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:

• 

  Ford f150 4x4 - 2008 Ford F-150
  By Russell gardner - December 30 - 11:21 pm

  Bought this truck new its a 2008 f150 4x4 xl model.Right now have 146000 miles on it and runs perfect.Have only replaced the power steering unit twice and nothing else other than normal wear items brakes tires etc.Ill drive it till it wont drive anymore best truck Ive ever owned.

• 

  1993 Ford Festiva L aqua blue 5 speed manual F.I. - 1993 Ford Festiva
  By Nedarc - August 26 - 12:24 pm

  This is my third ford festival and the best. I am getting around 47 to 51 MPG on the FWYs and 44 MPG in the city. I have 218K miles and it is a blast to drive. No power anything, my brakes last me over ten years with me downshifting at stops and when the gas prices go high every week I get offers to sell my baby, which I refuse to do. I have owned BMWs, once a Rolls Royce, and everything in between. My little 93 Ford Festiva is the best car I ever owned. As soon as you drive it ..... You become a fan.

• 

  2004 Ford Escape XLT - 2004 Ford Escape
  By Hannah Gehlhaar - May 2 - 12:50 pm

  Cover Sheet Name: Hannah Gehlhaar Subject: 2004 Ford Escape XLT 4x4 Category: Suv Cars and Trucks Audience: New car buyers, Existing car buyers, People looking to review this type of car Important Audience Concerns: A lot of people like being able to drive and SUV and Trucks that they can feel safe in and I want to show when the Ford Escape is Publication venue for review-(Website) www.everyauto.com Venue Choice-I thought there reviews looked very reliable Hannah Gehlhaar Prof Evans English 1101 Writing a Review 2004 Ford Escape XLT The experience and privilege to be able to drive and SUV compared to a car gives you a greater chance of safety on the roads. Driving in a Ford escapes makes people feel so much more comfortable knowing that they are off the ground and the SUV is built to take on high forces. You are able to take on greater obstacles in everyday driving than you are in a small car. My 2004 Ford escape XLT enables you to be able to drive in all kinds of different weather conditions such as ice, snow and storms with having 4X4. Having 4x4 has more pros than cons. The pros of having it is you have a tremendous difference on control My 2004 Ford Escape in bad weather, you can turn it off and on the the 2004 escape and its and over safety thing that makes people feel for comfortable. The biggest con for having 4x4 is that it uses up more gas than when you just have front wheel drive but that is also resolved by being able to turn off the 4X4. My Escape has a 3.0L V6 with an Automatic Transmission, with 137,000 miles. You can average between 17-21 miles per gallon depending if you are driving on a highway or expressway with power steering, windows and mirrors. My Ford Escape XLT also had all leather seats, a sunroof, steal rims that only XLT’s have. A few benefits of driving this car that I like is you dont feel like your sitting on the ground when you get into the car, there is several different compartments to hold things and its a very affordable car. I bought this car when I was sixteen years old and I paid $3,200 for it. To me I believe I got a very good deal and it was very affordable. All of the different types and years of escapes there are all seat five people with a decent size trunk. With maintaining such an old car you do need to put some work into it sometimes. Luckily for me I havent had many problem but one major problem I had was that my radio broke and they are known for electrical problem but it was fix by just getting a new one that my dad put in. The Ford escape over the years has been able to grow and develop tremendously on several different qualities on of which being its The 2004 escape can handle the different types of whether because of the 4X4 and because of that it can handle other types of roads than the ones we drive on everyday. With my Ford Escape driving on the expressway is very good. I am able to have complete control of my car and not swerve from the wind because it is heavy enough to withhold the pressure of going fast. I would recommend this car to anyone because it is a great car to drag around a family in and its very affordable. You can get a Used Ford Escape that is in good condition for as cheap as 6,000 or you can get a brand new 2017 Ford Escape Titanium 4WD 2.0 Ecoboost Navigation for 35,000. You should never go to a car dealership without looking into some of the possible car you might want and I work at A car dealership myself and you can always work down the price you pay. Being able to put yourself and you family into a car that you think will be safe for them is better than the Name or the model of the car but whats important is the quality of the car. My Escape is made with basic controls with nothing flashing in the inside but that is for the better because cars are being made to where you are more interested on playing with the the flashy touch screen controls than the road. You can get this escape in several different colors for the interior and the exterior. You are also able to determine if you want leather or cloth seats for your car and that can also alter the price you pay for your Escape. You can get the Escape in several different styles such as the regular one, XLT, Limited and Ecoboost. Several different combinations you can make to get the perfect Escape that fits you. I myself have been driving a 2004 Ford Escape for the past two years now and I love it and am able to get into my car feeling see. One year after I got my license I got into a car accident because a lady ran a red light because she had just gotten out of work and was rushing home. I was turning left when I got my green arrow when she hit me on the passenger driver side also know as being T-boned. Everything happened so fast and when it did happen my car lifted up off the ground and I looked to the left and saw my car tipping over when it suddenly slammed back onto the ground because of its weight distribution. My car door was dented in but as for the small car the other last was drive it was totally done but thankfully we were both okay. But my story goes to show that having a SUV such as a Ford Escape is a safe car to get around in. I hope that My review can help you consider spending your money on a glamorous car compared to a well equipped SUV that can be for you!

