• toynbee@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    Until recently, I had a Ford Flex.

    The only thing I didn’t like about it was the proud “powered by Microsoft” emblem (and its implications).

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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      7 hours ago

      The entertainment system might run something windows based, but there are dozens of microcontrollers that do run linux.

      • toynbee@lemmy.world
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        4 hours ago

        Sure, and for the eight years I owned it before it broke down beyond being worth repairing, I had no problem with those. The infotainment system did kinda suck, but it was a 2014 so I think it would get some leeway for that even if it weren’t Microsoft powered.

        The emblem just offended my sensibilities. I never pulled it off, though, because the friends who rode with me all knew how passionately I feel about Linux (they mostly also work with it - I try not to proselytize to the disinterested) and found it funny.

        According to KBB, the car was worth $8k when it broke down. I put almost double that into repairing the same part of the engine at three different mechanics before giving up. Sadly, for some silly reason, Ford no longer makes the Flex. I think the Explorer is pretty close, but I couldn’t find one close enough to test drive. I would have loved to convert my car to an EV, but I wouldn’t trust my own work on that front and didn’t want to pay as much as would cost to have a professional do it.

        Every time I get into my new vehicle - a 2024 Ford Edge - I think to myself how much I miss the Flex. That said, I did get a great deal on the Edge.

        • MonkeMischief@lemmy.today
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          24 minutes ago

          That’s so painful and I feel for you. I had the same situation with a Honda Element. (I’ve heard of people going to Flexes as a more recent but similar body haha)

          Except for me, I broke it myself, and it was a VERY PARTICULAR bolt that nobody wanted to touch. Thing was leaking oil all over the place and nothing could fix it.

          Turned a ~$4000 sale price to $800 junker haul-away. :(

          But I got 219,000 miles out of it, so…

          Here’s to those roomy boxy brick cars everybody called ugly but were absolutely awesome and refused to die…until they did. 🍻