Posted: 4/26/2005 12:10:01 PM EDT
I thought you guys would know best about the enclosed car and how it performs. I am looking at a low miledge model for personal use. Being in sales I put alot of miles on a car and the only way I can get the HD options is to buy them used thru ebay and other sources. I ve had the Crown Cictorias in the past and they do well but as gas is climbing I need somthing more with more fuel economy ... for those of you who say buy an import....I live in a fairly rural area of Michigan and service is a problem. Plus with all of the industry / manufacturing moving south of the boarder I just don't feel right if don't buy American. Again your candid input would be apprciated. Thanks, ms329 |
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I wouldn't buy one. I'm not exagerating very much when i say that the ones my department had spent more time in the shop than on the road. If you do decide to buy one, make sure it was used by a departmrnt that had a good maintenance program. Ex-Virginia State Police vehicles are usually a good bet. |
+1 not a good car for police work IMHO. |
| They seem to vary on repairs. As stated some are always in the shop and some are never in the shop. Alot depends in how they are maintained also. I know people who don't like them issued to them and beat the hell out of them to prove they are a poor choice. I was issued a 2000 when they first came out. Has 144K now. Rural S.O. not driven as many harder city miles. It has been far from babied though, ie: pursuits through fields and one dredge ditch (can see the water come up onto the hood in video), many idle hours, snow, and you name it. I have not had much wrenching done to it at all. Usual small stuff that every car will have. Engine and trans are untouched other that services. Still, I don't want another due to the smaller design and tiny trunk. I also prefer rear wheel drive. With lightbar it does 19 to 22 mpg. Another slick top on dept does even better. |
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We have about 40 of them in service with a municipal PD. They see hard use. Several of them are aproaching the 100K mark and are still going strong. We've had excellent service from them. They are very durable. Surprisingly so. I say that because I was used to the old Caprice. I didn't have high expectations of the Impala's. Many people knock them because of their size and power by comparing them to the Crown Vic. The fact is, they are not full size V8 police cars. They are what they are. A mid size front wheel drive V6. That's what they perform like. I know these cars. I was our fleet manager for 2 years. I'm not sugar coating anything. They are good cars. A low mileage Impala Police package would be a smart buy. Edit; Since the thread title referred to the Impala Police package, I assumed you were looking at purchasing a used police car. I was so impressed with the Impala that I bought one for a family car. After 3 years and 37,000 miles, no complaints yet. |
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Thanks so much for your time and consideration to my inquiry. I am looking at a used Police Model, again due to the HD package they provide and with the miles I do I don't take the depreciation hit. . I've had such good luck with the Crown Victoria's alot of which I credit to the HD options but MPG is now the issue. I've contacted the Big Three Auto Mfg's here in Michigan to see if I could buy one new or the Taxi package in black or dark blue but they will only allow fleet and Municipalities to do so. I sometimes get looks from uniformed and plain clothes officers as to why I drive what I do and they seem pretty understanding as to my reasons but I don't want anyone to get the impression I am a "Police Buff" or using the car for alterior motives. If the big three would come out with a "Salesman's Package" with the under the hood options you guys get it would make things alot easier. Thanks again, Mike S. |