Excursion to Escalade
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 634
Likes: 8
From: Southern Tier New York
Excursion to Escalade
Hey friends... My X is getting up in miles and years... Looking at the next best thing to an Excursion... Escalade ESV. I need something big and the Expedition EL just won't cut it. Don't like the looks of the Chev or GMC versions of the 2nd biggest SUV know to man.
Here's the funny thing... I've been searching for a forum similiar to FTE and can't find anything close. Very little DYI info and such on the Escalade forums I've visited. I guess for the $$ you spend on them, most owners just have someone else fix them or do upgrades and add-on projects.
Doing my own upgrades, add-ons and repairs has been one of the most satisfying things about being an X owner... maybe I'll save a bit more and visit "Tim".
Here's the funny thing... I've been searching for a forum similiar to FTE and can't find anything close. Very little DYI info and such on the Escalade forums I've visited. I guess for the $$ you spend on them, most owners just have someone else fix them or do upgrades and add-on projects.
Doing my own upgrades, add-ons and repairs has been one of the most satisfying things about being an X owner... maybe I'll save a bit more and visit "Tim".
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,607
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
why won't the Expy EL work? its dimensions are the same as the Suburban / Yukon XL...and the Escalade is just a reskinned 'Burb
I had a 2008 Expy EL and it was awesome with the 4 kids. I only got rid of it for 1 reason. the roof rusted out. I would have happily bought another one. The 5.4 3v motor and 6 speed trans is very powerful.
my only real complaint about the Expy EL is the independant suspension. Front and rear. it rides very very nicely. but you can't lift it. I like lifted rigs.
I had a 2008 Expy EL and it was awesome with the 4 kids. I only got rid of it for 1 reason. the roof rusted out. I would have happily bought another one. The 5.4 3v motor and 6 speed trans is very powerful.
my only real complaint about the Expy EL is the independant suspension. Front and rear. it rides very very nicely. but you can't lift it. I like lifted rigs.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Tampa, FL
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,607
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Expy EL Width: 6' 6.8"
Escalade Width: 6' 7"
Excursion Length: 18' 10.4"
Expy EL Length: 18' 5.3"
Escalade Length: 16' 10.5"
(all 4x4)
Excursion Height: 6' 5.4"
Expy EL Height: 6' 6.3"
Escalade Height: 6' 3.9"
Excursion Ground Clearance: 7.4"
Expy EL Ground Clearance: 8.7"
Escalade Ground Clearance: 9"
They are very similar on paper. But there is something about the Excursion that just says "big". I drove several of the Suburbans and Yukon XL's before buying my Expy EL. They felt smaller to me. And none of them feel as big as my X.
Good luck if you get the Escalade. They have some pretty nice features to them
Excursion Tow Capacity: 11000 lbs
Expy EL Tow Capacity: 9200 lbs
Escalade Tow Capacity: 7900 lbs
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 634
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From: Southern Tier New York
I guess the biggest reason I'm leaning towards an Escalade is the looks and goodies that come with it.
As far as comparing it to the Expedition EL... I haven't done any scientific side to side comparison... I just don't like the look of the EL. I have a few hockey family friends who drive the EL and the Escalade... IMHO the Escalade is a "hotter" vehicle.
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 634
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From: Southern Tier New York
I think you posted the smaller Escalade length... It's the OCD
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MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,607
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
For the longest time I was tyring to get a 3/4 ton Yukon XL with the 6.0 motor. unfortunately, it's a special order item. and most Dealerships won't order it that way. people only want the 1/2 ton version
My other issue is $$$. I paid $38k for a Expy EL Limited brand new with every option. A Yukon XL 1/2 ton with just cloth seats was almost $43k...ouch
how much does a used Escalade run? I like my creature comforts.
most likely. But I don't know what the "long" version is called
but based on all the other specs, it's probably 1-2" within the specs of the Expy and Excursion anyways
My other issue is $$$. I paid $38k for a Expy EL Limited brand new with every option. A Yukon XL 1/2 ton with just cloth seats was almost $43k...ouch
how much does a used Escalade run? I like my creature comforts.
most likely. But I don't know what the "long" version is called
but based on all the other specs, it's probably 1-2" within the specs of the Expy and Excursion anyways
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More Turbo
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 634
Likes: 8
From: Southern Tier New York
Yes... price is up there... 2010-11 Platinum (top of the line) version ESV with 36 to 40K miles can be had for $45-50K retail. A bit less wholesale. (Been saving since my X was paid off a couple of years ago... (been stashing the old monthly payment in a savings account).
