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2005 and Earlier Chevrolet Impala
13618 messages, Last post on Mar 19, 2013 at 11:54 AM
You are in the Chevrolet Impala Forum.What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan
#12234 of 13618 2004 Impala SS / police Impala by charts2
Nov 06, 2003 (5:49 am)
...Times have changed for police vehicles.....what police officers want is more performance...what most cash strapped cities want today are police vehicles that are fuel efficient and low maintenance costs...95% of a police vehicles work is routine....not chasing someone at high speed. The police Impala and Intrepid are much more fuel efficient then the crown vic...but are more prone to expensive front suspension repairs....the Michigan state police testing for the 2004 police vehicles show that the Crown Vic, Impala and Intrepid run 0-60 in the 9.0-9.5 second range..as b4z states is correct.....example...the police impala has larger radiator, larger alterntor, larger brake pads, transaxle cooler, oil cooler etc....plus carries about 300 extra pounds....with heavier suspension, roof lights, prisoner cage, computer, radio equipment, and a trunk full of emergency equipment....the reason that most departments bid on the Impala and Intrepid is because they come in with a lower bid price and are more fuel efficient, then the crown vic....however recent surveys show that most police officers still prefer rear wheel drive....I do agree that a little more performance is necessary for the Impala for highway police use, a recent survey by Chevrolet revealed this.
#12235 of 13618 holden cars by charts2
Nov 06, 2003 (6:24 am)
....Importing cars from overseas is 1980's technology regardless of the UAW or CAFE etc.......GM is always following not leading. Honda, Toyota, Nissan, etc don't export many vehicles from Japan ....they developed their technology overseas, and build their top of the line cars in the USA...GM could do the same with their Holden division....they own it why not bring their technology to the USA...I wouldn't pay $4,000 freight costs to have a holden shipped 9000 miles. Holden uses the Corvette 5.7 that was developed in the USA....interesting.. Build Holdens here!! This is one reason Toyota USA car lines outsold all Ford and Chevrolet cars in July 2003...Look out Ford, GM and Daimler/Chrysler....smart thinking, light years ahead companies are taking advantage of your inability to compete....#12236 of 13618 charts2 by b4z
Nov 06, 2003 (8:23 am)
impala has not been proven to be a great cop car.Transaxle problems, etc.
Plus officers have to take suspect to front of car to cuff him.
Trunk area is too tall.
officers can't see back of car when backing due to no rear wing.
#12237 of 13618 To bz4 by jpstax
Nov 06, 2003 (9:12 am)
Thanks for the info. I did a search for the new GM 3900 (LZ8) motor in Yahoo and found this link:http://www.auto-report.net/index.html?gmpt05.html
I see the engine is normally aspirated, and GM estimates it will produce 240 horsepower, but only 245 foot-pounds of torque. Is that enough torque to propel an Impala to a 0-60 acceleration time equal to a supercharged 3800 Series II engine (~6.5 secs)? What about fuel efficiency?
#12238 of 13618 bz4 impala police by charts2
Nov 06, 2003 (10:20 am)
.....I have talked to a few officers in our city including my nephew who is a police officer, we have about 30% Impalas and the rest Crown Vics......some like them some don't......the 2000-2002 Police Impalas had week springs in the front and rear, since have been upgraded by Chevy. Our provincial police that patrol our busy highways in Ontario purchased 700 police Impalas in 2000, 2001 and 2002.....have since gone back to Crown Vics and a few Intrepids...most officers still prefer rear wheel drive and I believe the high front end maintenance costs outweigh the fuel savings for many departments.....I don't see any major changes coming for the current police Impala platform.....the car will be redesigned in less then two years when the 2006's come along...currently the Dodge Intrepid is cheaper then the Impala and many US departments have been purhasing a few of them....many large departments have recently purchased a mixture of Crown Vics and Impalas and or Intrepids....The Impala police or civilian versions also needs an under the hood light and stronger lighting in the trunk...my opinion......I like my 2001 LS but I can see where some changes were needed..
#12239 of 13618 Intrepid by b4z
Nov 29, 2002 (7:01 am)
has a huge backseat. So when the cage is added there is still sufficient legroom.#12240 of 13618 The best cop car by b4z
Nov 06, 2003 (10:26 am)
Was the '94-96 Chevy caprice.4100-4200lbs. 260 hp. 0-60 was less than 8 seconds. Considered by many to be the fastest cop car also.
Even faster than the Dodge and Plymouths of the early '70s with 440 engines.
Caprice had 50 more hp than the Crown Vic.
Was so popular that many Law Enforcement Agencies had the entire car rebuilt rather than buy a Crown Vic.
#12241 of 13618 More by b4z
Nov 06, 2003 (10:28 am)
Current Impala with 240 hp 3900 V6 would be quicker than old Caprice. 600 lbs lighter but only 20 less hp. A lot less torque, but gearing can make up for some of that.#12242 of 13618 impala/caprice police by charts2
Nov 06, 2003 (12:28 pm)
.....I agree the 94-96 Caprice 5.7 was an excellent police car....it had the interior size, comfort, and performance....but during the past few years police chases are becoming a thing of the past as liability costs mount....also so many cities today are more $$ wise with spending....there is a company that rebuilds the old Caprice police vehicles....they redo the engine and actually make it more powerful, replace the suspension, front seats, and other components that wear out......I believe it is about $8,000-$10,000 per vehicle, a lot cheaper then a new one...but they are now becoming dated where police departments are looking at the huge savings in fuel costs that smaller police vehicles offer...Crown vics have been plagued by the crash and burn problems with their exploding gas tanks....I believe that in the next few years Ford will bow out of the police market as they continue to be plagued by this negative news and mounting lawsuits....A perfect police vehicle would be a little larger then the current Impala with a v6 with another 40 to 50 hp...that is cheaper to operate then the current Crown Vic...#12243 of 13618 too bad... by rctennis3811
Nov 06, 2003 (4:39 pm)
i woulda liked to see Holdens here...even as Chevys or Pontiacs or whatever GM brand..hey, FORD is even using nicer things inside their new cars, why not GM!?!also, CHRYSLER and DODGE are now making nicer cars with help from MERCEDES-BENZ, just look at the new CHRYSLER 300C!
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