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Ron
Thanks.
When will the new '03s come out? I'm dying to see if the new interiors are worth waiting for. If not, I'd be happier with a slightly used (read that as less than 10k miles) '02 for $40k and save the 10k I'd spend on a new one in accessories.
The wife just gave me the green light on the purchase, so I'm in full-bore-must-know-all-details investigation mode.
Ron
Steve
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Ron
Ron
Ron
-mike
====================
CD-ROM Navigation System
With the available Luxury or Luxury Sport Package, you can choose the onboard CD-ROM navigation system, which uses GPS (global positioning satellite) to pinpoint your CTS's location with the aid of a GPS antenna built into the navigation control processing unit.
Bright, clear graphics are conveniently displayed for you on the instrument panel, which takes the place of the regular sound-system control panel. Controls for the sound system are integrated into the 6.5-inch diagonal touch screen. A premium audio system is included with the system.
The user-friendly touch screen features a light-gray background in daylight that automatically switches to a black background at night for optimum readability. Five dedicated controls along the left side of the screen control the navigation system. Four switches to the right of the screen operate the sound system in conjunction with screen-displayed controls.
Various navigation features can be personalized for up to three different drivers. Map displays may be either "north up" or from the driver's perspective with the direction of "travel up." Vehicles delivered in the United States offer Voice Prompts in five languages — English, French, German, Spanish or Italian.* You may select various screen settings, destination locations and route planning methods to obtain either turn-by-turn guidance to a destination** or map assistance. Voice prompts are high-quality recordings that alert you to approaching intersections in the turn-by-turn mode. Sixty memory points can be held in memory, or a touch point on the map can identify the desired end of a trip.
====================
......but the cluster package looks like fairly standard dials.
Ron
I love the ones in those rap music videos (it seems that they are in EVERY video nowadays)
that have twenty inch, usually chromed rims.
I was reading a car mag. the other day, and BFGoodrich ran a rather stupid, somewhat racially biased - albeit true, ad where a "baller," an NBA star, decided to get TWENTY FOUR INCH RIMS!!!!!
The ad said that only that company makes tires for such a big wheel.
I think that that would be almost disgusting - I'd like to see it though.
My friend's father recently bought a grey Escalade - I think that the car is so "in your Face," that to get it in a subdued hue, without aftermarket wheels, is almost a crime.
After all, let's face it, the Escalade is hardly a comparable SUV to the new Range Rover, the X5, the RX300 or the LX470 - or even the new Navigator for that matter, in quality issues.
The dash design has remained unchanged from Chevy pickups of 10 years ago - that block GM design - the sad thing is - Caddy supposedly thought up a "new" dash design for the CTS based on the tower of a personal computer - and it ended up looking exactly like the Escalade's dash.
However, Caddy admittedly has made huge strides forward with the Escalade comp'd with the last one, the instruments are gorgeous.
I think that this car along with the 2001 Mustang Bullitt, the new Ford GT40, and the future Lincoln Continental are the "best" and most beautiful American cars on the market right now.
(The Corvette is too androgynous-looking and 80's like - with those pop -up lights - for my taste).
I only wish that the back of the 'Lade was half as good as the front
Just my two cents
Neicey
(owner of 01 ML320)
/joke
Steve
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Just curious as to what you are referring to. I'm guessing you mean interior parts quality appearance, since there isn't any issue with any technological part of the car. Functionally, everything works as well as any other SuV on the market. From a automotive standpoint, the engine and drivetrain are superior to all the other SuVs you mentioned, with the exception of an independant rear wheel axle. The Range Rover in particular is a mess when it comes to performance, and the other SuVs you mentioned are smaller. I suppose if you want small, why even look at the Escalade?
Now speaking of the interior......it pales in comparison to the look and feel of the SuVs you mention. The '02 Escalade does indeed look like a beefed up pick-up interior. They didn't even use knobs of any quality. It looks and feels inferior to other luxury SuVs. However, I must point out that I think the Navigator interior is a dud. It's plain and in my opinion homely. I don't care how well it's put together.
