Would You Buy a Used CV Police Interceptor?

[TurboDan]

I love the logic that your kid will be a dumbass and will get into a wreck. 

Well, plenty do.  But I still wouldn't get them some boat.  A nimble, well-handling German car with every safety feature known to man is a way better choice IMO.  Of course, price could be an issue, but I don't expect that will be a concern by the time my yet-to-be-born children reach driving age.

[giant_mtb]

Still; my mom's the one doing 55 in the left lane with her blinker left on, and she thinks her 3800 Allure is too slow. There's slow, and there's hopeless.

A Regal with the 3.8 in it is not a hopeless car.  This site says it'll do 0-60 in 7.6 seconds.  While not fast, that's certainly enough to keep up with traffic, no problem. 

http://www.modernracer.com/history/buickregalgshistory.html

[L. ed foote]

Well, plenty do.  But I still wouldn't get them some boat.  A nimble, well-handling German car with every safety feature known to man is a way better choice IMO.  Of course, price could be an issue, but I don't expect that will be a concern by the time my yet-to-be-born children reach driving age.

My children will get a $500 beater and a rachet set.  If they don't like it, they can buy their own damn car.   

[Tave]

If you're worried about safety, how about an old Volvo?

[SaltyDog]

I would buy one just like any other car.  The use and abuse they get is somewhat worrying, but they were built with stronger core parts and are cheap as dirt. 

[Raza]

My children will get a $500 beater and a rachet set.  If they don't like it, they can buy their own damn car.   

My children will get trickle down child support.

[Minpin]

My children will get trickle down child support.

Funny. Especially coming from you. 

[Secret Chimp]

Most taxis are ex-cop cars, if I remember correctly. They can't come off police duty in very bad shape if they end up surviving taxi duty for a few more years :P

[CMan]

Would I buy one? Heck yes!!! You could go as fast as you want; cops would think you're a cop. And the traffic would part for you on the highway like the Red Sea parted for Moses.

[The Bartender]

Raza: Why does someone assuming something that has extensive statistical support surprise you?? Based on actuarial data from the US, a 16 year old driver is at least 4 TIMES as likely as a 20 year old to have an accident.

From an insurance adjusters point of view, the Crown Vic is a pretty safe car, but I would lean towards something slightly smaller.  Learning vehicle dynamics is easier for a young driver in a mid sized FWD car.  I would recommend a Toyota Avalon, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid or similar size vehicle.  The FWD is better in rain and snow for new drivers, and they are big enough to provide safety but not too fast.  With the exception of the Intrepid, those vehicles have generally decent reliability or better, and are less expensive to fix than many other vehicles.  Plus, fuel mileage will be better than the Crown Victoria.  The V6 engine versus V8 debate for a new driver will lean in the V6's favor as far as insurance premiums area concerned.

[TheIntrepid]

Raza: Why does someone assuming something that has extensive statistical support surprise you?  Based on actuarial data from the US, a 16 year old driver is at least 4 TIMES as likely as a 20 year old to have an accident.

From an insurance adjusters point of view, the Crown Vic is a pretty safe car, but I would lean towards something slightly smaller.  Learning vehicle dynamics is easier for a young driver in a mid sized FWD car.  I would recommend a Toyota Avalon, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid or similar size vehicle.  The FWD is better in rain and snow for new drivers, and they are big enough to provide safety but not too fast.  With the exception of the Intrepid, those vehicles have generally decent reliability or better, and are less expensive to fix than many other vehicles.  Plus, fuel mileage will be better than the Crown Victoria.  The V6 engine versus V8 debate for a new driver will lean in the V6's favor as far as insurance premiums area concerned.

I second this. I learned to drive with a Ford Freestar, a 2003 Impala LS, and an '89 Camry> They trained me in the Freestar, and after I learned to park that, I can parallel park anything short of a Yukon XL.

