Best cars for cops
Thread Starter
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,991
Likes: 582
From: Fontana, California
Best cars for cops
http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/funonw...cnn_topstories
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/aut...n.exclude.html
Best cars for cops
The Michigan State Police Precision Driving Team puts police cars to the test.
January 20, 2006; Posted: 12:38 p.m. EST (1738 GMT)
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - If there were a list of the "toughest jobs for cars" being a police car would probably be right up there at the top.
They need big trunks, decent back seat space, huge amounts of front seat space (to allow for computers and radios) and they have to be capable of driving at high speeds for extended periods of time.
Plenty of cars could fill a couple of those needs. But police departments need to find the ones that can do all three at once.
It's not like your local police chief can just go to his neighborhood Chevrolet dealer and take an Impala out for a nice high-speed-pursuit-style test drive, either. That's why the Michigan State Police do their annual cop car round-up.
"Numerous police agencies throughout the U.S. base their criteria on these tests," said Sgt. Keith Wilson with the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Team, the unit that conducts these tests.
The state troopers take examples of potential police cars and test them on race tracks. They measure handling, acceleration, top speed, braking and something called "communications and ergonomics."
Communications and ergonomics is judged based on the comparative comfort of the cars, the readability of gauges and how difficult it is to install equipment like computers and radios.
For 2006, the Michigan Police tested versions of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the Chevrolet Impala, the Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV as potential general purpose police vehicles. A smaller-engined version of the Magnum was also tested for suitability as a "support vehicle," a category that otherwise included SUVs.
While they may be losing market share elsewhere, domestic carmakers seem to have a virtual lock on the police car market. Volvo submitted a car for testing a few years ago, Wilson said, and Subaru inquired about doing so. But non-U.S. branded police cars remain a rare sight on American roads.
In the past, some smaller cars -- Ford Mustangs, for example -- had been used by some state police departments as specialized high-speed pursuit vehicles. But bigger, better engines in modern full-sized cars have allowed state troopers to have their speed and trunk space, too.
Wilson refused to choose a specific "best car," saying that individual police departments have their own needs and would have to balance the performance number revealed by the testing against their own requirements and vehicle costs.
Overall, based on the Michigan police's recently published final scores for the 2006 model year, the Dodge Charger ran away with all the performance categories. It fell short, however, in communications and ergonomics.
http://money.cnn.com/popups/2006/aut...n.exclude.html
The Michigan State Police Precision Driving Team puts police cars to the test.
January 20, 2006; Posted: 12:38 p.m. EST (1738 GMT)
By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com staff writer
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - If there were a list of the "toughest jobs for cars" being a police car would probably be right up there at the top.
They need big trunks, decent back seat space, huge amounts of front seat space (to allow for computers and radios) and they have to be capable of driving at high speeds for extended periods of time.
Plenty of cars could fill a couple of those needs. But police departments need to find the ones that can do all three at once.
It's not like your local police chief can just go to his neighborhood Chevrolet dealer and take an Impala out for a nice high-speed-pursuit-style test drive, either. That's why the Michigan State Police do their annual cop car round-up.
"Numerous police agencies throughout the U.S. base their criteria on these tests," said Sgt. Keith Wilson with the Michigan State Police Precision Driving Team, the unit that conducts these tests.
The state troopers take examples of potential police cars and test them on race tracks. They measure handling, acceleration, top speed, braking and something called "communications and ergonomics."
Communications and ergonomics is judged based on the comparative comfort of the cars, the readability of gauges and how difficult it is to install equipment like computers and radios.
For 2006, the Michigan Police tested versions of the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the Chevrolet Impala, the Dodge Magnum, Dodge Charger and the Chevrolet Tahoe SUV as potential general purpose police vehicles. A smaller-engined version of the Magnum was also tested for suitability as a "support vehicle," a category that otherwise included SUVs.
While they may be losing market share elsewhere, domestic carmakers seem to have a virtual lock on the police car market. Volvo submitted a car for testing a few years ago, Wilson said, and Subaru inquired about doing so. But non-U.S. branded police cars remain a rare sight on American roads.
In the past, some smaller cars -- Ford Mustangs, for example -- had been used by some state police departments as specialized high-speed pursuit vehicles. But bigger, better engines in modern full-sized cars have allowed state troopers to have their speed and trunk space, too.
Wilson refused to choose a specific "best car," saying that individual police departments have their own needs and would have to balance the performance number revealed by the testing against their own requirements and vehicle costs.
Overall, based on the Michigan police's recently published final scores for the 2006 model year, the Dodge Charger ran away with all the performance categories. It fell short, however, in communications and ergonomics.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,897
Likes: 1
From: Austin, TX
The Gallardo was a special gift from the Lambo boys. If you think that is cool, the California Highway Patrol gets seriously modded Boxster S chase cars. PCNA is making them 200 of these things. 
