I love Tommy’s dramas in this he takes off the sun glasses for extra dramatic. Stuff love it. Tommy is cool.

As someone who worked on these in the early to mid 2000’s I can tell all of you some facts: The Escalade AWD was good, but still failed regularly from abuse. AWD donuts shorten the life of the Transfer Case exponentially. The interiors were still GM garbage. The solution was always the same: “a big enough sound system will hide the squeaks and rattles. “ The rear brakes are undersized for the vehicle. Towing with an Escalade will smoke the rears in half the time of the fronts. Explaining to some C level jackass why his yacht was too heavy for the Escalade is one of the reasons why I left the industry.

@lazydadsgarage

2 жыл бұрын

Same thing with the 2007+ with those brakes. I towed a 14x7 tool trailer all the time

@doddgarger6806

2 жыл бұрын

But the money tho

@MC4D.

2 жыл бұрын

I figured there were 2 types of people that would buy these in this era. The old white guy that only owned Cadillac's since the 70s and only buys American, and the fake "C level" ballers that could barely make the payments.

@Mach141

2 жыл бұрын

@@MC4D. Or maybe someone who can fix their own vehicles and just wants an old and affordable truck

@MC4D.

2 жыл бұрын

@@Mach141 true but I was referring to the people that bought them new back when these were new.

As a 10 year old in a 2006 GMC Sierra my parents owned, I definitely used that exact same rear seat entertainment system. It had XM radio and I'm sure kept me entertained for many hours!

The trans on my 2005 Escalade with 278k decided to give me a bunch of neutrals. But it's getting another one because the Escalade is a beast.

I just bought one of these for my wife, an 05. We were after a gmt800 z71 tahoe, but those were all beat to hell. She had a newer car but we got tired of dealing with payments and inflation which probably won't stop soon. Got a good offer for her car in today's crazy used car market and took the leftover cash to buy the Escalade. My truck (an 04 silverado) is paid off so NO CAR PAYMENTS FOR US. Maintenance is easy and cheap on these and both should go well over 300,000 miles.

One of my old teachers has a 2005 Escalade ESV Platinum and that thing is beautiful

The memory functions in 2003 aren't surprising at all. I had a 1995 Lincoln Continental and it had all those memory features as well. The key fob had 2 buttons to select which driver and there were memory buttons on the door as well . The memory feature would adjust the seat, the side mirrors, the climate control, the radio station and the suspension setting. It also had a fully automatic load leveling suspension with air struts up front and air springs in the back. The instrument panel was very cool looking in that the gauges were projected onto the background from the front so the numbers and other markings would not be covered by the needles. It also had a very smooth and powerful 32 valve 4.6L V8 with variable intake runners for optimum low end torque and wide open throttle. It was a very nice and advanced car for its time.

I still own a 2004 EXT and it's one of the best trucks I've ever had. The Vortec is bulletproof (except for some unfortunate head gaskets in the 2002 models) The ride is amazing, better than a lot of current SUV's. The AWD versions have a decent amount of get-up. Gas mileage is garbage though. Still get comments from people about it.

@robervin9107

2 жыл бұрын

How is the rust

@Ner0sys7

2 жыл бұрын

@@robervin9107 No rust. It was a desert truck. Spent its whole life in Nevada. The drivers seat went the way of all truck drivers seats though.

@t.l.robinson2162

2 жыл бұрын

The head gaskets are not the problem. The problem is the dexcool antifreeze.

@miguelalfoya2031

2 жыл бұрын

@@t.l.robinson2162 that's totally true! 👍 👌 That (dexcool) destroyed engine gaskets!

@Captndarty

2 жыл бұрын

I’m sorry

I bought a 06 Escalade in 2017 just after hurricane Harvey for 4500. It had 134k miles on it, ran great until the transmission went out at 223k. Fixed that and it stayed running great until someone tried to do a hit and run on me. I had a dash cam so I caught everything on film. Truck was totalled and I got 7600 out of it. Would I do it all again? Yes I would. Great truck. The 6.0 is a must! I've owned the 4.8 and 5.3. The 6.0 is far superior.