[rohan]

From an insurance adjusters point of view, the Crown Vic is a pretty safe car, but I would lean towards something slightly smaller.? Learning vehicle dynamics is easier for a young driver in a mid sized FWD car.? I would recommend a Toyota Avalon, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid or similar size vehicle.? The FWD is better in rain and snow for new drivers, and they are big enough to provide safety but not too fast.? With the exception of the Intrepid, those vehicles have generally decent reliability or better, and are less expensive to fix than many other vehicles.? Plus, fuel mileage will be better than the Crown Victoria.? The V6 engine versus V8 debate for a new driver will lean in the V6's favor as far as insurance premiums area concerned.

the Impala and Intrepid are very close to the same size as the crown vic- just a slight bit smaller.  FWD also have very bad disadvantages like on ice and in rain they are very easily put into uncontrollable yaw slides.  The front tires are asked to do too many things to be good during bad weather and even on dry smooth pavement sometimes.   But for straight driving they are pretty good. 

[rohan]

? The use and abuse they get is somewhat worrying,

You have no idea.

[Raza]

Raza: Why does someone assuming something that has extensive statistical support surprise you?  Based on actuarial data from the US, a 16 year old driver is at least 4 TIMES as likely as a 20 year old to have an accident.

From an insurance adjusters point of view, the Crown Vic is a pretty safe car, but I would lean towards something slightly smaller.  Learning vehicle dynamics is easier for a young driver in a mid sized FWD car.  I would recommend a Toyota Avalon, Chevy Impala, Ford Taurus, Dodge Intrepid or similar size vehicle.  The FWD is better in rain and snow for new drivers, and they are big enough to provide safety but not too fast.  With the exception of the Intrepid, those vehicles have generally decent reliability or better, and are less expensive to fix than many other vehicles.  Plus, fuel mileage will be better than the Crown Victoria.  The V6 engine versus V8 debate for a new driver will lean in the V6's favor as far as insurance premiums area concerned.

But statistics have nothing to do with the individual.  The vast majority of people in the US are idiots.  I reckon that has a lot to do with the crash statistics.  If you teach a kid well, he's not going to get into an accident.  I've been 16 and I've been 20, and I haven't been in an accident.  Knock on wood, of course.

[Raza]

Well, plenty do.  But I still wouldn't get them some boat.  A nimble, well-handling German car with every safety feature known to man is a way better choice IMO.  Of course, price could be an issue, but I don't expect that will be a concern by the time my yet-to-be-born children reach driving age.

But a kid and your kid are two different things.  Do you think Cal Ripken Jr's kids are expected to suck at baseball because most people suck at baseball?

[TurboDan]

the Impala and Intrepid are very close to the same size as the crown vic- just a slight bit smaller.  FWD also have very bad disadvantages like on ice and in rain they are very easily put into uncontrollable yaw slides.  The front tires are asked to do too many things to be good during bad weather and even on dry smooth pavement sometimes.   But for straight driving they are pretty good. 

An ex-girlfriend drove an Intrepid and that thing was the worst car I've ever driven.  It was HUGE, I couldn't get into any parking spaces, and it handled like the boat it was.  I wouldn't put myself in one of those things for daily driving, much less a kid. 

[rohan]

An ex-girlfriend drove an Intrepid and that thing was the worst car I've ever driven.? It was HUGE, I couldn't get into any parking spaces, and it handled like the boat it was.? I wouldn't put myself in one of those things for daily driving, much less a kid.?

The police car wsa a lot better than the civi version- bigger engine- better brakes- much better suspension and it was more reliable to.? Not saying it was a great police car but it did the job and there are better ones out there now. 

[TheIntrepid]

An ex-girlfriend drove an Intrepid and that thing was the worst car I've ever driven.  It was HUGE, I couldn't get into any parking spaces, and it handled like the boat it was.  I wouldn't put myself in one of those things for daily driving, much less a kid. 

Not meaning to generalize, but if you couldn't get an Intrepid into any parking space, you must not be very good at parking. I can easily squeeze it into tight spots, and even parallel park it perfectly. It may be a large car, but it handles pretty well and it's not hard to drive at all.

The only downside I can think of is the rear visibility; with the high trunk and back end, it can get a bit hard to see out the back. I still manage to reverse park it exclusively.

