, layout and appearence. It blows the competition away. The brakes are very strong and provides great stopping even with the 2500 lbs. camper on the back. I test drove all the other big SUVs prior to our purchace, Toyota, GMC, Chevy, etc. prior to our purchace.

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  An easy choice over the Acura TL - 2006 Ford Fusion
  By BearcatFan - January 16 - 7:06 am

  I had decided on an Acura TL purchase this Spring until I saw a few ads for the Fusion. After a test drive and some internet research, it was an easy decision to purchase the V6 SEL. Not only did I get a car with comparable options, I saved over $11,000.00. So the Ford nameplate isnt an Acura - so what!

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  Not bad - 2005 Ford Escape
  By drlee - January 15 - 1:13 pm

  Not bad for an American car. I really bought it because my son works for Ford so I got a great discount plus the fact that my 94 Ford Ranger got me $2,000 more for a trade-in than Honda or Toyota would have given me. Sits high, fun to drive, great in snow! Overall Im very pleased, but wish it would get better mileage.