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2007 Cadillac Escalade ESV: Can the Best get Better?
The mammoth Escalade ESV was delivered to Automotive Rhythms with barely any mileage. Known to many as the SUV of choice for rappers and pro athletes, the Escalade means much more than that to those with the need for space, the desire for style, and an attitude which exudes confidence!
Confidence? Yes. Put anyone in the driver’s seat and watch their demeanor hit a 360. The vehicle is massive but controllable, its chrome trimmings are precise, and the body is long but highly styled. And with a 403-horsepower 6.2-liter V8 and a new six-speed transmission, accelerating in no longer a challenge.
 Yet, to make our vehicle stand out from the rest, we altered three key exterior ingredients: the grille, rims, and windows. We kept the audio untouched because of the short length of the loan (6 months), and we decided not to exceed 22 inches with the custom wheels. You can go higher if that’s your prerogative, but I don’t like paying $450 a pop for busted tires every three months. Plus, the Escalade has a rollover mitigation system which becomes null and void if your throw on anything bigger than a “22.” So we went with a 22x9.5, two-toned, triple chrome plated H2 rim from Rennen Luxury Wheels and a set of 305/45/22 Ventus tires by Hankook. The five black inserts in the chrome match perfectly with our vehicle’s pearl black complexion.
To defend the front end, we replaced the Cadillac “crest” with a $5,000 luxury grille – part of the Aspen Collection from STRUT, which consists of a sculpted, framed woven mesh grille, two side vents and a STRUT lift gate shield. At traffic lights passing pedestrians became hypnotized by the jewelry.
Big Boys Toys in Oxon Hill, Maryland completed the package by adding tint and a $170 chrome fuel cap from GM Accessories, which offers a full line of accessories including:
- Chrome mesh grille with body-color bars
- Different rim styles
- Molded hood protector in chrome, smoke and select body colors
- Rear seat headrest DVD monitors
- Chrome tow hooks
- Brushed aluminum door sill plates
- Chrome tubular assist steps
- Cat-back exhaust system
- Highly polished stainless steel exhaust tips
- Floor mats - carpet replacements, premium all-weather, or molded
- Splash guards - contour or molded
- Roof-mounted cargo carriers - hard & soft
- Trailering equipment - hitch/ball assemblies, hitch-mounted bike/ski carriers, locking pins, etc.
 Inside the vehicle is like an entertainment room. Cozy with lots of electronics. You can tune in XM Satellite Radio or select one of six discs from the CD changer to play through a Bose 5.1 digital surround sound system. Or you can switch it to park and watch a movie via the display screen. The map and audio controls are touchscreen. However, when a DVD is playing for the children, you can’t listen to CDs because both CD and DVD share the same changer. OnStar is another savior. If the navigation doesn’t do its job then an OnStar operator will assist you with everything like directions to gas station locations. On the flip, the Escalade needs an auxiliary jack for MP3 players and Bluetooth technology for your cell phone. But, you can use OnStar to make phone calls. You just have to purchase the minutes.
So far we’ve put 5,000 miles on the Caddy. A recent visit to Capitol Cadillac in Greenbelt, Maryland gave it a clean bill of health. We only needed an oil change. First routine maintenance is not until 15,000 miles. And since global warming has affected the weather patterns, expect us on the road with the luxo street beast every single day!
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