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Shall I keep my 2000 Ford Windstar after the transmission is broke down (need US$1,500 to replace with a 70k used transmission)?
contemporary appearance, highly functional design and affordable price tag rightly indicate this petite newcomer is aimed directly at younger, active-lifestyle buyers. The fact that the Escape does a great job of getting one from point A to point B only helps to broaden that native appeal.
Those dimensions are comparable to extended-length versions of the Dodge Caravan or Chevrolet Venture. Four trim levels are available: the high-volume LX, sporty SE and SEL, and luxurious Limited. Last year's SE Sport model has been dropped, but Ford continues to produce a Windstar panel van for commercial use.
Cruising into its second year, Ford's Thunderbird appears to have shaken the start-up glitches that delayed many of last year's cars getting to their owners.
Ford F-150 -- First Drive: One hundred years and it comes down to this: a small town, a big state and a truck that must climb a mountain between the expectations that will receive it and the reality of what it is.
Ford Freestar -- 2004 Review: Though growth in the minivan market has stagnated in recent years, stalling at about one million vehicle sales annually, competition within the segment has been intense since the release of the 1999 Honda Odyssey, which redefined what a minivan should be.
Ford Escape Hybrid -- 2005 Review: Sometimes, people do the right thing for the wrong reason.
Ford Five Hundred -- 2005 First Drive: You can only sell a million trucks a year.
Ford Freesytle -- 2005 Review: Elvis Presley died from a lethal mix of prescription drugs on August 16, 1977.
Ford Mustang -- 2005 First Drive: There was a time, once, when the Ford Mustang symbolized everything Americans loved about their cars.
After 25 years on the sturdy but now outdated Fox platform, the new Mustang is blessed with a 100-percent more rigid chassis that's shared with Jaguar's S-Type. And it's 31-percent stronger in torsional stiffness.
Ford Taurus -- 2005 Review: Twenty years ago, Michael J.
The 2006 Ford E-Series Wagon offers more space, more seating options, more versatility and more space-per-dollar than any other vehicle in Ford's impressive model range. If you've never considered one, you might think about it, because the E-Series is officially the most popular full-size Wagon in America. Here are the other reasons why.
LAKE PLACID, New York - Draped atop and between the impossibly lush northeastern Adirondack mountains, two-lane roads are clogged with athletic men and women training for the Ironman triathalon to take place in the Lake Placid, New York, region.
If you like Fords but want something a little older, you should consider buying a 2006 Ford Fiesta. The following article is an overview of the 2006 Ford Fiesta.
A hands on guide to the 2006 Ford Focus. The articel talks about the physical properties and other characteristics of the vehicles.
Ford Focus - 2006 Review: What's the point of doing a story about the Ford Focus, a car that is seven years old and sitting, unloved, in the shadows of hot new models like the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris.
Consumers who get behind the wheel and take a test drive will discover a nice-driving, comfortable and stylish sedan in the 2006 Ford Fusion...
The 2006 Ford Fusion is extremely stylish, is probably fun to drive, and should be a great place to spend time behind the wheel.
the 2007 Edge delves deeper into the CUV (crossover utility vehicle) category, and if Ford gets its way, this new Fusion-based ride will serve as the icon of the burgeoning crossover community...
The 2007 Ford Edge's steep price and cheap feel make it lose its edge...
Ford comes out swinging with a 2007 Expedition sporting a fresh new look inside and out, a powerful engine that delivers best-in-class towing, a fold-away third-row seat, side- and side-curtain airbags...
Redesigned for 2007, the Sport Trac rides on the 2006 Explorer's platform, shares much of the design forward of the C-pillar, and draws power from the familiar 4.0-liter V6 or a 292-horsepower 4.6-liter V8...
For 2007, the Explorer Sport Trac and the Avalanche are completely redesigned, each sticking to their original formulas but adding refinement and power to the mix...
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 - 2007 First Drive: With a 500-horsepower, supercharged engine strapped in, engineers would really have to muck things up to produce a GT500 that's anything but fast.
