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.
Go find a lightly used 2019 out there. Do a nationwide search. You know some old grandpa bought one, barley drove it, and then died off leaving his family to deal with getting rid of an unpopular vehicle. It’s out there waiting for you. You may need to fly somewhere and drive it home, but it’s out there waiting!
It might not be clear from the picture, but the Flex in the post is one I saw for sale. What you describe was a great source of temptation for me.