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thirdsuv : well, if it's a typical GM truck then that's a good thing as they seem to last forever.
They are absolutely beautiful or should I say gorgeous. Some may call it garish looking or Chevy Escalade but no one on here can't call the look of it boring, that's for sure. This one was silver sand or whatever the beage-like color is called.
I also saw Infra Red model driven a couple of weeks ago. Personally, I think the truck looks great in any color.
Also, did you read Truck Trend. The SUV was rated #1 overall along side with Lexus's LX 470 for quality while the Escalade was best for value. And get this, they rated the Escalade the best in fit and finish with an A and the Lexus second with an A-.
I don't know why they include the X5 in the comparison. It is a different type of SUV that is more in league with the ML class, RX 300, and MDX.
It was a good comparison but somewhat ridiculous. They should had included the Range Rover Land Rover 4.0.
Never on a Mercedes? Are you kidding? When was the last time you looked at the front end of the Mercedes ML? Notice how huge that Mercedes logo is, smack in the middle of the grill? Or, how about many Mercedes cars of the past, with the relatively huge encircled star logo in the grill. Come one, b4z, I think you spoke before you really thought about what you were saying, at least with that particular point.
If you were to argue that Cadillac was copying Mercedes by putting such a large logo on the vehicle, then I think you might have a good point to ponder.
Here's another point to ponder; you and your friends went to look for Bravadas, and the very presence of the new Escalades caused you all to stop in your tracks and take notice. Bingo! That was exaclty what Cadillac wanted with its new look. Love it or hate it, you NOTICED and then took a closer look. Mission accomplished.
Um, perhaps you haven't seen the MB Gelaendewagen's front grill? Note that it has been in production for over 20 years now. ;-) MB just followed their truck lineage when designing the M-class's grill. Note that the new '02 MB C230K coupe also has a MB star in the front grill.
http://www.edmunds.com/media/2001/nyautoshow/mercedesbenzgclass.500.jpg
http://www.edmunds.com/edweb/kim/cclass/media/01.mercedesbenz.cclasscoupe.f3-4.350.jpg
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket & Accessories message boards
sweetjeldorado : Escalade does look much better in person than in pictures!
-mike
Bob
-mike
-mike
The Chevy pickup is beating the Ford F150 sales. Also, Ford Explorer sales are down below that of its Chevy/GMC competitors. I read this this week in an online Forbes article.
Interesting, if nothing else.
-mike
I did a search online at Kelly BB and they guesstimate the trade-in value at $24,740 based on my acessment of the condition (Good). I'm beginning to wonder if I should entertain offering the leasor (bank)maybe $23,500 which might be what they'd auction it off for. At least I'd know what I have, and maybe I could extend the warranty if that was a concern. But since this car has been as near-perfect as I can imagine... it's either going to keep going or collapse into a heap in the parking lot!
BTW, as far as emblems go... I don't mind the emblems on the SUVs... but Lincoln isn't that big on them anyway.
Lincoln was supposed to have a totally new 'Gator for 2003, complete with all new sheetmetal and a fully independent rear suspension. If Heatwave's numbers hold up and Ford's marketing people are looking at any sort of sales decline, it should confirm the rumors that the '03 'Gator will now be the real '02 model... probably intro'd no later than this Fall. No spy pix yet, but if you look at the Mountaineer and the Mark IX concept car, it looks like the new 'Gator will probably have a knife-edge fenderline front-to-rear with some sort of semi-familiar grill in a swept-back look.
Just a suggestion to all Super SUV Marketing types; integrate "cornering lights" into your new designs. These cars have thick windshield posts, huge mirrors, and almost a blind spot... especially at night when rounding a corner.
BrZ
The caddies is one large mass.
The angular lines on the front end do not go with the rounded windows and lines of the rest of the truck. I still feel that the leading edge of the hood should be lower.
The interior is super.
Anyway, this is splitting hairs. It was just a clarification.
True, the curve of the bottom edge of the side windows from front to back doesn't necessarily "go" with the otherwise edgy design of the Caddy variant of this body, but it still "works" overall, and the design does absolutely distinguish the Escalade not only from its GM SUV relatives, but also from any other SUV on the road. That certainly can't be said of the Lexus LX470 vs. Toyota LC, Infinity QX4 vs. Nissan Pathfinder, and from most angles the Lincoln Navigator vs. Ford Expedition.
The other difference is that in tow mode, the computer will downshift a little sooner than "normal" to avoid losing speed on a hill while towing a load. Presumably, the trans will alos have less of a tendency to "hunt" between two gears when towing a load opting to stay in the lower gear at a higher rpm.
As you can see, in normal driving with no towed load, it would be hard to detect any of these programming differences.
If you really want to do a test, find an empty road, and gun the truck out of dead stop up the gears to 4th gear. Have someone what where the vehicle shifts. Then do the same run in "Tow mode" and see where it shifts.
-mike
The pro drivers there did a demo of the Stabilitrac system on a soapy wet surface. The Lincoln Navigator spun out 180 degrees, while the Escalade worked its way around the corner flawlessly. I did not drive the Navigator due to a lack of time.
-mike
Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
http://www.autoworldweekly.com/RTarchive/2002/Cadillac/2002 CadillacEscalade.htm
Steve
Thanks for posting those reviews of the Escalades.
J "CaddyLac"
I have not witness anyone having problems with their Escalades, yet.
J "CaddyLac"
Very, very happy with the car. Lots of compliments and the biggest problems so far is that they gave me the wrong cartridge for the DC changer! I guess I can understand some of the criticism in the write-ups but them seem a little vindictive. I actually use the vehicle on construction sites and didn't buy the car to handle like a sports car. I don't get stuck on the sites with the 4 wheel drive and it is very smooth on the highway. And those Cadillac seats! Very comfortable. And I got it for the same price as a 4x4 Explorer!
I've seen a lot of discussion about gas mileage. In two tanks of mixed driving (highway, city, some 4WD) I am getting a little less than 13 mpg on regular. My 1998 Mountaineer did no better than 15 and that was two wheel drive.
Have any of you looked into upgrading the audio. The dose is pretty good but it is a little understated and radio reception is not great. Has anyone replaced speakers or the amp? (I understand the face is integrated with the On Star so would be difficult to replace). Also, has anyone added a back up sensor system.
Thanks,
Chuck
I saw my first one this weekend down in San Diego. I only caught a quick glimps of it as I was driving by and noticed it parked in an open parking lot. It was black, and it was looooong!
I'd have been very curious to see the inside and what they have done with it.
-mike
I think it would look cool with bull horns on the hood. I'll bet there is a guy down in Texas with one on order now.
theirs? How much extra did it cost you?
Thanks
What a wonderful rig...powerful engine, ultra smooth handling and enough bells and whistles to keep anyone happy.
One thing I can't get to work is the Homelink system with my garage door opener. I know Homelink works as I tried it on my neighbors garage door opener. My opener is made by Liftmaster. Anyone had any experience with this?
Another thing I get a kick out of is that there is no way to tell if this vehicle is 4WD/AWD. No badges or emblems outside and no buttons, etc inside. You literally have to pop the hood and check for the big engine or crawl underneath and check the transfer case!!
Anyways, this is super nice rig and am looking forward to driving it once by wife gets out of it
clay
has the random code generator feature. Your owners manual should tell you
how to set it. It takes a few extra steps if you have the random code feature.
It will take two people. One in the SUV and one at the garage door opener unit. Also it may tell you how to set it in the LIftmaster manual. If you can't
figure it out, I can probably post the instructions. It only takes a few minutes
once you now what to do.
Thanks,
clay
clay