@mikethatguy27

2 жыл бұрын

The 6.0 is most definitely a must and the most wanted among GM full size trucks.. especially if you've owned the absolute slug 4.8

@bendino9016

2 жыл бұрын

yes. 6.0 or 7.0 427 c.i. LS engines are the best.

@42luke93

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikethatguy27 I Hear they use 6.2 engines now.

@mikethatguy27

2 жыл бұрын

@@42luke93 6.2l can be a beast too.

That was the best Escalade design until the 2021

My mom had a black 2002 Escalade with the gold pin stripes. She bought it brand new, put 390,000 miles on it and just recently got rid of it a year ago. It didnt give her many issues at all.

Every reviewer bashes the GMT800 interior plastics, but they really seem to have stood up to 20 years of use pretty well.

@telliesmith9825

2 жыл бұрын

Say that again cause the interior looks pretty good on this one

@JDMSwervo2001

2 жыл бұрын

Yea it just looked cheap

@Stressless2023

2 жыл бұрын

It's just the lack of effort GM made to differentiate the interior from the Chevy work truck that it was lifted from lol. The dashboard was just embarrassing even for the day, complete from a bare bones Chevy Silverado with fake wood sprinkled on it. Just shows how consumer tastes have evolved even just from 15-20 years ago. Great trucks mechanically for the most part, and definitely will be in the automotive history books, but it's laughable how much more money Ford threw at the Lincoln Navigator for development when GM just practically phoned it in and blew the Navi in the weeds as far as sales lol.

That was nineteen minutes of pure genius that I am going to watch again to repeat a bout of uncontrollable laughter! If a certain legendary crusty brit car program presenter was young, weighed less than 20 stone, American, and born after the advent of the Apple II e computer, this is the review he would host! Mark my words, TOMMY MICA IS THE NEXT JEREMY CLARKSON! Awesome review, thanks for the grins!

@Leatherkid01

2 жыл бұрын

I watch that certain crusty legendary british presenter with his 2 stooges 🤣👍🏼👍🏼

@myonen4402

2 жыл бұрын

I generally prefer the 2 stooges

The really nice old man who lived next door to me in college had that exact Escalade in 2003 brand new. I remember thinking how crazy it was that a man in my crappy apartment building owned such.

"It floats over everything. Potholes, bumps, peasants...." 🤣🤣🤣🤣

My family has a 2006 Yukon XL Denali and I loved (and still love) it. It has 208k miles from my dad and me daily driving it before the transmission started going out

Some friends as I road tripped a 2004 Escalade across British Colombia a few years ago and that Escalade is still my favourite car I’ve ever driven

When I was in high school, my parents had a 1998 Chev Astro van that had the rear seat entertainment system. I used it all the time on family road trips.

Love this car, daily driving my 06 Platinum ESV. Here in Europe we pay about 8$ a gallon at the moment. But what could I do better, then relax in this comfy ride, far away from the ridiculous reality.

@eaauto6182

2 жыл бұрын

Damn it’s probably $200 to fill it up then😂 Mine is $100 to fill up and I spend about 400/month on gas🤦🏻‍♂️

@belakako9478

2 жыл бұрын

@@eaauto6182 two weeks later, the price has risen to about $9.50... Gas is now more expensive than good beer. But the Escalade won't run on beer, maybe on champagne 🙂

This SUV was all the hype back in the early 2000s. My fondest memory is driving this in Need For Speed Underground 2.

A little clarification, the Vortec 6000 is an LS engine. It has some similarities to the classic 5.7 small block found in prior generation GM trucks, but it was a clean sheet engine not a version of the engine used for 50 years

I own an 07 Escalade ESV With all the added options I’ve had it since new. It now has 380k and is still looks good. I love how reliable it has been for me. It’s super clean and runs really good. Is going to be passed down to my 17 year old daughter and I will get the new one

The wood is real, it’s called Zebrano or Zebrawood. It comes from central Africa and is sometimes used in high end furniture and guitars.

@mikewest712

2 жыл бұрын

Bet you think that leather is real too.