Now clearly, I'm defending the Escalade and in large part becuase I've fallin in love with it (we are getting married soon ). Not the interior which is of course secondary to me (but agreed important), and not because of the looks of it. It's because of the performance! I love power, and I love interior space, and I love comfort, and did I mention power? Anyhow, like I said, I'll give you the interior look and feel is inferior, but that's the only department in which it does in my opinion.
Ron
-mike
Ron
Have anyone out there seen the new '03 Range Rover. I have not seen it in person and I don't think I will like it at all. That mess is ugly as sin. The interior design does not look all that impressive.
If I was getting the Escalade, I would have it in Garnet Red also and keep the stock wheels. Those wheels look pretty sharp.
Now, I also see a lot of Mercedes Benzes in videos too and you can call them thug/drug dealer vehicles as well. The Benzes that are favorite among rappers are the S, CL, and SL class. I can view how many people got pulled over in the Benz and was accused of drug dealers as well.
J "CaddyLac"
Say what you will about the GM, but they are not stupid, - relatively. I think that the reason perhaps that they are not changing much about the interior, is perhaps because a lot of people customize them to a large degree, a lot like Civics.
I was reading about a particular NBA player who is ripping out the 5 inch LCD screen in his Caddy, and putting in a 15 inch TV that folds out from the ceiling.
Ron, not to offend, but I don't think it's possible or even intended for the Escalade to be "refined."
And if you don't like the "thuggish" look, why buy it? Granted, the LX470 is a bit more, but it is a far better car. The Land Cruiser is also an option in that price range, but you may want a luxury nameplate.
Lest anyone think that I am blasting Caddy, let me reiterate my last point: I love the look of the car. And i don't understand why people despise the fact that it makes them look like "hoods." If you don't want to look like a hood, then don't buy one!!!
For instance, if I were to buy an AMG or M outfitted Benz, or Bimmer, respectively, in black and tint the windows completely black, I, or anyone, would get mistaken for a dealer too!
But that still doesn't take away from the car's distinctiveness, which I give Cadillac. Too many cars these days look the same; and the ones who are different often ending up looking like they are trying too hard (CTS, 360 Modena front end, Aztek, 7 series).
The Escalade is an image car, that's all there is too it. If you want quality buy a Toyota, or Lexus, but they don't convey half the "chic" that the 'Lade does.
Too me, it is almost a 21st century interpretation of a 60s musclecar - minus the muscle.
Complaining about it's thuggishness, and that people of questionable pedigree are "butchering" the look is like going to a Jerry Bruckheimer or Schwarzenegger movie and then complaining that there was no character development. It is what it is.
Like I was telling someone on here, Mercedes or any luxury car can be a dealer car as well in post #521 I stated.
I don't understand why people complaining anyhow. If they don't like the vehicle it is stating, don't worry about its image and enjoy it or get rid of it. Simple as that.
J "CaddyLac"
-mike
-mike
Steve
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btw...the burb dealers are smart - they are driving the Honda Odyssey with a soccer ball magnet adhered to the side panels.
Looks like the profilers will have to amend their handbooks! :-)
tidester
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Steve
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Fair enough, I agree. Getting one in red downplays it a little bit, but saying "refined" is a big stretch.
<<And if you don't like the "thuggish" look, why buy it? Granted, the LX470 is a bit more, but it is a far better car. The Land Cruiser is also an option in that price range, but you may want a luxury nameplate.>>
It's not the thuggish look, it's that it's associated with thugs. I think it looks fine myself.
But what I really want it for is the power and performance. I swear, I could care less about the badging or nameplate. Interior-wise, I do want as comfortable and up-to-date as I can get, and clearly the Escalade isn't the winner there. I also want the interior space it provides. I'm a musician (a drummer) and I need a lot of room to haul equipment every weekend, plus my wife and usually a few friends come along. Additionally, I tow motorcycles frequently, and granted while it's not that much weight, an underpowered engine towing even that weight is troublesome. Believe me, if I felt I had an alternative, I would consider it.
