The Summer of the ‘Gator!
I’m sorry, I really wanted to hate these things! I started out that way. Luxury SUVs were a joke in my eyes, an abomination!
These were not real Lincolns, just as the Escalade was not a real Cadillac. They were a slick joke that the manufacturers played on gullible consumers. But just as I had to satisfy my curiosity with my Explorer, I became really curious about these luxury SUVs.
How was it that I started to like the way that the Navigator looked? I always liked the name. So evocative! By the time the ’02 models had arrived. Lincoln had given them a more unique look, less truck-like and more posh. The interiors had been immensely upgraded. They looked less an Expedition in a badly fitted suit. The ’04 model completed the transition. The bodywork was smooth and refined with a slightly bigger grille and smoother integrated bumpers. The interior was now gorgeous, and that was the thing that initially attracted me to them.
New Navigators have absolutely gorgeous interiors. The Black Label series have sumptuous seats as well as laser-etched wood panels. The color coordination and palette of the interior is outstanding. The design of the cabin and instrument panel is really befitting of their top of the line vehicle. One thing that I took away from my Jaguar XJ6 experience was the desire to have a beautiful environment surrounding me on my drives.
2005 brochure cover. Image from the web.
I had learned that the ’04-’05s were the transition models. So I started looking on Craigslist, and I started noting Navigators found in the wild.
There is a used car lot in Gilroy that will often write up a fanciful description of some of their featured cars. They had an ’04 Navigator offered that looked to be in good shape. What caught my eye and imagination was when the copywriter described it as “A Millionaire’s Yacht on Wheels!”
I found a green “04 Navigator offered for sale on CL at a used car lot in Sacramento. After attending a car show at the Bering Museum in Danville I decided to drive up and check it out and I arrived near closing time. I found the Navigator, it was green with a tan interior. It looked to be in good shape and I loved the color combination. But the Nav was way in the back of a densely packed lot and wouldn’t be available for a test drive for a couple of days.
Traffic on the way home was terrible as usual, so I had lots of time to think about the Navigator on the drive home. For some reason that big SUV had really caught my imagination, unfortunately, it was sold before I could return.
Back in the “Old Days”, the old saw was that if you had to ask how much a car like this cost, then you probably couldn’t afford it. The same thing is true about the fuel consumption. Well heeled customers who were the target market probably never had much of a concern in those areas. I suppose that the same attitude is present with current buyers; they buy a vehicle to use and enjoy. Sure, it uses more fuel than a Rav 4, but they pay more in property taxes and upkeep on their big suburban house, than the guy with a two bedroom starter home.
This model features the classic Navigator face.
I didn’t buy this vehicle because I was trying to be a poser with a 17 year old luxury car. I believe that a car should have a value that transcends its current market worth. A Corvette for example, always remains a Corvette, regardless of age. Likewise, the Navigator remains a top of the line luxury conveyance.
I was curious, and it makes more sense to satisfy that curiosity with a vehicle that cost me less than five grand, as opposed to one that cost 100,000 dollars!
I had enjoyed driving my Explorer and wondered if I would feel the same about a Navigator. I had considered the smaller Aviator, which I thought was equally handsome. The Aviator features an engine shared with the Mustang Cobra.
I found one for sale and took it for a test drive. It seemed a bit tight inside, as it was also kind of narrow like my previous Explorer. It also had the same trait when crossing longitudinal road imperfections, where it would suddenly jerk sideways, and toss my head from side to side.
I’d bet that the Navigator rode better and I was right.
It seemed like it would be a good idea to take one out for a test drive before I pursued the matter any further. I didn’t feel right bothering a private seller owner if I wasn’t sure that I was that serious, since I didn’t want to waste their time.
Luckily I found an ’04 for sale at an auto repair shop in Fremont and went to check it out. It was a bit rough around the edges, but started when one of the mechanics jumped the battery. It was pretty dirty and dusty, so they hosed it off so that could see out of the windows! It looked pretty neglected, and I asked them numerous times if the brakes worked okay. I didn’t want to run amok in a vehicle weighing two and a half tons! They assured me that it was fine.