@kevinmcadams805

2 жыл бұрын

@@mikewest712 I do, because it is.

@Stressless2023

2 жыл бұрын

None of the wood in the 2nd gen. Escalades is genuine except the steering wheel which he pointed out in the video. I own an '04 Slade ESV Platinum which was the top of the line, all plastic. Cadillac did use Zebrano inlays in most of its other models during the 90's and early 2000's, just not in the Escalade.

@davyd4355

2 жыл бұрын

Just the wood on the steering wheel and door trim are real The dashboard and center console are fake

@Stressless2023

2 жыл бұрын

@@davyd4355 The wood accents on the doors are fake too. Only the steering wheel in this generation Escalade has real wood.

I own a 2009 Escalade, the thing is bulletproof

@daroachdoggjr188

2 жыл бұрын

@@WW-wf8tu no, I meant it is mechanically bullet proof, thing is a beast! :D

Good humor but still with a genuine in-depth time-travel review, nice job 👍

I bought an '05 Escalade new and used it for about 10 years then gave it to my granddaughter and she drove it until a couple years ago. It racked up 180k miles by the time she sold it. Only repairs it required in all those years was an hvac blend door actuator and a fuel pump. It was a good vehicle that did what we asked of it.

I had an '03 Yukon XL Denali for about a year, and I honestly think it was one of the best cars I've ever driven. I think many of the design choices aged better than the escalade. People always thought it was newer than it was, despite the fact that it had 212k miles. It also had the other escalade faceplate on the gauges with the shinny chrome rings, and that was by far the best looking cluster for this era of truck. It had the same engine and AWD system as the escalade, and for its size, its performance was incredible. When you need it to do evasive maneuvers or pull out with a short gap in traffic, it would just grab and go, no drama, even when it was pouring out. It gripped just as good in the rain as it did on a dry day. That fact saved my life at least twice. I hope to own another someday but gas millage was killing me so I had to pass it on.

Interesting review, I grew up in a small town (population 5K) Nebraska. Back in 2005 I remember there was only one white Escalade EXT in town. About a year later it was gone. Fast forward another year, watching 60mins found out the guy that owned it was in federal prison for drug and human trafficking. go figure

I just got a 99 the seats back and front are like sitting on 10 pillows I love it

I have a 03 Tahoe z71 5.3 with 200,000 miles on it and never any problems with it except for the the normal brakes u joints and oil changes, but watching your video these are very similar. Great video, and love the old GM’s!!!

Got an 04 burb 289k still an awesome trip vehicle runs and shifts perfectly after installing a corvette servo, makes me want to get an lq9 now, even has original u joints in the driveline no play anywhere

Old vs new ike gauntlet. You need to make it happen

Tony Soprano owns a couple of these in the last couple seasons. He pwns a Tahoe first couple seasons then upgrades to the Escalade.

Great video Tommy. Funny as can be and informative.

Great video. Can't wait to see what you do with all these big SUVs

Still own a 2006 Yukon Denali (Escalade lite) my dad bought new. I bought off him in 2011. 247k and that thing has been absolutely bulletproof. Most expensive repair has been a front differential that needed rebuilt. Original engine, transmission, and transfer case. Still like driving it as we keep it around as a spare. Love the 2019 Yukon we replaced it with too!

Your videos are awesome. Watched a mini and this one, gained yourself another subscriber.

Wow. It looks so small. Crazy how much vehicles have ballooned in size.

You guys did the video as an early 2000's MTV Pure Nostalgia Great Job guys 😂🤞🏼

Tommy terrific commentary on this one. I can totally understand.

I love it, I bought mine New in 2003 and have 240,000 miles on it. Plastic is breaking electronics are constantly issues, but it has the original engine and transmission. The car has transported my family across the country multiple times has pulled large boats and trailers, rarely has it let me down. I don’t the new one will hold up this well.

I would love a rhd one here in the UK. Gold Paint tan leather and plastic wood perfect. Forget German engineering this is one Very desirable cool car.

