Better Beaters - Building Cars and Daily Drivers

 I guess that this doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

"Peak Lincoln"

"A Millionaire's Yacht on Wheels!" 

But the heart wants, what the heart wants!

The dash is styled to recall the '61-'63 Lincoln Continental.
My Dad had one, and I got to drive it.

I ended up driving an extra 250 miles to check this Navigator out.

I've always been curious and somewhat intrigued by these luxury SUVs. The Lincoln Navigator is the top of the line vehicle from the Lincoln Motor Company. For the second generation of the Navigator, Lincoln got it right. A new high end interior along with an impressive dashboard. This is a world class interior in my opinion, it reminds me of the interior of my old Jaguar XJ6. 

It might sound funny, but one other huge attraction is the color combination, Aspen green with a tan interior. My favorite color combination. I haven't owned a vehicle with that combo, yet, though my F150 comes close. Forest green, with a grey interior. I did have my '70 Mustang custom painted Highland green several years ago. 

I now find color to be a big factor in how much I like a car. I want a bright exterior color with a light color inside. One of the reasons that I bought my '06 Mustang was the bright blue paint with a tan top and interior. The interior is livened up with silver panels on the dash and console. The door panels have black areas as well as the lower dash and console.  I find it cheerful.

Strange how I once had an all black Harley Davidson XLCR and Cadillac Seville. 

Obviously these SUVs are spacious, quiet, smooth riding, powerful vehicles. Loaded with luxury and convenience features and aids, these are really a throw back to the great American luxury cars of the '50's and 60's. They also have a tremendous presence on the highway. Fuel mileage? If you have to ask, then you can't afford it! That's what they used to say!

Even with that in mind, it will get better mileage than my '56 Cadillac. It actually matches or slightly exceeds the mileage that I used to get in my '77 Coupe de Ville.

Isn't this just a big tank? Not exactly, while it's no Smart Car, the standard length model is only 205.8 inches in length. This is 20 inches shorter than full size luxury cars like an old DeVille, which measured 225 inches, and two feet shorter than a Lincoln or Imperial! My long bed F150 stretches out to 229.8 inches, could it really be two feet longer than that Navigator? I don't find that it's hard to manage at all, and I don't ever feel guilty driving it. Loaded or empty. 

These, of course, have much more interior room for passengers and cargo, then those big old Cadillacs of yore.  The third row seat is spacious, with more headroom and more importantly, greater foot space than my Flex. Like the Cadillac Escalade, these are favored with large active (affluent) families.

Aren't these just a dolled up Ford truck? Well, Yes and no. They of course share there basic platform with the  F150. But they have their own wheelbase and they are equipped with an independent rear suspension.  They also ride on air suspension. The engine is not shared with the truck line. This is a larger displacement version of the DOHC 32 valve Lincoln V8. It is tuned to provide the wider power band needed for a truck. The 5.4 puts out 300 hp. along with 335 lbs. ft. of torque, which is adequate, but it's no Raptor!

The body is quite different and distinctive, somehow they convey a sense of dignity and prestige, but with good taste. At least in my eyes! I prefer this generation of Navigator, with the "Mark" style, chrome center radiator grille. The later models have a wide grille that matches the wide tail lamps, not a bad look, but the earlier model is a classic.

Peak Lincoln.

There is no comparison when it comes to the interior, which really sets these vehicles apart. A similar design is found in the Aviator, these are so much more distinctive than those found in any Ford truck. These have a real luxury interior. These are nicer inside than a Town Car. Lincoln has even outdone these with the current Navigator and Aviator.

Current gas prices will cause anyone to give mileage a real consideration. I have never had a really long work commute, my longest was back when I worked in Downtown L.A. and that was only a little over twenty miles, one way. My commute over the last thirty years was only only a bit over twenty miles combined! And now, I'm retired.  EPA rating is 12 city/17 freeway. Obviously this isn't very high, but you have to compare it to similar vehicles. If you compare it to a comparable Toyota Sequoia with EPA ratings of 13 city/17 freeway. However it's towing capacity is only 6,500 lbs. as opposed to the Nav with 8,000 lbs. The Toyota doesn't even have IRS. 

