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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  Fun to Drive - 2003 Ford Escape
  By PooJo - October 15 - 2:00 am

  Ive been real happy with my decision to buy a 2003 Ford Escape XLT. It is so fun to drive, I make up excuses to go to town! I had a 2001 Honda CRV before, and this Escape is much more roomier & luxurious than the utilitarian feel of the CRV. Plus the Escape is one of the few small SUVs with NO BULKY SPARE TIRE hanging off the rear of it, and as a result, it only has a 16 gallon fuel tank. A sacrifice I was willing to live with.

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  Never Agaiin! - 1999 Ford Windstar
  By Dandi58 - October 15 - 2:00 am

  After replacing a Grand Caravan with the Windstar, I have to say I am extremely disappointed with American minivans. In the last year, I have spent over $4000 on the Windstar (granted, some items were maintenance, like brakes). I am staring at a bill for $1300 to fix the heat (blendor broken) and plan to send Ford a heated letter. I had to replace the intake manifold gasket at 60,000 miles, a $500 job (Ford paid 1/2), have had several recalls on the transmission and have generally found this van to be unreliable and requiring a LOT of maintenance. Oh yes, the gas mileage is terrible as well. And the windnoise is unbelievable.

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  Value is great - 2018 Ford Escape
  By Catrina Sandford - October 14 - 4:48 pm

  The colors, technology, comfort and price of the car are great!

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  My Mustang Sally - 2005 Ford Mustang
  By lauram - October 14 - 3:46 pm

  I got my convertible Mustang as a graduation gift and I love it. It rides wonderfully and the wind noise is not bad at all. With the top down my hair doesnt fly completely out of control. The windshield blocks most of the wind. my only complaint is the itty bitty back seat leg room. But I dont ride back there so I dont care!

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  You MUST test drive this truck! - 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Jim Russell - October 14 - 3:46 pm

  All I can say every time I get inside and drive is "WOW"! Great ride, great handling, very quiet, sweet engine, 6-speed automatic behaves very well. Please, if you are testing Tacoma, Frontier, Ridgeline, try this truck. Get the V-8. Ive always been a Toyota guy, but Ford has really done a great job with this one. Its nicer than the F-150, which is by far the best full size pickup. 292 horsepower, fully boxed truck frame, fully independent rear suspension, and it rides like a luxury car on the highway!

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  Decent Truck - 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By bennb - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Everything seems solid, but not outstanding to say the least. Moonroof shorts here and there. Engine replaced under warranty for head crack. Rear piece on tailgate bottom comes unglued. Seems a little on the poor side concerning integrity of build. Ride is OK, not great, but tolerable definitely. Paint on running board has chipped, interior finish on door handles and around the stereo scratches easily and peels as well. Really like the plastic bed, bed extender, and the tonneau cover helps overall satisfaction a great deal. A little tight in the back seat, but decent. A/C compressor slows at idle (engine idles too low?) .. no cooling then.

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  Nice Truck, Nice Ride, Nice Price - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Vache - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Needed a basic truck, paid $19,500 for a F-150 XL SuperCab from Claremont Ford. Very sharp styling and interior design. Ride is smooth unloaded and even with an 800 lb. load in the bed. Base V8 has adequate power. Tested against Chevy & Nissan, but not Dodge. Chevys design is dated and the V6 is weak, & rear seat room is poor. Nissan Titan: Great engine/trans, extremely bouncy ride, rear seat angle is too acute and not comfortable, doors "cave" in when shutting, flimsy door handles, no room to negotiate on price ($24K base).

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  Awesome Truck - 2004 Ford F-150
  By Lariat Driver - October 14 - 10:00 am

  Only had for a couple weeks but it has surpassed all my expectations so far. By far the nicest truck I have ever been in.

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  Nice Little Ride - 2005 Ford Escape
  By Mustang Dude - October 14 - 10:00 am

  This car is a fun SUV. It can hold lots of cargo as well as people. The motor is very peppy and seems to want to go with little effort. I love the new headlights on the 2005 as well as the new center floor shifter.

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  Looks are only skin deep - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By SeriousSam - October 14 - 10:00 am

  I was very happy to purchase this vehicle, but the longer I drove it, the more little things would come up to irk me. Ergonomics of the dashboard are not the best, layout of the components is poorly thought out. Engine is loud, sounds like a truck (which it essentially is, but it could have been made quieter for a passenger vehicle). Cheap parts (paint, interior). I put a mountain bike in back and ended up scratching the heck out of the interior and ripping the rubber seal around the door. Otherwise, the interior is very roomy, comfortable ride, good outside looks, overall Im satisfied, but not thrilled.