When you guys are done with this, I totally want it!! Love your videos

It took me inordinately long to figure out GM used the Escalade sheetmetal in the 2003 facelift for the Silverado (but not the Tahoe/Suburban).

I kind of want one now, but I think I'd take the ext for the pickup aspect

"The hip hop" at the beginning says everything the next 3 minutes does in less words.

Back in the day I had a neighbor who owned an escalade in riptide blue, with spinning rims.

Can’t believe we refer to the early 2000s as “Back in the day”. Seems like yesterday.

Tommy, I like you analogies. Funny. And your not wrong. College in 2009 well spent in an Escalade.

"Smells like sweat and shame in here", this line deserves to be in the hall of fame of car reviews!

My 2004 Suburban is an absolute tank! 207k miles and just getting broken in.

I just bought one short time ago 2005 model two-wheel drive 6.0 153,000 mi same color one owner for $3500. It's a great vehicle. I believe this was the best GM trucks.

TFL did it first!!! Wow.. Finally.. I have a 2003 Cadillac Escalade Esv same color 170k the best Escalade in my opinion overall! Would love to see more videos of this truck! Great job guys.

Early 2000s trucks are the best, I have my 2003 expedition and it runs like an Angel and sooo feckin comfy.

I have a 2005 suburban z71 thats fully loaded my aunt bought it new. I bought it after she put on 100k it now has 430k with very few issues just rusted out brake lines rusted out fuel pump a new rear end from a junkyard

Best review ever! I found it a mix between Hoovie's Garage, Doug Demuro, and Tim Allen thrown in for comedy.

Love it. Thank you! Kinda want one now...

Absolutely loves this series of SUVs American Style. ☘️🇮🇪👍. Plus now you have the Triton, the 350 Small Block and the Vortex.

My brother in law lives in Sarasota in a retirement community, and he loves his escalade! That comment at the beginning of the video had me rolling on the floor. I have to send this to my sister.

In 2018 we were looking for a replacement for my 1994 2500 suburban. It needed to be able to tow around 7000 pounds and also seat 8. Wanted 4wd as well for winter driving and hey a nice interior wouldn't hurt this time around. I immediately thought Yukon or Tahoe. The prices were outrageous and the condition of the vehicle was usually in the beat to death category. I guess if you pony up for one of these you don't get rid of it till it's 2 clicks from imploding. Then I decided to add the Sclade to the mix. I also never thought of myself as a Sclade kinda guy but it really just is a velvet Yukon. Well found lots and lots of elderly owned, very well taken car of and most Importantly reasonably priced options! I found a Maroon metalic 2007 very nicely optioned, very well taken care of with 150k and it was pretty cheap! I still have it. All I can say is replace the relays in the power distribution block which are cheap and will save you lots of issues. Over all love the vehicle.

When I was in grade school and you had a black Escalade or Navigator you became popular no matter who you are.

When did the Escalade go from "THE car if you're a real baller" to "ooo, someone called a fancy Uber"?

I had a 2000 Escalade and it had 230,000 miles on it when I got rid of it. I would love to get another Escalade like the 2nd gen in this video! I like the older ones instead of the newer ones. I also wouldn't mind the ext version as I had an Avalanche that I loved too. That was a great truck!

The funniest yet acurate tfl video I've seen lol. I'm going to be buying a 4th gen soon I believe.

That Escalade was one of the coolest cars out back in the day

Love our 03 escalade, the only issue is the steering is really loose. Anyone else have this problem? It doesn't help that when you hit bumps it has torque steer due to the awd system. We've tried tightening up the steering box but it seems to be something else.

I wonder how many of the early models of these got junked in the "cash for clunkers" program. Lot of good engines saw their demise for a few bucks.

