Police interceptors: Dodge Intrepid vs. Chevy Impala vs. Ford Crown Vic

[yllus]

Back in hot pursuit of police fleet business

After a 14-year hiatus, Chrysler has returned to patrolling the streets with a new Police Pursuit package, and it's very different from its previous large, rear-wheel drive offerings.

Based on the 2003 front-wheel-drive Chrysler Intrepid SXT, the vehicle features a 3.5 L V6 engine that delivers 242 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, a high-performance suspension, heavy-duty four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, purpose-built lighting, fog lights and severe-duty powertrain cooling system.

But how do police fleet buyers decide on one vehicle over another? And in the case of the Intrepid, after being out of the police car business for 12 years, how does Chrysler prove that their vehicle has what it takes?

No doubt this concern from hundreds (perhaps thousands) of police departments is what led to the standardized testing and ranking of vehicles annually by The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center.

These tests are conducted by the Michigan State Police every September, on the DaimlerChrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Mich. The tests cover acceleration, top speed, braking, ergonomics and vehicle dynamics.

The latest test showed some surprising results:

Mileage: Dodge Intrepid, 11.9 L/100 km; Chevy Impala, 12.1 L/100 km; Ford Crown Victoria, 15.7 L/100 km.

Top speed: Dodge Intrepid, 219 km/h; Ford Crown Victoria, 206 km/h; Chevy Impala, 203 km/h.

Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 9.14 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 9.14 seconds; Chevy Impala 9.25 seconds.

Acceleration (0-160 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 24.8 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 25.58 seconds; Chevy Impala, 26.73 seconds.

Braking, from 96 km/h: Chevy Impala, 40.54 m; Dodge Intrepid, 44.12 m; Ford Crown Victoria, 45.42 m.

How do you guys feel about Chrysler bringing the Intrepid into the fray? I kind of like the idea the CHP has going..."using the Camaro as a pursuit vehicle. Using the 310-horsepower LS1 V8 and a six-speed manual transmission, it reaches 96 km/h in under six seconds and has a top speed of 256 km/h."

 

[malbojah]

I've gotten so used to the crown vics that I can tell my local cops are behind me at night just by the design of the parking lights

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

I'll pay you -$5.42 to convert that to the English system at BRUNO TOASTE!>!1

 

[Shockwave]

I think that if I see the flashy lights in the rear view, I'm gonna pull over, no matter if itsa motorcycle, an Impala or a police person on a pedal bike.

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: yllus
Back in hot pursuit of police fleet business

After a 14-year hiatus, Chrysler has returned to patrolling the streets with a new Police Pursuit package, and it's very different from its previous large, rear-wheel drive offerings.

Based on the 2003 front-wheel-drive Chrysler Intrepid SXT, the vehicle features a 3.5 L V6 engine that delivers 242 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, a high-performance suspension, heavy-duty four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, purpose-built lighting, fog lights and severe-duty powertrain cooling system.

But how do police fleet buyers decide on one vehicle over another? And in the case of the Intrepid, after being out of the police car business for 12 years, how does Chrysler prove that their vehicle has what it takes?

No doubt this concern from hundreds (perhaps thousands) of police departments is what led to the standardized testing and ranking of vehicles annually by The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center.

These tests are conducted by the Michigan State Police every September, on the DaimlerChrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Mich. The tests cover acceleration, top speed, braking, ergonomics and vehicle dynamics.

The latest test showed some surprising results:

Mileage: Dodge Intrepid, 11.9 L/100 km; Chevy Impala, 12.1 L/100 km; Ford Crown Victoria, 15.7 L/100 km.

Top speed: Dodge Intrepid, 219 km/h; Ford Crown Victoria, 206 km/h; Chevy Impala, 203 km/h.

Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 9.14 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 9.14 seconds; Chevy Impala 9.25 seconds.

Acceleration (0-160 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 24.8 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 25.58 seconds; Chevy Impala, 26.73 seconds.

Braking, from 96 km/h: Chevy Impala, 40.54 m; Dodge Intrepid, 44.12 m; Ford Crown Victoria, 45.42 m.

How do you guys feel about Chrysler bringing the Intrepid into the fray? I kind of like the idea the CHP has going..."using the Camaro as a pursuit vehicle. Using the 310-horsepower LS1 V8 and a six-speed manual transmission, it reaches 96 km/h in under six seconds and has a top speed of 256 km/h."

I think cops should be given hummers with the 50 cal on top. Doesn't matter how fast the car/person can go/run when a couple of those bullets are coming at you . But seriously, I think the chevy looks like a good cop car and is on par with the crown victoria/dodge intrepid.

