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2022 Cadillac Escalade — what should a real pre-purchase inspection include?

HybridDetailer348Community StarterApr 25, 20262022 Cadillac Escalade SportCentral Jersey
This started as a small annoyance and I finally decided to track it down. I am paying an independent shop to inspect a used car. Besides a scan and putting it on a lift, what should I ask them to check so it is more than a quick state-inspection-style look? Interested in real owner experience more than guesses.
apr
3.71
location
Central Jersey
term months
60
asking price
64000
dealer addons
3995
dealer doc fee
85
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8 replies

TruckDadCommunity StarterCommunity StarterApr 26, 2026permalink
If I were shopping this, if they're pushing term length to shrink the payment, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade price probably got worse. That's the part that actually changes the decision. Write the result down so the next test isn't a repeat of the last one. Not letting add-ons ride along because everyone does.
LongMilesDaily160Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 26, 2026permalink
Treat this like a math problem, not a vibe. Ask for out-the-door on the 2022 Cadillac Escalade with fees, add-ons, and rate on separate lines. Do that before you talk monthly again. That's the sequence I'd use. Not trying to scare you — just skip the expensive first guess. I'll post OTD once I have two apples-to-apples sheets.
LongMilesDaily160Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 26, 2026permalink
Don't send a deposit on a phone quote. In Central Jersey, insurance quotes flipped a 2022 Cadillac Escalade comparison for me more than the sale price did. Screenshot the worksheet if you can. No need to make it theatrical. That's coming from doing this as an owner, not a shop. If the VIN lookup is clean I'm still doing PPI.
LongMilesDaily160Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 26, 2026permalink
Insurance and tax belong in the comparison, not as a surprise. GAP, paint, and nitrogen are optional until you run the 2022 Cadillac Escalade numbers without them. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. On “what should a real pre-purchase inspection include,” that was the fork that mattered for me. This is from a 2022 Cadillac Escalade in Central Jersey. That's the sequence I'd use. If your situation is the opposite, ignore me. If GAP is bundled I'm making them unbundle it.
BatteryCommuter524Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 27, 2026permalink
Fair point. Counterpoint: Two 2022 Cadillac Escalade quotes only help if both include tax, title, and the same options. That's the part that actually changes the decision. No need to make it theatrical. A day of patience here is cheaper than a wrong part. Calling insurance in the morning before I reply to the desk.
DetailScoutCommunity StarterCommunity StarterApr 28, 2026permalink
Same neighborhood, different next step: GAP, paint, and nitrogen are optional until you run the 2022 Cadillac Escalade numbers without them. I'd rather lose the car than buy a foggy deal. This is from a 2022 Cadillac Escalade in Central Jersey. That's the sequence I'd use. I'll post OTD once I have two apples-to-apples sheets.
HybridDetailer348Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 28, 2026permalink
OP update: I got two written quotes on the 2022 Cadillac Escalade and the out-the-door gap is bigger than the ads made it look. Wrote this up on my lunch break.
CityFan766Community StarterCommunity StarterApr 29, 2026permalink
Quick add on that: A written buyer’s order on the 2022 Cadillac Escalade is worth more than any verbal “we’ll make it work.” If they balk, that's your answer. On “what should a real pre-purchase inspection include,” that was the fork that mattered for me. Learned this the expensive way on a previous car. I'd rather look cautious in this thread than stuck later.
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