How much are police cars modified?

[Lauross]

I was having an arguement with my mate before, him saying that they aren't modified and me saying that they are. Any of the bib here care to enlighten? Thanks

[vonhosen]

Lauross said:

I was having an arguement with my mate before, him saying that they aren't modified and me saying that they are. Any of the bib here care to enlighten? Thanks

What sort of mods were you thinking of ?

Of course there are some, they fit blue lights etc, but if you were thinking mechanically, then not really.

[Lauross]

Yes mechanically, such as engine tuning and suspension.

[vonhosen]

Lauross said:

Yes mechanically, such as engine tuning and suspension.

Well your friend is more right than you then, because invariably they aren't.

[Stu R]

aside of higher output battery and alternators, and occasionally sports brakes and suspension, no, not tinkered with generally.

[biker boy]

Any time i see a ex police skoda up for sale its 225 brake wich means they have been chipped

[Silent1]

Police cars aren't modified! They spend too much time out and about for the engines to be more stressed

[sadako]

Apparently Police Imprezas had Prodrive long travel suspension fitted so they could do 70 over speedbumps, but not much else.

[Silent1]

frazer guest said:

Also the bib Omegas used to run a 3.2 block, whilst the largest capacity a regular punter could buy was a 3.0. They had, in the main, different part numbers for many of the parts as well, compared to regualar Vauxhalls.

You could get the 3.2, only in auto, the police got a manual and an LSD

[streaky]

It appears (http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=450741 ) that, more than other forces, North Wales police do modify their cars - Streaky

[DBSV8]

2 LITRE ...........coffee thermos holder

Donut ring ...Holder

[wolf1]

frazer guest said:

Also the bib Omegas used to run a 3.2 block, whilst the largest capacity a regular punter could buy was a 3.0. They had, in the main, different part numbers for many of the parts as well, compared to regualar Vauxhalls.

Sorry your wrong on the info regarding the 3.2 . The MV6 omega was originally a 3.0 and then changed to 3.2 as well as the elite model which also came with a 3.2 . All of which could be purchased by joe public just walking into a dealership and buying one.

[Deltaf01]

They are modified.
Sump guards, higher boost pressures on the turbos (3rd gear wheelspin in an 850 t5 auto anyone?) etc.

[WeirdNeville]

Standard plod cars aren't modified beyond better brake fluid and all the flashing bits.
As for traffic specials... who knows?

[grumbledoak]

frazer guest said:

Aren't spped limiters removed?

I once sold a car to an ex traf-pol sarge, who told me he had a verified 168mph out of a Volvo T5, and had seen 160+ in BMWs, (supposedly limited to 155).

The original BMW 'limited to 155' claim was a marketing gimmick. The car was only physically capable of 155mph. Unsure how 'limited' current ones really are.

My guess would be, in a cost-centric world, that normal police cars are box-standard barring the colours and lights. TrafPol will get faster cars, like the T5, but very few will be modified for performance, if any. It is very rare that they are racing supercars up a clear motorway...

Edited by grumbledoak on Monday 5th November 11:37

[Munter]

frazer guest said:

wolf1 said:

frazer guest said:

Also the bib Omegas used to run a 3.2 block, whilst the largest capacity a regular punter could buy was a 3.0. They had, in the main, different part numbers for many of the parts as well, compared to regualar Vauxhalls.

Sorry your wrong on the info regarding the 3.2 . The MV6 omega was originally a 3.0 and then changed to 3.2 as well as the elite model which also came with a 3.2 . All of which could be purchased by joe public just walking into a dealership and buying one.

Where abouts on the price list was the 3.2 GLS then???????????

It probably wasn't. But I drove a 3.2 Elite (Auto). When they had the face lift the engine sizes changed as well. Went from 2.0 and 3.0 to 2.2 and 3.2 I think.

[tigger1]

sadako said:

Apparently Police Imprezas had Prodrive long travel suspension fitted so they could do 70 over speedbumps, but not much else.

I'm sure this was the case for Humberside police.

[Mr E]

sadako said:

Apparently Police Imprezas had Prodrive long travel suspension fitted so they could do 70 over speedbumps, but not much else.

And group N sumpguards.

[somouk]

Our local volvo undercover car has been remapped and is a real beast. None of the other traffic cars have been fettled though.

Mart

[thehappyotter]

frazer guest said:

I perfectly understand what you are saying, but I know for a fact that the police Vauxhalls use different part numbers to the regualr punter spec ones. This would suggest to me that the vehicles are a different spec as standerd, as well as the fact that they used to be 3.2 GLS's, which was not a vehicle on the ordinary price list.

I'd suspect that the vehicles come from the factory with speed limiters removed, chipped, uprated brake pads, and uprated suspension bushes and springs / dampers.

Do the armed response vehicles have a certain level of balistic protection?

You're correct. If you look in the handbook of a police Volvo they are not SE or SE Sport spec or whatever they are listed as 'V70 T5 Police Specification'.

They have D5 front suspension, self levelling rear suspension, bigger brake discs and pads developed for police use. They also have a bigger battery & alternator and extra wiring gubbins for the lights and equipment.

There are claims the chassis is slightly reinforced to cope with the day to day beating they get.

Volvo has it's own special vehicle division which develop and produce their police cars and ambulances etc. They're not bog standard.

A panda will be pretty much bog standard and I can't help with other models as our Volvo is the only Grade 1 car we have at our nick.