[Raza]

Not meaning to generalize, but if you couldn't get an Intrepid into any parking space, you must not be very good at parking. I can easily squeeze it into tight spots, and even parallel park it perfectly. It may be a large car, but it handles pretty well and it's not hard to drive at all.

The only downside I can think of is the rear visibility; with the high trunk and back end, it can get a bit hard to see out the back. I still manage to reverse park it exclusively.

Weren't you the one that couldn't back out of a spot?

Dan also lives in NYC, so he might have been talking about parallel parking, and I've parallel parked a car that size, and it ain't fun.

[Tave]

Oh pish posh, I loved to parallel park the 4runner. Then I took the top off and scared people with how fast I would back up.

It's all a mindset. You say to yourself, "I have enough room and I'm going to slide it in there. That's MY friggin spot. Watch this." And then, BAM! you're parked.

Try practicing so much that you never take the car out of reverse to parallel park. I did that the other day on a tight spot with a high curb and felt like a champ.

My rule is about 1 to 1-1/2 feet away from the other car, back bumpers even, crank the wheel until you feel good and then crank it the other way. Works in an Aveo, Accord, Corolla, Hummer, etc...

[Raza]

Bam's usually a bad sound when parking.

[Tave]

Yuk, yuk 

On a serious note, too many people don't care whether or not they play bumper cars parallel parking. I get to see a lot of iffy jobs living across from campus, and I see people hit the car in front and behind often. I hate them. They're the same a-holes who don't think twice about throwing open their doors and giving whoever's next to them (me) a nice ding.

[Raza]

Yuk, yuk 

On a serious note, too many people don't care whether or not they play bumper cars parallel parking. I get to see a lot of iffy jobs living across from campus, and I see people hit the car in front and behind often. I hate them. They're the same a-holes who don't think twice about throwing open their doors and giving whoever's next to them (me) a nice ding.

This is why I wrap the Boxster is bubble wrap and carry a gun.

[TurboDan]

Not meaning to generalize, but if you couldn't get an Intrepid into any parking space, you must not be very good at parking. I can easily squeeze it into tight spots, and even parallel park it perfectly. It may be a large car, but it handles pretty well and it's not hard to drive at all.

The only downside I can think of is the rear visibility; with the high trunk and back end, it can get a bit hard to see out the back. I still manage to reverse park it exclusively.

1) It handles like crap.

2) It's turning radius is a travesty.  Fitting into tight spaces between two monster SUVs is nearly impossible.

3) I'm from NYC.  Parallel parking is a way of life... it was the car, not me.

[Tave]

No car is incapable of being parallel parked. I've done it with a Ram 2500 HD. Just suck it up and park.

[TheIntrepid]

1) It handles like crap.

2) It's turning radius is a travesty.  Fitting into tight spaces between two monster SUVs is nearly impossible.

3) I'm from NYC.  Parallel parking is a way of life... it was the car, not me.

I won't disagree with you on those points.

However, I went to NYC in the Trep last summer, and I managed to get around just fine.

[TurboDan]

No car is incapable of being parallel parked. I've done it with a Ram 2500 HD. Just suck it up and park.

Well, it might not be incapable.  But good luck trying to find a space big enough to park it in in NYC. 

[Madman]

If you're worried about safety, how about an old Volvo?

BINGO!!!

A Volvo 240, 740 or 940 (non-turbo, naturally) is the ideal first car.  Big, but not too big.  Safe, built like a tank and not too expensive to fix.  The base 2.3 litre "Red Block" motor (114 horsepower) is bulletproof and is just fast enough to keep her out of trouble but not too fast to get her into other kinds of trouble.  Sedans are cheaper than wagons.  You DON'T want to get her the wagon because there is plenty of room in back to lie down and ....... well, you get the idea!


Madman of the People

[sparkplug]

Well, it might not be incapable.  But good luck trying to find a space big enough to park it in in NYC. 

That's the great thing about a 2500. They just push the little cars out of the way.

[TurboDan]

That's the great thing about a 2500. They just push the little cars out of the way.

That mentality makes me want to vomit.