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brenflys777
Original Poster
559 posts
46 months
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This is a little less serious for this section, but as ex-plod I wondered if there was any consensus for best Police car in the UK, not necessarily the fastest but the best at what it had to do. I've seen the Imprezas and EVO's etc on TV but as I have been put off buying either by the servicing requirements etc I'm not sure if they live up to the hype.
Where I worked it was urban and late 90's so the Mondeo Si was loved for handling, the Vectra Sri for the engine ( and nothing else ;-) ) and I had a particular affinity for the Maestro TD's huge tyres which made speed bumps a doddle :-), the 827 traffic cars were limp and none of our cars inspired me like the sight of the Capri 2.8i's and SD1 V8 jam butty cars of the Manchester of my youth - any suggestions?
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davemac250
4,203 posts
74 months
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Christ, easier to list the duffers!
Rover 216gti was a surprise, way better than I expected.
Golf vr6 also good.
Probably one of the top was the 530d.
Like you i thought the 827's were lacking, although setting the brakes on fire was entertaining.
Sierra's were rubbish, never saw a mondeo.
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PH lurker
1,231 posts
26 months
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Isn't the Range Rover a good police 'car'? Or the Discovery?
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Greendubber
2,807 posts
72 months
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Sorry for this but the common Astra Panda! They get hammered all day everyday and do things that no other diesel hatchback can match.... And still come back for more  V8 Sherpa public order vans too 
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Ray Luxury-Yacht
6,374 posts
85 months
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brenflys777 said: This is a little less serious for this section, but as ex-plod I wondered if there was any consensus for best Police car in the UK, not necessarily the fastesthe fastest but the best at what it had to do. I've seen the Imprezas and EVO's etc on TV but as I have been put offf buying either buy the servicing requirements etc I'm not sure if they live up to the hype.
Where I worked it was urban and late 90's so the Mondeo Si was loved for handling, the Vectra Sri for the engine ( and nothing else ;-) ) and I had a particular affinity for the Maestro TD's huge tyres which made speed bumps a doodle :-), the 827 traffic cars were limp and none of our cars inspired me like the sight of the Capri 2.8i's and SD1 V8 jam bitty cars of the Manchester of my youth - any suggestions? I was watching an episode of 'Interceptors' recently, and the bearing that holds the propshaft input into the rear diff collapsed with pretty exciting results on one of their 'Evo's'. I was quite shocked! What about the Skoda Octavia VRS's - any BIB care to share their experiences with these??
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Furry Exocet
1,867 posts
50 months
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Focus ST for me, still going at 154k and when you lift off the throttle is pops out the exhaust! Awesome sound 
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davemac250
4,203 posts
74 months
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+1 for the v8 Sherpa.
The merc that replaced it is pants in comparison.
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davepoth
19,878 posts
68 months
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Elroy Blue
5,678 posts
61 months
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1. Vx Senator. No electronic trickery. Great machine
2. Vx Omega. Just went on and on.
3. Octavia Vrs. Just don't break.
The Bmws, Audis and Jags are ok. But they just don't have the 'soul'
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wildcat45
2,537 posts
58 months
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I was having this very conversation recently with a guy I know who is an ex traffic cop. Fascinating chat over a beer.
When he started the job in I guess the70s they ad just got rid of MGB patrol cars. His last experience of a patrol car was the last model V70 T5.
The best traffic car was the 1990s Senator or so he thought. Did everything you needed a patrol car to do including the intimidating front end.
Volvo 850 T5s came a close second.
Apparently old school Range Rovers were great motorway and bad weather cars but not great for a chase.
Rover 800 brakes caught fire. So much so that he called the fire service out to an RTC or RTA as it was back then for his Rover because the brakes started to smoulder.
I can't remember exactly but SD1s had some sort of issue Though he only drove them on test as his force had Granadas.
He drove Sierra Cosworths and a Northumbria Escort Cosworth which were great but not his forces car. They had them on test.
V70 T5s were not good with speed humps at speed and were "light nosed"
But the Senator was king. I don't think he is on PH, but I will tell him about this thread and see if he has anything to add
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1a35
381 posts
77 months
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mrmr96
11,924 posts
73 months
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Are we counting real police cars, or promo police cars? For real ones, there's not much on 4 wheels that will get away from these:  For mock up ones, there's loads to choose from, but this is my favourite: 
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Little Lofty
286 posts
20 months
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The Northumbria Police Escort Cosworths are probably the best I can remember.
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kwk
380 posts
47 months
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I always liked the original 850 T5's.
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poljot
24 posts
30 months
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Evening all.
1. 24v Senator. The King.
2. MV6 Omega, close to being the best, didn't look as scary in rear view mirrors!
3. 4x4 Sierra
4. XJ6 PS (great presence, back in the day..... only ever used on our bit of track, so corners weren't a worry!).
5. Toyota Land Cruiser. Unbreakable, comfy, imposing...and fast enough too.
827s were tremendously fast things....in a straight line, in the dry. The engine was like a sewing machine from tickover to the redline, and beyond...zero cred tho.
Sierra Cossies were OK, as were 2.8 Granadas (hatch variety, the 3-box ones in our force were carb ones with no PAS....). 850 T5s were good too, but I never really liked FWD for Traffic duties.
The worst?
1. Discover TDi....auto!! Really!.....Fleet specced an automatic because of its better mpg figures.
2. Granada 2.9 4x4. Slug on wheels.
3. Senator Mk. I. Softly-sprung barge and inadequately braked for a 150mph motor.
4. Rover SD1 2.6. A new engine every 3 months or so.....
5. Talbot Tagora.....fortunately, only ever as a trial...but WHAT were Fleet thinking...??
Pete
(fondly reminiscing....)
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YesItsAVW
1,583 posts
34 months
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davepoth said: Every time I watch that I'm amazed all over again. Fantastic effort.
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cj_eds
1,567 posts
90 months
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kwk said: I always liked the original 850 T5's. +1. Seeing the estates being thrown around on Police Camera Action like they were in a 90's BTCC race was great viewing!
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Pontoneer
2,550 posts
55 months
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1a35 said: Puts me in mind of this ( of which I still have one )  I also liked these ( sadly this one is no longer around ) 
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PiloteHuitNeuf
123 posts
97 months
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Jw Vw
4,024 posts
32 months
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PiloteHuitNeuf said: 
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