The interior of the ’04 was the updated design, but it was quite dirty and worn in spots. Of course, many of the little trinkets and things had been broken over the years and had never been repaired. But I was more concerned with the driving experience.
I found that the car was easy to steer and maneuver, and its size seemed to shrink as I drove through traffic filled with big pickup trucks and other large SUVs. I returned from the test drive, thanked them, and drove off. I wasn’t looking for another project, I would buy something in much nicer condition.
It was like Pennies from Heaven how my Navigator appeared.
I really like the way that it looks.
The dual exhaust pipes are why I refer to it as “a Boomer’s Hot Rod!”
I found my Navigator on CL, and it was located in Fairfield. It was candy apple red, (actually Ruby Red metallic) with chrome 18 inch wheels and a tan leather interior. It was a highly optioned, two-wheel drive “Ultimate” model with 109,000 miles. It had heated and cooled seats, rear air, a power tailgate and power-retractable running boards.
It also had a dual tailpipe after market exhaust that added a cool look but was as quiet as stock. It had been used for towing, as it had a trailer brake set up. It had a middle bench, eight-passenger seating arrangement, which I prefer. The rear console would preclude a smooth load floor when all seats were folded down.
A Moon Roof brightens up the interior.
With the second row folded there’s a flat load floor.
It was very clean, well-maintained, and ran perfectly.
I thought that it was very pretty. I’m not kidding you! That’s why I bought it; it was a present to myself for my 68th birthday.
It’s not as fancy as a new model, but I like the colors and interior design.
Driving my Navigator is easy, it is shorter than my F150 and visibility is very good. The vehicle exudes a great feeling of solidity, it really feels stuck to the road. I guess that there is really something to this “Sanctuary” thing!
Steering is precise; Lincoln went with a new German rack and pinion steering unit. Since it has IRS and air springs, the ride is smooth and well-controlled. Braking is confident and it handles well on secondary roads. The seats are comfortable, it is quiet and just eats up the miles; and it can also carry a lot of passengers and cargo, as it is rated to tow 8,000 lbs.
The steering wheel hub resembles a shield.
My birthday is in November, and I spent a lot of time driving in the Bay Area during the Atmospheric River, in heavy rain. Then we took a trip to Pismo Beach, where there was more rain. We also spent a long weekend in Windsor. Last year we drove it up to the Oregon coast for our family vacation; we went from the Bay Area to Klamath Falls Oregon where we spent the night. The next day we drove up to Medford on county roads, then we drove west to Newport and on to the coast.
My two-day average on fuel mileage, gassing up in Newport returned 20.5 mpg. I had been keeping my speed down on I-5 to 70 mph, and on the back roads, we were cruising between 55-65 mph. Still, I was very impressed. After a fill up the estimated range was over 500 miles; that sounds pretty impressive until you realize that you just put 28 gallons of gas in the tank!
The trip home was done on I-5 and my speeds were held to 60-65 in the mountains, and 70 mph once we reached California. Gas mileage was 19 mpg, pretty much the same that I’d gotten with my F150.
The key to getting acceptable fuel economy is to keep your speed down on the highway, accelerate reasonably from stops, and anticipate traffic signals and slowdowns. Smooth driving is what’s called for. Make inertia your friend. You will often see these big SUVs and other large trucks being driven at 80+ mph –You know that the driver is paying for that at the pump.
Last summer we were suffering through a terrible heat wave. Temperatures in the South Bay were at 95 degrees. I took my new Navigator out to Fresno, where temps were well over 100 degrees, to check and buy my ’97 Riviera. I had hooked up a tow dolly, which works well when towing FWD vehicles. The Navigator is a better towing rig than my V6 F150, which is only rated at 6,000 lbs. It was unaffected by the 4.500 lbs. load.