• 

  1 of the best rangers i have - 1993 Ford Ranger
  By dave s - January 25 - 5:49 am

  ive owned this 2.3 standard shift ranger for 5 years now, bought in 2005,never any problems with it just minor maintenance, have a 91 ranger also ,3.0 ,somewhere over 300,000 mileson it ,had it so far for 16 years, the only money ive put into my 93 was upgrades, like the best air, ignition,fuel mods, went from 3.45 gears to 4.10 gears with taller tires,. allways dependable,cant go wronghere, rangers are the best small trucks .

• 

  Get a manual! - 2014 Ford Focus
  By thue77 - January 21 - 1:27 pm

  This car for the money is one of the best handling, comfortable, and sporty small size cars on the market. Although the 2.0 4-cylinder would be worlds better with a Turbo, the small engine is tuned up enough to make the SE Hatchback fun to drive. When looking at other reviews over and over again were issues with the duel clutch automatic transmission, my wife and I loved the car and wanted to get one but no way with all of the bad reviews on the automatic transmission was I going to buy one. So we made the decision to get a manual, it is fun to drive, a great little car so far, and we avoided the transmission issues which plagued the automatic. (I hope and think Ford has changed the auto transmission by now, such a shame because it is such a great little car). For the small car segment this is one of the best cars to buy, everything is great about the car but if you are looking to purchase one - it has to be a manual.

• 

  Average. - 2010 Ford F-150
  By Phil - January 19 - 6:02 pm

  2010 4Dr XLT F150 5.4L 3.31GR 145WB So far this has been a fair ride. Had issues with the tranny shifting. Had to argue with the dealer about it. They finally re-loaded the software for the tranny and it is working good now. No cost to fix. At 60,000 miles the exhaust manifold crack. Out of warranty. $1000 to fix. Appears to be a known issue. Had to put silicone around the cargo light. Water stained the liner. This also a known issue. Basic model. No fancy electronics. Just a radio and CD player. Manual temp controls. Currently pull a 6500 lb travel trailer. Have not had any issues with that. Over all pleased. Basic issues. No show stoppers. Just maintain and should be good. As my Dad always told me "If you cant maintain the vehicle you have, you cant afford a new one"

• 

  2014 focus se auto Trans slipping - 2014 Ford Focus
  By Larry benton - January 14 - 2:50 pm

  Our focus automatic transmission is having problems. It slips on take off.. dealer gave price of 1200.00 to install new clutch.. 500 miles over warranty. What a joke....

• 

  Poor resale - 2014 Ford Escape
  By Tim - January 13 - 7:06 am

  I purchased the car on a whim as I needed to travel across country. I was shopping for a midsize truck or larger SUV. I have it listed on a a variety of sights for thousands under retail and all I get is low ball trade in offers. This vehicle still has a Factory warranty and in very good condition. Not a good resale vehicle.

• 

  Value added used car - 2011 Ford Focus
  By Scotto - January 12 - 12:42 pm

  My 2011 Ford Focus gets 40+ MPG on the highway between 60--65 with 62K on the odometer. The heated seats and strong heater have been excellent in the winter months. The quality of the interior is a bit of a letdown as it features plenty of hard plastic despite being the top of the range trim level with leather seats and a moonroof. There is also a slight rattle from the interior that can get annoying on longer trips.

• 

  One of the best ever owned - 2007 Ford Ranger
  By Clarence Heemstra - January 8 - 8:45 am

  Solid reliable transportation, bought used 9k miles, 6 years ago, now 55K, routine maintenance ONLY cost to date, mileage averages 26 miles per gallon, not as good as wifes Prius but for a pickup great!. Am 79 years old have owned 4 or 5 new cars pluS many used including many beaters in my time over a lifetime of driving, this is by far the best ever!!!! Set of wheels ever.