Ex-police car - would you?
Discussion
No, I drove one everyday for 10 years.
they are driven mostly at full speed answering 999 calls etc , if its a city car that will be 99 % of its life 24 hours a day, a country force considerably less.
They are well used and equally well maintained but due to the type of use it wont be long before big bills roll in.
Also the interiors tend to be over worn, holes in the dash but they do usually have upgraded brakes.
I blew about four engines plus numerous other paarts- The most unreliable were the BMW's - every other day in the garage needing parts- definately not designed to be driven hard all the time.
they are driven mostly at full speed answering 999 calls etc , if its a city car that will be 99 % of its life 24 hours a day, a country force considerably less.
They are well used and equally well maintained but due to the type of use it wont be long before big bills roll in.
Also the interiors tend to be over worn, holes in the dash but they do usually have upgraded brakes.
I blew about four engines plus numerous other paarts- The most unreliable were the BMW's - every other day in the garage needing parts- definately not designed to be driven hard all the time.
Only if it was sale of the century, many that I've seen for sale haven't actually been that cheap.
I'd consider one of the estate motorway cars, because I'd only be doing what they've already done to it. But I'd probably have to budget swapping the cloth seats for leather, and a war chest for suspension replacement. Watching one of those police action kill programs last night, Volvo going over speed bumps in a residential area at 70mph. Made me wince!
I'd consider one of the estate motorway cars, because I'd only be doing what they've already done to it. But I'd probably have to budget swapping the cloth seats for leather, and a war chest for suspension replacement. Watching one of those police action kill programs last night, Volvo going over speed bumps in a residential area at 70mph. Made me wince!
I wouldn't worry about blood, guts and diseases, let's face it there are people on here who sing the virtues of 30 year old barges from the rooftops and they have decades of bogeys, sperm and farts soaked into their seats, so they're literally 'wafting' around in a sea of human detritus.
Just out of interest when we got the OHs V70 I took a look at a couple of ex Police Volvos.
They were fine despite the mileage, however what really put me off was the fact that to get the interior put back to standard would more than make up the difference in cost between an ex-plod and a normal Volvo.
For example the centre console area on the ex-plod car had been pretty butchered to take all their radios and stuff instead of all the proper switchgear and built in dolby pro-logic sound system. This had been replaced with a very Heath-Robinson looking blanking plate with a normal DIN radio sticking out. If you aren't bothered by such stuff then fair enough, but I wasn't keen.
They were fine despite the mileage, however what really put me off was the fact that to get the interior put back to standard would more than make up the difference in cost between an ex-plod and a normal Volvo.
For example the centre console area on the ex-plod car had been pretty butchered to take all their radios and stuff instead of all the proper switchgear and built in dolby pro-logic sound system. This had been replaced with a very Heath-Robinson looking blanking plate with a normal DIN radio sticking out. If you aren't bothered by such stuff then fair enough, but I wasn't keen.
Dog Star said:
Just out of interest when we got the OHs V70 I took a look at a couple of ex Police Volvos.
They were fine despite the mileage, however what really put me off was the fact that to get the interior put back to standard would more than make up the difference in cost between an ex-plod and a normal Volvo.
For example the centre console area on the ex-plod car had been pretty butchered to take all their radios and stuff instead of all the proper switchgear and built in dolby pro-logic sound system. This had been replaced with a very Heath-Robinson looking blanking plate with a normal DIN radio sticking out. If you aren't bothered by such stuff then fair enough, but I wasn't keen.
Times might change somewhat now.They were fine despite the mileage, however what really put me off was the fact that to get the interior put back to standard would more than make up the difference in cost between an ex-plod and a normal Volvo.
For example the centre console area on the ex-plod car had been pretty butchered to take all their radios and stuff instead of all the proper switchgear and built in dolby pro-logic sound system. This had been replaced with a very Heath-Robinson looking blanking plate with a normal DIN radio sticking out. If you aren't bothered by such stuff then fair enough, but I wasn't keen.
Our 5-series' have all the Police computers built into the idrive rea. They left the media package in, so the driver can switch between BMW nav & audio, over to ANPR software or whatever.
Jealous much
"Fix the cigarette lighter."
I always say this in these threads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOg4aYGtdY
I always say this in these threads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOg4aYGtdY
Got a call today about a police car thats been out of action for 3 weeks because it "smells"
lol
the cleaner wont clean it because the mess isnt in the back.
the copper that soiled it wont clean it because its "beneath him"
and the management wont clean it because they dont want to pay for a full valet.
