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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  2003 Taurus SES Sedan - 2003 Ford Taurus
  By mwp201 - December 29 - 12:45 am

  I own a 2003 Taurus SES sedan. It is a great car..for two reasons..roomy and the price. I also LOVE the power for a 200 hp engine. I recommend this car for people who are on a budget and want the power.

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  The Poor Mans Sports Car - 1997 Ford Probe
  By Kerroj - December 28 - 6:01 pm

  Ive always loved sporty-looking cars but felt I could never afford one. I needed a car, so I decided to get a sporty one for the first time in my life. I researched a lot of used vehicles on-line and did a lot of comparison shopping. The car I REALLY wanted was a late-model Mitsubushi 3000GT, but it was too pricey overall compared to a Ford Probe. I settled with a 1997 (the last year they were made) black Probe that I found on a dealers on-line site. This was in November 2000. This car had only 24K on the odometer. I got it for their internet price (the price was listed at about $2K higher at the dealership!). I was truly amazed when I first test-drove this car, its fast for a 4-cyl auto!

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  Thanks Ford - 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By Michael Martin - December 28 - 9:13 am

  Greatest vehicle I have ever owned. Dont know why I didnt purchase one years ago. Pick up bed is just the right size for my needs and cabin comfort is exceptional. Will definitely purchase another in the future.

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  escape - 2004 Ford Escape
  By layne - December 27 - 11:52 pm

  have really enjoyed the ford escape. bought for wife to drive because we needed room for two car seats side by side. has worked out great. power from the v6 has been amazing. the ride is great. easy to get in and out. i really love this vehicle.

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  My Favorite SUV - 2005 Ford Expedition
  By Ben Griffin - December 27 - 9:32 pm

  My Expedition is the best SUV that I have ever owned. I drive a lot and need and comfortable vehicle. My onboard computer reminds me that this huge vehicle averages over 20 mpg. I preferred this to both the large Lexus, Tahoe and Toyota. Ford has hit a homerun with this versatile vehicle. The Eddie Bauer model is worth ther extra money!

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  Still going strong - 1998 Ford Explorer
  By Whatever - December 26 - 11:01 pm

  Bought it 67 months ago. No major problems. The radio was replaced, but nothing else. As long as you maintain it, expect no problems. Wish it was worth something for trade in. Will probably give it to family instead of trading it for peanuts!

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  ReVamp Design Surprise! - 2018 Ford Escape
  By Ru2bsi - December 26 - 10:19 pm

  We never thought wed be in an ESCAPE, EVER, not in this life or next - we hated the boring look and basic utilitarian styling. Except now, we noticed in late 2017 that the styling had changed, something very stylish yet easy on the eyes. But it was a ford, how great could it be, would we have irrepairible GEM Module Problems of years past?? Whats with the app FORD PASS?! Now this is a significant improvement over is competitors!! The more we mulled over it, the more we finally realized it was revamped enough for us to take notice and if it had GEM Module problems, we would definitely take it back (the warranty had improved!). All kidding aside, we have finally entered a new era of FORD Vehicles - after all, they would not be in business if their vehicles quality never improved. For the record, we owned 1996 Explorer and a 1994 Ranger --Ford came back and was finally a contender in our books, the quality had improved. We are the typical BMW & MBZ drivers we moved from a sporty number inline 4 - MBZ CLA-250. Heres what we knew we wanted...a SUV with similar "quality of drive" with same type of engine & power plus techie stuff that was lacking in the MBZ. Little did we know that for the same price of the GLA-250 base, we could get more space and techie things -- we never knew we needed (i.e. backup camera, more proximity sensors that we didnt know we needed, rear door foot sensor opener, & rear seat reading lights? - who knew?) Though the initially the differences were short on the base model escape. We gained creature comforts and more tech than what we had in the MBZ for the price. We found ALL of that in the Escape Titanium is smaller than the GLC - but so is its pricing >20k). Only a couple real downsides: #1 are the bucket seats - not quite as ergonomically comfortable as the MBZ, seats are more "truck-like" than crossover type seats and #2 touch screen, some of the UI (User Interface is a bit tricky) - but once again, it won us over -- it just takes some getting used to (options, audio set-up, functionality, etc).

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  Great SUV - 2003 Ford Explorer
  By Robert from MD - December 26 - 10:00 am

  First time Ford owner and very impressed. 15k and no problems yet. Overall, love my truck. Impressed with how well its put together. Excellent value for money. Great well rounded overall American SUV that is real competitive if not better than its imported lookalikes. Has everything you need. As all vehicles, take care of it and it will take care of you.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Ford Explorer
  By cvog - December 26 - 10:00 am

  This is the second Explorer I have owned, the first one being a 96. I love the safety features on my new one, the smooth ride, and the huge cargo area. I appreciate the option of not getting the 3rd row seat as I did not need it and wanted the larger cargo area instead. My husband has hauled his large riding lawn mower in it. I have had numerous comments from friends on the comfortable seats and the quietness of the ride. It has not had any squeaks, rattles, or other problems. We both love it and the older 96 so well, that we decided to keep the older one, too.

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  Sport Trac - 2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
  By md3 - December 26 - 10:00 am

  Oustanding performance. Just as comfortable on mountain trails as riding around town. Well Worth it.