I started feeling the itch to buy a new car around August of 2002. By that point I had owned my Thunderbird for over five years and I was worried about encountering substantial repair bills in the near future. I started out considering three different automobiles with one thing in common: Price. I really liked the Mercedes CLK and the Lincoln Navigator, and I had also been seeing more of the Cadillac Escalades around. I test drove each of these vehicles and found the Escalade to be the perfect combination of power, cargo and styling. Having determined what I wanted to drive for the next several years I started the purchasing process.

Those that know me, even just a little, know I'm the most prepared person in the world. I don't just jump into things. I research them thoroughly until I know every nuance. And believe me, I knew every option, every detail, and every penny that went into the Escalade. I called several dealers in the Washington, DC area and finally found one that didn't treat me like a 27 year old that was just window shopping. Lindsay Cadillac in Alexandria and Rob Thorum hooked me up on the new ride and gave me a great deal.

So far I've put roughly 10,000 miles on it and I'm completely satisfied. Sure, there are a few things that are annoying, like how the keys bang against the dash and how the CD track numbers don't change immediately on the receiver, but the car turns heads, burns rubber (for a truck), and rides like a dream. That doesn't mean I'm not starting to get the itch to customize it though. Below you'll see of my 'dream mods' that I'll try to hook up one at a time.