Following a four-decade separation, Ford's Mustang and racing legend Carroll Shelby have reunited. The first products of this new collaboration between Shelby and Ford's Special Vehicle Team (SVT) are a pair of Shelby GT500s, a coupe and a convertible.
Ford in Vegas - SEMA Show: Race cars. Muscle cars. Sporty compacts. Rap star customized family wagons. Yup, must be the Ford booth at the 2007 SEMA show.
2009 Ford Escape Preview - 2008 Chicago Auto Show: It's like that party Uncle Bert had when you graduated from beauty school.
2009 Ford F-150 Preview - Detroit Auto Show: When you're the best at something, especially for multiple decades, there's a lot of motivation and pressure to maintain that ranking.
Ford Explorer America Concept Preview - Detroit Auto Show: It's now official: Body-on-frame SUVs have lost the fight to crossovers.
Ford Verve Sedan Concept - Detroit Auto Show: Adaptation is the key to survival, whether you're coping with life after divorce or playing in one of the most competitive markets on the planet.
Fortunately, for those environmentally conscious consumers who aren't quite willing to give up the utility and commanding driving position that multi-activity vehicles (MAVs, also known as SUVs) offer, a handful of midsize crossover models make the 2008 AEI Top 30 list"including one luxury model, the Lexus RX 400h.
Ford Escape - 2008 Preview: These days the Escape is eclipsed almost universally by its competitors in terms of style, performance, quality and capability, offering a more satisfying meal for your dollar than this warmed-over Ford.
Ford Escape - 2008 Review: Compact crossovers are a little like hamburgers.
TheCarConnection.com's editors read the latest reviews on the new 2008 Ford F-150 to write this comprehensive review. Experts from TheCarConnection.com also drove the Ford F-150 and include more dri...
Ford Focus - 2008 First Drive: A "killer app" is something so useful it makes something else indispensable.
Ford Focus SES - 2008 Review: A barely improved Focus, off-key with an unsteady beat.
Ford Super Duty - 2008 First Drive: Ford is hoping their big trucks do what working men and women need, and do so conveniently, with an integrated tailgate step and stowable bed extender.
2008 Ford Super Duty - Preview: Innovation, comfort, and style are terms seldom heard when the topic is heavy-duty trucks.
Ford Taurus - 2008 First Drive: Technically, it's last year's Five Hundred, updated with a new engine and transmission, revised styling, better sound deadening and significantly elevated refinement.
Ford Taurus Preview - 2007 Detroit Auto Show: It is the job of this new version, along with the smaller Fusion, to regain the sales volumes of the once-iconic Taurus.
Ford Taurus - 2008 Review: Regardless of life experiences, we've all encountered multiple types of average - appearance, intelligence, ability, size, and more.
Ford Taurus X Preview - 2007 Chicago Auto Show: Just when you think the Freestyle is gone, well, it is -- sort of.
The following contains automobile information you should know about the 2009 Ford F-150. Read this review if you or a loved one is interested in purchasing a car or staying car savvy.
Ford Flex Preview - 2009 Preview: Say goodbye, Freestar.
The mid-size 2009 Ford Fusion sedan shares its basic architecture with the last-generation Mazda6, but the styling, both inside and out, and features lists are significantly different. The combination of upright, creased sheetmetal, the distinctive chrome front end, and the airy greenhouse with plenty of window space is, even several years after the Fusion's debut, a refreshing departure from mid-size sedan styling convention.
While Internet sites and car magazines have been rife with predictions of a significant restyling for the 2009 Mustang, they are wrong. The full-length fixed-glass roof offers the vista of a convertible with the security, comfort and quiet of a coupe.
Protect Your Investment So, you've plunked down some cash and buy yourself a car. Now it's time to take a few easy steps to help protect your auto's interior and your investment.
Rumors of massive job cuts and plant closures, and news that long-standing favorites such as the Explorer are rusting on lots across America isn't keeping Ford from pressing ahead with future vehicles.