<<The Escalade is an image car, that's all there is too it. If you want quality buy a Toyota, or Lexus, but they don't convey half the "chic" that the 'Lade does.>>
I suppose I could get a Denali and give up the extra safety of the special traction control the Escalade has, as well as the 35(?) horsepower. It's just that since I'm going to be driving this truck for at least 5 years, I want the best I can get today.
Ron
-mike
My Tahoe pulls the load just fine. But my friends Landcruiser had all sorts of problems. It would go into and out of overdrive all the time. We once had to have the transmission oil changed during a trip to Michigan one year, when the tranny started overheating. We were towing 4 bikes and 4 people, but it seemed strange to me that it would have that problem. Plus it was damn cramped in there with our equipment.
Ron
Wait a minute....did I say the design of the LX470 is overkill? I'm starting to sound like an anti-suver and I must have enterred this forum instead of the "I hate suvs..." by mistake:)
-mike
I'm just sick of all the Pousers out there with SUVs....
Yeah, I'm with ya on that one...uh, who's that? PAISAN???? Holy schmoley!
I thought you wuz one of us for a second there ;-)
What's all this about a pickup with an enclosed rear going for $50,000? :-O
Also check out the Custom vans, tell me that 6 capatians chairs, TV etc are not mor comfy than the escalade?
Anyway I won't rant anymore in here, just find it funny that I doubt any Escalades will be doing this http://isuzu-suvs.com/events/pb-5-05-02/index.html or http://isuzu-suvs.com/events/unf-04-26-02/index.html
-mike
Anyhow, I will stop ranting but in the June issue of Motor Trend, there was a great comparison test of the 2003 Navigator vs. Escalades and ML 500 Benz and the Escalade won the comparison test. Although the Navigator was a major improvement over the previous model and has some more safety and power doo-dads than the Cadillac, it came up short in refinement, ride quality, looks, and performance. They said that the Escalade has set the standard of how the luxury SUV should be.
I came away shocked and had a predetermined mindset thinking the Escalade was going to be a dog, come finding out it bested the Navigator and ML 500.
J "Caddylac"
America has always done well with excess, and the Escalade and Navigator are prime examples of that. Heck, the new '03 Nav. even proves that Americans can build world class interiors (provided it doesn't fall apart in six months
Can anyone honestly say that all the Porsches, Ferraris, and even any car with >200HP is being used to it's fullest capacity?
Its the same with SUVs. My friend's father has a yellow 360 Modena, Automatic. He got the "F1" tranny b/c he couldn't drive a stick (poser); anyway, the car is purely a luxury item for him, not at all a performance item at all.
There are many other examples of people who buy a Porsche, even a manual Porsche, and go fast on the street, but never come close to a track, which is the only place one can fully exploit the car's abilities.
I bet the same proportion of SUV owners take their cars offroad as sportscar, and motorbike owners take their cars to the track. So, the msg. is: quit yer whinin'.
-Yammie
People are always trying to be what they aren't! It's sad very sad.
-mike
Actually GM maybe be ahead of the curve on your request. The design of the Denali, Denali XL and the Escalade recognize that there is a larger market for a powerful, well handling suv that is rarely going to go off-road than there is for a luxury suv with Hummer-like off-road qualities.
Having owned various 4wd vehicles over 20 years, I came to quickly find that off-roading just was not a big enough part of my life to justify carrying around alot of extra hardware like 4wd lo that just never gets used. I couldn't be happier with the AWD setup in my Denali XL and am now convinced I would never want a vehicle without it (provided it has the power to compensate for the extra power needed).
I think GM and Ford (with the AWD Mountaineer) have recogized what customer's really want and I think we will find a whole lot more vehicles being designed with AWD than with trick 4wd systems that can boast about crossing 4 ft ditches, articulating over 2 ft boulders, or racing a cheetah on an African Safari.
The average American SUV owner just doesn't have a need for these capabilities and once consumer's realize the hype doesn't really match their needs, AWD will exceed 4wd systems with lots of bells and whistles that no one ever uses.
-mike
http://www.auto.com/industry/iwire17_20020517.htm
Steve
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Steve
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Ron