6 month review, 18 Navigator VS 18 Expedition.

[carymccarr]

The Lincoln is just a little bit too classy for me, so for me the easy choice was the Ford, also on the 4WD version, on the Lincoln Navigator, you only get a 1 Speed Transfer Case, but on the Ford Expedition, you get a 2 Speed Transfer Case, so no 4X4 Low Option on the Lincoln. Glad I picked the Ford

Not accurate. As I understand it:

There are two rear wheel drive modes (2H):

Normal - 2H - Rear wheel drive.
Conserve - 2H - Real wheel drive. Shift points, suspension, etc., changed to give you better gas mileage.

There are three all wheel drive modes (4A):

Normal 4X4 - 4A - All wheel drive mode for general on-road driving.
Excite - 4A - All wheel drive mode with a performance emphasis.
Slippery - 4A - All wheel drive mode for less than ideal conditions. Lowers throttle response, changes shift points.

There is one traditional 4X4 mode (4H):

Deep Conditions - 4H - This is a traditional 4X4, Four Wheel Drive, for mud, snow, sand, etc. It is not for use on dry hard surface roads.

There is one 4X4 Low mode (4H):

Slow Climb - 4L - This is a traditional Four Wheel Drive, Low gearing, for slippery steep grades, pulling a boat out of a launch ramp, etc. It is not for use on dry, hard surfaced roads.

(Pulled from Lincoln forum)

 

[carymccarr]

Thats another annoyance with the Lincoln. To put the Lincoln in 4x4, you need to spin that damn knob and watch the dash to see what mode you are going into without crashing. On my Ford I can just simply press the 4A button and put my eyes back on the road. I hate that stupid drive mode contraption on both vehicles... I never use it.

I agree with that. The knob isn’t bad. One click clockwise and you’re in 4wd but they should have a “shortcut” button for it. Same with the heated steering wheel. Cannot believe there isn’t a physical button for it.


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[byathread]

I agree with that. The knob isn’t bad. One click clockwise and you’re in 4wd but they should have a “shortcut” button for it. Same with the heated steering wheel. Cannot believe there isn’t a physical button for it.


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What? Lincoln doesn't have physical buttons for 4x4 and steering heat? WTF? I'm thinking of what buttons I actually press routinely and I'm thinking these two might be in the top 5 in a temperature map of what I use most on the expy as the miles accumulate...

I really want to drive the HO motor to see the difference even more now after @Deadman's passing comments on the Navi! I wonder how much my foot would be able to tell difference wise and how close you could get the standard 3.5 ecoboost motor with a tune/some swapped parts with 93 octane pump gas. Love the one you're with and all that. I know you can exceed it with different fuel, but, I'm not interested in dicking around with ethanol mixes/limited availability in the northeast anyway...

 

[Deadman]

I agree with that. The knob isn’t bad. One click clockwise and you’re in 4wd but they should have a “shortcut” button for it. Same with the heated steering wheel. Cannot believe there isn’t a physical button for it.


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Very true on the heated wheel. I WILL say tho, the seats on the Lincoln will almost burn your azz. The seats in my Expedition get warm, but they are nothing like that Stinkin Lincoln.

 

[carymccarr]

What? Lincoln doesn't have physical buttons for 4x4 and steering heat? WTF? I'm thinking of what buttons I actually press routinely and I'm thinking these two might be in the top 5 in a temperature map of what I use most on the expy as the miles accumulate...

I really want to drive the HO motor to see the difference even more now after @Deadman's passing comments on the Navi! I wonder how much my foot would be able to tell difference wise and how close you could get the standard 3.5 ecoboost motor with a tune/some swapped parts with 93 octane pump gas. Love the one you're with and all that. I know you can exceed it with different fuel, but, I'm not interested in dicking around with ethanol mixes/limited availability in the northeast anyway...

If you are looking in the Navi price range then the expy shouldn’t really be in the running IMO. That’s like choosing between a Tahoe and a escalade. I’d go GLS or Esky if the Navi doesn’t do it for you. The interior of the expy is just too FOMOCO parts bin for me. Whereas the navigator is right up there with some of the nicest luxury interiors available today. I’m sitting here in it, almost 14k miles on it, two kids, weekend trips almost every week and a dog that comes on all of them. Still looks brand new.


There is a physical switch for 4x4 but it’s a rotary switch. One click to the right and you’re in 4wd. The steering wheel heat button is on the main screen. It’s a dumb choice since once you are in carplay you need to navigate back to access it.

