Ever since we found out #3 was on the way, I’ve been on the lookout for an ESV to replace my 2012 Yukon Denali SWB. We’ve had the Yukon about 2.5 years. I love these trucks so I’ve done quite a bit to it and was basically “done” with it when we found out we were probably going to need more space. I decided a while ago if we ever replaced it that it would be with an Escalade because I like them better and in my mind that would be more of an upgrade for spending money vs just the space.
I’m pretty picky about what I want and am generally willing to wait for it. So I was on the lookout for a Black Ice, Xenon Blue (2012 only), Sapphire Blue (2013 only), or silver (which was the last choice since the Yukon is silver). Black Raven and White Diamond were absolutely not happening and since my 08 is red, I didn’t want two the same color. 2WD is very important to me. Wasn’t terrible particular in trim level but a Premium or Platinum was preferred and black interior a must. If you’ve shopped for these at all, you know how hard this was going to be to find. On Cargurus within a 500 mile radius there were 163 07-14 ESVs and only 17 were 2WD.
My plan with buying something was to swap as many parts as possible that I’ve replaced on our Yukon, most of which in the last 10k miles. This includes: all 8 control arms, front springs (the last two in the country), Belltech lowering kit, Spohn panhard bar, steering column, intermediate shaft, wheels and tires, sunroof glass I had tinted, putting the stock exhaust back in and selling the Corsa (won’t work on a LWB or a Platinum). Unfortunately the AFM hardware delete would have to be done again. I’m not trading the Yukon but will be selling privately because it has 191k miles so trade im value is trash even though it looks nicer than many with 100k less miles.
So I came across this 2013 ESV Platinum 2WD in Black Ice with the black interior and 166k miles asking $19995. I went and looked at it twice and liked it overall despite it needing a fair amount of work but noticed the hood and roof were wrapped. The truck was from Tallahassee so I figured the paint was either perfect or trashed under the wrap. The front bumper is damaged, all the seat covers are fairly worn, the driver seat cushions are very worn, all four window appliqués are trash, rear shocks completely gone, oil leaks, engine mounts, trans lines, oil lines, belts. Plus some other odds and ends little crap. Some of this stuff I expect with almost any Escalade so I don’t necessarily hold every bit of it against it but with the Platinum the seat covers are expensive and starting to be discontinued so I need to get them while I can so it all adds up. The engine seems to run well and sounds good and the oil pressure is in the 20s when fully hot. Transmission shifts nicely even though it has never been serviced. Differential seems quiet. It doesn’t seem like a terrible truck. I got them to $18,200 plus tax and fees. I figured the price seemed good in today’s market so I took a gamble and pulled the trigger. Got it back to work yesterday and pulled the wrap off the third brake light spoiler and the paint looked good so I got a little excited. Then I started pulling the wrap off the roof and found that the house always wins. I did not pull the wrap off the hood for now. So now I’m kinda regretting my purchase. I suppose I had myself convinced the paint was going to be perfect under it since it looked like it had been on there a while and even though I knew better.
And before anyone asks, I didn’t like the look of the wrap. The orange peel and reflection look nothing like the paint on the rest of the truck and this color is a great color out in the sun, which is why I wanted it. I haven’t gotten any quotes yet but I’d assume on the $3k range to repaint the hood and roof. Then I still need a new front bumper. Another option would be to rewrap the roof (my window tint guy quoted $400 without seeing it) and only repaint the hood and replace the bumper. I’m not 100% sure how happy I’d be with that but at least the hood would be nice.
I’m pretty picky about what I want and am generally willing to wait for it. So I was on the lookout for a Black Ice, Xenon Blue (2012 only), Sapphire Blue (2013 only), or silver (which was the last choice since the Yukon is silver). Black Raven and White Diamond were absolutely not happening and since my 08 is red, I didn’t want two the same color. 2WD is very important to me. Wasn’t terrible particular in trim level but a Premium or Platinum was preferred and black interior a must. If you’ve shopped for these at all, you know how hard this was going to be to find. On Cargurus within a 500 mile radius there were 163 07-14 ESVs and only 17 were 2WD.
My plan with buying something was to swap as many parts as possible that I’ve replaced on our Yukon, most of which in the last 10k miles. This includes: all 8 control arms, front springs (the last two in the country), Belltech lowering kit, Spohn panhard bar, steering column, intermediate shaft, wheels and tires, sunroof glass I had tinted, putting the stock exhaust back in and selling the Corsa (won’t work on a LWB or a Platinum). Unfortunately the AFM hardware delete would have to be done again. I’m not trading the Yukon but will be selling privately because it has 191k miles so trade im value is trash even though it looks nicer than many with 100k less miles.
So I came across this 2013 ESV Platinum 2WD in Black Ice with the black interior and 166k miles asking $19995. I went and looked at it twice and liked it overall despite it needing a fair amount of work but noticed the hood and roof were wrapped. The truck was from Tallahassee so I figured the paint was either perfect or trashed under the wrap. The front bumper is damaged, all the seat covers are fairly worn, the driver seat cushions are very worn, all four window appliqués are trash, rear shocks completely gone, oil leaks, engine mounts, trans lines, oil lines, belts. Plus some other odds and ends little crap. Some of this stuff I expect with almost any Escalade so I don’t necessarily hold every bit of it against it but with the Platinum the seat covers are expensive and starting to be discontinued so I need to get them while I can so it all adds up. The engine seems to run well and sounds good and the oil pressure is in the 20s when fully hot. Transmission shifts nicely even though it has never been serviced. Differential seems quiet. It doesn’t seem like a terrible truck. I got them to $18,200 plus tax and fees. I figured the price seemed good in today’s market so I took a gamble and pulled the trigger. Got it back to work yesterday and pulled the wrap off the third brake light spoiler and the paint looked good so I got a little excited. Then I started pulling the wrap off the roof and found that the house always wins. I did not pull the wrap off the hood for now. So now I’m kinda regretting my purchase. I suppose I had myself convinced the paint was going to be perfect under it since it looked like it had been on there a while and even though I knew better.
And before anyone asks, I didn’t like the look of the wrap. The orange peel and reflection look nothing like the paint on the rest of the truck and this color is a great color out in the sun, which is why I wanted it. I haven’t gotten any quotes yet but I’d assume on the $3k range to repaint the hood and roof. Then I still need a new front bumper. Another option would be to rewrap the roof (my window tint guy quoted $400 without seeing it) and only repaint the hood and replace the bumper. I’m not 100% sure how happy I’d be with that but at least the hood would be nice.
