New one is better, but the old one was highly praised at least nearly when it came out. the thing is-- publications will NEVER, EVER be happy with GM SUV interiors. They just won't cut them a break. I have noticed this over the last 20 years. This is from a 2015 test and ours would be newer, but FWIW:

"The Escalade Platinum's interior is the group consensus for best in test. Frankly, I'm shocked at the quality. As are the others. Seabaugh sums up what we liked so much: "The Escalade has gorgeous, supple leather and great wood trim." Says Burgess: "This is the Cadillac of Cadillac interiors. The brown leather with contrast stitching makes the interior pop with luxury." I'll go so far as to say it is the highest-quality interior from a materials perspective I've ever seen in an American car." That test includes an LX, a Range, and GL.

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/t...e-luxury-suvs/

This test was done before bad gas mileage equalled a ruined, last place vehicle.

Unless it's a black brand new Escalade Sport coming at me, I do prefer the looks of the old one more.

 

nice find

@AJT123



​​​​​​​

 

Can't say that I disagree. Up to now, I thought (with good reason) that Buick generally had the best GM interiors (better than Cadillac), but it's hard to beat the new Escalade interior. The Escalade's shifter, though, s**ks....it's that same crappy E-joystick, used on several other GM products, that always springs back into the center-position no matter what gear you are actually in.

 

The one we want has the old column shifter , last gen.

Escalade owners made it clear they liked the shifter there right where it was but the powers that be changed it, of course.

 

Seeing the demand for the new Escalade I don’t think buyers care about the shifter lol

No comparison between the two…all those models compared are older models and the new versions of all those vehicles blow their older versions away, the game has stepped up much more.

 

Well, just because it's not a deal-breaker doesn't necessarily mean that everybody likes it. I myself got a Lacrosse with generally the same shifter, but it was arguably the only thing I really disliked on the car.

 

If they sell the cars they want to sell, who cares? You still bought the car. You can’t please everybody with every design decision. Personally I have no interest in an old school column shifter. Happy to leave that in my 1995 Explorer.

 

When I commented about the shifter on MB's, the salesman replied, "you know you only shift once per ride." Lol. But you're not wrong. People don't seem to be bothered because these things sell well. And he's probably right about it. BMW replaced the shifter with a switch. People **** about it but like the SA said, you only switch once per ride. If needed, the paddle shifters are there.

 

true, but...



good salesperson!

most people don't like let alone embrace change, even if it's obviously better. not saying column shifters are bad or *****/switches are better by any means. i think the 'stalk' shifter (mb, now tesla) is a good way to go.
the old column shifters were so mechanically sloppy they're hilarious.

 

Stalk shifter in my S560 works great, its easy to flick and actuate when driving, doesn't take up a bunch of space...

 

Except for the fact that this Maybach LACKS features in the back seats my car has. It's not optioned correctly so unfortunately it's lacking amenities

 

Wow this is probably the last place I would expect someone to like this type of shifter.
What do you do with it while driving, Steve? So BMW must have gotten risk of the stick for space then. I wonder what people do with the gained space. I like to rest my hand here once in awhile.

 

That particular one does, but all of those amenities are available. Your A8 lacks all the space in the back that has... bottom line is people option cars according to their own needs and when looking at used cars you have to find one optioned how you want.

Some back seat features doesn't make a car that is a regular LWB flagship a peer to a foot longer pullman car like a Maybach.

I would rather have a regular gearshift, I like to rest my hand there too...but as electronic shifters go the column selector MB uses works well.

What do I do with it when driving? Nothing...it just sits there. But when backing up and pulling forward when parking its easy to move from reverse to drive when turning the wheel, etc.

 

Wait, are we saying a VW W12 is more refined than a MB V12?

That's a tough sell. Just balance/NVH alone V12 wins without even having to do anything, it's just the design. Two I6s which are perfectly balanced off the bat.

Not knocking a W12 but it's not quite the same.

 

I haven't driven either one, but Audis V8 is not as refined as MB's V8...