For me, this episode is the real beginning of Married With Children. The first four episodes, with their sitcomy couple-heavy themes, while different than any other sitcom out there, still were wrapped up a bit too nicely; Married With Children was not designed to be tender and warm. Have You Driven a Ford? is different; Al and Steve do battle with Marcy and Peg--and this time to not wimp out. The other part of this episode I really enjoyed was the evolving of the Al character. On the pilot, Al was downright unlikable. The key to the series was the sympathy we feel for Al. Even with all his flaws, all his unpleasant habits and all his slimy opinions, we still feel or Al. Why? Because Al was REAL. We all have our unpopular traits--that doesn't make us evil. The softening of Al Bundy, while subtle, gives the audience someone to root for.
The two couples are heading out for dinner when Al and Steve meet Kelly's date. Thinking they are swindling the teen delinquent, they purchase his beat up 1965 Mustang. Steve had a Mustang in college and Al has always wanted one (but with his Bundy luck, he's been stuck driving a dodge). The two plan to fix it up and relive their youth. They quickly become obsessed with the car and wind up completely neglecting their wives in the process. A classic Bundy moment happens when the two dream about their future with their new hot rod; Steve imagines himself and Al cruising down the road, Al is with two babes while Steve is left on the sidewalk. In the first of many failures, the duo do turn the car into a flashy looking dream machine, but are stopped during their first drive; the car was stolen. An outraged Al butts heads with the cops and winds up battered and bruised.
*AL'S MOVIES: In this episode, Al gives thumbs up to Shane.
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