Comparing it the popular Chevy Tahoe, we find that with the smaller 4.8 engine mileage is 15 city/19 hwy. With the larger engine, mileage would drop a bit to 13/17

How about a 2003 Honda Pilot? Even with a V6 it's only 17 City/22 freeway.

These are EPA ratings, which are theoretical. What really counts is actual, on the road mileage, under the foot of a specific driver. My standard is long freeway trips at 70 mph. Both my Mustangs can return 25+ mpg. My Flex varies between 22-24 mpg. though on one recent trip to Sacramento I saw 28-29 mpg. I must have had a tailwind! My V6 F150 can average 20 mpg. provided that I stick to the speed limit. I once achieved 21 mpg. I am a careful, smooth, very steady, driver. I modulate my speed so I can avoid abrupt acceleration and braking. You will see the opposite of this displayed everyday on the road, drivers speeding past you, then braking hard to stop for traffic, just a few seconds ahead of you! My goal is to keep the wheels turning, without impeding traffic behind me. 

So do I really want one of these things? Yeah, I think that I do. 

The why of this equation is difficult to explain, especially since I've currently got that Flex, which basically is a lower, front wheel drive Expedition. I kind of think about them as an alternative to a '50's or 60's Cadillac or Buick. The Nav is a big machine, but not that big, and at least the Nav is more useful than those old tubs, and returns almost twice the mileage. It will be a hobby vehicle. I don't see it being driven that much, I've got plenty of alternate vehicles.

A more salient point is that my Wife did not recoil in disgust when I showed her pictures of the 'Gator. I know that she would prefer that I not return to my preference for big old vintage Cadillacs! She gently suggested that I concentrate my interest on vehicles made in this Millennium!

I attended a car show on Sunday morning, at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville. the all British show. After the show, the Navigator was still on my mind. The problem was that it was located up in Rancho Cordova near Sacramento. It was far, but I was free for the rest of the day, and maybe, just maybe, I  needed to see the car and just get it off my mind. So what the heck, let's go!

I called the dealership to make sure that the Nav was still there, and they told me that they closed at 4:30. For some reason that didn't sink in. It was already almost 2:00 as I was finishing my burger at McDonalds.

I had made four trips up to the Sacramento area this last month, and I thought that I was tired of looking at the same scenery on I-80.  So I decided to double back down 680 and go east on 580, over the Altamont Pass and go north on I-5. For a change in scenery.

It was a change of scenery alright, a lot of open spaces before I reached Sacramento! From Danville I was almost halfway to Sac, probably less than an hour and half out. To back track, my Garmin told me that it would take almost two and half hours to reach my destination. But I was committed, my Garmin didn't give up on telling me to make a U turn and head back up 680 until I passed Livermore. I should have listened! 

Long story short, I made it in time to see the Nav and check it out somewhat. The dealer had hundreds of cars and trucks jammed tightly on the lot, no hope of getting it out before they closed. It was pretty much what I had expected. If my adventure with the 'Gator moves forward, I'll go into more detail. 

It was after 5:00 when I headed back. Traffic wasn't too bad until I passed Davis. then all lanes slowed to a crawl until I passed Dixon. Crawl as in 0-5 mph. There was some construction and there had been a crash earlier, though the road itself was clear. But it was w/b I-80 on a Sunday afternoon, there's always a deluge of drivers coming back to the Bay Area after a weekend out. It took me over three hours to make it home. 

I've got no room to complain, I'd made my choice, so why complain?  At least I got to listen to several of my favorite CDs on the way back. I racked up another 300+ miles on this trip, the '96 ran like a top. I'm gonna miss this car when I sell it. 

 Hmmm, selling the '96, it may not be as easy as I've thought. My Wife has gently "suggested" that I not add another car without eliminating one.