Dave_SF

We love our 2018 Navigator. If the used offering meets your needs at a good price point, go for it. We have noticed a little of the big domestic truck "creaks and moans" as the Navi is aging. That's something i never have noticed in an audi or bmw, but they don't make trucks this big either. Overall it is holding up great. The only thing i wish i could improve about the Navi is the computer/sync system. Tesla really has us spoiled in this respect, as they continually update the computer interface on all cars every few months. That said, i doubt the 2020 model is much better. I find most non tesla computer systems are workable but clunky.

We've had a couple glitchy electronics problems, but we seem to be in a stable state now... Our 2019 Navigator had a problem with rear passenger window non-operable, and they fixed it by replacing some computer. With the new unit our clock periodically resets for no apparent reason. I plan to bring it up at the next regular service. Our mirrors semi-frequently get into that "popping" state when trying to restore a preset. I just select the mirror to get it to stop popping, move it a little, then press the preset button again and it gets the mirror unwedged. To me this seems like some kind of design/programming mistake, not something that is because of a broken part. Like the programming is trying to take it from a valid mirror position to another valid mirror position by passing through an invalid corner position, or something about the programming makes it think the mirror is in a different position than it is. We'll bring this up at service, but I'm not expecting a fix. We have not had any trouble with bluetooth, though we usually use CarPlay or Android Auto, both of which work reliably. Sometimes my Android gets wedged and has no map instructions sound, but I think that might be an android issue not the car. We used to have a Sync software problem where the Navigator phone-integration "prompt volume" could get set to zero, and then you couldn't turn it up, because you can only turn it up when it was talking, but you didn't know when it was talking because the volume was zero. However, they seem to have fixed this in an update and created another problem, where the prompt volume always resets (to 6?) every time there is a new prompt... which we find annoying, but not as bad as the other problem. It would be better if it would remember the prompt volume like before, but it would never go below 2, and/or the prompt volume was accessible in settings somewhere (which maybe it is, I admit I have not checked recently).

We didn't want to wait for our 2019, but there was no inventory near us.... so I selected the third option. I scoured the country looking for one that would meet our specs. I used the Lincoln website inventory search, and put in a 100 mile search from a zipcode in every major metro area (one by one), until I found all the cars (about 7?) that met our general requirements, and 4 that were ideal. The dealers won't do this for you, and I don't fault them, because there isn't any way for them to profit from you buying a vehicle from a dealer across the country. I called on the Navigators and found that only two of them were actually on the lot. For those two, I had them send me pictures, negotiated, and bought one of them remotely, and had them ship it (over 2000 miles). Obviously the shipping cut into the "deal", but I was glad to get our perfect build and not wait 4 months. For example, I quickly found this one in Ceramic Pearl near Los Angeles.... I'm sure there are others.. https://shop.lincoln.com/inventory/navigator/details/5LMJJ2LT8KEL09474?fromPopularBuild=false&zipcode=90001&year=2019&ownerPACode=00359&intcmp=show-si&Radius=100&ExteriorColor=GS&Order=Distance

Here are some pictures... First one shows the 2nd row all the way back, and all the way forward. Second shows me (6'2") sitting in the 3rd row with the 2nd row all the way back Third shows me sitting in the 3rd row with the 2nd row all the way forward.

