I Need a Bigger Vehicle

"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5)
07/11/2015 at 22:30 • Filed to: None

Right now, my daily is an ‘03 Civic EX coupe. It’s a really nice car, I like it. Its nice to drive, comfortable, gets like a million miles per gallon on regular gas, and doesn’t cost anything to insure.

But a combination of things have occurred. A few months ago, we found out that we’ve got our first baby on the way, due just before the end of the year. The Civic isn’t exactly car-seat friendly, so I thought then I would start looking to swap it for a 4-door version.

The next thing that happened was that I got a much more local job. I was working just outside Boston while living in Rhode Island, so I was doing 100 miles a day. My new job is about 8 miles from my house, meaning that my Civic’s million miles per gallon just became a lot less important.

Also currently happening is that my truck is really on it’s last legs. It’s a 2000 F-150 XLT SuperCab, 5.4L 4x4 which belonged to my late brother. I wouldn’t have kept it as long as I have (or put nearly as much money into it as I have) if it wasn’t his, but now it’s just it’s time. It’s got 240k miles, but it looks like it has 300k. The body has become really rusty, the tires are worn out...it runs nice and it drives okay (a bit of front end noise lately), but it looks like junk and I don’t want to spend any more money on it.

Then there’s the matter of towing. I’ve got that Saturn I’m turning into a race car, and I’m still going to need something to tow with...my wife’s ML350 can tow, but it’ll tow more like a motorcycle, I wouldn’t want to tow a car with it.

And lastly, but certainly not least, the Terrible Burden of Truck Ownership. People know you have a truck, and they don’t have a truck. They could rent a truck, but hey, they know somebody who has a truck...they know YOU. So it’ll either be “hey, can I borrow your truck?” or, even worse, “hey, can you help me move something with your truck?” Honestly, it makes me feel slightly agitated just thinking about it. I’ve got a rad hifi system, nobody ever asks to borrow it. I’ve got a dog, nobody ever asks to borrow him. I’ve got a really nice aluminum table and chair set out on my deck, nobody ever asks me to borrow it. But every week it seems like somebody is asking to borrow my truck, and the truck has gotten so worn out that I won’t let anybody else drive it, so that means they’re asking me to help them move. No more, I say.

Basically, I’ve decided to buy a largish SUV. I’m mostly looking at Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators, but I’d go for an Excursion as well if I could find a nice one for my budget. I figure I can tow with it like my truck, it’ll be car seat friendly for the baby, and nobody ever asks “can I borrow your SUV?”.

Right now, this is the front runner:

Ignore the missing center cap, I’d buy one on eBay before the paperwork is done. It’s a 2003, so it’s the first year of the 2nd gen body style, which is what I want, and it’s the right color. The engine is apparently the DOHC 5.4L V8, which I guess is a 5.4 liter version of the engine I had in my Lincoln Mark VIII?In 2004 they went to the SOHC version, I don’t really care which one I get, but I liked the DOHC engine in the Mark VIII. Tan leather, 130k miles, looks like it’s in pretty good shape. They’re asking $5000, I think it’s worth about $4000.

It seems like for what I’m looking for, that’s basically perfect. It’ll tow like I want, if I fold the seats down I can carry plenty, and it’s got all the luxury shit and toys that I want. The air suspension doesn’t worry me, apparently swapping in regular shocks and springs is a common thing if the air system goes south.

What do you guys think? If anybody has any experience with the 2nd gen Navigator/Expedition or the Excursion, I’d love to hear that too. And vehicle suggestions are always welcome, of course.

DISCUSSION (27)

TheOnelectronic > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 22:37

Kinja'd!!!

I’d check the tow ratings on the ML. I would imagine it would be more than enough to tow a car, especially one as relatively light as a saturn.

It sounds like, basically, you need something with back doors, mileage isn’t as important anymore, and you are going to need a tow vehicle. I think the Navigator/excursion is a bit of overkill, but that’s for you to decide. I know my Tacoma (midsize pickup) can tow a car, at least on paper.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 22:40

Escalade EXT or gitout!

