Spotting new police cars.

[sparkplug]

Imagine getting pulled over by one of the Smart cars.  It would be like getting your ass kicked by a 98-pound weakling.

almost as bad as getting pulled by a policeman in a golf cart.

[Madman]

almost as bad as getting pulled by a policeman in a golf cart.

Or, even worse, a cop in spandex shorts riding a bicycle!

9:00 minutes into the video.


USA Muscle Car road trip pt 1: Drag racing in Reno - Top Gear - BBC

[sparkplug]

Or, even worse, a cop in spandex shorts riding a bicycle!

9:00 minutes into the video.


USA Muscle Car road trip pt 1: Drag racing in Reno - Top Gear - BBC

well, ok.. that's sounds worse... how about a policeman being pulled along on a handcart.

[Mustangfan2003]

So it seems that the local Sheriff's Department has got a new Explorer and Taurus.  From my understand they are both AWD non turbo cars.  Both in black and white like the current Crown Vics. 

[93JC]

Finally starting to see Calgary Police Service cruisers in the new cheeseball black-and-white scheme.






I still say they should have gone with loud neon green, orange and blue stripes one sees on British police cars.

[MX793]

I've yet to see any of the new Ford police vehicles.  I've seen a Caprice and a couple new Chargers.

[Catman]

That cruiser needs more maple leaves on it.

[93JC]

You're not satisfied with 46?

[Catman]

You're not satisfied with 46?

44 would have been better.  The one's on the gas station really add to the monotony.    I'm surprised the clouds in the sky aren't shaped like maple leaves too.

[Catman]

Here's our new one.  Hopefully better pics soon.  It's a 6.0L.

[bing_oh]

Here's our new one.  Hopefully better pics soon.  It's a 6.0L.

New Chevy, huh? What's the verdict so far? Ar they as powerful as the early reports said? How about interior room?

We're stuck with one of each of the new Fords and nobody's impressed around out PD at this point. Guys have said they they want to try out a Charger, but our chief is uninterested.

[Catman]

Here's a better pic. If I was working this week I'd have better pics.  Damn clowns.



Bing, the new Interceptor Sedan is lousy.  For such a large car the lack of usable interior space is ridiculous.  The front doors don't open wide enough either.  The town I live in bought a couple and they really suck.

So far, the guys love the Caprice.  Lots of power and plenty of room inside.

[bing_oh]

Here's a better pic. If I was working this week I'd have better pics.  Damn clowns.



Bing, the new Interceptor Sedan is lousy.  For such a large car the lack of usable interior space is ridiculous.  The front doors don't open wide enough either.  The town I live in bought a couple and they really suck.

So far, the guys love the Caprice.  Lots of power and plenty of room inside.

Agree about the Taurus (I won't call it the "Interceptor sedan"...no matter how loud Ford yells that it's not a Taurus, it's a Taurus). The smallest guy on our department is currently assigned to ours and even he says that it's cramped. Putting one of us bigger guys in it is a joke...it's like a contortionist trying to get in and out of a straight jacket.

Glad to hear the the Caprice is better. I have yet to see one in the flesh, let alone actually drive one. For whatever reason, they just havn't hit my area.

[93JC]

44 would have been better.  The one's on the gas station really add to the monotony.    I'm surprised the clouds in the sky aren't shaped like maple leaves too.

Funny thing is those sorts of maples aren't even native to Alberta.

[Laconian]

The Taurus is cramped? Is it due to polizei doodads or is the original sedan just that bad? The car is absolutely enormous on the outside.

[Catman]

It's pretty bad man.

[93JC]

Tauruses aren't very roomy to begin with, even though they're enormous on the outside. I'm sure the police gear just exasperates the problem.

[Laconian]

Tauruses aren't very roomy to begin with, even though they're enormous on the outside. I'm sure the police gear just exasperates the problem.

If by gear, you mean cellulite...

[Catman]

The angle of the dash intrudes terribly into the center console area. I will post some pics later to show you.

[93JC]

If by gear, you mean cellulite...

I was going to make mention of doughnuts donuts and other such police food but I thought whatever I had to say was better left unsaid.

[Catman]

This is what the Taurus looks like with a regular laptop in it.

[Laconian]

Oh lawd, that's awful!

God, I can't wait until we're past this Uhhmerican BRASH AND BOLD  styling phase and can get back to cars with livable beltlines and svelter interiors.

[Catman]

Yup there's no reason for that dash to come out so intrusively. They actually trimmed it back on the police version but it doesn't help much. The whole center stack needs to be chopped off.

[bing_oh]

The Taurus is cramped? Is it due to polizei doodads or is the original sedan just that bad? The car is absolutely enormous on the outside.

