Ex-police car - any good?

lincroft1710

Avoid 1974 Dodges, even if they do have cop motors, cop suspension, cop shocks, cop tyres, they will literally fall apart and body panels will drop off.

Chippy_Minton_2

Ice_Diesel wrote: »

Overall I would say if you dont mind the miles then seriously consider one as the history is quite good!

All have a history and very little of it is service. I hope you don't regret your purchase newbie.;)

Happychappy

Ice_Diesel wrote: »

I have just bought an 03 plate Focus which was first registered to Nottingham Police Force, although I have only had it just over a week I think its a brilliant little car! Its a 1.8TDDi with 110k on the clock but runs like a dream and so far I have got 90 miles on quarter of a tank. Several people I have spoken to have said ex-police cars are good and I would probably buy another. The dash was a bit butchered and it had the holes in the roof where the aerials were but its all been sealed and doesnt leak! Overall I would say if you dont mind the miles then seriously consider one as the history is quite good!

If you ring Vensons, they are the police workshop contractor who serviced your car, they may let you have the complete history right down to every last bulb they fitted, ask for the workshop foreman and explain you have bought the car. They are based at Beeston, Nottingham.

vansboy

Happychappy wrote: »

they are the police workshop contractor who serviced your car, they may let you have the complete history right down to every last bulb they fitted, .

But depending on the force & the operational duties of the vehicle you buy, don't be surprised if information IS NOT forthcoming,

They sometimes choose to keep this history known only to themselves.

VB

BikerEd

I have no experience of ex-police cars but lots of experience of ex-police bikes. The single biggest issue is the way the vehicle's electrical system is hacked about for the extra equipment that is fitted. Speed recording equipment, for example, means that the vehicle's speed sensor is tapped into - and if/when these connectors go wrong it can take out the regular speedo. That happened to an ex-police Honda I rode. Generally the wiring used by the specialist conversion companies who do the conversions for the police are not of the same standard as that used by the original manufacturer. As a consequence the extra wiring will degrade and start causing problems long before the vehicle has reached its end of life.

In short, unless you know what you are getting into stay well clear as the electrical gremlins will start to cause havoc once the vehicle gets to five years or older.

vansboy

BikerEd wrote: »

I have no experience of ex-police cars but lots of experience of ex-police bikes. The single biggest issue is the way the vehicle's electrical system is hacked about for the extra equipment that is fitted. Speed recording equipment, for example, means that the vehicle's speed sensor is tapped into - and if/when these connectors go wrong it can take out the regular speedo. That happened to an ex-police Honda I rode. Generally the wiring used by the specialist conversion companies who do the conversions for the police are not of the same standard as that used by the original manufacturer. As a consequence the extra wiring will degrade and start causing problems long before the vehicle has reached its end of life.

In short, unless you know what you are getting into stay well clear as the electrical gremlins will start to cause havoc once the vehicle gets to five years or older.

The best place to buy Police bikes is from http://www.forcemotorcyles.com if you talk to Nick, there, he'll put you in the riding seat of a good machine!

You'll not get me on one though!!

VB

BikerEd

vansboy wrote: »

The best place to buy Police bikes is from http://www.forcemotorcyles.com

You'll not get me on one though!!

You'll not get me on one of their machines either. Would rather buy from anywhere but there...

elektra-2007

we brought ex police car high up speck, was a rover in 2000, was a brilliant car, well looked after, the only thing was insurance was huge my ex had 9yrs no claims and we still had to pay over £1000 a year. then a mechanic told us it hyad a chip in it to make it go faster, we of course knew it went fast on the motorway just presumed it was normal! Thother draw back was he kept being pulled up at night coming home from work, not for speeding but because the police recognised the reg...would i buy one again???? yes at the right price...the car is still going now and its a 'p' reg

vansboy

BikerEd wrote: »

You'll not get me on one of their machines either. Would rather buy from anywhere but there...

Why do you say that, Ed?

I've only heard good stuff about Force, I've never had any reason to think otherwise.

VB

tewfik

A friend of mine used to have an ex-Police Vauxhall Omega, a traffic car. It was quite a machine, went like clockwork and even had a trick gearbox for use in high speed pursuits.