Cross-Country
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 76
Likes: 2
From: Long Island, NY
My wife drives the shorter escalade.
I get clostrophobic driving it. The seat seems half the size of my Ex.
The bolsters pinch my kidneys.
Pick up some bells and whistles and keep your ex.
I get clostrophobic driving it. The seat seems half the size of my Ex.
The bolsters pinch my kidneys.
Pick up some bells and whistles and keep your ex.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 16
From: Ouray, CO
I rented an AWD Escalade ESV a few years ago in CO, it had 6 miles on it and I got to load the GPS SW into the radio while the wife was shopping @ walmart. 
It was the best riding and handling 4wd vehicle we've rented out there. We had 6" of new powder on our private roads (unpaved, plowed by a guy with a grader once in a while during the winter) and it drove flawlessly on the switchbacks and curves.
It's "illegal" to work on an Escalade yourself
It's "illegal" to get it dirty actually using it off road
But it also drove great on the county paved roads in all that snow...
Plus we locked our keys in the car (don't ask) and the on-star folks were not able to unlock it remotely (it uses cellphone communication) and our place is beyond cell phone signals. (we walked to our neighbors and used their satellite phone) So, onstar dispatched a locksmith (neighbor drove us to town to meet him and have him follow us up the mountain). He jimmied the door, had me sign, and appologized they couldn't unlock it remotely and left in his AWD Suburu outback ...
My wife keeps "hoping" the Ex will ride like that once I am finished with my suspension upgrades.
It was the best riding and handling 4wd vehicle we've rented out there. We had 6" of new powder on our private roads (unpaved, plowed by a guy with a grader once in a while during the winter) and it drove flawlessly on the switchbacks and curves.
It's "illegal" to work on an Escalade yourself
It's "illegal" to get it dirty actually using it off road
But it also drove great on the county paved roads in all that snow...
Plus we locked our keys in the car (don't ask) and the on-star folks were not able to unlock it remotely (it uses cellphone communication) and our place is beyond cell phone signals. (we walked to our neighbors and used their satellite phone) So, onstar dispatched a locksmith (neighbor drove us to town to meet him and have him follow us up the mountain). He jimmied the door, had me sign, and appologized they couldn't unlock it remotely and left in his AWD Suburu outback ...
My wife keeps "hoping" the Ex will ride like that once I am finished with my suspension upgrades.
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 672
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From: Tampa, FL
I know the pain... would she happen to be in college at the best damned college in Virginia????
I'll kinda sorta bring it back on track... Before my Expedition EL, I had an Yukon XL Denali that I absolutely loved. When I moved to Tampa from Panama City, everywhere I looked, there were Escalades. I couldn't believe how many people had them. I assumed that there must be ridiculous finance deals going on down here in the big city, so I went to my local Caddy dealer and said "there are four people in my small neighborhood whom all have Escalades, everywhere I look, there are Escalades, are you running some kind of incredible lease program?"
The sales guy says "oh absolutely!! For just $4,900 down, your payments for 36 months are $875!"
That was the end of my love affair with Escalades. Drove home in my Denali and never gave it a second thought.
I'll kinda sorta bring it back on track... Before my Expedition EL, I had an Yukon XL Denali that I absolutely loved. When I moved to Tampa from Panama City, everywhere I looked, there were Escalades. I couldn't believe how many people had them. I assumed that there must be ridiculous finance deals going on down here in the big city, so I went to my local Caddy dealer and said "there are four people in my small neighborhood whom all have Escalades, everywhere I look, there are Escalades, are you running some kind of incredible lease program?"
The sales guy says "oh absolutely!! For just $4,900 down, your payments for 36 months are $875!"
That was the end of my love affair with Escalades. Drove home in my Denali and never gave it a second thought.