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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  New Experience - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Annie - April 16 - 9:51 pm

  Just started with new Escape. Was stunned at the huge interior when you put the back seat down. Great ride. Velvet clutch that takes a bit of getting used to. Many neat little extra features. A lot of electronics that will have to past the test of time, but all worked perfectly when we picked it up.

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  Good, not great - 2009 Ford Escape
  By Dan - April 16 - 8:16 pm

  Not a bad vehicle for what it is. Not perfect though. Some nice improvements over the 08s with the extra HP, new transmission, and other minor tweaks. Getting about 23mpg mixed driving (30city/70highway mix). Nice looking inside and out for what it is. Still a lot of cheapness though with some of the plastics used. Even with the 240hp v6, still not impressed with everyday driving power. Still feels like an overburdened 4cyl unless you really get on it. Transmission has trouble finding the right gear a lot of times, particularly at lower speeds. Has the potential to be very quiet but excessive wind noise comes noticeably from side windows and rear hatch. This isnt a lexus after all though.

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  Beastly Vehicle - 1998 Ford Expedition
  By savage74012 - April 16 - 5:40 pm

  I could not be more thrilled with this vehicle. I bought it a year ago and it has never failed me yet. the interior room is amazing, and the luxury suspension provides a perfect ride. The 5.4L V-8 engine is extremely powerful, making the vehicle surprisingly fast. If you throw your foot into it, be prepared to be thrown back into your seat. I tend to drive it rather rough, but it never fails me when i need it. havent had the chance to tow anything with it yet, but Im confident it could handle most anything. The Shifting is also exceptionally smooth. The gas mileage is poor (average 12MPG) but keep in mind that this isnt meant to be an economy vehicle. My only regret is not getting the 4WD

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  Honest review - 07 KING RANCH - 2007 Ford F-150
  By Bill - April 16 - 8:20 am

  "Z" plan buyer (owned 15 Fords). Best luxury truck in class...but. Ford is so close to perfect but misses the mark on basic no brainer features and poor warranty. Im convinced the engineers do not drive trucks and do models and CAD design for looks not function. Unfortunately, they could have a home run and turn around the company if they would listened to the public and get back to basics. Weak A/C and pitiful fuel economy. Front passengers have elbows in rear cupholders. Poor location. Most Ford dealerships try to scam general public and still try to con the A, X and Z plan buyers with over-inflated dealer adds further ruining Ford experience.

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  No Complaints - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By Moorebuilder - April 16 - 7:59 am

  Bought this Explorer in 05 for the third row seats and 4-wheel drive in Michigan. The v-8 is an exceptionally smooth powerplant that has not given us any trouble. The traction control system is nice for the icy roads, and I feel very good that my wife and kids use this vehicle as their daily driver with all of the airbags, the 4wd, traction control and overall heft of the vehicle. We also tow a 22 boat with it and it makes an excellent tow vehicle. (The towing package spoils us) Overall, I havent had to take it to the shop yet and I do standard maintenance on it myself.

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  Runs great! - 1993 Ford Explorer
  By kornkid010 - April 15 - 8:24 pm

  I bought this truck about six months ago because I needed something that does not get stuck in the snow or mud.I put some Dayton Timberline A/T tires on and it gets thought the snow and mud great. We had a freak snow storm that gave us two feet of snow and I was able to pull several people out of the ditch, including another SUV. No, the 4.0 does not make it fast, but she is able to tow what I want and go where I want. Half the door handles are missing and some of the windows dont work, but I dont care. There was also an added tow package when i bought it, which is an added bonus.

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  2009 GT 500 Convertible - 2009 Ford Shelby GT500
  By gparker - April 15 - 6:06 pm

  This is great modern muscle car. Plenty of power and a loud, cool exhaust sound. The vapor metallic exterior color is unique and looks great with the black top. The wheels and wide tires are are well sized for the car, unlike many of todays sports cars.

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  Very pleased with my selection - 2002 Ford Focus
  By urlacher_fan - April 15 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my car for a month and I love it. I like the style of my car. When you drive a focus you can feel great control of the road that you possess. My only after thought is that I should have looked at a hyundai elantra, for the price I paid I probably couldve got a loaded elantra gt. My only problem with the elantra is that in my opinion it didnt look as nice as my Focus. Also I went from a 90 grand prix w/3.1 v6 to this focus and ive noticed the difference in power. However compared to the cavalier and the zx2 my zetec is much better. All in all the focus is fun to drive and comfortable in the inside.

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  Love my new Explorer - 2002 Ford Explorer
  By sandiegoexplorer - April 15 - 10:00 am

  I cant believe the negative comments on this site. Did some of you buy your Explorers in Afganistan or something? I just got my new Explorer XLT and love it. Granted, my mileage is under 5000, but I just cant see this car suddenly falling apart and becomming a repair nightmare. The new styling in great, and Im so glad I got the V8 - great power and torgue. My only minor complaint is that there seems to be too much road vibration traveling up the steering column and into the steering wheel. Has anyone experienced this? Seems like there should be some more dampening in the steering column.

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  They dont build em like this anymore.. - 1996 Ford Explorer
  By NMR - April 14 - 10:23 pm

  I bought this SUV with 150,000 miles. I now have almost 180,000. The only major repair I have had is with the transmission...a solenoid that cost $200. Other than that, I have experienced only typical maintenance issues: exhaust, brakes/rotors, O2 sensor, plugs/wires...which most can be done by the average DIYer. To the poster with 240k+ miles: if you have that MANY miles on a (American) suv and you arent happy, then you will never be happy with any vehicle. I have been looking to buy a new vehicle for the past year and based upon reviews, I will be sure to keep this one as a backup. I cannot say much bad about this SUV...IMO the Explorer is an A+ concept that ended when Ford redesigned.