 

[Deadman]

I must say the Dash on the Lincoln reminds of the old dash in my 1995 Chevy caprice wagon. Its so gross, ugly, and ancient looking compared to the Fords. My opinion.

 

[carymccarr]

I must say the Dash on the Lincoln reminds of the old dash in my 1995 Chevy caprice wagon. Its so gross, ugly, and ancient looking compared to the Fords. My opinion.

Now THAT is funny lol. I just dislike hard plastic monotone part bin mediocrity.

But to each their own!

Curious, is the center console really smaller on the expy? Looks massive...

https://images.app.goo.gl/t26mx6MahwgDACsv8

 

[Mac Attack]

Thanks. Interesting comparison @Deadman

I have a '19 Navigator Black Label L and really like it other than I think the ride is way too stiff. The OEM Hankooks are likely to blame, but at least they are quiet. If I'm not towing or hauling, I tried airing the tires down to 35 psi but it didn't help the ride with their stiff sidewalls. When the time comes to replace the tires I'm going to have to decide if I want to keep the 22" wheels and go to Michelins, or swap on some OEM FORD 20" wheels/tires. The 20" is probably the best route for comfort....

I actually think on some of the roads that setting the drive mode to Sport helps stiffen the dampers to better control the high rear spring rates. It makes the ride stiffer, but helps control the sudden impacts a bit.

I was curious about how the Ford B&O stereo compared to the Revel, as I think the Revel lacks low bass. Otherwise, volume, clarity and imaging is awesome for the Revel.

The 30-way seats are nice, but the headrests stick out too far for my wife and I to really lean back into and rest. We're kinda on the smaller side, so maybe it's just us.

Subjectively, I think the Expy Platinum looks better than the Navigator, but I was able to get a deal on ours early during the pandemic last year for the same price as the Expy Platinum. I couldn't pass it up and therefore never got to test drive the Expy.

So far, I LOVE the Raptor engine. I boosted it with a JB4 (I have a thread on it over in the JB4 forums actually), but otherwise it's stock. The thing moves pretty good. With an ~E25 ethanol blend and Map 5, it does the 1/4 mile in mid 12's.

 

[carymccarr]

Thanks. Interesting comparison @Deadman

I have a '19 Navigator Black Label L and really like it other than I think the ride is way too stiff. The OEM Hankooks are likely to blame, but at least they are quiet. If I'm not towing or hauling, I tried airing the tires down to 35 psi but it didn't help the ride with their stiff sidewalls. When the time comes to replace the tires I'm going to have to decide if I want to keep the 22" wheels and go to Michelins, or swap on some OEM FORD 20" wheels/tires. The 20" is probably the best route for comfort....

I actually think on some of the roads that setting the drive mode to Sport helps stiffen the dampers to better control the high rear spring rates. It makes the ride stiffer, but helps control the sudden impacts a bit.

I was curious about how the Ford B&O stereo compared to the Revel, as I think the Revel lacks low bass. Otherwise, volume, clarity and imaging is awesome for the Revel.

The 30-way seats are nice, but the headrests stick out too far for my wife and I to really lean back into and rest. We're kinda on the smaller side, so maybe it's just us.

Subjectively, I think the Expy Platinum looks better than the Navigator, but I was able to get a deal on ours early during the pandemic last year for the same price as the Expy Platinum. I couldn't pass it up and therefore never got to test drive the Expy.

So far, I LOVE the Raptor engine. I boosted it with a JB4 (I have a thread on it over in the JB4 forums actually), but otherwise it's stock. The thing moves pretty good. With an ~E25 ethanol blend and Map 5, it does the 1/4 mile in mid 12's.

So interesting to hear some people saying the Navi rides stiff. I came from a GMC and compared to that the Navi is like riding on a bag of mashed potatoes lol. Still wondering if the ‘20’s had some tweaks. 3 years in that would make sense.

 

[carymccarr]

So it appears adaptive suspension became standard in 2020. Wonder if they made some other suspension tweaks when they made that change.

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/lincoln/navigator/2020/2020-lincoln-navigator-first-drive/


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[dlcorbett]

None of the navigators ive test drove rode stiff, but they were test drives. I tested an 18 and 20, neither were black labels. Both were markedly better than my 18 ltd on base springs. Weirdly, I remember the 18 being way more quiet than the 20, but I think that was due to the rain when I yest drove the 20. Also, the nav drove better than 21 denali xl on coils as well, but not by much. Both navs were swb models.