There was some oxidation in the clear coat of the front bumper, so I had it repainted shortly after I bought it. Then I touched up some minor nicks, polished the paint on the body, then detailed it inside and out. Earlier this year I had a backup camera installed that was compatible with the aftermarket Pioneer stereo’s screen. I have a Garmin navigation unit that I use in my cars that don’t have a built-in system, which is very convenient.
Almost two years later mileage is up to 114,000 miles and it hasn’t given me any problems. I used it to transport furniture when I towed a large trailer to move my daughter out of the Sacramento area. And I loaded it up for my final Datsun swap meet in the Central Valley town of Manteca.
While I will admit to loving this vehicle, I sometimes do feel a bit extravagant and even a bit wasteful driving around in it by myself. For some reason, I never feel that way driving my F150! Of course, there are more efficient vehicles available, but I bought this as a hobby car. I had considered buying a ’51-’53 Cadillac originally, but the Nav is certainly more fuel efficient and pollutes less than my old ’56 Cadillac or ’66 Riviera.
I find myself looking at later model Navigators for sale on CL and have even gone to the Lincoln dealer to check out the new models. These vehicles are really impressive and equally expensive. I really like the new Aviator; it’s a bit smaller and more fuel efficient than the new Navigator, but not by that much. Neither is that more efficient than my ’05.
My mascot, Wally Gator is always along for the ride!
My odometer is now up to 115,000 miles, but realistically I know that I would probably never wear this vehicle out. My annual mileage won’t be over five or six thousand miles a year. I see these and their Expedition siblings for sale with well over 250,000 miles on them. However, I anticipate that repair and maintenance expenses will be waiting for me around the corner.
A new set of tires will be needed in a year or so, the a/c could use a recharge, and the battery is already a couple of years old, but I plan to keep it in good shape. It won’t fit in the garage but I keep it under a high-quality car cover. Preservation is the name of the game.
Buying this Navigator is similar to what I used to do back in the ’70s; buy old depreciated luxury cars. I get to experience and enjoy them for pennies on the original dollar. Sure, vehicles this old don’t function as status symbols, but impressing people has never been on my agenda. The important thing is to find an example in good cosmetic and mechanical condition. I get lots of compliments on my Lincoln, which even though it is almost twenty years old, still looks pretty sharp. It is an oldie, but it’s also a real goodie. I hope that it treats me well.
All this fun and a 95,000 dollar discount!
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1999 Lincoln Navigator – Give Them What They Want, Pt. 1
Sounds like a nice ride. Around 20 mpg isn’t bad either. In Maine where I live, the Navigator would be rusted out due to road salt. California is nice because the old cars and trucks don’t rust out as quickly as ours in the Northeast. As long as the accessories on the car hold up it sounds like a great deal. It will last a long time if you are not using it a lot. Also makes a comfortable hauler and you don’t have a lot of money tied up in it. Enjoy it! Nicely written Curbside Classic! :)!
There are some vehicles, particularly light truck based ones such as your Lincoln and my old Econoline, that if treated reasonably well seem to be much more immune to aging that most.
You obviously treat yours quite well and it was built with a great color combination.
NICE WRITE UP. But for me it’s impossible to Navigate or Aviate the concept that THIS is what now wears the Lincoln name. Just another glorified truck masquerading as a Luxury vehicle. Having owned several Town Cars and Grand Marquis, my current low mileage 2007 Town Car Signature Limited is the last gasp of traditional American Luxury sedans. LINCOLN, what a Luxury CAR should be and once was.
Just a suggestion. If you are driving it only lightly, the range isn’t as important as mileage.
Don’t fill up the tank completely. No sense in transporting all that heavy fuel, and your mileage may vary…
Thanks Jose for a good read. I have to confess that my feelings about these vehicles are pretty much summed up by your first line, and overall I still feel that way. Nevertheless, the fact that you managed to snag this one after it had depreciated by $95,000 somehow makes me feel that owning it is a noble victory any way you cut it.
