Couple was minutes away from buying the last 2024 diesel Escalade, then the dealership pulled a move that left them stunned

A couple’s trip to a car dealership to test drive a 2024 Cadillac Escalade with a diesel engine took an unexpected turn, ending with them walking away empty-handed. TikTok user Hensel Hues shared the experience in a video that has since racked up more than one million views. 

In the TikTok video, she explains that she and her partner arrived at the dealership specifically to look at the diesel-powered Escalade and were serious enough that staff handed them the keys for a test drive. Things became strange before they even made it out of the parking lot. A second salesman suddenly stepped in, creating confusion about who was actually handling the sale. 

Despite the awkward interruption, the couple eventually completed the test drive and returned to the dealership, expecting to continue the buying process. Instead, they were told the Escalade had already been sold while they were out driving it. According to Motor1, the new buyer was still at the dealership and shot Hughes and her partner an unfriendly look as they walked back in.

The dealership’s move sparked strong reactions online

People had different opinions in the comments. Some said the couple was actually lucky they didn’t get the car. “not sure why people buy diesel anything besides pickups. You get all the problems of diesels with the only “benefit” being slightly better fuel economy,” one person commented. 

“You lucked out Not Buying that overpriced Relic of a Dinosaur vehicle Antiquated technology,” another comment read. 

Many people criticized how the dealership handled the situation. Someone who grew up around car sales said they would never go back to that place. They felt it showed poor business standards. Others agreed and called the dealership’s actions tacky and unprofessional. This isn’t the first time dealerships have been caught ghosting buyers over questionable business practices.

One commenter questioned why anyone would buy a diesel vehicle if they weren’t going to tow heavy things. But Hues replied that the fuel efficiency difference is actually really impressive. The 2024 model was the last year Cadillac made the Escalade with a Duramax diesel engine, which started in 2021.

This engine became popular because it could tow a lot and saved fuel. When people found out 2024 would be the final year, sales jumped quickly. While some car shopping experiences end in frustration, others have taken even more dramatic turns at dealerships across the country.