 

[Deadman]

Thanks. Interesting comparison @Deadman

I have a '19 Navigator Black Label L and really like it other than I think the ride is way too stiff. The OEM Hankooks are likely to blame, but at least they are quiet. If I'm not towing or hauling, I tried airing the tires down to 35 psi but it didn't help the ride with their stiff sidewalls. When the time comes to replace the tires I'm going to have to decide if I want to keep the 22" wheels and go to Michelins, or swap on some OEM FORD 20" wheels/tires. The 20" is probably the best route for comfort....

I actually think on some of the roads that setting the drive mode to Sport helps stiffen the dampers to better control the high rear spring rates. It makes the ride stiffer, but helps control the sudden impacts a bit.

I was curious about how the Ford B&O stereo compared to the Revel, as I think the Revel lacks low bass. Otherwise, volume, clarity and imaging is awesome for the Revel.

The 30-way seats are nice, but the headrests stick out too far for my wife and I to really lean back into and rest. We're kinda on the smaller side, so maybe it's just us.

Subjectively, I think the Expy Platinum looks better than the Navigator, but I was able to get a deal on ours early during the pandemic last year for the same price as the Expy Platinum. I couldn't pass it up and therefore never got to test drive the Expy.

So far, I LOVE the Raptor engine. I boosted it with a JB4 (I have a thread on it over in the JB4 forums actually), but otherwise it's stock. The thing moves pretty good. With an ~E25 ethanol blend and Map 5, it does the 1/4 mile in mid 12's.

my expedition AND Lincoln have the EXACT SAME TIRES on them. I mean, exact same tire, exact same size, identical. The tire is NOT the reason the Lincoln rides so rough, because my Expedition rides 3X smoother and its on the exact tires. Both sets of tires have right at 20,000 miles on them too, so they're literally clones.....

The Expeditions stereo is fine, but the Lincoln is a bit crisper. Theres a factory defect on the Lincoln stereo, the rear tweeters squeal and Lincoln won't replace them. I'm pissed, they agree they are defective, but say to turn the treble down, F that they are defective!

Headrests are my absolute single biggest gripe, I hate them. They force my head so far forward that I get a sore neck. I will NEVER take the Lincoln on any long trip, my neck will be sore as heck after a long ride on those headrests. I Loe the 30 ways seats, but they really waste alot of space in the second row because the seats are gigantic. The headrests in my Expedition are "normal" and they are comfortable on cross country drives.

The HO in the Lincoln is stock and it really runs hard. I'm not crazy about all the non stop downshifting, but the thing really scoots compared to the Ford.

WE're currently working with dealer to shut the stupid active sound compensating garbage off in both vehicles, its terribly annoying on the highway. The speakers pump a huge drone into the cabin. The Lincolns is so strong my wife gets a headache after a 45 minute drive. The expeditions is annoying as well but its only about half as loud. So stupid to pump NOISE into the cabin of nice vehicles.

 

[Deadman]

Now THAT is funny lol. I just dislike hard plastic monotone part bin mediocrity.

But to each their own!

Curious, is the center console really smaller on the expy? Looks massive...

https://images.app.goo.gl/t26mx6MahwgDACsv8

Its not really the center console itself, its the entire console from the dash on back in the Lincoln is MUCH MUCH taller and it makes me feel claustrophobic because the driver is trapped in the corner. The Expedition is much more open and the center console area is much lower and drops down, so it feels Alot more open. My wife loves the tall center in the Lincoln because her purse fits below in the storage by your feet, but I don't like the "trapped" sensation I get.

 

[carymccarr]

Headrests...dumb question as you guys seem to know your vehicles well but you
are aware that the headrests not only go up and down but forward and back too right?


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[Dice Roll]

So the limiteds get the active noise cancellation too? Thought that was a platinum thing.

 

[carymccarr]

I’m convinced my Navis noise canceling doesn’t work. I wish there was a way to turn it off and on to confirm.


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[DWs-TTEB]

Now THAT is funny lol. I just dislike hard plastic monotone part bin mediocrity.

But to each their own!

Curious, is the center console really smaller on the expy? Looks massive...

https://images.app.goo.gl/t26mx6MahwgDACsv8

I can fit my laptop inside the center console (15" screen on it). Its huge to me!

 

[DWs-TTEB]

 

[carymccarr]

View attachment 40051

Good grief that looks bigger than my navis lol


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[DWs-TTEB]

The new Navi is pretty in the front but her backside...