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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  Better than any Toyota I have owned - 2015 Ford Edge
  By Jim - December 16 - 9:41 pm

  The Edge is absolutely awesome! I have owned three Toyotas (Sienna, Rav4, and Camry). After one month ownership of my Toyotas, they were just cars. The Edge impresses me more every day. I just love the Edge. It is easy to get in and out. The Edge handles great and you always feel in control. The workmanship is first class. On another note, my sons wanted me to buy a BMW X3 or X5. I am so happy I bought the Edge instead of either of those!

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  WHAT I EXPECT FROM AN EXPLORER - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By Kevin B - December 16 - 9:24 pm

  I have owned a lot of Ford Explorers over the years from a 76 Ford Explorer Truck to a Camper Special to even owning a 92 Ford Explorer SUV with all them having accept for the camper special having V6 or inline 6 cylinder engines, but my latest is the AWD V8 which is a work of art to me. This truck in dependable and reliable. Of course I know it is not used to go rock climbing and is for normal to mid off road use, unlike most try to think it should be. In my opinion this SUV is what it should do an average to above average SUV

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  when they say ford tough they mean it! - 1995 Ford F-150
  By gee - December 16 - 6:17 pm

  i drive 1995 f150 automatic 302ci small block ford AKA 5.0 with 226,000 miles. The shifting is hard if you stomp it but other then that it smooth.i have the Eddie Bauer edition body style its nice i just wish i would know what color it is because in different lights its different colors.the engine is one of fords best engine they have ever built no problems had to replace the radiator couple pulls brakes and change oil.i like how it sits cause the back end way higher then the front but i think ford made them like that back then for towing and load capacity . the interior is nice its hard to find one without have the dash cracked but luckily mine wasnt the seats are really comfortable however it had a couple coffee stains but other then that it is a tough rugged truck to bad they dont make them like they use too.

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  DO NOT BUY!!! - 2011 Ford Escape
  By Preston Larson - December 16 - 3:14 pm

  My wife bought this car brand new in 2011. Worked great for 3 years and 1 month. 3 weeks after our 3 year warranty expired the back left window regulator went out. Ford would not replace it so we had to have it replaced for $200. One month later the back right window regulator went out. Soon after that the AC went out. And just recently the sun roof stopped opening and closing. We have owned this car for 4.5 years and have had to get more things fixed then any car I have ever owned. The car looks nice and drives fine in my opinion but the cost to own it is ridiculous. I will never buy an escape or a ford for that matter ever again.

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  bought it and 3 days later.. new transmission - 2012 Ford Focus
  By JR Gillespie - December 16 - 1:03 pm

  I went to the local Ford Dealer in Dallas, GA last weekend to look at cars. I found a 2012 SE Hatchback that seemed nice enough, Ford Certified used car, great condition, 40,000miles with 100,000 powertrain and extended 36,000 mile bumper to bumper It seemed a bit funny on the test drive, all flat terrain but was assured that was normal. Then I took it to work the first time.. on my way home it was mostly uphill and it slipped at every time I tried to start up from a stop, rolled back at every stop and at speed would lose power and slip out like into neutral The second day it was even worse so I called the dealer who referred me to service who said it was a easy fix and they had to reprogram the transmission with the new software released this week dropped the car off this morning and a hour later was told it would require a whole new transmission and they have to order parts which are in short availability and could take weeks before I have my 3 day old car back.. at least they loaned me a fusion.. DO NOT BUY THIS!!!

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  Ok in the city gave me moneys worth. - 2005 Ford Taurus
  By bob - December 16 - 4:05 am

  1990 to 1996 had transmission problems and Ford paid out generously to repair. After improving design they decided in mid 2000s to use the old style transmission and they went out again, but Ford refuses to repair past 36000. That cost me 2000.00. The rack and pinion steering handles well on the road and at high speeds. Ive gotten 185000 out of vehicle. The accelerator pedal sticks when starting out from a stop. If you expect it just pump the pedal and that unsticks it. The catylictic convertor is bad and their design requires 3 converters be replaced at cost of 3500.00(happened at 150,000). I didnt replace instead use mystery oil in the gas tank eliminates any performance problems(8 oz per week)

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  2013 Fusion SE 1.6L Turbo ecoboost - 2013 Ford Fusion
  By Jim - December 15 - 11:49 pm

  Overall happy with the car. Pros: Drives well, roomy, solid no rattles, ok fuel mileage, good visibility, creature comforts ok. Cons: Recalls that take multiple days with no loaner vehicle, Rear brake rotors and pads need to be replaced at 34K miles and dealer says not covered under warranty (normal wear) Front arent too far behind. Every other vehicle Ive owned (6) have gotten 60k miles before replacing brakes. Chalk it up to Ford using inferior parts. Not a fan of the transmission, Not smooth and mostly due to the fact that youll be coasting downhill and then all of a sudden the tranny shifts down to where the engine is revving 3k rpm. Feel like Im in a big rig yanking on the jake brake. Real eventful driving in the snow when you need to slowdown and the engine is revving off the charts. Many times I throw it into neutral for better control or to simply glide better for efficiency when not in weather. I came from an accord and have to say Ill probably go back when the time comes which is a shame as I prefer to purchase USA. Mildly irritating yet tolerable.

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  Great Little Workhorse of a Car - 2007 Ford Focus
  By G.C. Cantor - December 15 - 3:40 pm

  My parents purchased this car new in 2007 for about $17,500. I received it from them in February 2013 w/18,400 miles on it. Today it has just under 50,000 miles. I cant say enough good things about it. The interior headroom is excellent as are the sight lines based on the fact that the front seats are mounted on an elevated platform, unlike the newer Focus model, whose seats are mounted very low. I must transport my elderly mother to frequent doctor appointments and she has no difficulty getting in or out of the car. The car accelerates well, particularly on freeway ramps and corners remarkably well for a smaller vehicle. Gas mileage could be a little better, but I probably average 26-27 mpg in city and 30 or so on the highway. Still operating with its original belts and hoses. I particularly love the hatch and the voluminous trunk storage, which has more cubic feet than on many larger models. Some rattles and noises, particularly when the weather is cold, but nothing major. The heated seats are wonderful during the long Ohio winters as are the heated mirrors. In short, a great car for little money.

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  Fun, Fun, fun - 2015 Ford Edge
  By alampur - December 14 - 7:20 pm

  I have had Ford Edge Sport for the past 2 months. These words come to my mind: Solid, Fun, Sporty and a delight to drive. Blind spot monitoring, Lane Departure Warning and gentle nudge back to the lane, excellent blue tooth are all technological pluses. Steering, handling are top class. Very quiet inside, very little road noise. Quite roomy especially the second row and adequate cargo. Overall, quite impressive.

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  Amazed at the change Ford Made to this Vehicle - 2015 Ford Edge
  By Justin Webee - December 14 - 11:23 am

  Redesigned for the Gen 2 the 2015 is really fun to drive. I was less then impressed with the previous version of the Edge, so I was skeptical taking a test drive. Wow they changed this vehicle, comfortable, design and what they used. Some thing I would have made standard is every model should have the LED rear red Light Bar, Power mirrors with integrated blind spot mirrors , also every version have intelligent access with push button start, I have this partially I have push button start and the rear gate is intelligent access but not the doors. Every model should also include the front and rear parking sensors. Other then that everything else could be optional. 2.0 EcoBoost AWD in Magnetic, black interior, Rear inflatable Seatbelts Pros: Comfortable Amazingly a lot of power Low road noise very nice controls Cons: Everything I mentioned that should be be standard.