# Who the FUCK drives an Escalade? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 18, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998 "2006-10-18T20:24:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/21 "2006-10-18T23:27:55Z")
[QUOTE=hopesperson] I’m just glad that someone on this board is finally willing to take a stand in opposition to SUVs. [/QUOTE] Has it really come to this? **Aeschines** is shilling the position for the now departed **Father John**? ---
**Author:** ![Faruiza](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@Faruiza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Faruiza)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/22 "2006-10-18T23:28:44Z")
[QUOTE=Jeep’s Phoenix] Jeep Wave! 😃 (Hey, why let the CJ drivers have all the fun?) People who _really_ hate SUV’s don’t care whether you actually use it or not; they place all SUV’s, regardless of the vehicle’s capabilities, in the same category. To them, a mid-'90s Jeep Cherokee is no different than a Porsche Cayenne – both are gas-guzzling machines hell-bent on destroying the environment. [/QUOTE] Jeep wave to you and **Iggins**! 😃 I refuse to justify my choice of vehicle to any jackass stupid enough to ask. What I DO find amusing, however, is that a Jeep, regardless of the creature comforts installed is designed to weather a 4wd trail if it needs to. Mine got a pretty good scrape on the p-side rocker panel from a rock with a bad attitude on a camping trip to the Kern River a couple of months ago, and when people see that, they inevitably ask how in the hell I did that. One guy was the same asshole who just seconds before began a tirade on me about how I didn’t need that vehicle, I’ll never USE it…blah, blah, blah, ad infinitum. On the other hand, maybe I’ll just use my **TOOL OF THE DEVIL** TM to beat down babies, the handicapped, and fuzzy little meadow bunnies. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/23 "2006-10-18T23:42:51Z")
I thought Harry Potter was the **TOOL OF THE DEVILTM**. Maybe that’s just in this area? ---
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/24 "2006-10-18T23:43:45Z")
People who want the storage and luxury of a Chevy Avalanche, but for whatever reason, feel like spending an extra $20,000. And don’t knock my Avalanche. I was able to haul two pinball machines cross state in one. Not too many other vehicles can do that. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/25 "2006-10-18T23:50:41Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] And don’t even get me started on the brand destruction of Mercedes. Cloth seats? A price tag under $30K? Damned ugly cheap models? Blech. It used to be a brand people aspired to… [/QUOTE] One of the managers at my company uses the cheap Mercedes as an analogy in some of his speeches. He had a friend who always wanted a Mercedes, but finally went out and bought one of the cheap little ones. His reasoning: Mercedes makes quality luxury cars. The manager’s unspoken response: “Yeah, but you didn’t get one.” ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/26 "2006-10-18T23:52:23Z")
[QUOTE=ShibbOleth] But as long as you drive responsibly and give care to watching out for us normal sized cars, I don’t really care that you drive a giant station wagon. I am curious about the “hauling stuff” comment, as I see that a lot, but wonder how much stuff people _really_ have to haul and where you haul it to. When I need to haul stuff I rent a truck, or borrow my mother’s van (which she uses to haul stuff, mostly buttloads of grandkids these days). There’s really not much stuff I can’t fit into my car on a day to day basis. [/QUOTE] Jeep wave, y’all! 😃 **DiosaBellissima** when the Jeep dies, the Highlander Hybrid is next on my list. How do you like it? Surprisingly enough, I haul quite a few things - lumber, furniture, arcade and pinball games, gardening stuff for my wife, and my dog. There are times I rent a truck, but for the most part, I can move almost anything I usually have need for. When I had a truck and was going camping, traveling, or hauling, it was always a pain to cover stuff in the bed. I don’t like truck canopies, generally. I’m also 6’3" and 200lbs, with long legs, so smaller cars are not as comfortable. I guess I just get annoyed when every SUV is lumped into the soul/earth/human crushing category. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/27 "2006-10-18T23:55:10Z")
A quick look shows me that of the 2007 model Escalades the base price range runs from $54,000-$60,000, is that really what we consider “overpriced luxury” vehicle range? That doesn’t seem like very much to me. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/28 "2006-10-19T00:03:00Z")
[QUOTE=Aeschines] Regardless of whether you think, however, that the Esc is cool, the fact remains that the people who buy them are dickless, insecure, balding, fuckhead middle-age pieces of shit. I laugh every time I see one and feel sick at the same time. [/QUOTE] Can’t afford one yourself, huh? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Swan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Swan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Swan)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/29 "2006-10-19T00:05:41Z")
[QUOTE=TommyTutone] People who want the storage and luxury of a Chevy Avalanche, but for whatever reason, feel like spending an extra $20,000. And don’t knock my Avalanche. I was able to haul two pinball machines cross state in one. Not too many other vehicles can do that. [/QUOTE] You’re thinking of the Escalade EXT, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/30 "2006-10-19T00:12:53Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] Has it really come to this? **Aeschines** is shilling the position for the now departed **Father John**? [/QUOTE] **Father John** was the first thing I thought of on seeing this thread, but I couldn’t remember if he was irrationally AGAINST SUVs or irrationally FOR SUVs. **Aeschines** definitely has the irrational part down pat, though. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/31 "2006-10-19T00:29:50Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] But if I want a nice SUV, I’m going with Land Rover. It’s what they DO. The companies mentioned above aren’t exactly my first choice for an SUV. [/QUOTE] Don’t. Just don’t. Quality Control on the Land Rovers is… still very British. As in, not good. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/32 "2006-10-19T00:33:33Z")