... its had milk spilt in it over both front seats the floor and everywhere else spilled milk would splash.
lol
the cleaner wont clean it because the mess isnt in the back.
the copper that soiled it wont clean it because its "beneath him"
and the management wont clean it because they dont want to pay for a full valet.
... its had milk spilt in it over both front seats the floor and everywhere else spilled milk would splash.
br d said:
"Fix the cigarette lighter."
I always say this in these threads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOg4aYGtdY
7.2 Liters , just enough.I always say this in these threads.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTOg4aYGtdY
If they were a fantasic buy then there would be lots parked up in the back yard of police stations driven by police officers... have I ever seen one parked in the back yard at a police station? NO!
Do I know any police officers who drive an ex-police car .... No!
All (including traffic cars) are thrashed regularly, crashed and fixed (often poorly!), left to idle for hours at scenes, thrown up in, urinated in, have the electics hacked to bits to fit extra equipment (often to a 'questionable' standard)...
Run away now!!!
Do I know any police officers who drive an ex-police car .... No!
All (including traffic cars) are thrashed regularly, crashed and fixed (often poorly!), left to idle for hours at scenes, thrown up in, urinated in, have the electics hacked to bits to fit extra equipment (often to a 'questionable' standard)...
Run away now!!!
In my twisted sense of logic I see it as this:
We (most of us anyway) pay our taxes. The Police are supported through our taxes and provide a very good, appreciated and worthwhile service
By that logic, doesn't it mean that we've effectively paid for all Police vehicles through our taxes,thus we retain therefore some ownership of said chariots of law, ergo we should be able to walk into the nearest Police Station and take our pick.
Mine's the Evo 10, just take that horrible graphic job off it first please my good man.
Mate of mine had an H reg Sierra which was previously an ARV unit in London. If you got the right angle in the sunshine it had a large circle on the roof (vinyl removed) and a number, as well as a remenants of a gun rack in the boot, and the rear seats had been altered. For a 2.0 Auto it shifted pretty well from a standstill, it also retained an unusual odour, more noticeable when cold....
We (most of us anyway) pay our taxes. The Police are supported through our taxes and provide a very good, appreciated and worthwhile service
By that logic, doesn't it mean that we've effectively paid for all Police vehicles through our taxes,thus we retain therefore some ownership of said chariots of law, ergo we should be able to walk into the nearest Police Station and take our pick.
Mine's the Evo 10, just take that horrible graphic job off it first please my good man.
Mate of mine had an H reg Sierra which was previously an ARV unit in London. If you got the right angle in the sunshine it had a large circle on the roof (vinyl removed) and a number, as well as a remenants of a gun rack in the boot, and the rear seats had been altered. For a 2.0 Auto it shifted pretty well from a standstill, it also retained an unusual odour, more noticeable when cold....
From what im aware of the traffic cars are "lent" to the force (not owned by them), by a wing of Volvo, BMW or VW-Audi group and returned for auction at the end of there period, this is due to them being a good advert for the manufacturer.
Most of them will have had some sort of smack in their lifetime, the bodyshop i worked next to use to get the same one's in quite frequently, usually for minor stuff but you did see the odd big'un.
I cant comment on maintenance, apart from a local u/c mk1 Octavia VRS smacked its sump off numerous times :-/
Not for me though
Most of them will have had some sort of smack in their lifetime, the bodyshop i worked next to use to get the same one's in quite frequently, usually for minor stuff but you did see the odd big'un.
I cant comment on maintenance, apart from a local u/c mk1 Octavia VRS smacked its sump off numerous times :-/
Not for me though
SystemParanoia said:
... its had milk spilt in it over both front seats the floor and everywhere else spilled milk would splash.
We had one of our cars at work ruined by someone spilling milky coffee in it and then just leaving it. After a couple of days, it was absolutely lifting. It was left parked in the rear yard with the windows down trying to air it out, which did absolutely nothing for the bacteria multiplying in the carpet.It was the last car available one day, and I was asked to get it cleaned out. The handymen were off, so I went to Halfords and got £10 worth of disinfectant sprays and doused the car in them (before getting my £10 back from admin). It masked the smell but didn't cure the problem. Eventually the car had an interior refit, all the spoiled trim was ripped out and replaced at considerable expense. All because someone was drinking coffee in the car!
Leave well alone ! I currently own an ex met peugeot expert van. There is no way I would buy another ex police vehicle, its plagued with electrical faults. I found the wires for the cargo area lights inside the nearside front wing, hacksawed off. Insulation tape everywhere, fans blow at random after the ignition is turned off, police fitted alarm goes off if you pre-heat it twice, BUT.. it was very cheap
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