Cadillac Escalade Armrest... Inexcuseably Bad...

While shopping for what eventually turned into our HHR purchase, we also went to a Cadillac dealer to look at CTS's.

While there I hopped in an Escalade to check out the interior, at which point I was presented with a TRULY AWFUL armrest.

The armrest is nicely styled from an appearance standpoint, but the hinge system is TERRIBLE.

The armrest flops all over the place with so much side-to-side free movement (sometimes call "chuck") at the hinges that it was embarrassing. Were I driving the vehicle, the thing would be dancing around over bumps like it had Mexican Jumping Beans in it.

Truly AWFUL.

Fix the hinges. Do it now.

It's a Cadillac for Christ's sake!!!

You sure it wasn't a defect in the one you looked at? Or is it like that in all of them by design?

There seem to be a few seeminly minor oversites in the new Escalade design, but in a luxury SUV priced in the 55-70k range... those 'minor' things become the main detracting points for potential buyers.

You sure it wasn't a defect in the one you looked at? Or is it like that in all of them by design?

There seem to be a few seeminly minor oversites in the new Escalade design, but in a luxury SUV priced in the 55-70k range... those 'minor' things become the main detracting points for potential buyers.

1) I'm sure.

2) Still the best large SUV on the market, by a W-I-D-E margin.

2) Still the best large SUV on the market, by a W-I-D-E margin.

"Best" from an engineering standpoint I'd agree from what I know - but again, the seemingly minor little 'details' is what I hear most luxury brand buyers complaining about. And they're the ones that buy 'em. If the arm rest is that bad, they WILL complain about it.

BTW - is the GMT-900 Escalade's suspension system considered a true semi-active design? Does it control the shocks and the sway bars or just the shocks?

"Best" from an engineering standpoint I'd agree from what I know - but again, the seemingly minor little 'details' is what I hear most luxury brand buyers complaining about. And they're the ones that buy 'em. If the arm rest is that bad, they WILL complain about it.

BTW - is the GMT-900 Escalade's suspension system considered a true semi-active design? Does it control the shocks and the sway bars or just the shocks?

From Cadillac's website:

"SuspensionCoil-over-shock front/5-link rear with bi-modal mono-tube shocks and computer-controlled real-time damping

Stability SystemStabiliTrak, computer-controlled, 4-channel stability enhancement system"

From Cadillac's website:

"SuspensionCoil-over-shock front/5-link rear with bi-modal mono-tube shocks and computer-controlled real-time damping

Stability SystemStabiliTrak, computer-controlled, 4-channel stability enhancement system"

So sounds like true semi-active shocks? Though nothing on the sways.

So sounds like true semi-active shocks? Though nothing on the sways.

I'd guess it's the magnetic spooge in the shocks GM uses all over the place.

I'd guess it's the magnetic spooge in the shocks GM uses all over the place.

Delphi's Magneride? I was told in another thread on this board was not a true semi-active suspension?

Delphi's Magneride? I was told in another thread on this board was not a true semi-active suspension?

Since I have very little seat time with either (truly "Fully Active" or "Semi-Active"), I'm not in any position to evaluate whether the "Fully Active" suspension is honestly any better - or can justify the added cost.

I beat on a MagnaRide Corvette for a awhile a few months back, hot-lapped an STS 4 a few times, and pounded on a CTS-V for an hour or so... But apart from those I can't give you any insight.

They all handled phenominally, with the Corvette pretty much being in a class of it's own.

Since I have very little seat time with either (truly "Fully Active" or "Semi-Active"), I'm not in any position to evaluate whether the "Fully Active" suspension is honestly any better - or can justify the added cost.

I beat on a MagnaRide Corvette for a awhile a few months back, hot-lapped an STS 4 a few times, and pounded on a CTS-V for an hour or so... But apart from those I can't give you any insight.

They all handled phenominally, with the Corvette pretty much being in a class of it's own.

I didn't ask if fully active was better, I asked if magneride, from a technical/defined standpoint was considered a true semi-active suspension (it's definitely not a fully active suspension). And if what the Escalade has is Magneride, or if it works differently.

And FWIW the CTS-V to my knowledge doesn't use Magneride or any other active suspension tech.

I didn't ask if fully active was better, I asked if magneride, from a technical/defined standpoint was considered a true semi-active suspension (it's definitely not a fully active suspension). And if what the Escalade has is Magneride, or if it works differently.

And FWIW the CTS-V to my knowledge doesn't use Magneride or any other active suspension tech.

My comparison was intended to point out that I've driven two performance vehicles lately, one a Cadillac with Stabilitrak and the other a MagneRide Corvette.

FWIW, the Corvette was a machine capable of stunning handling - the CTS-V obviously wasn't bad, but not the same.

In short, I don't know the answer if MagneRide is fully active or semi-active or semi-fully active.

I just know that on a Corvette, it works. And the CTS-V's Stabilitrak is also impressive.