Tommy nails it, as usual👍

You’re buying such a cool cars last days :D suburban, excursion, Escalade

Love my 05 esv. 100k miles vortec 6 and runs like a dream

Hey Tommy, I have a 2003 Trailblazer LTZ. In some places of this it looked like you were showing off my car. I've been mostly a Ford guy but they lost me on my 3rd tranny in a 91 Taurus. I like the Trailblazer, it is comfortable and at 74 years of age it is easier to get in and out of than any car. I also like something you didn't mention in these vehicles. I turned the lights on and left them, they are always on and work differently in light and dark when locking it. Also I never have to turn on the wipers, but sometimes they take a swipe for something I didn't see. All said and done it was fun seeing what you loved to hate about the GM products. Your dad says it differently, but later man.

I grew up riding around in my dad's demo Jags with real burled walnut and Conolley (?) leather seats. Smelled wonderful. The 1st time I rode in a Cadillac I was blown away by plastic wood grain and the most plastic smelling "leather" interior I had ever seen! Never been a fan since.

GMT800 there fun, only thing I hope you don't use you heater to much. Because that Heater Core is a Pita. I got 2001 Tahoe and up to this day, it plagged by fuel pump issues

Back when the interior differences was just wood trim lol. At least they finally changed that

Tommy, you are very funny in the video! Nice job! 🤣

I had this one but in EXT version as I’m contractor , was young and stupid carrying plywood and 2x4’s in it , but it was fun 😂

“It smells like sweat and shame in here” Classic, truly classic

They started to get really good with the 2007+ generation. I had one for 6 years unit someone pulled out in front of me😭 great power, nice features, tones of room for my family and dogs, highly capable in almost any terrain with it's locking rear and full time awd. I'll buy one again some day and turn it in to a hot rod

@jesdadotcom

2 жыл бұрын

The transmissions suffered and the interiors were cheapened.

@juanbarajas5376

2 жыл бұрын

Not to mention the issue with the vvt

@20tea

2 жыл бұрын

@BL Dontmatter Got an 07 Yukon Denali lifted 4" with a 3" body lift on 35" mud terrains at 182k miles while keeping air ride. Has the 6.2 liter without DOD/afm stock (07&08). Awd does fine in the NW logging roads and deep snow. The rear G80 kicks in, but would like a e- locker up front. Had it for about 5 years now and still next to new on the inside. I even condition the leather seats. Exterior has been modified for offroad and does pretty well. Going to build a front bumper for my winch and a swing-out tire carrier for the rear and rock sliders. Have some other engine/transmission/brakes performance mods too, but nothing too crazy. This is what happens when a Jeep guy gets a 'nice' family suv!

@eaauto6182

2 жыл бұрын

I love my 07, only complaint is gas mileage is not even 10 mpg🤦🏻‍♂️

@eaauto6182

2 жыл бұрын

@BL Dontmatter Yes I think it has emissions issues. Check engine is on already replaced PCV valve but it needs more work

I came so close to building an GMT800 Escalade into a rock crawler. They're cheap, there are SAS kits, and it has heated seats.

Thats a great vehicle to buy for only 6k. Gas is gonna cost you but you wont have a car payment and taxs, tags and insurance will all be dirt cheap. Plus it wont break down on you like all the newer models. I own a 2009 GMC Canyon 4x4 Z71 with a factory 5.3L Vortec engine and it has been rock solid. No AFM, no cylinder deactivation, no direct injection, no 8 spd transmission to fail on me.

Small Wayne ! Love it. Did you buy a lot of Lysol ? 🤔🥳

Best comedy act of the year!! Love Lil" Mica's mastery of the sardonic!! I am glad that I am prude enough not to recognize the smell of "sweat and shame."

Great video. The Escalade is very nice but I love the GMC Suburban.

The memory system would also go back the disk and track you were listening to the last time you were driving.

Hey Tommy! You probably already know that but the 6000 vortec refer to the cc. 6000cc like motorbikes 500cc = 1/2 liter, 1000cc = 1.0 liter, 6000cc = 6.0 liter. You probably knew that but just to make sure 😉

I really enjoy your videos when you buy old cars

I've never been more thankful that smells can't come over videos

You need to 1. replace that grill with factory 2. Deep clean .3. enjoy

😂 great review. Loves how you describe the smell. I have an 04 Tahoe with the 5.3 and it’s been great. Nearly 200 k on it now. Scared to death of the new engines. Turbos, cylinder deactivation etc. planned obsolescence at a mark up.

