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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  4 transmissions and only 33K - 1999 Ford Expedition
  By Elster - October 24 - 5:33 am

  We are currently having our 4th !!!! Transmission replaced under warranty. This vehicle is awful and unreliable. Save yourself dont buy one!

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  Great Family and Tow Unit. - 2003 Ford Excursion
  By Gopher19432003 - October 24 - 2:00 am

  We use our Excursion for family vacations and towing a 35 travel trailer. This is a wonderful vehicle. It is well made, powerful, quiet and gets surprisingly good mileage. On diesel fuel, we average 18 MPG in town and 22 on the highway. When pulling the trailer, highway mileage drops to 19. I have never had a vehicle that can handle a trailer this large with such ease. I can drive all day and not fell beat.

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  I LOVE IT! - 2000 Ford Mustang
  By BOOYA - October 24 - 2:00 am

  runs nice, interior is excellent, couldnt ask for a better car

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  Invincible - 1991 Ford Ranger
  By Ranger - October 24 - 2:00 am

  i owned a ranger for 2 years and never regretted a minute of it. there simply isnt a better light truck on the market. on road, the handling and power are amazing. the 2.9l has plenty of torque, and the power is trasferred through the road better than most cars. off road, you can put most big trucks to shame. the 4x4 and low range are almost impossible to get stuck in mud snow or trails. accident safety is unreal. i just totaled it by hitting a crown victoria @ 60 then ran into a ditch and flipped 3 times. I walked away w/o a scratch.

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  the best family vacation van - 1995 Ford Windstar
  By J.B.Moore - October 24 - 2:00 am

  Taking good care of this car means a lotalthough Ford engines are not the most reliable, using in my car synthetic oil 5W-30(as the manufacturer recommends),saved me from troubles. I also have to mention the oil change every 3000 mi.Transmission fluid was also replaced every 15000 mi.Altogether this is not a race car(do not push it beyond its limits), but which demands the same careful maintenance as being one.

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  1995 Ford Ranger XLT Review - 1995 Ford Ranger
  By Tiggie - October 24 - 2:00 am

  I am the current owner of a 1995 Ford Ranger XLT Extended Cab SB. It has the base 2.3L, and that is the only thing I dont like about it. It has a 5-Speed, which shifts very nicely. It gets very good gas mileage for a truck(like 29-31 Highway). It looks good, and the interior is laid out very nicely. The back jump seats are not well-suited for adults, but work fine for children. Overall, I think it is a very good truck to own, and would recommend it to anyone who doesnt like going to the gas station much, and doesnt mind not being able to accelerate quickly.

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  Getn around - 2000 Ford Ranger
  By Bill V. - October 24 - 2:00 am

  Since purchasing my Ranger used, with only 27k miles, I have been very pleased. The basic transportation and ability to haul bulky items is a plus. I am 6ft.5ins., 255lbs and find I have plenty of head and leg room. I find the truck fun to drive my dog loves it!

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  Not Bad for a Wagon - 1998 Ford Taurus
  By LtcMike - October 24 - 2:00 am

  Exceptional handling---very easy to drive. Biggest disappointment is the Alternator, which has been replaced 2x. Headlamps still "flicker & dim" with regularity.

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  Overpriced - 2016 Ford F-150
  By JPW - October 23 - 3:52 pm

  MPG overstated, by quite a bit. This truck will never reach over 14 MPG. Ever. Door seals falling out before the first oil change. Carpet in the cab pulling up for no reason. Transmission unresponsive, any acceleration requires a downshift. Maybe 2 downshifts. Incredibly under powered. Auto-kill very dangerous at intersections, unresponsive or delayed. This truck is not only poorly engineered and built, but dangerous. The sync "tech" is 5-10 years behind. It does not even have simple navigation. Its as if the "tech" was an afterthought. Generally clumsy and awkward to drive. Almost impossible to park in an urban setting. Wholly impractical. It doesnt seem like Ford invested a lot in the engineering of this truck. Cost driven up to unreasonable amounts due to American unions. A $20K truck, sold for over $50K. I would suggest a Ram truck instead.

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  North Country Driver is Impressed - 2005 Ford Freestyle
  By Jennifer - October 23 - 8:03 am

  I was reluctant to own an SUV or minivan -- I commute 80 miles a day. But because of winter driving (and a growing family) it seemed to make sense to drive something with good ground clearance. We test drove about eight vehicles before settling on the Ford -- and I was no fan of Fords so ending up with this car was a complete surprise! I am pleased with the handling of this car and there is no shortage of space. Mileage is consistently around 22-23 with a few tanks of gas getting 25 mpg. This was the first Freestyle in the area and it has gotten a lot of positive comments on the nice looks and functionality.