Ok, many of you on here know me and some of you don't. I may have mentioned this post a while back.

I am serious now about buying a new vehicle. I have been dealing with what I currently have now and it's been very difficult for business. I currently own a sports car (american muscle). I have always wanted a GMC Yukon Denali or a Cadillac Escalade. They are almost virtually the same SUV. They almost cost just about the same amount for a used one too. I refuse to buy brand new due to the value depreciation when you drive off the car lot. So I have been looking at some 2005 and 2006 models of both. In my opinion, these trucks are gorgeous! Of course, being as picky as I am, I am looking for one that is fully loaded. I also like the color black.

I would like your opinions on both of these SUVs. I know they are gas guzzlers, but my car now is too. I really appreciate luxury, style, comfort and performance. Both of these vehicles have lots of options. Here are photos of the trucks I am looking at:

2005 Cadillac Escalade


2005 GMC Yukon Denali

Hey, it's your money. I can't imagine spending $25,000 on a used car but hey.

If you can afford it, go for it...I like the black one better and it has more "prestige" than the GMC, at least in my opinion. GMC is too "common" whereas Cadiallac has always been luxury. It's just a perception I know. But if you're going for that "impression" I'd go with the Caddy.

I won't pick a car for someone else any more than I would ask them to pick one for me!

"They almost cost just about the same amount for a used one too. I refuse to buy brand new due to the value depreciation when you drive off the car lot."

I don't just look at off the lot value depreciation.It's good to look at year by year depreciation after that.It will effect trade in later on and resale value.

I would think if you bought today 3 years from now the Caddy would have depreciated less.

I could buy a brand new car but I don't like the insurance rates they require you to have.I like have cars paid for then I get the cheap insurance.

Out of the 2 the Caddy definitely has more prestige.

If you want the GMC I would simply tell the salesman I am looking at a Caddy as well so the only way I will buy the GMC is if you give me a better price and extended warranty for free.

Heh, pick the one that best fits your style. You'll always like it better that way.

I know Las Vegas people.. you need the Escalade.. the Yukon says, "I'm in from Hawthorne for the day"..

That's why I drive a Honda, and probably always will drive a Honda.

Honda is reliable and economical - to me that says "Hey, Perky, you're smart."

It also says to my customers, who come to this area looking for a more relaxed, rustic lifestyle, "Hey, Perky is a down to earth gal. I like her."

However, I keep them out of my car, otherwise they'd conclude that I'm the Pocono Mountain equivalent of Oscar Madison.

If you want people to think you have money, the Escalade is the way to go. However, if you aren't worried about how people perceive you then it would really boil down to personal preference.

On a side note, I had a showing last weekend (the one where the young couple was bring the parents), well the one set of parents rolled up in an Escalade, and my first thought was "GREAT, they have money AND are stuck up". And guess what, I was right!!

Say Len,

Have you considered looking at http://www.enterprisecarsales.com? That's where I bought my last car recently and it was a great deal with excellent servicing of the transaction. They said that they only sell the best of their fleet under their own website. Anything less than quality is sent to auction. I'm very happy with my purchase but unlike you, I was looking for something running on regular that I didn't have to fill with gas every time I got in it.

Sorry i just cant get past the horrible gas mileage. I would go for something better on gas with 2 or 3 rows of seats. Just my 2 cents. My brother in law had a Escalade, and had to sell due to gas costs. But- maybe in this economy you can justify the cost of gas with getting a steal on the price. I bought a BMW X5, which had OK mileage (horrible for me since i drive a BMW sedan, 5-speed), used, for under $20k, and got rid of it in a few weeks last year due to pain at the pump.lol

I would like to know what car you currently have? You say it's a muscle car? I guarantee you either of those will get less gas mileage then your car due to weight and aerodynamics. I would go with the GMC. I can't get past the image of cadillacs only being sold to gangsters and senior citizens. That's all I see driving the escalades around here. But maybe you are a gangster or senior citizen. I don't know. he he. I recently bought a Lexus GX470 as I didn't like the hugeness of the Denali. The pain at the pump hasn't been to bad for it. Some of you would think 20 mpg is horrible, but I don't. I also buy new even though I lose alot to depreciation. However I have yet to have a break down on my new bought vehicles. The used ones I've bought had major break downs.

I'm presently driving an 8 year old Chrysler Town and Country with AWD. It has about 165k miles on it and gets gas mileage in the lower 20s. It replaced a Plymouth Voyager, also AWD, that had over 307K miles on it and was still in daily service of 150 to 200 miles a day when I retired it.

I use the van like a truck, never take customers in it (what few buyers I deal with drive their own vehicle but most of my business is REO listings from Asset Managers I never meet).

I have a black 8 year old Pontiac Grand Prix that has over 140K miles...and still gives me great service with about 25MPG (up to 28 in the summer).

I will NEVER own another black car. Shows every speck of dirt, and just try finding it in the dark at a shopping mall! I have an orange flag I stick out the window to help me find it when I park in an area with many cars.

I almost never transport buyers in my vehicle. My most frequent passenger is my dog, and the shedding on a Golden Retriever is not to be believed. Next vehicle will have a better area for the dog to ride...assuming the dog makes it that long (she'll be 15 in November).

The best vehicle to own, in my opinion, is the one with no payments.