The Ford Econoline competes directly against the GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express. Both GM and Ford have invested in regular updates in these vehicles; since they're based on full-size and heavy-duty pickups, the chassis share much in common with each company's trucks. The Econoline gets running gear from the light-duty and heavy-duty F-Series trucks, with all the associated positives and negatives.
The big news is that the Edge is one of the first recipients—along with the Lincoln MKZ—of the new corporate 3.5-liter V-6 engine. Read on and learn more.
The 2009 Ford Edge is a tall utility vehicle that's actually more carlike in its performance; the five-passenger Edge made its debut last year and comes standard with a 3.5-liter, 265-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, along with either front-wheel drive for the more economically minded or an available all-wheel-drive system for those in winter-weather locales.
The Edge is bigger than it looks in photos. The reason is that it has a wide track and a long wheelbase with short overhangs. Checking the specs you'll find the Edge is eight inches shorter than the Ford Explorer yet its wheelbase is barely two inches shorter.
The Edge bowed last year as a mid-size, four-door, five-passenger crossover--a tall utility vehicle that's quite carlike in its performance. The 2008 Ford Edge comes standard with a 3.5-liter, 265-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission, and it offers front-wheel drive or an available all-wheel-drive system.
The 2008 Ford Escape has been re-styled more thoroughly than a quick glance might suggest. None of its major body panels are common to previous models, but the redesign is evolutionary and the most obvious changes are in the details, or jewelry, as designers call them.
The EPA rates the Escape Hybrid at 36 miles per gallon in town and 31 on the highway. The reason the city number is greater than the country number is because in slower driving the electric motor carries more of the load, plus the gasoline engine simply shuts off while you're sitting at a stoplight.
The Ford Escape became even more popular last year with a hybrid version that won the 2005 North American Truck of the Year award. The first thing you should know about the Escape Hybrid is that, for the most part, it drives just like a regular Escape. It demands little, if any, additional effort or knowledge from the driver.
In 2008, hybrid vehicles are still pretty rare. "Full" hybrids that can actually be driven on pure battery power alone--versus "mild" hybrids that just shut off the gas engine when the vehicle isn't moving--are rarer still. The much-improved 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid is one of them, and the tweaks made for 2008 help its gas-electric drivetrain run more efficiently.
The Ford Escort has been roaming the streets of Europe since 1961; however, North American was introduced to this vehicle in 1981. To learn more about the Ford Escort, read the following article.
Among full-size sport-utilities, the 2008 Ford Expedition stands apart with its superior driving comfort and utility package. Ford is right on target with its family adventure concept, and the Ford Expedition is the best vehicle for family vacation travel on the American road.
The Expedition comes in two configurations: a regular-length model and an extended-wheelbase Expedition EL offering 14.8 inches of additional overall length and 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space--including 24 cubic feet more behind the third-row seat than the standard Expedition.
The Ford Explorer drives like a traditional SUV though relatively smoothly and quietly, due partly to its independent rear suspension.Both the V6 and the V8 are smooth and quiet. With the lighter V6, the Explorer is a bit easier to turn and maneuver, but both engines are pleasant and competent.
Editors from TheCarConnection.com have recently driven different 2008 Ford Explorer models with V-6 and V-8 powertrains. Read on and learn more.
The Ford Explorer Sport Trac is a four-door, five-passenger, midsize pickup. It was unique when it first appeared in 2000, but today it must compete with midsize four-door pickups from every major player.
The 2008 Explorer Sport Trac looks very much like the 2008 Explorer. From just behind the front doors forward, it shares its design with the current Explorer. This is part of Ford's plan to push brand identity, and why the fronts of Ford's light-duty trucks, be they pickups or SUVs, wear many of the same design features.
The Sport Trac continues to be based on the Explorer sport-ute: It's identical to the 2006 Explorer from the B-pillar forward. The new Explorer platform increases structural rigidity 444 percent, Ford says, over last year's Sport Trac.
The 2008 Ford F-150 lineup offers a plethora of models for virtually every occasion or occupation, starting well below $20,000 and climbing beyond double that. The F-150 line offers something on the order of 75 permutations, more than some car companies' entire lineups.
