Posted: 6/3/2007 6:24:03 PM EDT
| I am looking for a good durable daily driver that can withstand some abuse. I figured this would be the best place to find out if the Impala police package is a good choice for longevity, durability and safety. I am thinking about getting an impala from a government auction of some sort for under $4-5K. Although I am not a big fan of FWD, I think its might be a good choice. What do you guys think of the Impala??? Also, the reason I am not going for a vic is because I am trying to avoid the whole police-wanna-be-look but how does it compare? |
I broke a few motor mounts and tranny mounts right before I wiped out the computer/ECM and blew my exhaust manifold apart. Then they gave me a CVPI.  Buy a used Honda for 4-5K or be prepared to spend some coin on constant repairs. My shitbox was a 2001 Whimpala. YMMV |
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Any FWD transverse mounted engine car is NOT suitable for police work. County and state agencies that currently use the Impala are getting away from them. The transmissions are notoriously weak and have been giving them no end of trouble. Why not find an old "bubble" body Caprice and put some Implala SS rims on it? All you have to do is make sure the motor and tranny have been rebuilt (most old fleet Caprices have had both rebuilds), maybe throw a coat of Maaco paint on her and you have a wanna-be mid-nineties Impala. |
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My county issued car is a 04 Chev Impala. I will/would never own one. They are peices of CRAP! Esspecially as police cars. I ran over a curb to fast in one. In a vic I woulda needed two new tires and a new oil pan. In the impala I did $4600 in damage to the underside. New tires, bent the mounts the engine sits in, fucked up the front wheel drive. Heck just to replace a battery on them you have to take off an engine mount. FWD may be cheaper at the get go, but over time and maintaince they are more expensive. I am considering getting a CVPI in the next year or so as one of my personal cars. Also my capt. hates the impala so much he is ordering our division some Vics and tahoes soon. |
generally I agree with this but www.swps.com seems to have a good looking reconditioning program going. |
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I will go against the tide here, but only in a limited fashion. I worked for a security patrol company that used 2000-2005 Impalas exclusively. We had 23 in the fleet, and while there were occasional breakdowns, they were VERY reliable. The first one the company purchased was a civi package car, and it had some transmission issues around 145k, but nothing else. I walked away from a crash in my issued 2002 that looked like the car had been destroyed. I was hit from behind when stopped at a railroad crossing, the drunk guy was doing about 70, if the reconstructionist was accurate. I got a mild whiplash, and my sack of Jack in The Box food tossed all around the car. My car got 24mpg in mixed city/freeway traffic, was ultra reliable, very comfortable (for what it is/was), and looked pretty good too. I was so impressed with their safety, I bought my mother a 2001 for mother's day in 2003. Now I would NOT suggest one for police use, no front wheel drive car can survive that kind of abuse. Bouncing off curbs, chuckholes, pursuits, the Impala is a great car, but not for that. RWD and V8 horsepower are where it's at, not V6 and fragile suspension. |
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If you can find a car that was a supervisors car it might be ok. They only go from the station to starbucks and back If you get a beat car... You will see what the "beat" means. Our cars get kicked, barfed, and spit in and on the outside too. They are driven very fast. Very slow and sit idling for days. I would never want to personally buy a used patrol car. Even the cars that get the best care are driven hard.(Always on and running) I take care of my car.. However. The car has to climb over curbs, go across lots, back alleys etc. However, I have seen guys walk away from getting smashed in the Impala. The front wheel drive is really nice in the snow. Air intake is too low and sucks water into the manifold when running through high standing water. Went through an intersection (not meaning to) while on full brake. Brakes suck. Steering has some issues too. buyer beware.. |
The brakes S-U-C-K on dog balls!!! Ive only been driving one for a month and a half and my right calf is already getting bigger than the left one. THe brakes have been notoriously sucky on these and they have done some upgrades on them but they still suck. Also they handle like a wet noodle. Oh, and the other guys are right about cops abusing the crap out of cars. I dont do it intentionally, but these things get pushed and punched to full throttle from a stop almost every time they move. They arent nearly fast enough for police work and it agitates most cops so they respond accelerating the things as fast as they will go 24/7 in spite. They get driven so rough that the little V6's actually get just as bad of gas milage as the crown vics do. Like i said, I dont intentionally abuse mine, but i wouldnt take it home with me if it was free. |
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I currently drive a 2005 fully marked patrol unit. I curse that damn car every shift I get in it. It is gutless, has crappy brakes that, in all seriousness, work intermittently well enough to stop the car at high speed. The alternator is not powerful enough to keep the battery charged and the car usually is dead if you leave it not running with all the equipment powered on. (computer, radar, HD camera, patrol radio) The seats are small and trashed I might add. This is a shared fleet car that runs 24/7. It is not as bad as the early 90's Ford Taurus (which I hated even more) but damn, the car sucks, police package or not, I am not impressed and sorely miss the Crown Victoria. |
| I drive a brand new 06 impala and compared to the previous year models I'm impressed. Every time we have a chase or a bunch of us are in a convoy running hot to something I smoke the older impalas and vics and leave em behind. They also handle pretty darn good compared to the older ones. |
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Where do you put all your stuff in an Impalla? Those things look tiny, would suck to spend 12 hours in one If you are looking for just a reliable driver get something that : 1 Is built on a frame (no unibody) 2. manual transmission 3 RWD or 4x4 The fleet vehicles: CVPI's are decent but not a lot of parts interchange through the years (better top end) Impallas no direct experience but I bet they suck bad Caprices are decent, really crappy interior (better of the line) Charger, no direct experirnce but looks sweet, probably built like a tank Tahoe, rock solid reliable, slow but tough, lots of room |
Sorry Jason but that means nothing. You get rear ended at a good speed and it doesn't matter what you are driving you are gonna have damage. Hell, if that was a crown vic it would probably be burned up. |
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I used to work for eBay Motors as an account manager and I got to know quite a few top sellers. I mentioned to one my accounts that I was needing a winter vehicle while living up in Utah(working for eBay). He mentioned that he had a retired, clean, Impala and since it's FWD it would work great. It did for a couple of months then I just started have problem after problem. Everything from motor mounts, tranny issues, to a half shaft breaking on me while taking an exit and sliding all over the damn place(it was in the snow). I then bought a CVPI and beat the crap out of it for the rest of the winter and next summer. I then got rid of it before I quit eBay and moved back to Texas. I bought that car with 62K and got rid of it with 101K. I, to this day, miss that car! I bought it off of eBay from a reputable dealer. There are quite a few of them out there... Here's 1 Here's 2 My favorite cop car seller...(top notch!) P.S. I'm in no way tied to these sellers anymore. I just know how frustrating buying a P.O.S. can be! 
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You know they are still peices of shit. My capt. is attempting to get us Vics and tahoes on the big road. I will believe it when i see it. |
BOOM !!  |
+another. Heed this man's advice. If you happen to buy one of my ex-vehicles, you're going to be sorry..... |
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