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3/08/2010

TOP 5 UNCONVENTIONAL POLICE CAR CHOICES

By The Good Car Guy     at 3/08/2010 09:38:00 AM
You're familiar with exotic police cars like Italy's Lamborghini Gallardo. The future of urban policing appears to be well taken care of by the smart fortwo and Mitsubishi iMiev. General Motors is prepared to dive head-long into the police vehicle segment with a Chevrolet Caprice, a car similar to the Pontiac G8 we're no longer offered in North America. Carbon Motors thought outside the box with the E7, designing a car meant for police duty. Meanwhile, the possibility that the Ford Motor Company could import the Aussie-designed Ford Falcon or release a Ford Taurus cop car when police departments are weaned off the Ford Crown Victoria has kept police commissioners from ordering elsewhere.... at least temporarily.

But what about jumping way off the board; ordering a fleet of vehicles not at all intended for normal police duty but perfect for the job anyway? Would it be stupid for police departments to consider the five vehicles listed below? These are the Top 5 Unconventional Police Car Choices, ranked from vaguely normal to most definitely unconventional. Each has their advantages over "normal" police cars like the Dodge Charger, Ford Crown Victoria, and Chevrolet Tahoe. Each has their disadvantages, as well.

Why is it that automotive enthusiasts are so turned on by cool police vehicles like Humberside's Lexus ISF or the UK's 271-bhp diesel-powered Jaguar XF? I have no idea. Yet one of the all-time most popular articles on GoodCarBadCar.net is the Top 5 Cars Police Should Be Driving, basically this post's ancestor.

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#5 - FORD FUSION HYBRID: Rated by the EPA at 41mpg in the city, the Ford Fusion Hybrid offers the best of both worlds - efficiency and expanse. Don't ignore the fact that this isn't a bite-size mini hybrid with a missing back seat for weight savings. The Fusion Hybrid is a fair value, adequately powered, and more than a decent drive. For some reason, the NYPD went and signed on with the Nissan Altima Hybrid. Cops can drive better. If the government can give municipal governments tax credits (they can, can't they?) then the Ford Fusion Hybrid is still available with an $850 tax incentive. Get yourself a fleet deal now, Mr. Mayor.

#4 - CHEVROLET AVALANCHE: Cops must need pickup trucks sometimes, right? I'm assuming even cops get sent to Home Depot to pick up lumber for renovations in the... er, jail. Regardless, it wouldn't do to lack useability the rest of the year. Fortunately, the Chevrolet Avalanche is a straight-up passenger vehicle with all-weather capability and a dose of heft when intimidates is required. This thing would look terrific with a lightbar.

#3 - TOYOTA VENZA: Skip the Toyota jokes for a second and move on to the Venza's roots. Even during the Toyota turmoil, 16,552 Camrys were sold in the U.S. in February. Now imagine the still-popular Camry, but more stylish and more practical. You're imagining the Toyota Venza. It's a good ol' fashioned down-home car, built in Kentucky. There's space in the back for 30.7 cubic feet of weaponry. 4-cylinder editions of the Toyota Venza have a theoretical fuel range in the city of 371 miles. What need ye more?

#2 - JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED: Four cops came cruising downhill towards GoodCarBadCar Towers in an intense December snowstorm about 45 minutes after a 911 call in what? Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors. One car was sideways. The other, noticing the first car's difficulty, turned around and attempted to accelerate in to the sideways Crown Victoria to keep it from heading off-road. Constables, you needed a Jeep Wrangler, more specifically, a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Seating capacity, cargo space, and go-anywhere-anytime potential combine to make the modern Wrangler a police hero. Plus, a base price under $25,000 would help come budget time.

#1 - NISSAN 370Z: Though we wouldn't mind seeing an Audi R8 patrolling our highways, the bill for bodywork repair after a run-in with a Ford F150 wouldn't go over well with taxpayers. High-speed car chases don't seem to be going away - cops really wanna chase 'em and perps really wanna be chased. The Nissan 370Z's ability to hit 160mph assures the police of more top end umph than German luxo barges while also outrunning Ford's Police Interceptors. And it gets up to speed in a hurry; just 22 seconds to 130mph. For high-speed chases down twisty backroads, the 370Z's 0.98 g skidpad result will help police rest easy, knowing any (unlikely) accelerative deficiency will be made up in the corners. Perfect for all situations? No. But the $30,000 price tag of a basic 370Z wouldn't too hard a pill to swallow for a police pursuit vehicle.

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6 Comments:

  1. Zed's a great pick.
    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd still take the Falcon.
    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey,
    one thing for sure, with weather like eastern Canada and the states have, we need AWD.
    It's crazy that we are emerency vehicles and we can't make it to people to help them without putting our lives in danger !!
    ReplyDelete
  4. Even better than AWD would be light weight. Once those Crown Vics get moving their ain't no stpping them.
    ReplyDelete
  5. Avalanche fits the bill, true. Venza?
    ReplyDelete
  6. For high-speed chases down twisty backroads, the 370Z's ----Not without an Oil Cooler*, the 370Z engine over heats!
    *at your expence, Nissan won't install one!
    ReplyDelete

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