The all-new Ford F-150 delivers a strong combination of style, interior comfort, performance, ride and hauling ability. With multiple choices in trim, drivetrains and body styles, there's an F-150 for every type of pickup owner.
NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent G.R. Whale reported from Los Angeles after his test drive of several 2009 F-150 models.
Turns out, there may be lots better places than SoCal for driving trucks as big and brazen as the black F-350 Super Duty 4x4 that showed up, complete with the PowerStroke diesel V-8, a constellation of clearance lights, and, of course, dual rear wheels.
Well, the choice of engine doesn’t affect the winning styling – the shapes and surfaces of the Fiesta’s body look great from every angle; the Hyundai appears dull in comparison. This sense of style continues inside, where the soft-touch dashboard is a step ahead of the i20’s.
Ford has a long and glorious history of building fast Fiestas, from the XR2i of the late Eighties to the previous-generation ST. The fact that the hottest version currently on sale is the 120bhp 1.6-litre Zetec S – a car that's quick, but hardly the fastest in class – is seen by many as something of a disappointment, however.
Back in the 1970s, American automakers were struggling to cope with a sudden demand for small cars brought on by back-to-back oil crises. One of Fords responses was the 1978 Fiesta, a subcompact hatchback designed by Fords European division and introduced in Europe two years earlier. The Fiesta disappeared from American showrooms after 1980, but its been a strong seller in Europe ever since.
With its skirts, spoiler and white paint, I reckon my Fiesta ST looks like a freshly pressed rally car just waiting for sponsors' decals. But not as much as the actual Fiesta ST rally car that Ford sent over to the evo office for an amusing afternoon's playtime. And this isn't some smoke 'n' stickers publicity trick - it's the full homologation monty developed for Group N by M-Sport, the people who run the Focus WRC cars. If you're so inclined, you could give them your own Fiesta ST - with a cheque for a smidge over 10,500 in the glovebox - and get it back ready to attack the Rally GB.
A stiffer structure allows firmer suspension without ruining the ride, an approach obvious the first time you turn the steering wheel into an exciting-looking bend. If you’re in a Zetec S, with the handling-biased suspension settings, you’ll feel the sort of instant, precise and proportional response that makes you click with your machine. More steering movement brings an exact amount of extra turning, with understeer right off the agenda, and trimming the throttle does the same thing to the turning radius.
The Ford Flex looks boxy. Make that boxy in an attention-getting and stylish sort of way, but boxy nonetheless. The hood is long and flat. So is the roof. The windshield stands tall and proud. Corners are squared-off.
The Ford Focus has been known as a car that offers good handling since its introduction for the 2000 model year. This Focus, though different in appearance, is basically that same car, which means it still handles well.
The Ford was the overwhelming choice of our experts this year, thanks to its excellent value, all-round ability and, to coin a phrase, buyability.
The Ford is still very competent, with revisions giving it a more upmarket feel. To learn more informatin about Ford Focus, read the following article.
The Ford Focus has been known as a car that offers good handling since the 2000 model. This Focus, though different in appearance, is basically that same car, and it still handles well.
The Ford was the overwhelming choice of our experts this year, thanks to its excellent value, all-round ability and, to coin a phrase, buyability.
Road manners have always been the Focus's trump card, and the CC is no exception. Although the Coupe Cabriolet's frame doesn't feel as stiff as, say, a VW Eos's, it rarely succumbs to scuttle shake, because the Ford's soft, supple suspension damps out the shocks before they can unsettle the chassis.
Great to drive, spacious and with revised good looks, the Focus Estate seems to have all the bases covered. But now, the blue oval has added a little 'X' factor to its latest load-lugger – and the emphasis is on luxury.
Focus comes in three-door hatchback, five-door hatchback, sedan, and wagon body styles. That makes it appeal to different types of people and meet their individual needs.
