Buying ex-police car?

kittennose

I really need a new car but only really have the funds I'll make from selling my old car (3k).

Near me they have a car auction that specialises in ex-police cars and there are some decent deals to be had (or so it seems). Knowing nothing about cars I am sure this is a huge risk, but buying from a private seller doesn't seem much different and nearly every garage I look at on eBay has a handful of reviews saying legal action has been taken etc etc.

For starters - I wonder:

1) Why would Police sell a car with only 60k on the clock?
2) If the car is black I am guessing it won't have been used as a regular patrol car so less likely to have been thrashed about and had various bodily fluids in the back?

Turn_to_Grey

Could be that the cars are disposed of after a certain age and has only covered this mileage. ( Firm I worked for did this )
Black car, pool car maybe.

As an aside, they have regular services and parts replaced before they wear out ( tyres, brakes, etc )
My mate bought one many years ago, came with a calibrated speedo !

uknick

Don't know if it's the case today, but in the past police cars had holes in the cabin trim where various bits of police kit had been attached. If you're interested why not go along and see a couple.


And, don't assume an unmarked police car will have not had a hard life. CID and motorway patrol both have to transport prisoners who may be the worse for wear from drugs and alcohol.

Warwick_Hunt

Turn_to_Grey wrote: »

Could be that the cars are disposed of after a certain age and has only covered this mileage. ( Firm I worked for did this )
Black car, pool car maybe.

As an aside, they have regular services and parts replaced before they wear out ( tyres, brakes, etc )
My mate bought one many years ago, came with a calibrated speedo !

Tyres should have been replaced at 3mm but that will be of no benefit when buying one. Most likely maintained on the cheap. Fluids used because they're in stock whether recommend or not.

uknick wrote: »

Don't know if it's the case today, but in the past police cars had holes in the cabin trim where various bits of police kit had been attached. If you're interested why not go along and see a couple.


And, don't assume an unmarked police car will have not had a hard life. CID and motorway patrol both have to transport prisoners who may be the worse for wear from drugs and alcohol.

CID transporting a prisoner. :rotfl:

Ex CID car, fluids, tyre pressures etc never checked from one service to another. Short trips when cold and not getting up to temperature.

More reasons to avoid than buy. If you do decide to go for it get it up to motorway speed and listed to the wind whistle through the any gaps where it's not been repaired properly post collision.

JP1978

There has been a few threads over on pistonheads re ex police cars - very very marmite responses - I get the impression that as long as you go in with your eyes open, or even better with someone with some knowledge (friendly mechanic) a bargain can be had.

I dont think that the regular beat cars (marked or plain) are serviced to the same regime as the RPU cars - they obviously are not supposed to be travelling at 130mph+ as the RPU cars do.

motorguy

kittennose wrote: »

I really need a new car but only really have the funds I'll make from selling my old car (3k).

Near me they have a car auction that specialises in ex-police cars and there are some decent deals to be had (or so it seems). Knowing nothing about cars I am sure this is a huge risk, but buying from a private seller doesn't seem much different and nearly every garage I look at on eBay has a handful of reviews saying legal action has been taken etc etc.

For starters - I wonder:

1) Why would Police sell a car with only 60k on the clock?
2) If the car is black I am guessing it won't have been used as a regular patrol car so less likely to have been thrashed about and had various bodily fluids in the back?

They tend to fall in to two camps :-

ex full on police cars, thus will have holes in the dash, trim missing, probably have been stickered up. They will also tend to be very low spec.

The second are things like "station cars", whereby they will still be very low spec, but wont have been stickered up or have holes in the dash.

Both types will tend to mechanically well maintained but can be quite scruffy body wise.

If you really must, then the latter are the ones to look for.

Both types will tend to mechanically well maintained but can be quite scruffy body wise.

I've personally never found them that cheap and the shortcomings on spec would be off putting for me. Theres some 530d SE Tourings floating about that are ex police - smallest wheels, manual gearboxes, cloth trim, no sat nav, etc.

The last one i resold was one i picked up at auction - low miles, clean Ford Focus badged as an LX, but didnt even have a cd player or radio (just a Ford blanking plate), wheel trims, solid dark blue paint, etc. Even that bought at auction - by the time i fitted a used Ford CD player, serviced and fresh MOT - didnt work out really any cheaper than a non ex police car would have been

wgl2014

Same as any other used car really.

If the price is right then it could be worth compromising on spec/ cosmetic appearance.

Have a look at some similar 'regular' cars before deciding.

worried_jim

Cop shocks, cop motor.......

Head_The_Ball

kittennose wrote: »

I really need a new car but only really have the funds I'll make from selling my old car (3k).....

How will you benefit by changing from one car worth £3k to another worth £3k?

Are you looking at changing to a much lower spec car?

Richard53

Not a car, but I had an ex-police Honda motorbike for a while. All the signs were of good, regular maintenance but little attention to cosmetics. It was pretty obvious that in the workshop it was reassembled after servicing with any fasteners that fitted. I rarely found a set of fasteners that matched. However, apart from a failed voltage regulator (unrelated to maintenance) it was very reliable with a stonking engine and took me to Denmark and back without breaking a sweat. I would buy another ex-plod bike any day, although the usual caveats apply.


That had a calibrated speedo, too. That was interesting.

Warwick_Hunt

Richard53 wrote: »

Not a car, but I had an ex-police Honda motorbike for a while. All the signs were of good, regular maintenance but little attention to cosmetics. It was pretty obvious that in the workshop it was reassembled after servicing with any fasteners that fitted. I rarely found a set of fasteners that matched. However, apart from a failed voltage regulator (unrelated to maintenance) it was very reliable with a stonking engine and took me to Denmark and back without breaking a sweat. I would buy another ex-plod bike any day, although the usual caveats apply.


That had a calibrated speedo, too. That was interesting.

Bikes are a different kettle of fish altogether. The police spec ST1100 was a brilliant bike, however the ST1300 was dangerous. When a cop was killed on one most forces got rid of them. Some got rid of their bikes altogether so there we some good bikes to be had.