We also had an Odyssey, configured like yours, and we upgraded to a 2018 Navigator, so I understand your situation well. We also have two kids (6 and 7) and a dog. The Navigator is a fantastic car, and a great upgrade from the Odyssey. (I wrote a Navigator review back when I bought the car) My recommendation is to buy for the car you want when your toddlers are buckling themselves, because either situation will work for a year (details below). Unless you're on a short lease you will have the Navigator for a long time, because it's such a great car. Our kids buckle themselves wherever, and our 7 year old moves her own booster around, and soon yours will too. We have the captains chairs. We have a dog; we prefer the easier pile-in-and-out for carloads of kids; and we prefer adults to be able to easily access the 2nd row from the 3rd during long trips. (parent, friend, nanny). If you want that extra seat, and you don't have pets (or you're getting the L and putting them in the back), then the bench may be the way to go. We have friends with 4 boys and 2 dogs, and they have the extended escalade with a bench for this reason. ------- As for your questions... Yes, if you have the 2nd row bench, you can put two kid-seats in the middle-and-side, and use the other side tip-and-slide to access the back row. If they are in bottom boosters no problem. If you are still using full-child seats, you may need a narrow one, like the Diono Radian (which are obnoxiously heavy, but the narrowest seats i'm aware of, we had 4 of these in the past). The tip-and-slide is easy to open (just a button), but a little tricky and takes some leverage to lock back into position. I don't think our 7 year old could do it, but a teen could. Yes, we have the captains chairs, and kids, adults, and dogs routinely squeeze by our bottom-booster-buckled kids in the captains chairs. (it might not be possible if they were in full kid seats) Keep in mind the 2nd row seats have a giant forward/back slide range. We keep them slid almost all the way back for easy-in-out, which reduces the 3rd row space. I'm 6'2" and even with 2nd row all the way back I can still sit without my legs touching the 2nd row, but for longer trips we move the 2nd row a little up for more generous space back there.

I wouldn't say that the cupholders are flimsy... But the LATCH that is supposed to keep them closed is useless. Its a toggle action push to latch, push to unlatch - you can push anywhere on the cupholder.. the position of the cupholders means they are always getting bumped and opened. By feet, bags, the dog, everything. Im considering modifying it to add a more positively locking latch be with a turn knob or recessed pushbutton unlock.

For sure the seats are a challenging shape for most ipad mounts. Our kids (5 and 7) and hold their ipads in their laps. I have *not* used any of these products... .. but if I had to mount an iPad in our 2018 navigator, I would use a suction cup mount. (a) on the rear-seat passenger window, (b) from the sunroof, or (c) if your wood-finish is smooth (ours is not, it has natural texture), on the wood area in the front-seat-center-console between the front seat arm rests. https://www.amazon.com/AboveTEK-Suction-Bathroom-Windshield-Smartphone/dp/B074PD1GNY/ref=sr_1_29_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549558209&sr=1-29-spons&keywords=ipad+seat+mounts&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/AboveTEK-Suction-Holder-Surface-Countertop/dp/B074PDGPMY/ref=sr_1_30_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549558209&sr=1-30-spons&keywords=ipad+seat+mounts&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/EverywhereFocus-Tablet-Holder-Sticky-Suction/dp/B079MHDFZD/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549559608&sr=1-6&keywords=ipad+long+arm+suction+cup+mount https://www.amazon.com/Buybits-Ultimate-Addons-Suction-Windscreen/dp/B0054PMGJ4/ref=sr_1_26?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549559608&sr=1-26&keywords=ipad+long+arm+suction+cup+mount ------ If for some reason mounting on the seat is critical, I'd look at adhesive wall mounts... or if you're willing to modify the car, screw-in wall mounts. https://www.amazon.com/Damage-free-Dockem-Smartphones-eReaders-chrome-plated/dp/B008E0Q0C0/ref=sr_1_7?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549559439&sr=1-7&keywords=ipad+adhesive+wall+mount https://www.amazon.com/AboveTEK-Rotating-Brackets-Horizontal-Vertical/dp/B0747X4P7K/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1549559361&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=ipad+window+mount&psc=1

I have not seen slate in person. We have two kids (5 and 7), and my wife insisted on black interior and rubber floor mats, because we heavly use the car, and we have seen too many medium tan and grey interiors that looked tarnished from subtle stains after only a couple years. It also depends how much dirty soccer mud, ski gear, and other mess will be in the car (one friend had stains just from her designer over dyed blue jeans) - and also what your tolorance level for a black interior is. If the car will be parked in the sun alot i think i would pick a lighter interior and accept wear and stains as part of a well used car. We garage keep the car, live near san fran (85 degrees is a rarity, even in the summer), and go to the snow alot, so the black getting hot isnt a big issue.

