[gsibble]

Who cares what anybody thinks. I purchased my 02 Lade in Aug 05 & have got alot of crap about it from some of my family & friends. Comments like bigshot & crap like that. I purchased mine to tow an open & enclosed car trailer & it is more than adequate & will seat 4-6 comfortably while it is working. Everyone that gives me crap dosent seem to remember the complaining when I had standard cab 99 & 01 Silverado's when I could seat three uncomfortably & others would have to ride/drive in another car. I personally think I have earned the right to own a Escalade & worked hard for the money that I paid for it so I don't care what anybody thinks & you shouldn't either. Just my 2 cents.

That's not really the stigma I'm worried about. It's the whole "bling-bling" factor. When I suggest my purchasing an Escalade, everyone immediately asks me if I am going to put rims on it and lower it. I don't care what they think, but at the same time, I don't want to be judged based upon the car I drive. I hope that makes sense.

 

[moegoat]

That's not really the stigma I'm worried about. It's the whole "bling-bling" factor. When I suggest my purchasing an Escalade, everyone immediately asks me if I am going to put rims on it and lower it. I don't care what they think, but at the same time, I don't want to be judged based upon the car I drive. I hope that makes sense.

I got the same questions about rims & a grille. In the area I live in you see totaly stock Escalade's most of the time & there are alot of them, mostly with soccer moms at the wheel carting their kids around. Every now & then you will see one with a grille & rims, but the dealers around here do that to a few to target the "bling-bling" crowd. If you leave it stock appearing no one should be making stereotype comments. These are very popular SUV's & they sell alot of them, especially in the higher income areas of the country. They just blend in like any other popular vehicle. I think the stigma changes with the area that you are in & eventually wears off if there are alot around.

 

[NOT ON MY WATCH]

I realize you're specifically concerned about the "bling-bling" factor, but I wanted to make a comment about the issue of what people think about others. Sorry if any consider this a thread derail.

Everyone judges things by the way they look - at least to some degree. Even the most open-minded person forms subconscious opinions about things or people based on appearance (or sound - or any other perception). That's just how humans are wired and how we have evolved (e.g. "look - big animal I can eat" versus - "look big animal that can eat me"). We can overcome that to a great degree, but for some people it is too much effort or is not even a concept they would entertain.

Not only do many people judge things based on appearance, but their views are influenced by what others think. Things that are rarer, more expensive, more cheap or otherwise outside the average are going to be judged more frequently and more severely than things that are more common, average, and within the defined norm for the person or community. By buying an Escalade, you may be stereotyped and stigmatized by certain people. If that's something you aren't comfortable with - then don't buy it.

What really kills me is how judgmental so-called open-minded and socially-conscious people can be. For example, say there is a person who is a vocal advocate for lessening the use of oil for environmental reasons, owns a Prius, and lives in a suburban house with solar panels. Sounds like a pretty good person, right? Certainly more socially-conscious than an Escalade driver, right?

That Prius driver may look at another driver who is by himself at the wheel of an Escalade and make a very negative judgment against him - that he is killing the earth by driving a giant gas-guzzler.

How does he know that he doesn't have a large family and needs an Escalade to carry his family and all their things - or that he has a business, hobby or even a disability that requires that vehicle? What about the fact that the Prius driver chose to live in the suburbs and drive 30 miles to work - thereby contributing to urban sprawl, while the Escalade driver lives in the city in a green-certified condominium and drives 1.5 miles to work. Also, what about the fact that the Prius driver takes vacations to Europe every year - wasting tons of fuel, while the Escalade driver takes the family to the local lake every year? What about the fact that the Prius driver buys food imported from countries around the world and supports a giant chain supermarket - versus the Escalade driver walking to the local downtown farmer's market once a week - supporting locally grown organic food?

So...long story...long...just drive what you want to and don't worry about what others think.

 

[silversport]

you are going to take some ribbing...some good natured and some not...you'll love the truck so laugh when they say "Nithe Ethkalade, yo!"...I do since I didn't lower or buy a gold grill for my teefus...
Bill

 

[MDecker]

You know the difference between a porcupine and a BMW owner?...... On a porcupine, the pricks are on the outside.

 

[TAWoody]

Why has no one brought up The Matrix yet? That's why I bought my Escalade (not the sole reason of course). There is no damn bling bling or soccer mom stigmas there.

 

[WaynesNside]

I don't get into all of that hype. If anyone thinks I'm doing well I tell them I'm going to work and making my payments like everyone else. I just kept moving up. Traded my 03 Navi for the 06 Caddy and things just worked out. I know just because of what you drive doesn't make you any better than anyone else. There's always someone out there with better. Driving this vehicle makes me happy so that's all that matters. People will always talk.

 

[Devil Dog 00026]

Sorry for the late post to this thread... I am new to the forum and trying to play "catch up"... as for worrying about what others think or what "Stigma of an Escalade"... you should stop worrying... This is your life... not theirs... if you have something that makes you feel good inside or proud to own... don't apologize for having it... I just bought my Escalade... I also own a 2008 Corvette... I am enjoying my life and having the "nicer" things when I decide to have them... if others are jealous... oh well... stop listening to others and listen to your heart, mind and soul... drive what you want and be thankful you can... atriot:

 

[dkozloski]

Around here Escalades are associated with thugs and gangsters. The state troopers drive Escalades they've confiscated from the thugs and gangsters.

