I HATE This Luxury SUV We Just Bought But YOU Should Absolutely Get One! 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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.

That was the best Escalade design until the 2021

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.

I own a 2009 Escalade, the thing is bulletproof

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

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

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

It's funny how he attacks the escalade for having cheap plastic interior when he loves jeeps. Jeep Rubicon is 65k and it's all plastic, even the fenders and bumpers are plastic but he thinks those are amazing... and it only has a v6.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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.

"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.

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

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

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).

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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

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

Gauges and steering wheel was better than newer model after this

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

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

My 2005 Touareg is costing me way too much in maintenance to keep as a daily driver. This would be the perfect car to replace it with. Actively searching for a rust free ESV model

I think the reason u brought the Escalade is because u guys watched the Doug DeMuro video from a few days ago mentioning used luxury cars and SUVs 😂😅

Shoot if you don’t want it I’ll buy it. 2nd gens are my favorite

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.

Most Reliable Escalade

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

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

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

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

It will still outlast any Land Rover or Range Rover.

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.

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.

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

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

If my Pre-K additional skills are correct, TFL now owns three giant 90's and 2000's SUV's, that's alot of gas

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.

Tommy, Nerd...Yes, Annoying...No. Thanks for keeping us well informed.

Tony Soprano's choice. He's cool.

Early 2000’s Escalade: the official car of that Nickelodeon television show It’s Just Jordan

This was the best escalade outside of the new one, I absolutely love the square bodys.

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

Few people were born in Escalades but many were conceived.

I have hated this model since 2003, I don’t know why, but I loved this video!!! After watching it I believe it is a great-luxurious suv!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

😂 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.

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

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 😉

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.

The late 90s The early 2000s , up to about 2005 , were absolute peak big American suv. Give me a late 90s Suburban, a 2005 Ford Excursion and a 2005 Escalade ESV please.

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!

I can't stomach GM vehicles any longer. They take $50B of tax-payer money and now 70% of the vehicles sold in the US are not made in the US. Worse: some Buicks and Cadillacs are made in CHINA and imported into the US!

I love my 03 Escalade!

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.

I had a 2002 Suburban. Loved that truck. My kids were little, and we felt safe. I threw studded snow tires on it in the winter, and it went everywhere.

Thought this whole marketing convincing buying is bullshit till i watched this guy. I m a believer

I love how I can hear the plastic creaks on the video. Sums up every early 2000's GM vehicle.

The navigator of this gen was better with a lux interior. But navigator and Escalade were equal in term of rap lyric mentions. But in 2007 was when caddy took the lead and never looked back. They actually put a decent interior in it and the exterior was better than the gator. Lincoln let their product languish.

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

With the current market and condition, that's a solid deal I'd say. I don't think they're going to see a value bubble like what is happening with some GMT400 trucks but I don't think it'll go down much for a very long time.

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

I saw the tumbnail "a plastic mess" and immediately thought of the Aztec

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