Ex-police car - any good?

SPANIEL36

vikingaero wrote: »

I've been in the back of a Police car.:A

yeah so have i!!

in past experience i'd stay well clear ofthem. we went to a specialist ex-police car dealer in birmingham in the hope of buying an omega, when we got there it had a massive oil leak, the exhaust was knackered and the engine was rattling its betty hollocks off ...and this was one of the hi-spek cars they had to offer!

gilbert_and_sullivan

I've had 2 ex police cars over the years. A 81 sierra 2.0 gl in white...no problems at all.

And one of best ever cars 91 Rover 827 manual (rare as hens teeth) in blue, this had been a class one driver training car and was in the most incredible condition, i will not say how fast it could go, but could still hold its own now.

Both of these were in superb condition with no faults.

The rover came with a service print out (service history to die for) and thats the sort of one off i'd be looking for.

Strangely enough plod don't fit any cheap and cheeful parts eg. brakes/tyres to their cars.

IMO these can be a good buy but only if your keeping it for a few years as many people are prejudiced against them as you are already reading.

Taff1

I bought a 1998 (S Reg) Mondeo estate that was used by the health service as a paramedic response vehicle. Now owned it for 15 months and the only thing I have done is change the oil and put two new tyres on it.
Cost me £450 from the local auctions. Can not fault the value for money.

There are a few marks on the body work but you have to be up close to see them.

I would suggest whether it is an ex service car or not the best thing to do is give it a thorough looking over and listen to the engine for signs of knocking or plumes of smoke from the exhaust. Happy hunting

hewhoisnotintheknow

serviced and ragged to death!

mikey72

Taff1 wrote: »

I bought a 1998 (S Reg) Mondeo estate that was used by the health service as a paramedic response vehicle. Now owned it for 15 months and the only thing I have done is change the oil and put two new tyres on it.
Cost me £450 from the local auctions. Can not fault the value for money.

There are a few marks on the body work but you have to be up close to see them.

I would suggest whether it is an ex service car or not the best thing to do is give it a thorough looking over and listen to the engine for signs of knocking or plumes of smoke from the exhaust. Happy hunting

Wouldn't touch ex emergency vehicles.
Brother was a paramedic, they broke a piston in an engine on an ambulance, the garage just swopped out the parts needed with one due to go off to auction later on, so the maintenance may not be quite as good as you would expect.

big_gay_kirk

I had an ex cid Mk2 escort.... blue... badged as a 1300, but had a 1600 pinto fitted.... also had an escort van back axle, and an escort sport gearbox.... but a 1300 L interior.... ran it for six years, with no problems until someone shoved a Peugeot 205 into the side of it.....

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole. Sat in the station car park for an hour or two, then a call comes in, blue lights, cold engine, ragged to death. Up kerbs, over speed bumps at speed - forget it. They're sheds, and I wouldn't say they were particularly well maintained either.

markelock

my dad (passed away) was a traffic officer and said he wouldn't buy one. this was in the days of the senator though. used to love those cars...

Chippy_Minton_2

Cumbrian_Male wrote: »

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.

No bog standard same as supplied to jo-public. The only manufacturer to build a police spec factory order is BMW.

Chippy_Minton_2

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.

Yeah right most motorway units use tpac. You'll be lucky to find one with one of its original panels still fitted. ie All subject to accident damage.