[nsap]

Originally posted by Bladon@Apr 25 2004, 12:07 PM
Couple of questions, #1 Did the Navigator have electric third seats? I've seen them on '04 Expedition and they are awsome!!! I've heard they're not in the refresh or the later reskin of the Escalade. If they're not, GM's been major outclassed again!! We can count on competition having some version, at least some easily folded and stowed onboard. I'm told ours weigh 37 pounds each (there's two like the Tahoe). They unlatch, remove fairly well, they're heavy, ackward, and harder than hell to carry around. They didn't even fill in the weight bearig side of the carrying handle so the two edges cut into your hands. I own an '04 Escalade, so I speak from personal experience. I take mine in and out (I actually use the cargo area) and store them in the basement rather than garage to keep them nice. It's a nasty job. I had a Suburban, and the one piece in it made these look good.
True story: I have cousin in Florida who just took delivery of '04 Expedition after I had sent him all GM incentives retirees are sent and asked to spread around. He loved my new Escalade, then says I hope you're not mad about my buying a Ford, but I've got something you don't, and showed me the electric seats. He then compounded it by showing me Ford' 2nd seat bench seat with easy entry from both sides. He had been riding in my 3rd seat, said Ford's easy entry much better than crawling between my buckets. He had old style seat in his trade, used to roll his wheelbarrow up to the back, call his wife, they'd slide seat out onto wheelbarrow, balance it and take to where they wanted, real customer friendly. Who could blame for getting the Expedition.
I heard independent suspension or lack of it is a main reason. I hope we don't wind up with another ugly patch job, ala 3 seat Trailblazer. That's a nice truck but even GM's spin doctors must choke at that humped up, fat rear end.
Question #2; Did the Lincoln have the retractable running boards? If so, what good are they? I can see where they wouldn't catch crud in the winter or mud, but that much mechanics in a really high dirt/salt area would seem to beg trouble.
In closing I like the Escalade, just completed a 3000 mile road trip to Florida. It is the best driving, handling SUV I've ever had. It gets more compliments than any truck or car I've ever driven and I've had some nice ones. I averaged 16.8 MPG
which with the 6.0 liter and all wheel drive I think is pretty good and overall am quite happy with it, I would buy another one, but without a much better third seat would certainly look around. Good job nsap! Everything you reported is accurate and very interesting.

YES, the Navigator had power 3rd row and power running boards..