ESV or Navigator L

[thetahoe]

With the new Escalade Platinums coming, my mom is ready to trade in her 07 ESV. She wants me to go online and ask about these 2 cars so she can get a few reviews/comparisons before going to any dealer. With the businesses she and my dad owns [cars play a big role], the dealers know who she is and I don't know, I guess she's just scared of them :smilielol:

Anyways, she has had a few Navigators before switching over to Cadillacs. Her last one was a 2006 Limited Edition, and she was in love with that car. I want to know what you guys think would be a better car. At the moment our Internet is really slowing down so I can't bring up a lot of comparison pages without waiting an hour. So it seems easier to get opinions from you guys so I won't have to read just the pros of the vehicles.

Now, I understand that the Platinum will carry a much heftier MSRP than the Navigator L so what we're really wondering is, what are the new features and are they worth the extra $ ?
If anyone has pros/cons of the Navigator please list those as well.

Thanks guys

 

[Rollin Thunder]

I say get the escalade, but no need to spring for the platium one. If engine size is a big concern i would definatly get the escalde as that has a nice big 400 hp v-8 compared to the 300 hp navigator. But im biased to gm. I have rode in the navigator and its a nice truck, But i think the escalade is nicer and looks better. Whats up with the front end on the navigator. that looks kinda wierd.

 

[Vrrooom]

The 07 and new Escalades are about the same. Why trade in for the same thing? Comparing the Navigator to the Esclade though- the Escalade wins hands down. I've driven both for an extended period of time and the GM product is better.

 

[sarahw]

It's just a matter of personal taste. I can't stand that "mirror" side molding on the new Navigator, and IIRC it is underpowered for its size (310 HP vs 403 HP for the 'Lade.) I agree w/RT; the Escalade would be my choice but NOT the platinum. Not worth the extra $$ IMO. Regular 'Lades start around $61k; the platinum starts at $81k. Plus, I believe the Caddy has a better warranty than the 'Gator ... but I'm not sure.

 

[thetahoe]

The Escalade does sound like it'll be the winner here, especially after I read up on some new Platinum features. The extra $20k for one doesn't sound like it would be worth it, which is why my mom would consider a Navigator if she decides not to go with the Platinum. The LED headlights are something we will have to look at once we start seeing some at the dealers.

Vrrooom, that is a good question. As new year models come and go, new features [and in this case, packages/editions] arrive. That is why my mom is wanting to trade. She wouldn't be so interested if it weren't for the Navigator's suspension and interior design. They have remained the same since 07, yes, but since she was already considering a new ESV she thought it wouldn't hurt to make sure the L is a better choice.

A lot of the times, with her Navigator, I would hear her say something like "It's like I'm not even driving it, it just rides so smooth." and that's what really made her love her Lincoln. Almost every site I've seen about the new Navigators, boast that the new models have an "improved suspension that rides even smoother than previous models", and we can certainly believe that it might be a good choice [she doesn't really like the suspension of her current Esky]. Plus she loves the interior styling of the Navigator a lot more because of the wood trims and leather piping.

When it comes down to the 2, if she stops considering the Platinum Escalade, it will probably be a Navigator L that she chooses. Like a lot of people, she doesn't really like the grille [I agree 100%, RT]. But she has said "Well, it wouldn't matter so much because it's either in the garage where I can't see it or I'm behind the wheel, where I can't see it."

And if I remember right, the 2006 Navigator she had even had a 6-year warranty on the tires, I just can't recall the vehicle's warranty. The engine, she doesn't so much care about, just whichever brings more MPG would be favored [my Hoe gets worse than the Navigator she had].

But, thanks for the great replies so far and I'd love to see more!

 

[Rollin Thunder]

The new navigator looks really wierd. I have driven it and the engine works alot harder to move and it makes alot of noise, it just feels like your pressuring it. Just a feeling, but not a nice one. Ride is 6 in one Half dozen in the other IMO. But i highly reccomend the escalade. Can get much better on trade in if you get another one (i got 5k more because i bought a yukon giving them a yukon, loyolty thing)


Also the LED lights on the platinum were on the concept, but are not on the production one. I have seen them at the dealership and they have the same Bi-xenon projectors as the regular model.

To me platinum is more of an I HAVE MONEY option. While i would love to buy one, i just dont think its worth it. I would much rather spend that money on adding on to my house (that project starts next month, so excited)

 

[05Yukon]

The new navigator looks really wierd. I have driven it and the engine works alot harder to move and it makes alot of noise, it just feels like your pressuring it. Just a feeling, but not a nice one. Ride is 6 in one Half dozen in the other IMO. But i highly reccomend the escalade. Can get much better on trade in if you get another one (i got 5k more because i bought a yukon giving them a yukon, loyolty thing)


Also the LED lights on the platinum were on the concept, but are not on the production one. I have seen them at the dealership and they have the same Bi-xenon projectors as the regular model.

