You’re driving down State Road 22, maybe coming back from a game at Eastern High School or just heading into Kokomo for the weekend. You pass that familiar stretch of pavement where the F-150s are lined up like soldiers. It’s a sight most of us in Howard County have seen for decades. But honestly, in an era where you can buy a car on your phone while sitting in your pajamas, why does a place like Howell Ford Greentown Indiana—technically known to most as Brad Howell Ford—still have such a grip on the local community?
It isn't just about the chrome or that new car smell. It’s about something much harder to find in 2026: a handshake that actually means something.
The Family Name on the Sign
Let’s be real for a second. Most dealerships these days are owned by massive, faceless conglomerates. You walk in, and you’re just a number in a spreadsheet. But when you look at the staff list for Brad Howell Ford, you see the same last name over and over. Brad and Tammy Howell at the top, Baxter Howell running the day-to-day as General Manager, and Blake Howell handling the inventory systems.
That matters.
When your family name is literally bolted to the front of the building, you can't just disappear when a transmission gets wonky or a finance deal gets complicated. You live here. You see your customers at the Greentown 4-H Fair or at the local diner.
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The dealership has stayed rooted in Greentown's identity even as it expanded its reach across the Kokomo area. It’s that weird, small-town paradox: they are small enough to know your name but big enough to have a 2026 Ford F-350 Platinum sitting on the lot ready to haul a trailer.
What Most People Get Wrong About Small-Town Dealers
There’s this persistent myth that if you want the "best deal," you have to drive to Indy or find a high-volume mega-store. Kinda silly, right? People think small means expensive.
Actually, it’s often the opposite.
Howell Ford stays competitive because they have to. They don't have the luxury of burning through customers. If they treat someone poorly, the whole county hears about it at the next Friday night football game.
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Take their mobile service, for example. It’s one of those things that sounds like a big-city luxury, but they brought it right to the Greentown and Kokomo area. They’ll literally come to your driveway to do an oil change, rotate your tires, or handle a recall while you’re inside eating lunch. It’s a "we'll come to you" philosophy that bridges the gap between old-school service and modern convenience.
The Reality of the Service Center
We’ve all had those "service center nightmares." You know the ones—where your car goes in for a simple brake check and comes out with a $3,000 estimate for things you’ve never heard of.
Looking at the real-world feedback from 2025 and early 2026, the sentiment around the Howell service department is surprisingly consistent. Most folks, like a recent customer named Z S., noted that even when something isn't technically covered by a warranty—like a failed tire pressure sensor—the team often steps up to take care of it "N/C" (no charge) just to do the right thing.
Is every single experience perfect? Of course not. No business is. You’ll find the occasional grumble about wait times or a misaligned shifter repair. But the nuance here is how they respond. In a small town, "good enough" is the enemy of "great," and the Howell team seems to lean into that pressure.
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Why Greentown?
Greentown is a specific kind of place. It’s a town that values tradition—think the Greentown Historical Society or the legacy of David Foster. Howell Ford Greentown Indiana fits into that fabric by supporting local funds and staying involved in the Community Foundation of Howard County.
They aren't just selling Ford Broncos and Rangers; they are sustaining a local economy.
A Quick Look at What’s on the Lot (The Prose Version)
If you’re hunting for a vehicle right now, the inventory reflects the 2026 landscape. You’ll see plenty of the heavy hitters like the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E, but the heart of the lot is still the workhorse trucks. They’ve got everything from the compact Maverick to the massive Super Duty series. On the used side, it’s not just Fords; it’s common to see a Ram 1500 or a Yukon that someone traded in because they wanted to get back into a Blue Oval.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
If you’re thinking about heading over to East Boulevard, don't just wing it. Here is how to actually get the most out of the experience:
- Ask for a specific person. Based on recent reviews, names like Tony Tutela, Rick Hasty, and Danielle Simpkins consistently get high marks for being "patient" and "knowledgeable."
- Check the Mobile Service availability. If you just need routine maintenance, ask if they can come to your house in Greentown. It saves you the 15-minute drive and the wait in the lounge.
- Use the FordPass App. They are big on the digital integration side. If you’re buying a new 2025 or 2026 model, make sure they walk you through the app setup before you leave the lot.
- Be honest about your trade-in. Small-town dealers often have more wiggle room on trades if they know they can sell your old car locally.
At the end of the day, Howell Ford Greentown Indiana isn't just a place to buy a truck. It’s a survivor of a different era of business, one that has adapted to the tech-heavy world of 2026 without losing its soul. Whether you need a quick oil change or you’re ready to drop $100k on a Platinum F-350, you’re dealing with a neighbor. And in Howard County, that still carries a lot of weight.