 

[vwtom]

My children laughed at me for choosing an Escalade as they said it was a "Rapper Car". I chose it because it had such an excellent owners review and the ride on the road is great. I am 53 and I read that the average owner is around 50. I am curious what age the other members of this forum is. (I want to prove to my children that people who drive Escaldes are not 20 year old rappers).

 

[93civEJ1]

I got my escalade because I liked the look of the avalanches to begin with but only liked the newer 07 and 08 models of them. The EXT came as a more luxiourious ride, but for cheaper price than the newer avalanches I was looking at. I have it all in one now.

 

[wsugarlove]

Hahahahaha...I'm 51 will be 52 on 9/11...I do not have a care in the world what other people think...I love to have nice, beautiful things around me...I'm proud to have an Escalade...I keep the class of the beauty of the car as it is..I wanted one...I paid for it...I got it...If some rapper ride or as they say Rolling in one:bouncy:...More power to them...it's the Love of a "Cadillac"

My children laughed at me for choosing an Escalade as they said it was a "Rapper Car". I chose it because it had such an excellent owners review and the ride on the road is great. I am 53 and I read that the average owner is around 50. I am curious what age the other members of this forum is. (I want to prove to my children that people who drive Escaldes are not 20 year old rappers).

 

[TAWoody]

Around here Escalades are associated with thugs and gangsters. The state troopers drive Escalades they've confiscated from the thugs and gangsters.

There are thugs and gangsters in Arkansas?

 

[Rolex]

There are thugs and gangsters in Arkansas?

Illinois public schools?

AR=Arkansas
AK=Alaska

 

[flexright]

Traded my first Escalade EXT 2002,which I loved by the way. I now have a 2007 Escalade SUV. With the factory
22" Giavanni Wheels. Quick Silver in color. Driving one of these says alot. One,you have gas $$$. It is a bit more thirsty than the 2002. But I LOVE the look. Mine is a daily drive and a detail truck. Full Mobile Detailing out of the power lift gate! Jazzy and gets attention and business. Truthfully I think alot of people are hating when you cruise by them in a pretty Cadillac Escalade. I have 40k on mine plan to put 200k more miles on it,and still ride in style 5years from now!

 

[flexright]

Hahahahaha...I'm 51 will be 52 on 9/11...I do not have a care in the world what other people think...I love to have nice, beautiful things around me...I'm proud to have an Escalade...I keep the class of the beauty of the car as it is..I wanted one...I paid for it...I got it...If some rapper ride or as they say Rolling in one:bouncy:...More power to them...it's the Love of a "Cadillac"

I agree with you! There are Haters everywhere. I use my haters for elavators! OH! I am 53 now,54 in June! LOVIN IT!

 

[CaddyEscalade]

Here is some info I found comparing to the Denali on "another site".

The age old question Escalade or Denali? Power train and size wise they are identical. Besides the sharper styling, more luxurious feeling interior, the badging, and we can't forget the infamous Cadillac name, the Escalade does boast some options over the Denali to justify the extra price tag and some extra bragging rights.

- HID headlights
- Ultra Sonic Rear Park assist
- Denali has 325hp 6.0 Liter with 9.4:1 compression vs the Cadillac 345hp 6.0 Liter with 10:1.
- Zebrano Wood steering wheel and TrimWood
- Nuance Preforated Leather
- Bose Acoustimass Speakers w/ higher watts
- integrated antenna
- breakaway fog lamps (hit them and see what happens)
- Road Sensing Suspension
- Road Texture Detection
- Chrome trimmed gauge cluster
- about $5000.00 more for Caddy
- Owning a Cadillac vs a GMC PRICLESS!!

 

[Ghost Deany]

Im 26. I got mine because I had always wanted to get a truck but always ended up with a car.I had a CTS before the Escalade. I love American made vehicles and Cadillacs specifically, its American luxury at its finest in my opinion. I had Japanese cars etc when I was younger and dumber and thought that American made cars weren't on the level of imports, but after 08 and the recession and the bailouts for the big 3 and what not, that changed my philosophy on the whole American Cars vs everything else and once again this is all just my opinion. I'm not rich, and mine is a 04 that I bought in 2009. I could care less what group of people drive it etc. Mine is my daily driver and besides putting white LED interior lights inside and the 07+ 22" OEM Stock Cadillac wheels, mine is stock. Get what you like and don't worry about what everyone else thinks.

 

[roboteacher]

I live in the HELL (otherwise known as Alabama). The only comments I ever get a positive about my beautiful truck.

Good luck.

 

[mosimann]

I know a little bit about stigma. I had a gorgeous stock Suzuki Hayabusa and my friends used to tease me because it was big, fat, most people stretch it, add too much chrome, put a turbo, blablabla. I got a Ducati 1098 and miss my Busa every single day.

Got a Corvette Z06 and my friends tease me because it's an "old person's car" and I'm only 35. I don't care, I love the Vette.

They also tease me because of the Caddy. One has a Silverado, the other has a 04 Dodge Ram with manual door/locks/mirrors. Not even keyless entry.

Making short... I don't care about people say, just how I feel.