Suzuka Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,620
Likes: 7
From: Charlotte
Originally Posted by Scribesoft
.... and don't tell me there's no room for the "perp's"
Trending Topics
Suzuka Master
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 8,620
Likes: 7
From: Charlotte
Originally Posted by kurt_bradley
The Gallardo was a special gift from the Lambo boys. If you think that is cool, the California Highway Patrol gets seriously modded Boxster S chase cars. PCNA is making them 200 of these things.
Moderator Alumnus
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 64,171
Likes: 14,322
Crown Vic = ultimate police car imo. The Charger looks pretty mean though, albeit a bit Thunderdome-ish. Which is not necessarily a bad thing - but I just think the Crown Vics have the ultimate police car look. The Magnum is what you need for K-9 missions though.
And, if I had a WRX chasing me with lights on (in the USA), sorry but I don't think I'd stop. I'd think it was some mad ricer "scooby" vigilante crazy dude.
It would be my cue to punch it. 
And, if I had a WRX chasing me with lights on (in the USA), sorry but I don't think I'd stop. I'd think it was some mad ricer "scooby" vigilante crazy dude.
It would be my cue to punch it.
Originally Posted by srika
Crown Vic = ultimate police car imo. The Charger looks pretty mean though, albeit a bit Thunderdome-ish. Which is not necessarily a bad thing - but I just think the Crown Vics have the ultimate police car look. The Magnum is what you need for K-9 missions though.
And, if I had a WRX chasing me with lights on (in the USA), sorry but I don't think I'd stop. I'd think it was some mad ricer "scooby" vigilante crazy dude. It would be my cue to punch it.
And, if I had a WRX chasing me with lights on (in the USA), sorry but I don't think I'd stop. I'd think it was some mad ricer "scooby" vigilante crazy dude.
It would be my cue to punch it. 
Thread Starter
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,991
Likes: 582
From: Fontana, California
Originally Posted by CGTSX2004
If they're gonna go with the Crown Vic, they really should get the Mercury Marauder's more powerful motor.
Even a stock marauder looks pretty darn good.
Last edited by slyraskal; Jan 23, 2006 at 12:07 AM.
Comptech Freak
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,555
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
the crown vic is totally outdated, it never got a major redesign since 1970s, the V8 is out of the league, putting same power than the accord V6 (244 vs. 249) and slower than the Impala V6
the charger is awesome, but i dun think all of them would put the Hemi V8 due to the cost, most troops will use the 3.5 V6 instead, but it's underpowered.
the Impala has a good and strong 3.9 V6, all around package and larger than the previous Impala, but FWD may be a disadvantage to old shool guys
the charger is awesome, but i dun think all of them would put the Hemi V8 due to the cost, most troops will use the 3.5 V6 instead, but it's underpowered.
the Impala has a good and strong 3.9 V6, all around package and larger than the previous Impala, but FWD may be a disadvantage to old shool guys
Thread Starter
Team Owner
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,991
Likes: 582
From: Fontana, California
Originally Posted by TheAcAvenger
what is a boxter going to do to an awd audi a8 v12? Try pit maneuvering THAT!
When it comes to pursuits, they bring in the crown vics,
they leave the speeding tix and other violations for the camaro's so they can sneak up on ya
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by samkws
the crown vic is totally outdated, it never got a major redesign since 1970s, the V8 is out of the league, putting same power than the accord V6 (244 vs. 249) and slower than the Impala V6
BTW, the 249hp (or is it 239hp) is only the base configuration of the 4.6 and it's literally sleeping at that point. It'll make 249hp all day long without breaking a sweat, and there's tons of torque too. Very simple upgrades on those engines can get some pretty big power gains, and I know for a fact that some departments do upgrades on them if they need something with a little more performance but don't want a Camaro or Mustang. The sky is the limit. I was in a group of cars once going about 80 and we flew by a cop. We all slowed down to 60 mph and as I sweated it out as he came flying up with his lights on. I swear, between the time I passed him and the time he caught up and passed me going way faster than 60 was no more than 10-15 seconds. No way in hell that was the stock 4.6. He pulled over the lead car. Ditto on that for Caprices and the 350cid. Tons of potential and "not necessarily stock" so don't be thinking you're going to easily walk away from any sort of cruiser.
Nothing beats the radio or a chopper though, except if you're incredibly lucky and don't manage to kill anybody, or yourself.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 0
From: Sunshine State
Originally Posted by SteVTEC
Yeah maybe but the Crown Vic will hop curbs all day long and not break, power slide through turns, and make mince meat out of cars when it bashes them with its reinforced ladder frame and body on frame construction. These unibody FWD cars will not take nearly as much abuse and are really for light duty only. If you seriously need to knock a car off the road before some lunatic kills somebody what would you rather be in? An Impala or Charger (non-reinforced, unibody) or a reinforced ladder frame heavy duty Crown Vic?
