I've been chiming in on
@DonnyJones thread about buying a Denali. I love the escalades as well I just can't seem to bring myself to want to spend 36K on a vehicle with 73K miles on it. I looked at it and it is a very nice truck. One of my favorite colors ever and always have loved the brown leather interior. Owning a Denali and living in the middle of the Rockies in Colorado I drive at night and we don't know what street lighting is. I can attest that the Denali headlights aren't that bad. So I wouldn't let that be a factor. However one thing to consider is the cost of ownership. The Denali are already a little more than a standard Yukon or Tahoe. But once you go to an escalade you have led everything for taillights and those headlights I would hate to have to replace one. Just remember the more options and fancy it gets the more you have that can break. I hope you get what suits you best and meets all your needs.
Thanks so much for the input, it is much appreciated!
You have to remember that I live in the DC Metro area. Vehicle prices here are cursed to be at least $4-5k more than anywhere else, so this vehicle elsewhere would be around $34k. Also, it has to be that perfect catch:
1. Clean Carfax
2. Clean GM VIN history (I know someone from GM who runs the VINs for me and checks the internal vehicle service history)
3. NOT a rental/fleet/corporate/business use vehicle
4. Has no accidents
5. Well maintained
6. No major issues to speak of that would be an immediate turnoff.
This Escalade ESV is literally the first one that I drove that I feel confident in, and trust me; I'm as picky as they come. So OCD about little things that I've turned down so many other deals it's insane. Now, for the lighting? I'm actually partial to LEDs and the fact that the Escalade's major exterior lighting is already LED helps the cause.
As for the Yukon's lighting, it's highly subjective. All I know is that I myself found their output pitiful, especially when comparing it to my el-cheapo 2013 Impala's H11 to H9 modded lights. I wouldn't want to drive a vehicle around with yellow subpar lighting for the duration of paying the vehicle off, and in order to properly rectify it, no question I'd be spending $1k on a retrofit.
Additionally, Yukon XL Denalis, Suburbans, and Escalades are exactly the same price where I live, so when it comes down to it, it's just choosing what's available. Suburbans are out of the question, because they have the 5.3L V8. That leaves me with only 2 choices, so whichever presented itself as the best deal, I was going to jump for, and this ESV seems to be the best I can find.
I will most likely be signing on it tomorrow. I'll keep everyone posted.
