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Cadillac Escalade

1000 messages,  Last post on Nov 30, 2012 at 1:51 PM

You are in the Cadillac Escalade Forum.

What is this discussion about? Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade EXT, Cadillac Escalade ESV, SUV

Messages Page 92 of 101

#902 of 1000 Ooops, I Should Have Never Gone To See the GL 450 by sfleming

Jun 13, 2006 (2:12 pm)

Ooops, I Should Have Never Gone To See the GL 450 by sfleming Jun 13, 2006
 
I was really jazzed on an '07 Escalade for the wife and I was going to get an EXT in a couple months. We've waited an extra year to replace our outdated rides for the new engine, tranny and style on the "07.
 
Then we heard about the Mercedes GL 450. First I went to see it and was pretty impressed. I feared the wife would disdain its somewhat narrower and shorter (height) aspects. She hauls a lot of $%!# ! We live on a large ranch far from town and haul big loads of everything. Her family all drive Mercedes however and she knows they are good automobiles. She loved it. I loved it. I actually had more room in the front passenger seat than in my wifes expedition. (I'm 6'2" and 240 pounds) It was very quick. Quicker than the 'slade. It rode better and much quieter. The fittings and appointments are just about 100% superior to the american truck. The brakes were a whole nuther world to me. Holy Larry, Moe & Curly ! I didn't know 5500 pounds could stop that fast! With all the options we want compared to the same or near same on the Cadillac .... it's cheaper. The Mercedes will certainly have better resale value than the Cadillac. It has several options you can't get on the Escalade. Did I mention the thing is whisper quiet?
 
The only thing we felt would be better on the Cadillac was cargo capacity. Nope. The poorly storing second row rear seats in the Escalade eat up any extra space and you don't get a flat floor no matter what you do or what kind of seats you get. Then there are the ridiculous third row seats you have to drag in and out if you use said third row. Mercedes disappear into the floor in 4 seconds. They're nicer seats too.
 
I am now so ruined by my discovery of just what a Mercedes really IS .... I can't even get excited about the EXT. I've driven trucks all my life ... 40 years since I turned 16 and in my retirement I fancied myself tooling around in my very own caddy 'trucklette'. My dogs were all excited about getting to run from the truck bed to the back of my seat so they could snuffle my ears at will and then run outside and 'fly' down the road. How do I explain to them it may now never happen? Well .... at least the rear windows on the GL 450 go down all the way. hmmmmmmm his and hers GL 450s ? Why the ____ not?

#903 of 1000 Re: Ooops, I Should Have Never Gone To See the GL 450 [sfleming] by awf_axis

Jun 13, 2006 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: sfleming (Jun 13, 2006 2:12 pm)
I feel for you on the GL450 thing. Looking at build quality to its design inovations, it really is a nicely put together vehicle. There was a interesting comparison on the two machines in either Car & Driver, Motor Trend or Road & Track. Being a performance junkie, I find solace in the fact that the Cadillac did beat the GL450 in the 1/4 mile, even though it had slower 0-60 times.
 
My main decision was based totally on an emotional point; the "cool factor". The GL looks too much like a large Toyota RAV 4. Certainly the wrong way to approach vehicle selection, but there you have it.
 
I believe that German engineering is superior to most american counterparts (I have a BMW X3 too), but the better designs haven't translated into reliability. The JD Power comparison put Mercedes below Cadillac this year, which is quite a surprise. Last year, they were tied. (JD Power survey released earlier this month).

#904 of 1000 Re: Ooops, I Should Have Never Gone To See the GL 450 [awf_axis] by gap2006

Jun 13, 2006 (5:48 pm)

Replying to: awf_axis (Jun 13, 2006 3:54 pm)
I would just give you one caution, the electrical system and software. Having driven a Mercedes for the last 6 years before my '07 Escalade I have some experience with the brand. Mechanically, they are excellent as only a German car can be. My 2000 was great, no problems. Then came my 2003 in which they added a Nav system and variety of other gadgets in the console. After a year of trying, MB gave up and quietly recalled thousands of cars, including mine, and simply replaced them, no questions asked. Even with the new car there were numerous recalls involving brakes, transmission and electronics. Even as I was turning the car in there was nothing but static coming out of the speakers after pushing a button on my Nav system. These issues are common to thousands of vehicles, not just mine(in other words, I didn't have an isolated lemon). I don't have any idea if the GL has any of these issues but having been a loyal Mercedes owner I would check these aspects out before buying. I fully expect MB to resolve these problems over the next couple of years and will probably buy again. In the meantime, I have no problem supporting the USA and GM. Good luck whatever you decide.

