2006 Dodge Charger Police Car: A Test Drive!

[Raza]

I believe he actually prefers the VW...

I do prefer the Volkswagen.

[Atomic]

If I remember correctly the Albany Police Dept. has a Charger. It's pretty sweet looking.

albany, ny?

[The Pirate]

albany, ny?

Yep, my brother goes to school at SUNY Albany, I saw one when I was up visiting him recently.

[Atomic]

Yep, my brother goes to school at SUNY Albany, I saw one when I was up visiting him recently.

cool! great school.

rumor has it that nys will replace their ford crown victoria interceptors with dodge hemi v8 chargers and either 6 or 8 cylinder magnums. however, i have yet to receive confirmation. i am seeing plenty of dodge ram pick-ups.

any news, catman? others?

[Catman]

cool! great school.

rumor has it that nys will replace their ford crown victoria interceptors with dodge hemi v8 chargers and either 6 or 8 cylinder magnums. however, i have yet to receive confirmation. i am seeing plenty of dodge ram pick-ups.

any news, catman? others?

There will be no news from my department until after Oct town meeting.

[The Pirate]

cool! great school.

rumor has it that nys will replace their ford crown victoria interceptors with dodge hemi v8 chargers and either 6 or 8 cylinder magnums. however, i have yet to receive confirmation. i am seeing plenty of dodge ram pick-ups.

any news, catman? others?

Most of the troopers around here drive Tahoes and the occasional Expedition, if it were me, I would rather be in the Charger or Magnum.  The sheriffs around here always had some Crown Vics, a good number of Tahoes, and every now then a Ford SuperDuty truck thrown in the mix.  Although, just between today and yesterday, I've seen three new Impalas driven by the local deputies.  I must say that the new Impala looks quite nice with the dual exhaust and black steelies. 

[TBR]

Around here we just have CVs, F-150s, and an occassional K9 Explorer or Expedition.

[Raza]

At home, in my local PD, we have mostly Yukons and Tahoes.  A couple of unmarked Impalas (one green, one black) and one unmarked Grand Marquis (gold).  In surrounding PDs, we have one Impala, marked, whose job is to patrol a few in-town streets for speeders, and mostly CVs.  Another one has Explorers and CVs.

[93JC]

Calgary Police Service now has Charger cruisers to complement their Crown Victoria Police Interceptors and Chevrolet Impalas. I've seen two already.

Haven't seen the Impalas in a while though. Maybe they got rid of 'em.

[Catman]

Calgary Police Service now has Charger cruisers to complement their Crown Victoria Police Interceptors and Chevrolet Impalas. I've seen two already.

Haven't seen the Impalas in a while though. Maybe they got rid of 'em.

Most likely, they really aren't cutting it for most depts.  I went to Medford Police, MA one day on business and noticed they had some Impalas.  When I asked the Capt how they liked them he became enraged and was still yelling after I walked outside.

[dazzleman]

Most likely, they really aren't cutting it for most depts.? I went to Medford Police, MA one day on business and noticed they had some Impalas.? When I asked the Capt how they liked them he became enraged and was still yelling after I walked outside.

Do you know what their deficiencies are, Catman?

[Catman]

Do you know what their deficiencies are, Catman?

The list was long and he kept yelling so I really didn't catch it all.  It was like, "Growl growl growl transmission growl grown catalytic converter growl growl radiator growl growl growl front ends growl..............".

[TBR]

I imagine they are also quite a bit slower than the Fords and aren't any cheaper. I don't know why a PD would buy them.

[The Pirate]

The list was long and he kept yelling so I really didn't catch it all.  It was like, "Growl growl growl transmission growl grown catalytic converter growl growl radiator growl growl growl front ends growl..............".

Isn't being FWD historically an achilles heel for police vehicles?  Most of the police vehicles around here have an obvious dent in the front bumper from where the car jumped a curb or something.  I would think that the CV would deal with that scenario much better than any FWD vehicle, not to mention body on frame vs. unibody.  It will be interesting to see how the Charger holds up in that respect, as it's unibody.  It's definitely got bragging rights in a pursuit setting, but the police vehicles around here seem to be subjected to potholes, curbs, and off roading much more frequently than they see high speed duty.