It sounds as if you have occasions to use this – long highway trips that include opportunities to tow stuff – that are fitting for exactly what the vehicle can do. And you have room to park it. So that’s perfect. Much more perfect than one of my neighbors some years back who rather inexplicably bought one of these the same color as yours, but in their case with nothing to tow and no destinations other than a 10 mile round trip commute. It was kind of entertaining watching them try to get it in and out of the garage daily. They had it for about 4 years before relenting and switching to a somewhat more svelte Mercedes SUV.
It sure does look like a comfortable ride.
This comment you made resonates with me: “I believe that a car should have a value that transcends its current market worth”……this says nicely how I feel in general. It’s about getting the most for your money. That may be the most utility with a solid but cheap used pickup (sadly meaning most likely a longbed), the most comfort with a Town Car cherished by the previous owner, the most MPG with a good used Prius, the most driving pleasure with a Miata, the most eyeball with really ANYTHING that’s in exceptional condition.
I also had a Navigator experience….. back when gas went over 4 bucks in 2008, I had been driving Suburbans (I am generally a Chevy Guy) but figured hey let’s class it up a bit. I also thought a great deal could be had with people running away from guzzlers. My bride and I visited a local Lincoln dealer that had a beautiful ’04 with low miles, white with tan leather and the chrome wheels (more spokes than yours but also 18s IIRC). The price was nowhere NEAR your quoted 5 Grand (which strikes me as a screamin deal) but thanks to market conditions back then we were able to get TWELVE GRAND OFF their asking price. It was a fine vehicle, but mine never got close to your 20 MPG and after a year or two I was ready to go back to Suburbans.
Just yesterday I “lived” your statement above by taking a 4 hour drive to check out a car that seemed too good to be true, a car that I have desired for a long time. It’s the first of the all-Aluminum Jaguar XJRs (Supercharged V8), in showroom condition. Always garaged and babied, great service records, new 19″ Yokohamas, etc.
Driving home, enjoying the distance-pacing cruise control and cranking my favorite CDs on the Alpine system with Subwoofer, I was truly stunned that this level of conveyance could be had for the price of a somewhat decent used Camry. And to be clear, I have 2 very decent Camrys and a Prius, and knowing that level of reliability is standing by is what gives me the freedom to branch out to more fringe stuff.
Here’s a pic of the new kitty-
https://photos.smugmug.com/Misc-13/i-GxCf6nm/0/NMgmdCkLHLqM3HhqT8hb7hW3P78xs59C6RVs7gVzH/X2/JRG-XJR-X2.jpg
Back when these were new my father in law was selling quite a few down at the Ford dealership. Apparently there were numerous complaints about the fuel mileage but nobody got rid of their new Navigator.
I envy your ability to find 20 year old non rusted vehicles.
A nice writeup .
I use junked Explorers & navigators to source premium speakers and myriad little things that are shared with my 2001 Ranger .
These are too big for me but I’m impressed it gets that good fuel economy .
My 2.5 liter four cylinder Ranger never breaks 18MPG until I drive it on the highway .
-Nate
Very nice ride!
Yes, there was a transition on the gen. 2 Navigator between 2004 and 2005. The 2003-2004 models had the 4-valve DOHC 5.4-liter, which was more tunable and more robust. That said, it was yoked to a 4-speed automatic, so fuel economy really suffered. I think it was rated for premium fuel, too. It wasn’t uncommon to see fuel economy in the low teens, and that was during highway use.
In 2005, they switched over to the 3-valve 5.4-liter, which had some issues with the cam phasers and with spark plugs fusing to the heads and breaking off…but which had a more modern 6-speed automatic. That was also when, as you point out, the bodywork got smoothed out.
Overall, I’m a fan of the 2005-2006 models.