@Leatherkid01

2 жыл бұрын

The AFM.... I had it turned off in my 2016 Yukon XL with the 5.3.... Good so far all time V8 😈😈

@natlovell122

2 жыл бұрын

I have an ‘04 Burban LS w/ 192k miles. Absolutely love the vehicle. Runs and shifts smooth and has so much space, complete gas hog but I don’t drive that much for work so it just keeps on truckin for me

@eaauto6182

2 жыл бұрын

Get a GMT900, but make sure it’s non AFM (active fuel management). The 6.2 is a BEAST!

I love this video. You did so well of setting it up for a disaster just to love it

I love my 03 Escalade!

Back in the old days people drive in big land yacht Cadillac sedans in the 1970s. In the 2000s it was the Escalade, the land yacht SUV.

@captainamericaamerica8090

2 жыл бұрын

FORD EXCURSION IS STILL THE KING OF S.UV!= 🐯🐯🐯🐯👑👑👑👑

Gauges and steering wheel was better than newer model after this

I bought n 05 esv last year, 80k miles on it, sofa seats, very comfy ride, under 10k

@thechosen5805

2 жыл бұрын

what state??

That vintage of GM full size suv sounded goooood. 6.2L sounds greeeaaat!

I love these reviews/videos it brings me back! Keep ‘em coming!

Hello, I am Tommy Demuro going over the quirks and features of this Cadillac Escalade.

I can’t believe you touched that seat bottom cover after you described who and what you thought went on in there. That would have been the first thing to go (with rubber gloves).

I always questioned people’s intelligence that paid Escalade money for what was a lipsticked Tahoe. Later versions almost looked cool and finally got specialized options.

@DMoney505

2 жыл бұрын

The Escalade was superior in every way! Much more than just “lipstick”. We could go back and forth about every vehicle on the market that has a luxury version that is the “lipsticked” version… Range Rover sport is an Explorer Lexus ES300 is just a Camry Navigator is a expedition Infiniti is just a Nissan etc….. You get the point, So I guess we have a lot of unintelligent people among us….

@miguelblanco3629

2 жыл бұрын

@@DMoney505 There is a big difference between early Escalades and luxury vehicles. If you like Escalades, you are welcome to buy them.

@DMoney505

2 жыл бұрын

@@miguelblanco3629 Explain then, While you have your nose up. I’ll tell you this much it’s more reliable than 95% of the other luxury vehicles that are on the road. While all these foreign suvs can’t even make it 50k miles without living in the shop…

@miguelblanco3629

2 жыл бұрын

@@DMoney505 First I didn’t say that it was garbage. I said buy a Tahoe or a Suburban or a Yukon instead of paying the “cool” tax of getting an early Escalade. As I stated before, if you like them have at it. No need to convince me. As to being more reliable than all luxury vehicles... there are some pretty reliable Lexus’s and Acura’s out there... There’s a difference between thinking something is a waste of money given available alternatives and “turning your nose up”. 😉

@Stressless2023

2 жыл бұрын

@@DMoney505 I own a 2004 Escalade ESV Platinum which had a $67,000 MSRP back then, and the whole interior seems like it would have been absolutely embarrassing even at the time for the money... Complete Chevy work truck dashboard virtually unchanged for Cadillac duty aside from obviously fake woodgrain, ultra cheap materials everywhere you look and touch, it's laughable that it was so popular and gained iconic status. The Lincoln Navigator of the time was MUCH nicer inside and MUCH more differentiated from the lowly Ford Expedition it was based on, had IRS, and just overall didn't get the credit it deserved by comparison. Love my old throwback relic though, she's reliable as hell and pulls whatever I hook up to it, but it certainly is a very interesting bit of history when you consider how many consumers paid this absurd amount of money for these truly insulting and blatantly unconvincing "luxury" trucks just 15-20 years ago.

I bought the same car!!!Its my camper trailer hauler. N code 6 liter and 2 grand less than a Yukon..You are nailing the description. My friends harass me about the purchase.