[SVT_Power]

I'd just gotten my haircut (since I've been going to the same barbershop for nigh a decade, they let me stick around long if I'm running late) and? it was pretty late and I walked out to my Mercedes, saw the cop, and he startled me.? So I reached for the handle of my car and it didn't open, since I didn't unlock it.? I was just standing there, and the cop stopped his car and looked over at me, like he was going to get out of the car.? Then I hit unlock on the key, the hazards flashed, and I waved to him and got in.

Everyone around my car stares at me when I get into the car and drive. I know I don't look older than my age but in a month I'll be able to legally drive by myself...

[IrishGuy]

albany, ny?

As The Pirate said, yes.

[hounddog]

I imagine they are also quite a bit slower than the Fords and aren't any cheaper. I don't know why a PD would buy them.

Surprisingly enough, with the new 3.9l the Impala puts up some impressive numbers.  At least if you compare it to the CVPI.  It beats the ford in every acceleration tests, it gets to 110 and 120 in less distance by almost 3/10's of a mile quicker, and it has a top speed of 142 to Fords best of 128.  Plus they perform much better in the brake tests than the CVPI.   They seem to lack in the road course, where they end up trailing the CVPI and the Charger v6 by a couple seconds.  But, they are about $18,500 and get about 23mpg overall on patrol.   But overall, I agree, I can not see any reason for a department to buy one.  If you need economy buy the v6 Charger.

[Catman]

Surprisingly enough, with the new 3.9l the Impala puts up some impressive numbers.  At least if you compare it to the CVPI.  It beats the ford in every acceleration tests, it gets to 110 and 120 in less distance by almost 3/10's of a mile quicker, and it has a top speed of 142 to Fords best of 128.  Plus they perform much better in the brake tests than the CVPI.   They seem to lack in the road course, where they end up trailing the CVPI and the Charger v6 by a couple seconds.  But, they are about $18,500 and get about 23mpg overall on patrol.   But overall, I agree, I can not see any reason for a department to buy one.  If you need economy buy the v6 Charger.

Nice to see you here Hounddog!  We're probably getting a couple V6 Chargers for the traffic division.

[hounddog]

Nice to see you here Hounddog!? We're probably getting a couple V6 Chargers for the traffic division.

Thanks.  Been back in the hospital with mini stroke.  Doing better than last time!  I think you will like the v6's.  They are able to get to 110 and 120 in less distance than the CVPI.  I do not understand the physics behind acceleration, but the CVPI gets to those speeds faster, but in a biger space.  Somehow, the acceleration numbers are not always revealing of how fast the car really is.  Never will understand all that stuff!  I guess that expains why I said several months ago that it felt like the Charger v6 had more power.  I do have a question though, why does DC use the 2.87 gears in the v6 Charger, but they used the 3.55 in the Intrepid?  Would not the performance numbers be off the chart? 

[Catman]

Thanks.  Been back in the hospital with mini stroke.  Doing better than last time!  I think you will like the v6's.  They are able to get to 110 and 120 in less distance than the CVPI.  I do not understand the physics behind acceleration, but the CVPI gets to those speeds faster, but in a biger space.  Somehow, the acceleration numbers are not always revealing of how fast the car really is.  Never will understand all that stuff!  I guess that expains why I said several months ago that it felt like the Charger v6 had more power.  I do have a question though, why does DC use the 2.87 gears in the v6 Charger, but they used the 3.55 in the Intrepid?  Would not the performance numbers be off the chart? 

Good question on the gearing, not sure but perhaps it's related to fuel mileage? 

Glad to hear you feel better, take care of yourself!

[TheIntrepid]

There are a few cops around here with Intrepids with the same engine as mine  ... the High-Output version of the 3.5L(which is what I have) was only standard on the top-of-the-line Intrepids, and standard on 300Ms. A cop in an Intrepid saw mine and gave me the thumbs up once. :)

[The Pirate]

There are a few cops around here with Intrepids with the same engine as mine  ... the High-Output version of the 3.5L(which is what I have) was only standard on the top-of-the-line Intrepids, and standard on 300Ms. A cop in an Intrepid saw mine and gave me the thumbs up once. :)

How quick are the Intrepids with said HO engine?  The midlevel engine was a 3.2 I think?  I know the base was a 2.7 and rather gutless, but I drove one with the midlevel engine (3.2) and it was decent, but there was definite room for improvement.

