I have an '07 on order with the bench middle seat. The dealer convinced me to order the two-passenger third row for "resale". They told me that only the two-passenger third row is split. Today I go online and see that both the two and three passenger third row seats are split. Now the dealer is telling me that the seats are exaclty the same. The only difference is that the three-passenger seat has an extra lap belt. Period. No other difference. Is this true? The reason I wanted the second row bench is because I want to have a flat load floor when the seats are folded down. I do Boxer rescue and transport dogs from time to time. I didn't want a hole where a dog could "fall" onto or trip over. Am I correct in the assumption that the bench has a flat load floor and the captains chairs have a "hole" between them?

What would you do considering wanting a "flat" load floor and maximizing resale later?

Thanks for your help.

I have an '07 on order with the bench middle seat. The dealer convinced me to order the two-passenger third row for "resale". They told me that only the two-passenger third row is split. Today I go online and see that both the two and three passenger third row seats are split. Now the dealer is telling me that the seats are exaclty the same. The only difference is that the three-passenger seat has an extra lap belt. Period. No other difference. Is this true? The reason I wanted the second row bench is because I want to have a flat load floor when the seats are folded down. I do Boxer rescue and transport dogs from time to time. I didn't want a hole where a dog could "fall" onto or trip over. Am I correct in the assumption that the bench has a flat load floor and the captains chairs have a "hole" between them?

What would you do considering wanting a "flat" load floor and maximizing resale later?

Thanks for your help.

Pretty much what he said is true. The 2 different versions of the third seat have the same basic dimensions and are both split down the middle, BUT where the standard seat theoretically has a center seating spot and seatbelt like this:
http://www.kcchevy.org/EBayUtilities/CarPix/20001/3rdrow1.2.jpg

the 2 passenger one just has a little wider of an opening between the seat backs and there's a little cupholder/tray spot on each seat half in the middle:
http://www.colonialgmc.net/New_car_pics/neotmp61145_full.JPG

So, when folded, not much of a difference. And just a little more "unique" in 2 passenger form.

Does that help?

Wow! Thanks for the great pictures. That is exactly what I was looking for. Any pictures of the middle row of an '07 folded down? I like the looks of the two-seat third row. I just don't know about the practicality of having the bench in the second row and the two-seat third row. It seems to me that if someone needed the amount of seating to order the bench, they would most likely get the three-seat third row. After all, you already get 7 seats by getting the second row captains chairs and the third row three-seat option. For my use, I want a flat load floor and I don't even need the third row at all. I am mainly interested in re-sale values. The salesman I am working with doesn't know the product at all even though she supposedly has been doing this for a long time. She told me that "everybody gets the two-seat third row. Otherwise, they want the ESV". "The third row three-seat option isn't a split bench". "The third row three-seat option doesn't have a shoulder belt for the middle seat". And today when I informed her of her inaccuracies "the only difference between the two-seat and three-seat configuration is a lap belt that is added when you order the three-seat option".

That's what I have seen for the third row options ^^^. I am wanting to see how the 2nd-row bench looks as well. Your dealer is giving you bogus info AND bogus prices. I'm sorry man

GoSooners-

Man are you right about the info and prices (honesty) I'm getting. I did get a look at a large (huge) brochure today for the '07 Escalade that shows the second row Captains seats. The back flips down now and the bottom rolls forward. This leaves what looks like a nearly level load floor with the Captains chairs so I am going with them now.

Here's a pic (Tahoe, but still the same thing) of what it really looks like with the 3rd seat folded and a center captain's chair flipped up:
http://photos.ebizautos.com/5026/892298_10.jpg