Even though the Crown Vic is outdated it's one of the strongest sedan's out there and when they are retired from the force, most of them end up as taxi cabs and rack up hundreds of thousand miles more and still keep going. Hell a lot of countries use the Crown Vic over their own cars because there are very durable.IMO Ford needs to drop their 5.4L V8 or another more powerful engine into the Crown Vic to keep up with the competition.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 18,017
Likes: 1,737
Originally Posted by DownUnder
Even though the Crown Vic is outdated it's one of the strongest sedan's out there and when they are retired from the force, most of them end up as taxi cabs and rack up hundreds of thousand miles more and still keep going. Hell a lot of countries use the Crown Vic over their own cars because there are very durable.IMO Ford needs to drop their 5.4L V8 or another more powerful engine into the Crown Vic to keep up with the competition.
OT: Cops wouldnt mind the 300hp+ LS4 but FWD would give them FITS:
IMHO, this is HOT:
...although those bar lights look out of date.
Suzuka Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,682
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by Ken1997TL
Anyone from Massholeville seen the Camry and Accord being used as unmarked cars? 
I heard it from someone i know over there who I trust.
I heard it from someone i know over there who I trust.
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 45,641
Likes: 2,335
From: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
Originally Posted by vp911
I've seen the old Camaro (Michigan), Explorers (Chicago) as unmarked cars. Didn't know about camry's and accords
Around here i've seen Explorers, Expeditions and Camaros too.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by DownUnder
Even though the Crown Vic is outdated it's one of the strongest sedan's out there and when they are retired from the force, most of them end up as taxi cabs and rack up hundreds of thousand miles more and still keep going. Hell a lot of countries use the Crown Vic over their own cars because there are very durable.IMO Ford needs to drop their 5.4L V8 or another more powerful engine into the Crown Vic to keep up with the competition.
If individual departments want to spend money on aftermarket head/cam/intake packages, there's nothing stopping them though. I know for a fact that there are some departments out there with upgrades like that, and even some supercharged ones too. Police seem to like to keep extremely tight wraps under what exactly is under their hoods though, because they'd rather keep people guessing and underestimate them, not knowing what they're really up against.
To punish and enslave
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach, CA
Originally Posted by Crazy88
Colorado State Patrol.
I'd love to be the cop drivin this instead of a crown vic.
Mile High
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
Here is a site where you can browse cop cars by state,county,town,and gov. agencies.
There are some odd police cars out there.
http://policecarsite.atspace.com/states.html
There are some odd police cars out there.
http://policecarsite.atspace.com/states.html
Comptech Freak
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 6,555
Likes: 0
From: Toronto, Canada
Originally Posted by SteVTEC
Yeah maybe but the Crown Vic will hop curbs all day long and not break, power slide through turns, and make mince meat out of cars when it bashes them with its reinforced ladder frame and body on frame construction. These unibody FWD cars will not take nearly as much abuse and are really for light duty only. If you seriously need to knock a car off the road before some lunatic kills somebody what would you rather be in? An Impala or Charger (non-reinforced, unibody) or a reinforced ladder frame heavy duty Crown Vic?
BTW, the 249hp (or is it 239hp) is only the base configuration of the 4.6 and it's literally sleeping at that point. It'll make 249hp all day long without breaking a sweat, and there's tons of torque too. Very simple upgrades on those engines can get some pretty big power gains, and I know for a fact that some departments do upgrades on them if they need something with a little more performance but don't want a Camaro or Mustang. The sky is the limit. I was in a group of cars once going about 80 and we flew by a cop. We all slowed down to 60 mph and as I sweated it out as he came flying up with his lights on. I swear, between the time I passed him and the time he caught up and passed me going way faster than 60 was no more than 10-15 seconds. No way in hell that was the stock 4.6. He pulled over the lead car. Ditto on that for Caprices and the 350cid. Tons of potential and "not necessarily stock" so don't be thinking you're going to easily walk away from any sort of cruiser.
Nothing beats the radio or a chopper though, except if you're incredibly lucky and don't manage to kill anybody, or yourself.
BTW, the 249hp (or is it 239hp) is only the base configuration of the 4.6 and it's literally sleeping at that point. It'll make 249hp all day long without breaking a sweat, and there's tons of torque too. Very simple upgrades on those engines can get some pretty big power gains, and I know for a fact that some departments do upgrades on them if they need something with a little more performance but don't want a Camaro or Mustang. The sky is the limit. I was in a group of cars once going about 80 and we flew by a cop. We all slowed down to 60 mph and as I sweated it out as he came flying up with his lights on. I swear, between the time I passed him and the time he caught up and passed me going way faster than 60 was no more than 10-15 seconds. No way in hell that was the stock 4.6. He pulled over the lead car. Ditto on that for Caprices and the 350cid. Tons of potential and "not necessarily stock" so don't be thinking you're going to easily walk away from any sort of cruiser.
Nothing beats the radio or a chopper though, except if you're incredibly lucky and don't manage to kill anybody, or yourself.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
