police car - READ ONLY

24 messages, Last post on Jun 13, 2004 at 1:04 PM

You are in the Future Vehicles - Archived Discussions Forum. Your Host is kirstie_h

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost? Ask the Future Vehicles Host for Directions! discussion.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler, Dodge, Ford Crown Victoria, Sedan

Outline

Messages Page 3 of 3: 1; 2; 3; Prev; Next; Last

#15 of 24 Yeah by jchan2 Jan 12, 2004 (4:22 pm)
good thinking. Does Chrysler plan to sell the 300C with fleet discounts? Ford won't sell the Five-Hundred with discounts.
#16 of 24 I know a guy... by andre1969 Feb 02, 2004 (6:33 am)
who's a cop in the next county over from me, in Maryland, and he said they have an order in for 60 Dodge Magnums for police duty. Right now, he drives a 2004 Intrepid police cruiser. He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala. Here's some test results I found awhile back, from a Michigan State Police test: 0-60 Intrepid: 9.14 seconds Crown Vic: 9.14 seconds Impala: 9.25 seconds 0-100 Intrepid: 24.80 seconds Crown Vic: 25.58 seconds Impala: 26.73 seconds Top Speed: Intrepid: 136 mph Crown Vic: 128 mph Impala: 126 mph There's also a road course that the MSP puts the cars thought, a 2 mile course that has hills, curves, and corners, and except for the absence of traffic, is supposed to simulate actual pursuit conditions. Here are the times from that test: Crown Vic: 1:41.65 Intrepid: 1:42.07 Impala: 1:44.25 So while the Intrepid might be better in acceleration and speed, the Crown Vic seems to handle better. So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle! It'll be interesting to see how the Magnum changes this picture.
#17 of 24 Police by ateixeira Feb 02, 2004 (7:39 am)
Fleet cars have to meet the practical needs first. The Crown Vic outsells the rest because it has RWD, a wide interior, and is easy to work on. Magnum is RWD, but I doubt the interior has as much room. Also, it has some Mercedes bits (suspension), so let's see how simple it is to maintain, not to mention the cost of replacement parts. -juice
#18 of 24 Yeah... by andre1969 Feb 02, 2004 (8:43 am)
I have a feeling that the Mercedes components are going to be the Achilles heel of the Dodge Enforcer (which is what I think the police version is going to be called). Even if they are durable, the expense is still going to be a killer! As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two, front legroom is a fraction of an inch, and just going by feel (and not "official" measurements), the Intrepid actually has a bigger back seat! At least, it's the only one of the three where my knees don't touch the seatback. Size won't be a problem for the Magnum. After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years.
#19 of 24 by ateixeira Feb 02, 2004 (8:51 am)
Intrepid didn't have enough head room for me, and the door shape meant you had to duck getting in and out. I wonder how many criminals bumped their heads on the way in, hand-cuffed. -juice
#20 of 24 Probably plenty... by andre1969 Feb 02, 2004 (10:31 am)
because the cops will make sure to shove you into the door frame! Actually, I've never had a problem with banging my head on my '00 Intrepid, and I'm 6'3". I did groin myself once, though, on the trailing edge of the rear door... And FWIW, especially given its size, the Crown Vic isn't that easy to get in and out of. The rear doors have a small opening, and up front the dashboard juts out, similar to the "dogleg" that old Ford and GM cars with wraparound windshields had. Of course, all of 'em are going to have compromises. What works for one cop may not work for another.
#21 of 24 If I were a cop by jchan2 Mar 06, 2004 (11:03 am)
I'd pick the Magnum. a HEMI for work!
#22 of 24 Dodge is the most common patrol car here by mrnimmo Jun 13, 2004 (1:42 am)
in Arizona. It seems everyone drives a Dodge truck... or a jeep. >He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala. Nuts, even the Michigan test doesn't indicate the Intrepid blows away anything. I've driven them all at the largest police academy in the world. Neither of the FWD's (Impala and Intrepid) were close to speed and halding of the Crown Vic, which didn't handle nearly as well as the old Caprice. This is not the same as saying that Dodge isn't practicably just as fast. There aren't many areas where you can go as fast as any of these cars will go. In Michigan, I'm sure that FWD is favored for the winter traction. A slight decrease in handling may be more than offset by snow traction. >So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle! Right, within reason of course. I've also found that the old style Dodge vans are surprisingly agile. They will go very, very fast. I really have never been a Dodge or GM guy, but the Dodge's in particular have caught my attention. Many of these vehicles have lots of hard miles on them and are still good vehicles. >As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two, Take a tape measure and measure it yourself. The measured amounts are per rear pasenger, so a few inches per passenger means the CV has 9-12 inches more width. It really adds up when you're trying to stuff three bikers in the back. Also, police cars usually have cages. Cutting a few inches out for the cage and the CV still has some useable room. Most other cars do not and the perp ends up sitting sideways. >After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years. Yes they did. And I was told that they were the absolute fastest. No doubt the new Dodge will be also.
#23 of 24 by johnclineii Jun 13, 2004 (2:40 am)
Rear shoulder room in a Crown Vic is 60.3 inches. The car is only 78.2 inches wide. So, if that first figure is per passenger, what are you doing, rolling the widows down and counting part of the great outdoors??? Seriously, there is very little more room in the backseat of a Vic than an Impala. And the commonly used figures are NOT per passenger... The NEW Dodge is RWD, has a V8 but is NOT body on frame. I doubt it has perceived gas tank problems, though.
#24 of 24 by nvbanker Jun 13, 2004 (1:04 pm)
I'd love to hit one at 70mph with a Crown Vic and find out