To me platinum is more of an I HAVE MONEY option. While i would love to buy one, i just dont think its worth it. I would much rather spend that money on adding on to my house (that project starts next month, so excited)

The one platinum i saw sitting on the lot had the LED headlights. Not sure what you saw then.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

The one platinum i saw sitting on the lot had the LED headlights. Not sure what you saw then.

I know for a fact it was an platinum. Are you sure it was LED, or did you mistake them for Projector HIDS?? Not calling you dumb, infact i would be super intrested to go take a look again as i have been waiting to see the LED headlights as I wanna know if they put out as much light.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Looking at the webside, i have been mistaken. when i looked at the site 2 months ago it said HIDS and the one at the lot was HID. Im gunna go check one out tommarrow, as i really wanna see them in action. I wanna know what lights up for low, and what lights up for highbeam. Thanks for the info.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

hear is some info about it. SEEMS AWSOME, and i really want one, i may put that remodel on hold. I WANT THESE LEDS :eek2:

http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/4/11/26

 

[Black Dog]

Wow that's wild. So better than projectors you think? I was always thinking of retro-ing projectors but if this is the new ticket, I want it. I suppose no bulky ballasts and all that crap?

 

[thetahoe]

Those headlights look great, let us know if they really do have them at the dealership! Maybe we'll just end up getting a newer ESV and try to fit those headlights on, because that Platinum package is extremely high for its features, but then again there's no other way to get the magnetic suspension [which my mom is all over].

I think, from what I've told my mom and showed her online, that if she does trade again it'll be another Escalade, but the Navigator still gets to her with that interior. Either way it seems like the Esky is still a better vehicle, but it just probably doesn't have that much new stuff yet unless she somehow gets the Platinum.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Wow that's wild. So better than projectors you think? I was always thinking of retro-ing projectors but if this is the new ticket, I want it. I suppose no bulky ballasts and all that crap?

Motortred has an article (let me find it) about comparing the two escalades headlights. They said that the HIDS look bluer, but are actully not, The hids have much more glare on low, and have much more side vision.

They said the LEDs shot light much farther than the HIDS, but side vision would need some work, but that the fog lights fixed that. Highbeam was just awsome. Their only real complaint is when driving it they got flashed by almost every car since they saw 5 lights on each light, but when you flash them back it fixes them right up. LOL.Im gunna go take a spin down to the cadillac dealer and get me a peek at these lights.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

here is the motor thrend article... http://blogs.motortrend.com/6307569...d-headlamps-with-hid-xenon-halogen/index.html

 

[Jsho13]

My old man was in the same position a couple months ago. He really was between a Denali, Escalade, or Navagator. He ended up getting the Escalade after test driving all three. He really like the interior of the caddy the best which was his overall deciding factor. He said the caddy handled more like a sports car and the Lincoln was more of a boat. Needless to say its a great truck and has no regrets. Hope this helps.

 

[thetahoe]

My old man was in the same position a couple months ago. He really was between a Denali, Escalade, or Navagator. He ended up getting the Escalade after test driving all three. He really like the interior of the caddy the best which was his overall deciding factor. He said the caddy handled more like a sports car and the Lincoln was more of a boat. Needless to say its a great truck and has no regrets. Hope this helps.

That helps, thank you for the post. My mom is probably going to trade in her Esky + our 2002 Tahoe that really serves no purpose here for the Platinum ESV when they get some. If it weren't for this Tahoe she probably wouldn't be getting anything new at the moment since there are only minor differences. She's not the kind of person that gets things like the Platinum for show and appearance, but she is all over the magnetic ride part. Plus she wants to try the new LED's and just try to get the most of her money/bang for her buck.

Funny you should say the Lincoln was like a boat, I remember looking at Lincoln.com's pictures of it back when the 2005 models were new and they had a picture of one pulling a boat, and one sitting at a boat dock. And when my mom bought her 2006 model, she only signed papers that night [we went to get it the next day] and they gave her the 2005's brochure for some reason and it had that picture. Sad to say that later that whole dealership caught on fire [there were burnt 07 Lincoln's and Mercury's everywhere].

 

[Black Dog]

here is the motor thrend article... http://blogs.motortrend.com/6307569...d-headlamps-with-hid-xenon-halogen/index.html

Thanks RT, lemme take a look at this...