The gear does make things worse (and cellulite isn't gear...that's "junk"), but the design is bad from the start. First time I sat in one, I thought that the seats were designed with the ass of a 12 year old girl in mind and you have to twist yourself into a fetal position to get into the car without smacking your head on the door frame. That's not even getting into the size of the back doors (barely big enough to put a cooperate person in handcuffs in, let alone somebody who doesn't want to go for a ride) and the trunk (goes about 80 feet into the car but it's only a foot deep, meaning you have to take everything out if you want what's in the back...and the think you need is always in the back!).

[Raza]

Saw one of the new Taurus cop cars the other day.  Pulling someone over.  Tax dollars well spent.

[dazzleman]

My town went with the Interceptor.

http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2013/02/23/fairfield/news/doc512504ad7b6c5793490218.txt

New wheels for the Fairfield Police Department

Published: Saturday, February 23, 2013

By Rich Pittera

The search has lasted for nearly two years, but the Fairfield Police Department has finally solved the case. No, I'm not talking about a criminal case, but rather how to replace the fleet of police cars that serve as mobile offices to the men and women who protect our streets.

Ever since April of 2011, when the Ford Motor Company ended their production of the Crown Victoria, the most widely used police vehicle in the United States, police departments from across the country have been seeking a replacement.

The answer for Fairfield came with Ford's unveiling of a new police line, the Interceptor, which comes both as a sedan and utility vehicle.

"Ford ending their production of Crown Vics left us left us scrambling to find an answer," Fairfield Police Lt. James Perez said. "It's a relief to finally have a solution."

Fairfield has already purchased eight Interceptors (four sedans, four utility vehicles) adding to a fleet of 61 vehicles total (includes trucks and a police tank acquired from Trumbull last year). The fleet of marked police cars include eight Crown Victoria's purchased from Texas in 2012, two Chevy Tahoe's used by the crash investigation officers, two Ford Explorers used by the assigned officers at Ludlowe and Warde High School, and one Ford Expedition that is used by the town Marine Unit.

Although the 2013 3.5-liter V6 engines inside the Interceptors are slightly smaller than the 4.6-liter V8 Crown Victoria's, they put out 290 horse power, a 45 percent increase. They also feature all-wheel drive, compared to the Victoria's rear-wheel drive. Both the sedan and utility vehicle are designed so that parts, including tires, brakes and computer equipment, are all interchangeable.

"Right now we have so many different parts from different brands of car," Perez said. "The new cars all have the same size parts and will give us the ability interchange those parts between the sedan and utility vehicles. It will stream line our vehicle fleet and make maintenance more economical."

The Interceptor's body style looks similar to the Ford Taurus, but the specs are one of a kind. Replacing the 1979 technology used in the Crown Victoria, Ford put together a panel of police officers and engineers designing the Interceptor specifically for police use from the ground up. In fact, according to a Ford sales rep, the interceptor has more technology inside of it than the first two space shuttles.

"The vehicle is more in tuned with the driver, minimizing driving error," Perez said.

Some of the technologies in the new cars include a special transmission and engine computer that works with the all-wheel drive system making loss of control nearly impossible. This helps to eliminate human error, preventing spin outs, roll overs and crashes. The brakes are also 60 percent larger than the Crown Victoria's giving police the ability to stop on a dime.

When blizzard Nemo struck, dumping 35 inches of snow onto Fairfield streets, the Interceptors ran with no problems. Meanwhile, the Crown Victoria cars had to have chains put on the tires and could not surpass 30 MPH.

"The car has performed to its expectation," Perez said. "Fairfield has all types of terrain, winding roads and steep hills. With New England weather, it's important that we have a car that will allow our officers to respond to emergencies quickly and safely."

However, the new cars come with a price tag. When fully equipped, each car will cost $32,000. In the search for a new car, the department tested other police models that included the Chevy Caprice and Dodge Charger. Fairfield's department, who utilizes their own garage and mechanic, decided that the best choice was the Interceptor, both for mechanical and financial purposes.

"Out of the three choices we realized that Ford was the better value for the work we do," Perez said.

In the past, the police department was given an annual budget for twelve new cars. With the poor economy, that number of has shrunk to around ten new purchases each year.

"It's important to realize that police cars are not like normal vehicles," Perez said. "They operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They are put through an enormous amount of work and take a toll over the years."

When the life span of a police vehicle is concluded, the cars are stripped down and given a 120-point inspection by the department's mechanic. They are then handed over to other town agencies such as the Fairfield Department of Public Works and the Building Inspection Department for their use.

[MX793]

Why does the Fairfield, CT PD need a tank?

[dazzleman]

Why does the Fairfield, CT PD need a tank?

I have no idea.

[dazzleman]

[MX793]

I have no idea.

Apparently you well-to-dos are seriously afraid of those torch-and-pitchfork wielding 99%ers.