Preemptive edit: I spent a RIDICULOUS amount of time writing this very passionate post, then my client - for no reason I can identify - simply deleted it. I’m sorry if what I say below doesn’t reflect how I felt adequately.

The first time I saw a Ford Flex, I said out loud “I want that!” (I was immediately mocked for wanting a minivan.) I’ve loved them since I saw one to the point that my wife eventually told me to shut up and buy one. Almost literally.

I did so and loved the car since I got it. Unfortunately, after many years of faithful service, it started breaking down past the point where it made sense to repair it. I still tried - I really loved the car - but at a certain point I gave up. I’ve now traded it in for an Edge, which is a perfectly satisfactory car but … Kind of disappointing comparatively. Since then, to my wife’s annoyance, I’ve occasionally observed that I missed the Flex.

Unfortunately, they stopped making it in 2019. (Mine was a 2014.) They’ve since started making the Explorer, which I think is a modern replacement, but when I had to replace my Flex it was semi urgent and there was no Explorer nearby enough to acquire. (I live in a rural area.)

Anyway, today I drove to a nearby town and saw this on the side of the road. It’s the same color and I think the same trim as the one I had. It was extremely difficult not to swerve to the side of the road and call to buy it immediately.