A curiously evocative name, suggesting high quality (as in blue chip), stealth (as in a shark's dorsal fin), and Ford too with its blue oval. All fitting connotations for this £499 Superchips engine upgrade system, available for an array of turbocharged petrol and diesel-engined Fords, to which the new Focus ST is the latest addition.
Here’s the plan. Essentially, we’re going to act out the scenario mooted by Henry Catchpole in the final few sentences of his Driven report on the Mountune performance-pack-equipped Focus ST back in evo 124.
The Ford is still very competent, with revisions giving it a more upmarket feel. To learn more informatin about Ford Focus, read the following article.
The standard Focus ST arrived on our shores just over a year ago, and it wasn't long before the aftermarket chaps started rubbing their hands together and booting up their laptops.
The Ford Fusion has presence, unusual among midsize sedans that tend to blend in to the scenery. Some people, including us, like the aggressive, angular look of the Fusion, some don't. We'd like to note that polarizing designs are often more successful than bland designs that neither offend nor excite anyone.
The Mazda6 and Ford Focus have established themselves as class-leading cars when it comes to handling. Ford openly admits that it's taken these traits from the two cars to make sure the Fusion inherits the same attributes. Judging by our all-too-brief test drive in a V6-powered Fusion SEL we can say they have succeeded.
New design elements contribute to the 2010 Ford Fusion's freshened look, one that Ford says is sportier, more aerodynamic and upscale. The Fusion has a newly designed front end with a domed hood, new grille, revised headlamps and larger fog lamps.
A brand-new model in 2006, the 5-passenger midsize Fusion sedan offers consumers the choice between front- and all-wheel drive (FWD and AWD), and 4- or 6-cylinder power. Replacing the previous-generation Taurus in the Ford lineup, the Fusion offers a more youthful and sportier alternative to the competition. New for 2008 is the Sport Appearance package, which adds upgraded suspension, 18-inch wheels, and minor cosmetic changes.
After 12 years sterling service the original Ka has finally been replaced. Based on the Fiat 500, the newcomer has a tough act to follow. When it was unveiled in 1996, the original Ka redefined the style standard for city cars. Unfortunately, the second-generation car can't match the visual impact of its predecessor.
There's much to like about Ford's Kuga – it's one of the best SUVs in its class, with a fine blend of good looks, off-road ability and driver appeal. So far the Focus-based 4x4 has only been offered with a 2.0-litre diesel, but now the range is benefiting from petrol power – and not just any unit.
We're big fans of the Ford Mondeo, and that includes the Estate. The car you see here is our option-laden long-term Titanium X Sport – in standard form it costs £28,240. But you needn't pay this much: the Titanium gets the same diesel and practical body for £24,240 – or £745 more than the Insignia.
The good-looking Ford is a first-rate family car. Whichever version of Mondeo estate you opt for, you’ve guaranteed a memorable driving experience.
First report: Big family ferrier has joined fleet – but are we pining for the S-MAX MPV it replaces? Ours is fitted with a TV system, satellite navigation, climate control and some of the best trimmed seats I have ever sat in. It's got a sliding boot floor, steering wheel controls, heated and cooled seats, privacy glass and sports pedals.
The Mustang improves on those things that have appealed to so many different kinds of drivers for more than 40 years, and it nearly eliminates the bad traits of traditional pony cars. In general, the good has gotten better and the bad, less so.
Ford marketing types have used the phrase "a steed for every need" when referring to the Mustang lineup. 2009 Mustang body styles include a 2+2 coupe and convertible. Both body styles seat two comfortably, and the rear seats are more than adequate for kids. Adults won't mind short trips stuck in back, but the operative word is "stuck."
The top-ranked model in the midsize sporty segment, Ford's Mustang delights its owners. In both studies, design-related factors produced the most favorable responses from people who own 2007 Mustangs, not surprising given the car's heritage styling cues inside and out.
The 2006 Mustang improves those things that have appealed to so many different kinds of drivers for more than 40 years, and it nearly eliminates some traditionally bad pony car traits. In general, the good has gotten better and the bad, less so.