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Businessman Explains Why He Sold His Armored Cadillac Escalade ESV, Bought New for About R$ 2 Million, After Driving Only 1,500 km and Almost Never Using the SUV
Recently, influencer Renato Cariani surprised everyone by purchasing a Escalade in black, considered one of the most luxurious cars on the planet.
In a video published on his YouTube channel, Cariani made it clear, in a conversation with Alê Larangeira from Prime Imports, that the sale of the Cadillac Escalade ESV Premium Luxury was not born out of regret.
On the contrary. He repeats several times that, in his view, there is no car in the same price range that delivers more than the Escalade in technology, comfort, safety, space, and presence.
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For Renato, the SUV represents a different level of arrival and image. He says that, even next to super sports cars, the Escalade commands respect and conveys a sense of grandeur that other cars cannot replicate. In his words, it is a vehicle that silently communicates success without needing exaggeration.
He associates this impact with a well-defined profile: businessmen, successful people, family-oriented individuals, and those who prefer to ride with a private driver. According to Renato, it is not a coincidence that his friends, even having multiple cars, arrive at events always in an Escalade. The model, for him, carries strong symbolism, reinforced by the association with the car of the President of the United States.
Despite all this admiration, the decision to sell came from a much less glamorous factor: everyday life. Renato lives in São Caetano do Sul and describes the urban reality of the city as incompatible with an SUV of this size. Narrow streets, few parking spaces, and cars parked on both sides have made using the Escalade a constant challenge.
The result was simple and frustrating for him. The car sat unused. Renato states that he was not using the Escalade as it deserved and that this, little by little, stopped making sense. In his view, it is a shame to have such a large V8 practically without driving.
A Car Designed Down to the Smallest Details
Renato shares that the Escalade arrived in March, as a result of an import made directly with a contact in Miami. As soon as it landed in Brazil, the SUV did not go to the garage: it went straight to the armor process.
He makes a point of detailing this aspect because, according to him, the armor was designed to be the best possible. AGP glass at level B3, the use of nylon instead of metal and steel, high-quality blankets, and a strong focus on reducing weight were central decisions of the project.
The objective was clear: to maintain comfort, drivability, and the feeling of an original car. Renato and the other participants in the conversation emphasize that the result was an “absurdly light” armor, to the point that the car does not feel armored while driving.
Additionally, he mentions the armored panoramic sunroof as part of the package, emphasizing that he did not sacrifice comfort and experience items even with the high level of protection.
After the armor, the Escalade underwent another extensive stage of aesthetic and functional preparation. Renato took the car to have full PPF applied, covering the entire vehicle with high thickness and elevated quality material. According to him, the service took about 15 days of intense work.
Next came the coatings: windows, seats, upholstery, flooring, bodywork, and even the carpet. The way he summarizes this process is straightforward and repeated: everything that could be done to the car was done.
Even with all this care, the mileage remained minimal. Renato mentions around 1,500 km driven, a number that comes up several times in the conversation as synonymous with a practically new car.
He cites only a few specific uses: a trip to the beach house, a trip to Campos do Jordão, and two events in São Paulo. Other than that, the SUV sat unused, not fitting into his busy urban routine.
The Frustration with Offers and the Search for Someone Trustworthy
When he decided to sell, Renato says he sought out dealers and was disappointed with the initial approaches. According to him, the first attempts were to aggressively lower the price without considering the level of preparation and exclusivity of the car.
He emphasizes that this was not just a common Escalade. It was the Platinum version, with an extended ESV body, full PPF, and ultralight armor made by Colê, mentioned in the conversation as one of the largest armorers in the country.
In light of this, Renato decided to reach out to Alê Larangeira, with whom he claims to have had a relationship for many years. He shares that he started receiving constant calls from interested buyers wanting to purchase the car and preferred that the sale be managed by someone he trusted.
In Alê’s explanation, presented in the conversation, the logic was transparent. There is an average market price and a maximum possible price, but it all depends on the timeline. In a hurry, the value drops; without urgency, one can wait for the right buyer.
Renato states that he was in no rush at all. Thanks to that, the sale was made calmly, until he found a buyer he describes as “top,” someone who paid what he considers a fair price.
Time, Cost, and the Logic of “Ready to Drive”
One of Renato’s central arguments for defending the price paid is time. He notes that importing a car of this size, regularizing documents, and carrying out the armor takes months.
In the conversation, the timeline mentioned is around five months, nearing half a year. For him, this has a significant impact on the equation. Anyone buying a car like his avoids all that wait and receives a vehicle ready to drive.
Renato says that if someone tried to build an Escalade today with the same level of preparation, they would spend more money and much more time. That is why he insists that the price was fair for both parties.
The tone of the farewell is emotional. He states that the car was made with care and is being delivered with the same love. More than selling, he says he wants to see the Escalade on the road, being used and enjoyed.
At the end of the conversation, the inevitable hook arises: what will be the next car. Among jokes and comparisons, the central message remains the same. Renato did not sell the Escalade due to a lack of quality, but due to a lack of fit in his routine.
For him, the Escalade continues to be the most beautiful, most comfortable car that delivers the most within its proposal. It just stopped making sense to keep it parked when it could be in the hands of someone willing to fully experience what it offers.
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