I just bought a new 2008 Black/Cashmere/Ultra Luxury/auto sideboards EXT yesterday. Traded in a stunning 2003 Silverado SS AWD. This is my second Escalade the first was a 2000.
It is taking me a bit to get used to the idea. Kinda spur of the moment because of the 72 hour 0% interest and I get the supplier discount and they figured out how to get $1500 in GM points.
The Cadillac is the only decent truck out there as far as I am concerned, and my only real reservation was the size of the bed. But it is looking much bigger than I thought and I love being able to lock it up.
So not being totally informed before buying, there were a few good surprises and a few bad ones.
The good ones consisted of the cooled seats, backup camera, backup sensors, heated wheel, remote start, and quite a few others.
The bad ones consist of that useless inappropriate Art Deco clock, lethargic acceleration, no battery voltage readout, uncomfortable seats, and rough ride.
I am hoping the ride improves with a few miles, and same with the acceleration. The lower seat back is lumpy and I hope either I get used to it or it breaks in. Also I will read up and see if I can find where the voltage can be read, unless someone here can tell me.
Does anyone know if someone makes a replacement digital clock preferably with a voltage readout.
I also own a C6 Vette and to be honest the ride is better on it.
Like I said I am hoping either I get used to this stuff or it improves with break in.
I read here that the nav system can't be unlocked except by a questionable program. That has been a big deal on the C6 Vettes and never got resolved (at least the people on corvetteforum.com never did) and they always talked how it could be done on the Cadillacs.
I would just like to be able to set it up while driving.
But all in all it is looking like I am going to love this thing.
My Lade is not lethargic, but I guess I am also not comparing to to a C6 or a Silvy SS. I agree on the uselessness of the clock. I can't read it day or night. Some people can, so it must be the way my seat is adjusted in relation to the clock. It sure is pretty though! Try a Predator to improve your performance. Good increase in throttle response, better shifting points, etc.
Welcome to the Forum, I am a original corvette forum member too. Don't know why your truck would feel lethargic, other than dealerships putting cheap gas into the tank. As said many members have the Preditor programmer and it does get more performance out of your truck. I agree with you on the seats, they are far less comfortable than the 02-06 Escalade's, the clock doesn't bother me that much. To use your Nav while moving you will need a lockpick, some work ok, and some do not work well.
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The lower seat back is lumpy and I hope either I get used to it or it breaks in. Also I will read up and see if I can find where the voltage can be read, unless someone here can tell me.
I presume you know but,..
You can adjust the lump in the back of the seat with the 4 way button on the lower part of your seat.
They eliminated the lateral support and the lump can be adjusted in ( flat ) or out,.. and, up or down.
No voltage reading to be had.
I guess they think Caddy drivers don't need to know that
Your acceleration etc should improve with mileage but don't know about the ride.
I think my EXT rides better than any truck I've owned from my 02 Avalanche to my last 04 EXT.
Aside from the other few things you pointed out, which everyone else feels the same about, I think you'll really like it.
Thank all, as for the lumpy seats, I did try moving it up and down and it just rearranged the lumps. I am trying moving the top of the seat forward to take some of the pressure off of the lumpy part.
Predator hmmm, I will look that up. I think this one is going to get a V1, that being said, any California guys found a good way to mount a detector so that you aren't using the suction cups?
So what is the deal with the lock pick, I get the impression it is flaky?
hcvone, same user name here as I use there. I have been a member over there since 99.
Thank all, as for the lumpy seats, I did try moving it up and down and it just rearranged the lumps. I am trying moving the top of the seat forward to take some of the pressure off of the lumpy part.
Predator hmmm, I will look that up. I think this one is going to get a V1, that being said, any California guys found a good way to mount a detector so that you aren't using the suction cups?
So what is the deal with the lock pick, I get the impression it is flaky?
hcvone, same user name here as I use there. I have been a member over there since 99.
Been there since 99 myself, I use the same user name on all sites. Small world.
Thank all, as for the lumpy seats, I did try moving it up and down and it just rearranged the lumps.
Yes, you can move the lump up or down but,..
on that same button, you push it forward or back and it makes the lump bigger or smaller.
It will make it smaller to the point where it will be flat and not a lump at all.
Are you running 22's? I noticed a significant difference in ride quality between the 18's and 22's during test drives. The EXT body is much stiffer in flex and torsion than your old pickup plus it has a longer wheel base and the stiffer GMT900 frame so your ride quality should be much better, given the same tire profile.
I have the 22"s. IMHO though, a $65,000 luxury pickup with computer controlled shocks should have "no excuses thank you" ride quality. When a Corvette can beat the ride quality (mine has the magnetic fluid shocks) with much lower profile tires, not too mention smaller circumference tires and less weight, something is amiss. The SS had a sport suspension package with 20" wheels with the basically the same amount of sidewall and had a much better ride quality.
Also the drive train vibrates more on this than the SS or the Corvette. There is a distinct vibration at about (off the top of my head) 3k ish.
Like I said before, I am hoping that it will get better with miles. Usually it does when things settle in.
But I will say this, I bought a Cadillac for one reason and one reason only......Luxury. One shouldn't have to change springs to get a smooth ride out of this thing. And as for the seat, again I am hoping it gets better. There is no excuse for a lumpy seat. I also have a H2 and when you sit in it you damn near fall asleep the seats are so comfortable, I can barely peel the wifey out of it (it is hers) she likes the comfort so much. Hell it rides better than this thing. But I will say this, the interior on this thing is one of the prettiest I have seen. Aside from the cheesy door pockets and that goofy clock.
It is a Caddy, but lets not forget it is a truck, both on mine are used as trucks, I am in different parts of the country developing large track of land, and I mean off road, our home in upstate NY we are many times a season in 2-3 feet of snow, we also pull a 26 ft trailer for snowmobiles that weighs over 7000 lbs, and in between that my trucks are at car shows showing off new wheels from another venture. It does all these things, you can get a softer ride by changing the springs if the ride is not to your liking, compared to my Z06's it rides like a Caddy.
Don't know why your truck would feel lethargic, other than dealerships putting cheap gas into the tank. As said many members have the Preditor programmer and it does get more performance out of your truck. I agree with you on the seats, they are far less comfortable than the 02-06 Escalade's, the clock doesn't bother me that much. To use your Nav while moving you will need a lockpick, some work ok, and some do not work well.