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 22:41

Why not just a 4-door Civic? :p

Actually, I see quite a few families in 2-door Civics, with two car seats in the back. The 8th-gen coupe will definitely baby, and yours may very well, too.

You should also consider the Blackwood, which is cooler than people make it out to be. There’s also the Magnum, which is 100x cooler. Don’t rule out conversion vans, either. Especially diesel ones. Or Sprinters. Also, the Suburban was available with barn doors and a diesel engine.

Why wouldn’t people want to borrow your doggy or hifi system? I thought everybody loved that shit! haha

Are you replacing your F150 and Civic with two cars, or just one? I couldn’t tell from the post.

Birddog > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 22:51

No experience with the “gen 2” but a former friend had a 99 Excursion (Eddie Bauer, 5.4) that was awesome after he ripped the Air Suspension out and Helicoiled a few plug holes.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Birddog
07/11/2015 at 22:55

It’s funny, I’ve heard the 4.6 and 5.4 are renowned for jettisoning spark plugs, but I’ve never experienced it myself. Never had an issue with the 5.4 in my truck. Good to hear they’re solid otherwise...I’d be surprised if they weren’t, since they’re F-150 based.

Birddog > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:01

As far as I know he’s still tooling around in it.

Any SUV you buy is going to have issues. If they’re Truck based they’re going to be easier to fix.

Textured Soy Protein > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:01

I have an ‘05 Grand Cherokee Hemi as my winter/utility car.

I like it a lot but it gets atrocious fuel economy. Especially since I put big heavy all-terrain tires on it, it averages like 12 mpg. It’ll get up to 15 on highway cruising. Really the only reason I put up with the mileage is it’s only my daily driver for a few months out of the year. I could’ve gotten way better mileage in something like a 4Runner or Pathfinder but I got all hung up on the Jeep’s 3 eLSDs for complete winter driving domination.

Sure the purchase price on something like this Navigator is pretty cheap, but if the main things you’re needing to do are have room for one kiddie seat and tow a Saturn, why not get something that won’t sting you so much at the pump?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dogisbadob
07/11/2015 at 23:02

Oh I’m sure the seat will fit, it’s more of a convenience thing for me...I don’t want to have to move the seat every time to get the kid out. I’m just so damn lazy.

Like most of America, I had forgotten about the Blackwood. It’s use to me is severely limited by it’s small, carpet lined bed (which is extremely cool) and it’s lack of available 4 wheel drive. The later Mark LT makes a little more sense as a straight up luxury truck, but is out of my price range. I’ve always hated the look of the Magnum, I’m not enough of a rapist for a conversion van (I joke!), and a Suburban is a Chevy, so...no go.

The plan is to replace the F-150 and Civic with one vehicle, which will be my regular driver. I’ve got my Jaguar for weekend and car show duties, and the Saturn to hoon, so all my bases should be covered with an SUV.

And I think people who are likely to want to borrow the dog are the ones who haven’t spent much time with him. He’s a bit much.

bryan40oop > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:06

Money pit. Spark plugs, expensive. Air ride suspension, it will fail, and isn’t cheap. Vacuum 4wd system is a joke (assuming it’s 4x4). Abs/tc, power windows, sun/moon roof. Just a dollar hear and there.

Then again, I worked at a Ford dealer.

dogisbadob > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:07

What is your budget btw?

How about an E39 wagon? Or an E55 or E63 wagon? :p

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > TheOnelectronic
07/11/2015 at 23:07

It’s absolutely overkill, you’re spot on. For that bit, I’m just a big dude and I like big trucks. I thought about an Explorer of that vintage with a 4.6, it’s body on frame so I could tow with it, but I just don’t care for the size of it, you know? The gas prices don’t bother me since in regular use, I won’t be putting on a ton of miles. And if I’m towing to the track with it, mileage is going to suffer no matter what I drive.

