MSP Police Car Testing

[Raza]

Hey, Cat, have you seen anything on police Durangoes (the new model).  I saw two from Ewing cops with marked Durangoes.  

[Catman]

Hey, Cat, have you seen anything on police Durangoes (the new model).  I saw two from Ewing cops with marked Durangoes.

Surprisingly, Dodge doesn't list the Durango as an LE vehicle.  Just the Charger, Magnum and Sprinter van. :blink:  So I don't know.

[TurboDan]

I've seen the new Durango model being used by Police as well.  Looks pretty good, actually.

[Catman]

Not bad.

[JYODER240]

Seems like the 3.5 stacks up pretty well.  The 0-60 is more or less comparable to the CVPI, but it has a better top speed and better braking distance as well.  The HEMI really isn't necessary for most local PDs, but the 3.5 looks (from the numbers) that it will be a worthy competitor, provided that reliability is decent.

How does it compare as far as room/storage goes?  It has to have more than the Impala, at least!

The new Impala is actually pretty roomy (FWD though).  The Charger is slightly smaller up front but the rear seat is even worse than the CV with the low roofline hindering access.

i dont think rear seat comfort is a big priority    

[BMWDave]

Seems like the 3.5 stacks up pretty well.? The 0-60 is more or less comparable to the CVPI, but it has a better top speed and better braking distance as well.? The HEMI really isn't necessary for most local PDs, but the 3.5 looks (from the numbers) that it will be a worthy competitor, provided that reliability is decent.

How does it compare as far as room/storage goes?? It has to have more than the Impala, at least!

The new Impala is actually pretty roomy (FWD though).  The Charger is slightly smaller up front but the rear seat is even worse than the CV with the low roofline hindering access.

i dont think rear seat comfort is a big priority  

" Get in the car!"

"owwww!"

"Oh, watch your head!"

[Raghavan]

Seems like the 3.5 stacks up pretty well.? The 0-60 is more or less comparable to the CVPI, but it has a better top speed and better braking distance as well.? The HEMI really isn't necessary for most local PDs, but the 3.5 looks (from the numbers) that it will be a worthy competitor, provided that reliability is decent.

How does it compare as far as room/storage goes?? It has to have more than the Impala, at least!

The new Impala is actually pretty roomy (FWD though).  The Charger is slightly smaller up front but the rear seat is even worse than the CV with the low roofline hindering access.

i dont think rear seat comfort is a big priority  

Yeah, why would anyone worry aboot criminals comfort?

[TBR]

But entry is and that is a major problem with the Charger. That is part of the reason I think the Magnum would make a better cop car.

[Raghavan]

But entry is and that is a major problem with the Charger. That is part of the reason I think the Magnum would make a better cop car.

The magnum's rear seats aren't any better.

[BMWDave]

But entry is and that is a major problem with the Charger. That is part of the reason I think the Magnum would make a better cop car.

The magnum's rear seats aren't any better.

Entry and egress to the car is better.

[TBR]

Exactly, the Magnum obviously doesn't have a coupe like roofline as the Charger does.

[Catman]

Exactly, the Magnum obviously doesn't have a coupe like roofline as the Charger does.

I agree.  Comfort isn't the issue, but getting someone in there without delay is.  I don't want to fool around trying to "assist" someone in there.  Having to grab someones feet to get them in will get you kicked on occasion.

[Andrewsky]

Hey, Catman, was it you I saw on "Cops" last night?  

[thewizard16]

The Charger Hemi is much faster, so I'm assuming it will also be much more expensive, won't it?

[thewizard16]

I've seen the new Durango model being used by Police as well.  Looks pretty good, actually.

I saw an older (mid 90s) Caprice Wagon cop car in some little town I was driving through yesterday.  :blink:  The departments here and the departments in Mountain Home both use Expeditions and Explorers for their SUV models. The normal cars are a mix of Impalas, Crown Vics, and Intrepids. The only unusual vehicles are the Sherrif has a Firebird, and the State Trooper has a Camaro.  

[TBR]

Other than the K9 unit (an Expedition) our department uses only CVPIs. The State Troopers do use some F-150s but most of their vehicles are also CVPIs.  

[Catman]

If cruisers do get much smaller I think the wise thing to do would be to remove the front passenger seat.  With the seat gone you can install a desk of sorts with plenty of storage, gun racks, laptop and medical supplies, etc.  I think many departments will utilize a van for transporting as the new cars are getting to tight with the cage installed.

[Raza]

Newtown cops are moving to Impalas.  They recently got some new ones added to their fleet.  

My locals still stick with Yukons and Tahoes, though. One Grand Marquis and one Impala, both unmarked, as well.

[Andrewsky]

They use all kinds of unmarked cars here.  I once saw a silver two door Grand Prix pull some one over on the freeway.

[thewizard16]

They use all kinds of unmarked cars here.  I once saw a silver two door Grand Prix pull some one over on the freeway.

Our unmarked cars are normally pretty obvious. A black or silver Crown vic. However when they throw in an unmarked navy Impala (sherriff) that messes with me, because Impalas are far more common as normal people's cars than Crown Vics.  

[ciciusss]

The Charger Hemi is much faster, so I'm assuming it will also be much more expensive, won't it?

The hemi equipped Charger will be more expensive, but not by as much as some might think. The agencies who sent representatives to the MPS testing were impressed with the hemi equipped Charger and Magnum. Catman, if you see this I am sending you a PM.

[J86]

My town wont have the budget for those bad boys (thank god) as well as not too many roads to wring them out on.

[thewizard16]

My town wont have the budget for those bad boys (thank god) as well as not too many roads to wring them out on.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Mountain Home department get one. Or more. They'd more than certainly get into accidents with them though. They have a couple people that seem to be exceptionally good at getting into accidents.

[280Z Turbo]

They use all kinds of unmarked cars here.  I once saw a silver two door Grand Prix pull some one over on the freeway.

How would someone know whether or not they are impersonating an officer or not?

[J86]

My town wont have the budget for those bad boys (thank god) as well as not too many roads to wring them out on.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Mountain Home department get one. Or more. They'd more than certainly get into accidents with them though. They have a couple people that seem to be exceptionally good at getting into accidents.

fortunately i got no mountains where i live!!  Highest bit of land in the state is the landfill...

[The Bartender]

Seems like the 3.5 stacks up pretty well.  The 0-60 is more or less comparable to the CVPI, but it has a better top speed and better braking distance as well.  The HEMI really isn't necessary for most local PDs, but the 3.5 looks (from the numbers) that it will be a worthy competitor, provided that reliability is decent.

How does it compare as far as room/storage goes?  It has to have more than the Impala, at least!

The new Impala is actually pretty roomy (FWD though).  The Charger is slightly smaller up front but the rear seat is even worse than the CV with the low roofline hindering access.

That's an observation I had when talking about the new RWD ChryCo cars with my father.  The interior room is on the tight side, and front seat room especially so, when you factor in a 200+ lb officer with gun belt and vest on, plus a center row of radios and other other equipment.

The Crown Vic has a good amount of room, even if the performance is lacking, so many agencies will continue to use them.

Catman: I get the sense from what you said, and what I have heard from Dodge people, that they don't really want to sell the Charger as a police car as long as it is selling well for retail use.  Why sell at fleet level profits if you are making good money on retail sales?