16-85 or 18-105 Kit Lens?

My father is heading to Japan for a vacation and wants to get a digital camera. This will be his first digital, having used a Nikon F for many years. He's really interested in the D90 with the 16-85mm lens. Being retired, though (and trying to save for a trip to Japan), he's looking to save some money, so we're thinking of getting a kit with the 18-105mm lens instead of the body and 16-85mm lens separately.

I'm looking for advice regarding how well the 18-105 lens compares to the 16-85. My understanding is the 16-85 is the better lens, but is the difference really significant, or is it minor? The 18-105 has more range, but he's ok with the shorter 16-85 zoom range, and he's more concerned with quality (both construction quality and image quality).

Thanks in advance.