[QUOTE=Martin Hyde] A quick look shows me that of the 2007 model Escalades the base price range runs from $54,000-$60,000, is that really what we consider “overpriced luxury” vehicle range? That doesn’t seem like very much to me. [/QUOTE] Me either. I bought 2 of them, both are spares in case my Humvee breaks down. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/33 "2006-10-19T00:55:10Z")
My wife brought up the idea of buying one. We even went to a dealer and checked one out up close and personal. We were looking at the Big One. The Escalade ESV. The big oversized rims are only 3k more. 22’s to be exact, and it would look dumb to have that big a truck and have little wheels on it, right?. It did have two DVD players in the back two rows, which is a big plus with kids and inlaws. All told it would be about $70,000. It’s kinda expensive, but my wife **has** always wanted a Cadillac. Maybe once we pay off a few bills, and maybe one of our other cars. I can always wait to get a motorcycle later. ---
**Author:** ![Plastic\_Jesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@Plastic\_Jesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plastic_Jesus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/34 "2006-10-19T01:22:35Z")
[QUOTE=Beadalin] Given all the mentions the Escalade gets in hip-hop and other songs, I’m going to go with “hip-hop and other pop-culture performers.” [/QUOTE] Gotta agree there. I live in the deep south. And I have _never_ seen a white person driving an escalade. Never. It’s just marketing. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/35 "2006-10-19T01:22:52Z")
Actually, it’s all those people on Whatchamacallit Street, who traded in their beaters on Escalades! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/36 "2006-10-19T01:33:36Z")
[QUOTE=Plastic Jesus] Gotta agree there. I live in the deep south. And I have _never_ seen a white person driving an escalade. Never. It’s just marketing. [/QUOTE] I have seen one. And I hated her for reasons totally unrelated to the vehicle she drove. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/37 "2006-10-19T01:39:28Z")
I’ve driven 4x4’s since ’77. Still have that truck. I have also had 2 wheel drive cars that have never gotten the job done for me. My Wife has an ’02 Grand Jeep. I just bought my second Pathfinder. It’s an ’06. Good vehicle so far. Though the factory tires on it are shit. I had a pit thread about bad tires on new vehicles. My ’06 Pathfinder is nice. Heated seats, rear heat, electric windows. What can I say? I’m 45yo, I have come to appreciate a few creature comforts. It also has good ground clearance, VDC, and 4 wheel limited slip. Low range 4x4 as well which I must have, and a towing capacity of 6,000lbs. The SUV’s are great for my Wife and I and our two dogs. And we can almost always get to work and home again. Many people that buy SUV’s don’t really need them. Many do. I don’t care. The anti-SUV folks don’t see that many of the folks that buy them use them. It may be status. It may also be that they are just the right vehicle for them. In many cases it’s a case of a few factors like towing capacity and ground clearance. For myself, and my Wife it is either that or 4x4 trucks. I am surprised at how many people that don’t recognize the utility. And how many people tend to depend on others when they get in a jam but depend on vehicles for the right job to get them out of a jam. Those people that depend on others to help them out, and then bitch at them for having an SUV – 4x4. Yes, I’ve seen that. A Jeep pulls out a family car from the ditch and the rescued people go off on the person that had the 4x4 to help them because he had an SUV. The folks that had absolutely no business being where they where got pissed off because someone with the proper vehicle rescued them. Stunned. We have had 40” of snow since September 23. I guess I am exempt from the anti-SUV crowd just because of that. But they never seem to take into account the other reasons to own a larger vehicle, or a 4x4. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/38 "2006-10-19T02:01:08Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] Fine, I was thinking of trading it in on a Humvee anyway. [/QUOTE] Some neighbors down the block have one of each. They’ve also done up the front of their house with some ugly, ostentatious stone work - extraordinarily out-of-place for the neighborhood. I’m sure someone is impressed, but no one I’ve ever run into. The ones I run into think they’re a joke. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/39 "2006-10-19T02:40:26Z")
[QUOTE=Plastic Jesus] I live in the deep south. And I have _never_ seen a white person driving an escalade. Never. [/QUOTE] Waiting for **Pizzabrat** to come along and call you a racist in 4 … 3 … 2 … In Doperland, nobody is ever inconsiderate of others when they’re using a cell phone, fat girls don’t squeeze into clothing that’s too tight, nobody ever talks in the movie theater, nobody every hogs the left lane on the Interstate, and nobody drives an Escalade or Hummer. Seriously, with so many users, there MUST be someone on the SDMB who owns a Hummer or Escalade. Speak up! What inspired you to buy one, and don’t say “pulling horse trailers” or one of the other reasons Dopers use to justify ownbing an SUV - there’s no way you use it for work or on the farm. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998/40 "2006-10-19T02:45:12Z")
You know what would be cool? If buying something to show off your purchasing power were universally agreed to be obnoxious and stupid. That would be cool. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-the-fuck-drives-an-escalade/376998.md?page=3)