Ex-police car - any good?

nullogik

I was considering getting a used police car at an auction as I have a very low budget.

I was wondering what people's opinions were about buying such a car? Has anyone bought an ex-police car, what was it like?

I know they come in white, colour isn't a problem when you're on a low budget and nor are a few screw holes in the dash. I heard that they're well serviced and regularly maintained and these vehicles are very new.

Welcome any comments.

Thanks in advance.

ringers

Having driven a few police cars, I would suggest you steer well clear.

You have to consider the role of the vehicle. They provide transport to police officers, at my station there are twelve to fourteen PC's a shift. 5 shifts this equates to at least 60 users at any one time, given the turn over of PC's on shifts I would suggest that By the time it is 3 years old it will have had over a hundred drivers.
The only thing those hundred drivers will have in common is that they have all revved the B#LL#X off it.
The vehicle will be needed to go to emergency jobs at high speed in low gear, with very heavy braking. On lots of short journeys(particularly the city based one's). They will have leapt speed humps at speeds you would get flashed by cameras at.
None of the drivers care about the vehicles.
They will have had People with all sorts of contagious diseases in the back, Would you want your kids to sit in the seats used the week before by prostitutes and drug addicts.
The Mechanics in our force are not the best, if they were they would be working some where else. So regular servicing is not all it's cracked up to be.
All the scumbags in the area will know the number plate and will know that it's an ex cop car.

Spend a bit extra and get a decent motor

vansboy

Ex Police vehicles are both GOOD & BAD buys!! I've sold dozens!!

The info above is pretty accurate, to a degree, if you were thinking of general duty patrol cars & to a lesser degree, traffic cars.

As you mentioned, many are white (a colour which is to be the next silver) & plenty are now silver (soon to become the next white!!) as plenty of forces, decided that the metalic paintwork would have a better residua value. Unfortunatly, it's proving to be just as bad, particularly following 'quick' paintwork repairs.

However, if you move up the ranks to the standard spec vehicles, as used by CID & in some cases, civillian employed staff, they will be of a better quality. They won't have had quite so many shifts, using them & not raced around as much either.

You do need to pay attention to interior, not just dash damage, look for unpleasent stains/smells in the rear, where arrested people might not have taken too kindly, to being transported!!

The next better selection, will be National Crime Squad stock. Expect to see some verrrrry desirable machinery here, sometimes, all as covert as a standard car, but not run of the mill models.

The best, by far, are termed 'company cars'. You can find some really nice examples, here. Some used as senior officers transport & again, quality brands, too.

There is also the Special Escort Group, for, as the name implies, escorting the posh folk, of this country, dignitaries & such like. The registration numbers are identified as X??? SEG, for instance, so you'll know onei you see one.

& one further word on maintainence, don't be too convinced on this one - all the forces have budgets to keep to - & reduce!!

Need any more info - just ask!

VB

balsingh

The bigger ex-police cars have are likely to have spent more time on motorways so they are a better buy as there is less wear to the engine from motorway driving. The typical motorway car is usually a Vectra or Omega V6.

ben500

balsingh wrote: »

The bigger ex-police cars have are likely to have spent more time on motorways so they are a better buy as there is less wear to the engine from motorway driving. The typical motorway car is usually a Vectra or Omega V6.

True but they can also have mods which the insurance company may well load the poilicy for.

nullogik

Thanks to all who replied.

It seems like the best cars to go for are those used by the "higher ranking" officers ie. CID rather than Panda cars and that I should also follow my nose as well as my eyes!

I'll definitly keep my eyes peeled for "SEG" cars, as these would seem to be the best maintained because of the nature of their jobs and are less likely to be hacked around.

Does anyone know of any auctions that have "SEG" or "CID" cars that pass through, especially in or around the London area?

Also would insurance for an ex-cop car, cost more than the equivalent car if it had not been used by the police?

vikingaero

I've been in the back of a Police car.:A And I can say that I've never seen such damage and variety of stains. :eek: I asked the officer up front if his dog had chewed the door pull and he replied that it was a prisoner whizzed up on heroin.

dnc1781

See:
http://www.woma.co.uk/police.php

katiekittykat

I saw one for sale and my dad told me to steer well clear (he is a fire officer quite high up) he said they are well looked after maintanance wise, but are ragged, plus will have loads of holes in from where siren, radio etc was.

steveo3002

the thing is if you are not fussy about having a trendy type car theres loads of cheap reasonble milage cars that would give good service for cheap

Cumbrian_Male

Get yourself an ex traffic Volvo v70.

They are supplied with uprated breaks and suspension from the factory, so are not modified they are police spec. from the factory.

If you are worried about insurance then there are good deals via Volvo Owners Club. The link goes to the forum home page, have a browse and ask about for more views and info.