[TheIntrepid]

In the 2nd Generation Intrepids, there was originally these  options

2.7 and 3.2...

Then in 2002 or 2003, the 3.2 was replaced with a 3.5... and in 2003 for sure they came out with a High-Output 3.5.

When it was killed in 2004, these were the 3 choices

Intrepid SE had a 2.7L - 190hp
Intrepid ES had a 3.5L - 234hp
Intrepid R/T and SXT had a 3.5L - 252hp (same engine that's now available in 300, Charger, Magnum, new Sebring, Pacifica, etc.)

I think it does 0-60 in 6.5...but mine has a chip and an aftermarket exhaust, so it has an extra 15-ish horsepower...

[The Pirate]

In the 2nd Generation Intrepids, there was originally these  options

2.7 and 3.2...

Then in 2002 or 2003, the 3.2 was replaced with a 3.5... and in 2003 for sure they came out with a High-Output 3.5.

When it was killed in 2004, these were the 3 choices

Intrepid SE had a 2.7L - 190hp
Intrepid ES had a 3.5L - 234hp
Intrepid R/T and SXT had a 3.5L - 252hp (same engine that's now available in 300, Charger, Magnum, new Sebring, Pacifica, etc.)

I think it does 0-60 in 6.5...but mine has a chip and an aftermarket exhaust, so it has an extra 15-ish horsepower...

Nice, can't argue with a 0 to 60 of less than 6.5 seconds from a full size sedan.  The R/T was a pretty sharp looking car, if only it had a proper transmission.

[Raza]

Intrepid was identical to the 300M, right? 

If that's true, there's no way you're looking at 6.5 seconds to 60.

[hounddog]

Intrepid was identical to the 300M, right??

If that's true, there's no way you're looking at 6.5 seconds to 60.

You are right, Raza.  I was at the September 2003 MSP tests, and it seems to me it put up 0-60 in the area of 7.5 ish.  Do not remember the exact numbers anymore, but it was in that area.  My wifes 330Cic convertible get 0-60 in 6.6, and that car is definately faster than the Intrepid.  But I have driven the Intrepid squad car with the 3.5HO and I will say I would rather have that over the CVPI, except for the brakes.  It rode, handled, had better accleration and top speed, had much more front seat room, but less headroom for me.  It was a fun car to drive.

[TheIntrepid]

Mine has the R/T engine and the AutoStick manumatic 4-spd transmission. The same engine was also the 3.5HO engine in the squad cars. AFTER chip and exhaust it can barely do 6.5 ..though I may be inaccurate...I got this number with a stopwatch and an empty patch of the 407ETR (for the Toronto members). 

Instead of 252hp, mine puts out 267 and it feels more powerful than my 268-hp Camry.

[Raza]

Mine has the R/T engine and the AutoStick manumatic 4-spd transmission. The same engine was also the 3.5HO engine in the squad cars. AFTER chip and exhaust it can barely do 6.5 ..though I may be inaccurate...I got this number with a stopwatch and an empty patch of the 407ETR (for the Toronto members). 

Instead of 252hp, mine puts out 267 and it feels more powerful than my 268-hp Camry.

Car and Driver got a 0-60 of around 8 seconds for the 300M.

15 horsepower isn't going to cut off a second and a half from 3700 pound sedan.

[Raza]

You are right, Raza.  I was at the September 2003 MSP tests, and it seems to me it put up 0-60 in the area of 7.5 ish.  Do not remember the exact numbers anymore, but it was in that area.  My wifes 330Cic convertible get 0-60 in 6.6, and that car is definately faster than the Intrepid.  But I have driven the Intrepid squad car with the 3.5HO and I will say I would rather have that over the CVPI, except for the brakes.  It rode, handled, had better accleration and top speed, had much more front seat room, but less headroom for me.  It was a fun car to drive.

I can imagine that the interior packaging was better than the Crown.  But why then, are PDs so angered by the Impala?

[93JC]

Front-drive, not as durable as the Crown Vic, not as easy to fix as the Crown Vic, more expensive on the whole than the Crown Vic.