#905 of 1000 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid by escaladeviper

Jun 13, 2006 (9:28 pm)

I Hope Cadillac Escalade Hybrid gets the big one this time, this is an event in history.

#906 of 1000 Re: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid [escaladeviper] by awf_axis

Jun 13, 2006 (10:04 pm)

Replying to: escaladeviper (Jun 13, 2006 9:28 pm)
I've heard about the "Hybrid" for Escalade, but for the life of me, I can't understand why. Are they going to do the same for the Hummer?
 
Seems to me that people willing to pay $60k plus for a SUV, are not concerned about fuel economy, or the environment for that matter. Like putting a band-aid on a severed leg.
 
The Escalade already weights in near 3 tons. Another 700 plus pounds of electric motor and batteries will put this truck into another classification.
 
If you need good mileage in an SUV, buy a 3 row RAV4 or similar.
 
I bought this monster for towing the boat and family camping trips (and to look "cool" while doing it). Otherwise, it sits in the garage.
 
Dave

#907 of 1000 Re: Ooops, I Should Have Never Gone To See the GL 450 [awf_axis] by sfleming

Jun 14, 2006 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: awf_axis (Jun 13, 2006 3:54 pm)
awf axis,
 
Thanks. You always have good info and share it freely. On the 'German engeneering' thing: I'm sure that used to be true and of course it was coupled with the money factor. MB was always significantly more expensive than a Caddy or Lincoln. Now that they are trying to go head to head $ wise I suspect Daimler-Chrysler with there American plants are squeezing out a few thou per unit ( or squeezing into ) that they can put into every aspect of production. We appear anyway to be getting substantially more vehicle for the same dollar. There could also be some superior 'value engeneering' going on here that American Manufacturers cannot match. Don't really know.
 
Now that my 'aquisition hormones' have dialed back a bit I would guess that the wife will get the GL and I'll still get the EXT cause I want an open bed. If my assesment of my previous post holds true over the first year of ownership I might dump the Caddy. Or if your warnings turn out to be prescient on the Benz I'll be a happy camper and she'll have to dump the Benz.
 
It seems to be a crap shoot whatever you do. There's a new recall every week. Or more. Even the Japanese cannot maintain their quality and engeneering any more it seems.

#908 of 1000 Re: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid [awf_axis] by escaladeviper

Jun 14, 2006 (1:58 pm)

Replying to: awf_axis (Jun 13, 2006 10:04 pm)
Because cadillac has a new active fuel management now.

#909 of 1000 Re: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid [escaladeviper] by awf_axis

Jun 14, 2006 (2:37 pm)

Replying to: escaladeviper (Jun 14, 2006 1:58 pm)
In your post about Hybrid and then Active Fuel Management, these two things are not related. The AFM is what the brochures call "Displacement on Demand", or DOD. This technology is in the Tahoe/Yukon line, and scheduled later for the 6.2 ltr engines in the Escalade Denali later this year.
 
I'm a little wary of this technology. The negative comments regarding drivability and performance that has come from the Tahoe forum's kind of confirms my caution.
 
There's going to be enough first year bugs coming from my impulse purchase, that I'm glad DOD isn't another thing to deal with.
 
Dave

#910 of 1000 2007 Escalade Idle Issue by escy07

Jun 24, 2006 (9:32 am)

I have 10,000 miles on my new 2007 escy and have experienced a "hesitaion" issue when decreaaseing speed into a corner and the hitting the pedal at low speeds. It seems idle is too low. I have brought it in 3 times for this issue. Caddy did have a bulletin about "rough" idle. It said to reprogram. After that was done 50% of the problem went away.. Is anyone else seeing this?
any thoughts? ideas?
Thanks
JP from Ct

Messages Page 92 of 101

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