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Gov, 1st lady
trade up to SUVs
Lincoln Mercury, as part of a
By Richard Borreca
national program, has offered new
Lincolns to governors
of all 50 states
Star-BulletinPacking a 300-horsepower engine, a curb weight of more than 2 tons and the ability to carry eight in comfort, you won't miss it when State One pulls up.
Gov. Ben Cayetano joined the SUV (sports utility vehicle) craze in a big way this week: He traded in the Lincoln Town Car for a new shiny black Lincoln Navigator.
It is a bruiser of a car which Cayetano says is more comfortable inside than the 1999 Lincoln.
He was convinced because it can carry seven or eight in the three rows of seats and still take expeditions into the mountains.
"At the same time it still looks classy," Cayetano said.
The car is leased from Lincoln Mercury as part of a national program to offer new Lincolns to all 50 governors. Cayetano was one of 17 governors who opted for the Navigator instead of a Town Car.
The lease is $697 a month, according to Sam Callejo, chief of staff. Last year's Town Car cost $654, Callejo said.
By way of comparison, a private lease for a new Navigator would be about $850, according to Jackson Auto Group, the local Lincoln dealer.
The Cayetanos are something of an official SUV family, as first lady Vicky Cayetano just turned in a state-rented Oldsmobile for a new Chevrolet Blazer.
Callejo explained that the Olds cost about $500 a month to lease, while JN Chevrolet offered the Blazer for $20 a month less.
Because the first lady is frequently traveling on state business and has a state driver, Callejo said that because of insurance requirements, it was simpler to have state personnel driving a state car.