They are not supposed to do that. My running boards close always regardless of temp. You could check and see if there is some ice buildup that wedged and is keeping them open, but otherwise I'd have a dealer take a look.

One subtle weird thing about the A/C system I've noticed... is that the "Front defog" button doesn't do much, but if you hit the "menu" button, there is a "Max Defrost/defog" on-screen button in there, which cranks everything up to max and max heat... Though it doesn't always restore the temps I had beforehand, so I've resorted to just manually setting it on front-defog, turning on AC, and cranking the fan... Also, make sure the rear venting system is enabled. Hit the "rear" button, and make sure it's on auto or with a decent fan setting. Unfortunately, I have not found any way to bind the rear-temp setting to the main temp the way it binds together passenger and driver when you turn off "dual". We just keep the back set on 74 in the winter, and 72 in the summer.

Isn't that the truth. My center console is a dust magnet. I keep a cloth in the sunglasses holder up above. At 5k miles the front console hasn't scratched up yet, but we normally put stuff in the bins not on the shiny plastic. If it ever scratches up I plan to wrap it with satin black.

You can set the color of the Navigator ambient lighting, but it's not amazing like the S-class. It's just the console cup holders and side-door sills. I don't think it lights the foot wells, but I'd have to check. It certainly doesn't bathe the seats in light, though I don't care for that. I wish they had a down-facing light to splash the center console from above. I can take a picture when it's night-time. ----- When looking at the Navigator, it's important to realize that the size is a big part of the luxury. The 2018 Navigator is one of the biggest cars on the road, and while it takes enough of a stab at luxury to be comfortable, it's not MB S-class level luxury feel, or even Audi or BMW. The interior has too much shiny silver and shiny black cheap plastic to compare directly with European luxury, where most silver surfaces are actually metal, and black plastic is high quality soft-touch. The ride-quality is merely "the best there is for a car this big", which is impressive, but not like a MB airmatic or Magic Carpet, or even an Audi Q7. If you want a 3rd row SUV with an interior closer to your S-Class, you can look at the Audi Q7 or MB GLS. However, you give up quite a bit, as those cars are much smaller. The Navigator's true luxury is the ridiculous amount of space it has. It drives on the same road, fits in the same parking spaces, yet it's just huge inside compared to pretty much every other car. Obscenely huge. Six people can ride with more space comfort than other cars offer to four people. It's that big, and that's the normal version. The L version adds an obscene amount of storage room even when carrying 6, or 7, or 8 (with the 2nd row bench). The Navigator's claim to fame is that there is nothing offering 2018 Navigator level luxury with this amount of passenger room, cargo room, and utility. Period. If you need a car this big, don't nitpick the ambient lighting, get a Navigator and love it. You can read more in my write-up here.. https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4804182423098006951#editor/target=post;postID=8467117506311376849;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname

Yes, they are unusually noticeable. I'm pretty happy with the performance, though the temps don't get that extreme in Northern California.

I've been driving with a special side-mirror adjustment style which eliminates all blind spots for over 15 years and I love it. It is even more advantageous on a big car like our 18 Navigator. It basically works by turning your side-mirrors out at a 20 degree angle. This eliminates the blind spots. (you can read more at the link below) The primary downside of the no-blind-spot mirror setting, is that the mirrors no longer face directly backwards along the side of the car, so they are not as helpful when backing up. However, the Navigator's top-down parking cameras are better in most cases anyhow. When I rarely need to see the side of the car in the mirror for a tight parking maneuver, I just manually re-adjust it. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots

I believe you can lockout the rear climate controls in the rear climate menu, which you can reach by pressing the "rear" button on the bottom hemisphere of the dial in the main climate controls. I don't know if there is any way to lock out the rear audio controls and source button. If nobody answers, I'll fish around when i'm off holiday and back at my navigator in a week.