Here is an easy subject,,,

[me109g4]

So with the demise of the Crown Vic as the standard police patrol car what are departments buying as replacements?? Our local PD tried a Dodge, but the cost of maintaining it was beyond ridiculous, the front end is rubbish. So we just bought 2 Ford Taurus's with AWD and turbocharged.

So what is CHP, sherrifs and local buying for cars now and are they working out so far?

[mej16489]

Literally Taurus's or Ford's new Police Interceptor? http://www.ford.com/fordpoliceinterceptor/#

There was fairly comical head to head on the US version Top Gear comparing the Ford, Dodge and (I think Chevy) offerings. http://www.history.com/shows/top-gear

The episode: http://www.watchtopgearus.info/seaso...ode-1-cop-cars

[P5Ret]

Last time I went by the CHP academy it looked like they had stockpiled Crown Vics. Though it could have been old cars stripped down hard to tell from the freeway. I haven't seen too much different on the road, a few Chargers, and Tahoe's. The guys I have talked to didn't seem to think the Charger was much better than the Crown Vic's. I'm guessing that most places are holding off to see what the new Impala and whatever Ford decides to do are like.

[EDRanger]

CHP is going with the Ford Interceptor SUV (confirmed). Some Taurus's will be purchased for unmarked admin roll's such as the uppers driving them. Both metropolitan offices, rural offices and mountain offices will get the SUV. Doesn't matter if it's LA or Lake Tahoe you will see the SUV. It has to do with the GVWR's, no other test vehicle could handle the CHP's equipment and gear. No this is not a rumor, expect to start seeing them cycled in anywhere from January to late March 2013 depending on the budget.

[kermit315]

Down here they are switching to Tahoe's (and as much as I am a Ford guy, they look mean), and some Impala's for the unmarked cars and upper level guys. I did the fam course for the Tahoe's and they handle pretty well for something so top heavy, but you still have to know what you are doing. One of them got rolled by a fairly experienced deputy because he tried to drive it like a CV.

[Ron-Solo]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

[kermit315]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

haha. The LT that ran our academy told us stories about his. His favorite one (I know it was his favorite because he told us numerous times) was sitting on the Pensacola Bay Bridge when hurricane came in. When winds hit about 45 mph, he told us it was pushing the car across the traffic lanes while it was standing still due to the wet roads and nothing blocking it.

I think the winds were probably higher than 45, but hey, its his story.

[chsk9]

Transitioned to the Tahoe from CV for patrol. I like the visibility, but there are some big blind spots to deal with.

[emtmark]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

Never been in that position exactly but the visual man!!!! The visual is fawsome!!!!!!

[SVT-40]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

Yup, they called them "Nascar" Nova's. The best brakes on a police car ever!! In pursuits you learn it's not the accelerator which wins pursuits, it's brakes.

Here's your truly circa 1978 beside my trusty Nova!!! No comments about the tinted glasses and mustache!!!!

[Ron-Solo]

That brings back memories! Good ones too!

SVT, can't make out the seal or patch. Almost looks like Glendora PD.

[Ron-Solo]

Never been in that position exactly but the visual man!!!! The visual is fawsome!!!!!!

I remember being in a fight with three suspects at about 0300 in the middle of the intersection of Norwalk Bl and 215th Street right on the border of Hawaiian Gardens and East Lakewood. I was by myself and this was before handheld radios. I was still on my feet, but the tide was turning against me and it was going to get very ugly, real fast. I heard the radio blast "Attention Lakewood Units, citizen advised of a deputy involved in a fight with multiple suspects, 215 and Norwalk. Units Code 3 in one or less?". At that point, I could hear the sirens firing up in the distance and the 4 barrels sucking in air. It was motivation to keep going.....

It started off as a possible DUI stop, but I had already decided the driver wasn't DUI and I was getting ready to send him on his way when the male and female passengers, both drunk, decided he needed to be rescued. Dirtbags are hard to subdue 3 on 1.

[TRICKSTER]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

The Matador with the 401 C.I. The Nova was too light in the rear end. I actually knew a few guys that would place bags of sand or concrete in the trunk to weigh it down.

[5shot]

76-78 Nova all the way......

Nothing like the sound of a 350 C.I. With a 4 barrel carb coming out of light speed when your fighting with some turd......

Best cop car ever. Went thru Satelite's, Coronet's, Matador's, Malibu's, Grand Torino's. None of them handled and took corners like the Nova's.

[cacop]

For now we picked up some of the last CVs and are waiting to see what happens with the CHP. From what I have seen of the choice the Ford Explorer looks to be the best. IT reminds me of a Blazer we had back when I started. I actually liked that one because it kept you just a little higher off the ground but not too high.