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 average - 2000 Ford Explorer
  By roughneck - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Like the car a lot. Had 2 problems so far. The rear window wiper had a bad motor and needed to be replaced and the Idler air control (IAC) valve was sticking and needed to be replaced or the car would sometimes die at standstill. I also see that some parts are not lifetime. (Example: fuel filter) A small cost but on Toyota its a lifetime part. Among other recommended services Maintaince Costs can add up on this vehicle because the dealer has to do certain things like a complete transmission flush and fill every 30000 miles. An above average SUV for Premium Price in its class.

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  Wow - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By Ronny B - March 13 - 2:00 am

  I just bought it and cant believe all the negative feedback here. I think it is an excellent car and an excellent value. I love driving it and think that Ford has done an excellent job with the 2002.

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  So Far So Good! - 2002 Ford Escape
  By Jtptampa - March 13 - 2:00 am

  So far so good. Afew details are pretty cheap. Runs good, decent gas mileage, fun to drive, bigger than it looks inside

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  Party Wag - 2002 Ford Focus
  By weakside - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Perfect balance of economy, luxury, sportiness, and fun. You cant beat the ZTW for its price. Itll hold more cargo than many small and mid-size SUVs and get 30 mpg on the highway. And somehow, you end up having nearly the same view from the drivers seat. It rides quite high for a small car. I cant wait for its first road trip. Its just a fun car to drive.

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  Reliability poor - 1998 Ford Windstar
  By Spark - March 13 - 2:00 am

  Overal, it was great first 40K miles. No problems. We enjoyed the vehicle. We started having many small problems- alternator, suspension parts, front struts (twice),idler arm pulley, door lock, etc. One major probelm on head gasket for engine- was a major job $1000. nagging problem with stalling-finally solved by reprgraming of PCM module.

• 

  Excellent Overall Full Size Car - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By Mac - March 12 - 8:13 pm

  Purchased my Five Hundred Limited in mid-Dec. Fuel mileage after 600 miles ranges from 15 in the city to 23 on the highway (65 mph). Ride comfort is excellent. Traded in a 2003 LeSabre Limited. The ride in the Five Hundred is a bit firmer than the LeSabre, yet the handling is much sharper. The overall ergonomics are outstanding. The rear seat room accommodates just about anyone. The trunk is huge. Am hoping the overall fuel economy will improve as the powertrain gets "broken in." The 6- speed automatic makes up for the most part the lack of torque the 3.0L V6 has. Overall performance is similar to what the LeSabre had.

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  Good car - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By Daniel - March 12 - 4:50 pm

  I bought this car 1 1/2 years ago, after doing a lot of research. And so far I am very satisfied with it. It is a Consumer Reports "Good Bet" as it seems to a reliable vehicle. It is a sharp looking car, with lots of potential if you can afford to upgrade it. It is fun to drive in the snow with snow tires on.

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  Great when you want a small minivan - 2016 Ford Transit Connect
  By Chris N. - March 11 - 11:41 pm

  We bought this to replace our beloved Mazda MPV after 220k miles. The MPV was small, we wanted a similar sized minivan. We test drove about 20 minivans and similar hybrids, but when I got in this, I told my wife "this is it". The forward view is so wide it feels like driving a motor coach or bus. I love the open view and light. The little details like the notch mirrors are great... but needed as there is a bit of a blind spot on the passenger shoulder area. Overall it feels very open with high visibility. Storage space is great on the 3 row model. The fold flat seats take some getting used to, but offer a very flat large storage area. A bit smaller than our MPV, but large enough to haul most of the bigger stuff from the store like chairs and tvs. The worst downsides for me are 1. slow acceleration 2. AC takes forever to cool down 3. things will roll right out of the back unless you put the optional net in because there is no storage well 4. second row seats do not recline (oddly the third row does) 5. with the third row seats up there is very very little storage room behind those seats. 6. no volume controls on the left of the steering wheel which means I cant fully drive with only one hand there on the left 7. I always find the cruise control a little confusing. 8. microsoft sync system can be a bit buggy (ive had to power down the car a few times to get it to fully restart, its done "scheduled maintenance" where its updating lord knows what for 8 min and not working) 9. I dont like that you cant turn off the proximity alerts. Sometimes they get annoying; YES I KNOW IM NEAR THE WALL AT THE DRIVE THROUGH. 10. the steering is a bit loose, its not a car that you want to steer with your knee for even a second. That may sound like a lot of bad stuff, and those things ARE annoying, but overall, I still love the car. What it gets right, it really gets right. Its comfortable, flexible, and for the most part I love the controls and sound system. There are lots of little things like bag hooks and storage nooks that just make it a pleasure to use. My wife is short and I am tall, and it works for both of us quite well. Backup camera is amazing.

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  Best Vehicle Ever! - 1999 Ford Explorer
  By calicobobtail - March 11 - 11:41 pm

  I know you wont believe me, but this is the best vehicle we have ever had. It is approaching 175,000 miles with virtually NO major repairs. I commute 30 miles each way to work, never have been broken down, and no problems at all. I purchased at 90,000 miles. It is a little narrow in the front seating, so a large person would probably be uncomfortable. 4WD works awesome the gas mileage is killing us though. We pull our horse trailer and also large hay wagons for our horses. It has the power to do it.

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  Great sports car - 1997 Ford Mustang
  By SS - March 11 - 11:15 pm

  This is a great car that gets great gas mileage and looks sporty and looks fast (though it really does lack HP). It is fun to drive. Not good for a "family" type car (only 2 doors) and definitely not good in snow (rear wheel drive). Might as well park it for the winter if you live in a snow state. Its real fun, dependable and affordable - but its not a "comfort" car at all - better stick to a luxury type car if you want all the bells and whistles and to be super comfy!