Very nice! Good point – depreciated luxury cars can be a great deal. My new DD is a 2004 Town Car. A well maintained automobile with a few bruises – at less than 1/10 sticker price – I’m loving the experience. The air suspension, rack and pinion steering, and factory sound system make it fun to drive.
I have taken a bit of artistic license with the price comparisons, as my Navigator sold in the mid 50,000 dollar price range when it was new, not for 100K+ that a new loaded Black Label model now goes for. I wouldn’t (couldn’t!) buy a new one now, and I wouldn’t have bought a new one back then either! But depreciated luxury cars can be fun for an enthusiast as a hobby car. My old ’89 XJS sold for 60 grand back in it’s day!
The fact that my Navigator is a useful, comfortable, and spacious touring and towing machine is no surprise to anyone that owns a big late model pick up or SUV. They have evolved so far from the 1970’s, and rival many luxury cars. Even my F150 stripper work truck is almost as quiet and smooth, as well as fun and easy to drive, as the Lincoln.
Fuel economy, or the lack of it, is the big bugaboo, at least as a perception. My Nav gets about the same fuel economy as my V6 truck, and both get four or five mpg. less than my Flex on average. I’m a real feather foot and usually beat the EPA mileage estimates in all of my cars.
I’m considering moving down to smaller vehicles. I test drove a used Lincoln MKC and I liked it. It could replace a Mustang, but it is too small to serve as a real family sized SUV.
MX5 Racer, that is a beautiful Jag that tugs at my heartstrings and it’s the perfect color! I must avert my eyes lest I fall under it’s spell.
Nice-looking rig! It’s not my first choice in a Lincoln: I’d go for a an early-60s Continental, or a modern incarnation if they’d only get off their duff. But I’d definitely take this over whatever their latest crossover is. I also generally like the Navigator more than the Escalade. In some ways, Cadillac knew what they were doing by festooning it with shiny bits and over-done styling; the rappers and “look at me!” crowd who snapped up the original Navigator after Ford caught GM napping mostly jumped ship when the gen 2 Escalade came out. But the Navigator always had a lot more class. I understand and can appreciate the higher stance and more road presence of an SUV – and maybe some day I’ll gravitate toward that over my land yacht Mercedes W126s and pocket rocket Porsche 931.
I am late but wanted to add to the positive comments on your choice. I have always had a bit of a yearning for one of these, but used SUVs have always been on the pricey side in my area, and if you get one too old, then rust starts to become a problem. Then too, I have to admit that I really don’t need so much vehicle these days.
All that said, I still like them, and yours looks gorgeous! I recently experienced my first serene highway cruise in my new Charger, and can only imagine how much more serene it could have been in a Navigator! There is something to be said for the seats in a really high-end car. I like your buying philosophy – find the nicest one you can afford and enjoy it as long as it is making sense for you.
Since I had many owned older American luxury cars from the 1950’s up through 1970, I was curious about how these luxury SUVs would compare to them. These SUVs are certainly “large and in charge” with a lot of presence, much like my ’56 and ’70 Cadillacs. I could also compare them against my ’77 Coupe de Ville and ’94 Seville, which were only a few years old when I bought them.
My Seville was the most expensive and nicest car that I’ve bought so far. My Navigator combines an interior as plush as my Seville, with a surprisingly amount of flexibility and utility. The fuel economy beat my ’77, (approx. 16 mpg.) and is only a few mpg. less than the Seville. These vehicles can do everything, providing a lot of comfort, and function, as well as being an effective status symbol.
I was quite impressed, and now I can see why these things are so popular, not just the luxury makes, but also the dolled up regular versions.
In my view, everyone should enjoy the car hobby in whatever manner, and at whatever level that they choose, and can afford! I’ve had a lot of different cars over the years, but if you added up the value of my current fleet, it wouldn’t even buy one recognized, desirable collector car. The whole point is to have fun with cars, as long as I’m having fun I’ll keep playing with them.