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:
Showing 5281 through 5290 of 30,482.00-
New Expidetion ownr - 2003 Ford Expedition
By aisyle - November 30 - 2:00 amAfter 200 miles there was a rattle under dash. It took ford two days to locate and repair. Gas average after 2000 all highway driving was 15.1 to 18.9 going from California to Indiana
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king of the road - 1992 Ford Aerostar
By Ivan - November 29 - 4:24 pmsuperior family/dog/supply moving vehicle. with high seating and a real frame around the van this vehicle provides real piece of mind. outside of the subpar starters that were supplied with this van , the rest of the equipment does the job , in comfort. The AWD feature makes this van unstoppable on the worst days. god bless ford
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Great Car For the Money - 1996 Ford Escort
By Matt - November 29 - 1:13 amBought this car in Aug. of 05. So far it has been a good investment since it has taken me back and forth from work and school with little complaint. It is definitely a good car to have with the uncertain gas prices although the engine could use more power. The only major problem I had with this car is the heater core and the AC still doesnt work but I consider this pretty good for an almost 10 year old car. Overall Im satisfied with my Escort and would definitely buy one again.
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Big and Handsome - 2004 Ford F-150
By heavy - November 28 - 10:00 amNice in many ways, comfort, style and performance. Very good build quality and paint is smooth. I have the 5.4 liter and there was no selection on this review menu for my configuration. I am getting 16-17 miles on the hwy.
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Big and Handsome - 2004 Ford F-150
By heavy - November 28 - 10:00 amNice in many ways, comfort, style and performance. Very good build quality and paint is smooth. I have the 5.4 liter and there was no selection on this review menu for my configuration. I am getting 16-17 miles on the hwy.
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So far, so good - 2008 Ford Fusion
By Steve - November 28 - 7:43 amI chose the V6 model because I wanted a balance between performance and fuel economy. So far I have really enjoyed the car. Acceleration is adequete, and it handles very nicely. The seats are comfortable, and the car is nice and quiet; this makes it relaxing on the way home from work. Ill agree with others and say that I dont like the placement of the climate controls. I also wish the transmission had an autostick option, or at least a choice of 1,2,D instead of just L or D.
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Irreplaceable - 1991 Ford Explorer
By desert rat - November 28 - 2:41 amHad my Explorer about 6 years. Outside of a few mechanical problems which may be expected by the time a vehicle reaches 130,000, I have no complaints. I take it to rugged and remote desert areas with confidence, sleep in the back when I camp, haul plywood, lumber, bricks, plants, fertilizer, furniture and occasionally even people in the back and it is big enough and strong enough to handle them all and I can still turn on a dime and 4WD it through narrow places where the big ones cant go. It is a true SUV its utility is excellent. Id buy a new SUV but NOBODY makes a vehicle that puts it all together like my Explorer -- believe me, Ive looked at them all.
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An Awesome SUV! - 2005 Ford Explorer
By Marcus Auerelius - November 28 - 12:27 amMy family has had many SUVs, Lexus RX300 (and we now have an Rx330), Toyota 4Runner, Chevy Tahoe, Jeep Grand Cherokee, just to name a few. But I cannot believe just how good the Explorer drives. I wasnt quite sure about buying a Ford, but I was completely blown away when I test drove it. It is so comfortable, the refinement of the engine, transmission, the ride is all wonderful. Ford did a great job on the Explorer and Ii now know why I have seen so many on the road.
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4 Cylinder -- Auto - 1995 Ford Ranger
By Phil - November 27 - 1:45 amNice little truck, had some dome light and chime issues, taken care of by using WD-40 on the door lock assembly. The wipers wipe once on their own about one every couple weeks (strange). And the brake lines rusted away. Other than that I love the truck. You sure wont win any races with it!
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...after 9 months of owernship - 2016 Ford Explorer
By Jill P. - November 25 - 10:10 pmI purchased my brand new Explorer in April of 2016. Here we are nine months later and despite loving my car I find it to be quite "buggy." First of all, the alignment was off since day one. Finally took it in to get looked at today and its not covered by the warranty because Im over the mileage limit – despite being an issue since purchase. In August, turned on the car and drove away. Within 50 feet I experienced a loss of power. The car stopped and I did all I could to move it to the side of the road instead of stopping directly in the middle. Dealer was great and knew what it was before even looking at it. They had a backlog of 2016 Explorers that needed the Throttle-body replaced. Luckily they had one in stock so I was only without my car for two days. Nothing else major has occurred. But small things, e.g. going in reverse the back-up camera comes on and then stays on for several miles, even when shutting the car off/on or Ive had "Park Aide Fault" messages – in other words the sensors around the car that help me park werent working. Then my Navigation wouldnt connect for about a day. The Sync wouldnt pair with my phone for a couple of hours. Also, it doesnt have enough cup holders or small storage areas. Despite all this, I love driving the car. Its very roomy and comfortable and will hopefully will serve us well when we start our new family. Although, I am nervous about the future and what major repairs may be in store for us.
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Ford Aerostar 141 Reviews
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Ford Aspire 71 Reviews
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Ford Bronco 139 Reviews
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Ford C-Max Energi 36 Reviews
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Ford C-Max Hybrid 124 Reviews
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Ford Contour 410 Reviews
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Ford Crown Victoria 334 Reviews
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Ford E-Series Van 1 Reviews
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Ford Econoline Wagon 63 Reviews
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Ford Ecosport 1 Reviews
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Ford Edge 657 Reviews
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Ford Escape 2,320 Reviews
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Ford Escape Hybrid 335 Reviews
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Ford Escort 835 Reviews
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Ford Excursion 500 Reviews
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Ford Expedition 1,452 Reviews
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Ford Explorer 2,880 Reviews
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Ford Explorer Sport 207 Reviews
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Ford Explorer Sport Trac 560 Reviews
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Ford F-150 3,032 Reviews
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Ford F-150 Heritage 28 Reviews
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Ford F-250 79 Reviews
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Ford F-350 37 Reviews
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Ford F-Series 1 Reviews
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Ford Festiva 76 Reviews
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Ford Fiesta 297 Reviews
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Ford Five Hundred 569 Reviews
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Ford Flex 299 Reviews
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Ford Focus 3,280 Reviews
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Ford Freestar 265 Reviews
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Ford Freestyle 640 Reviews
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Ford Fusion 1,419 Reviews
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Ford Fusion Energi 20 Reviews
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Ford Fusion Hybrid 266 Reviews
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Ford GT 43 Reviews
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Ford Probe 258 Reviews
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Ford Ranger 1,516 Reviews
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Ford Shelby GT500 102 Reviews
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Ford Taurus 1,954 Reviews
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Ford Taurus X 88 Reviews
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Ford Tempo 99 Reviews
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Ford Windstar 915 Reviews