Actually, a thing I should look in to is if the SOHC or DOHC engines take premium or regular. The 5.4 in my truck takes regular, but it won’t shock me if that DOHC in the 03 Navigator wants premium, which might shape my decision a little.

bryan40oop > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:08

I’ve only seen them jettisoned on heavy heavy trucks, like delivery trucks. Drivers must be floored every second they get to keep up with traffic I suppose would have it’s effects.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > dogisbadob
07/11/2015 at 23:08

Probably around $5k, I figure that’s what I can sell my Civic and truck for combined. Could probably stretch it a bit for a good vehicle.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > bryan40oop
07/11/2015 at 23:09

That sounds right. My old job was doing mobile hydraulic hose repair, and our trucks (E-250s with the 4.6) were heavily loaded. My truck never lost a plug, but all the others did at one point or another.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > bryan40oop
07/11/2015 at 23:12

I had an ‘01 Audi allroad, so I’m a veteran of air suspension. I’d probably budget the air suspension elimination kit (about $400) into my purchase price.

Personally, I’d rather just have a 4x4 system like my truck has: a dumb shit lever that sticks out of the floor. Bringing electronics into it is so unnecessary.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
07/11/2015 at 23:13

That would be a good compromise, but I’m not a GM guy. Plus my wife wants an Escalade for her next car, so she would murder me if I bought one for myself, haha.

jkm7680 > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:57

Haha, I feel your pain. Lincoln Blackwood then!

georgechristensen > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/11/2015 at 23:58

Kinja'd!!!

The answer to this question is obvious. You just need to become the master of the road.

XJDano > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/12/2015 at 00:22

I used to place & buckle my kids in the metro through the hatch.

No problem.

I do not carry the kids around anymore as my wife quit after the second. The want for a bigger baby mover is ever present.

I am actually considering a truck for all the reasons you list, but I don’t have friends & wouldn’t loan out the truck.

I do occasionally borrow a 16’ box truck from work so the loan out this is muted anyway.

Good luck with your search.

BJ > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/12/2015 at 06:58

That’s a BIG truck.

What about the previous generation of either the Toyota 4Runner (2003-2009) or Nissan Pathfinder (2005-2012?). Both are body-on-frame, both had V6 and V8 options, the Pathfinder has a folding 3rd row and the 4Runner can tow up to 7000 lbs (not sure what the Pathy can do).

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > jkm7680
07/12/2015 at 07:17

I like the Blackwood, but a) finding one and b) only available in 2wd.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/12/2015 at 07:19

Expedition before the Navigator. You will thank me when you inevitably have issues with the air suspension.

My father owned a 2003 Navigator. Otherwise it was fine. But you can get the nice interior in the Expedition without the suspension headaches.

Schaefft > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/12/2015 at 08:23

You should just get another Lincoln Mark VIII to tow your racecar!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Schaefft
07/12/2015 at 09:25

Now there's an idea I can get behind. I loved my Mark VIII. Really neat car.

boxrocket > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/18/2015 at 23:54

I know you’re on the Panther track now, but what about the Aviator? Has the luxury you want, has interchangeable parts with the Explorer and Mountaineer, and while there are some transmission issues, they’re relatively easy to fix, and R&I is fairly straightforward, as the platform is Ranger-based, so less in labor to fix. My brother has 2005 Explorer XLT with the 4.0 and it cost him about $1100 for a full transmission rebuild.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > boxrocket
07/19/2015 at 06:35

I actually saw an Aviator the other day while I was at work, and it looked bigger than I thought, which I like. I figure once the Civic sells, I'm going to go and drive everything and see what I like... so far the only vehicle I've been interested in that I've actually driven is a truck just like mine, and my wife has become fairly adamant about not putting a baby seat in a truck.

boxrocket > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms
07/19/2015 at 10:28

Understandable. The Aviator benefits from looking like the bigger Navigator, and having the wonderfully-tall sideview mirrors. It’s my favorite of the later Ranger/Explorer-based SUVs. Plus they're more likely to have the V8, which is good for towing your car, and they're not as well known, much like the Blackwood, Mark LT, and Zephyr before it was renamed MKZ.