 

[Czar]

http://www.stud.ntnu.no/~shane/stasj/div_bilder/lancer.jpg

 

[Vette73]

Next year the Chevy Impala will be getting a supercharger. Don't know if this will carry over to the cop car, but that would be cool

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Jmmsbnd007
I'll pay you -$5.42 to convert that to the English system at BRUNO TOASTE!>!1

OK, P.M. me for my PayPal address. Actually, I used the convert function in Excel instead.

Top Speed:
Intrepid - 136.08 M.P.H.
Impala - 126.14 M.P.H.
Crown Vic - 128.00 M.P.H.

Acceleration: (0 - 60) vs. (0 - 96 km/h)

Acceleration: (0-100) vs. (0 - 160 km/h)

Braking: (From 60 M.P.H.)
Impala - 133.01 feet
Intrepid - 144.75 feet
Crown Vic - 149.02 feet

 

[T2T III]

From the article:

The California Highway Patrol has even used the Camaro as a pursuit vehicle. Using the 310-horsepower LS1 V8 and a six-speed manual transmission, it reaches 60 M.P.H. in under six seconds and has a top speed of 160 M.P.H.

 

[MacBaine]

I'll stick with my Crown Vic PI

 

Originally posted by: malbojah
I've gotten so used to the crown vics that I can tell my local cops are behind me at night just by the design of the parking lights

That's really true - I wonder why Ford makes the Crown Vic headlights and parking lights so noticable. I can tell when there's a cop behind me using the same method.

 

[BigJelly]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: malbojah
I've gotten so used to the crown vics that I can tell my local cops are behind me at night just by the design of the parking lights

That's really true - I wonder why Ford makes the Crown Vic headlights and parking lights so noticable. I can tell when there's a cop behind me using the same method.

Or my dad could be behind you. He drives a Grand Maquis (the mercury clone of the crown victorian; same as the mercury mountiner to the ford explorer).

 

[MacBaine]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: malbojah
I've gotten so used to the crown vics that I can tell my local cops are behind me at night just by the design of the parking lights

That's really true - I wonder why Ford makes the Crown Vic headlights and parking lights so noticable. I can tell when there's a cop behind me using the same method.

How do you know it's a cop and not me? Hell, in the daytime you'd still think I was a cop

 

[PsychoAndy]

Why is it that so many people are ignorant regarding police cars? I've heard people say that the luminas are supercharged and that they have Recaro's.

 

[BDawg]

Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Why is it that so many people are ignorant regarding police cars? I've heard people say that the luminas are supercharged and that they have Recaro's.

I thought all that's added to police cars is oil coolers.

 

[justint]

IMHO. Front wheel drive is just not a good idea for fleet vehicles such as Taxis and Police Cars. They just don't hold up as well as the rear wheel drive ones. I miss the old Caprices. Crown Victoria is the suck. New Impala is even bigger suck (and small to boot).

 

[BurnItDwn]

Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 9.14 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 9.14 seconds; Chevy Impala 9.25 seconds. ???

0-96km/hr is like 0-60mph. My 300m has the same engine as the Intrepid Pursuit. There is no way it would take it a full 9.14 seconds to do that. I can do it in under 7.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 9.14 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 9.14 seconds; Chevy Impala 9.25 seconds. ???

0-96km/hr is like 0-60mph. My 300m has the same engine as the Intrepid Pursuit. There is no way it would take it a full 9.14 seconds to do that. I can do it in under 7.

Have you timed it?

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
Acceleration (0-96 km/h): Dodge Intrepid, 9.14 seconds; Ford Crown Victoria, 9.14 seconds; Chevy Impala 9.25 seconds. ???

0-96km/hr is like 0-60mph. My 300m has the same engine as the Intrepid Pursuit. There is no way it would take it a full 9.14 seconds to do that. I can do it in under 7.

Have you timed it?

Acceleration, sec 0-60 mph

Stock 300M: 7.8

SO-CAL 300M: 7.1

Source: So-Cal Speed Shop

 

[styrafoam]

Around here they have been using unmarked impalas. Its wierd adjusting to the fact that a bright red impala may be a cop, all of the unmarked crown vics were fairly obvious.

 

[Rogue]

Actually, I don't know about the supercharger in the Luminas, but ours had Recaro seats in them. In fact, I remember the seats were kind of narrow to "lock your a$$ in" so to speak. That caused a problem as a policeman because we actually need slightly wider seats due to our pistol belts and gear. I remember the cloth wore through on the right side driver's seat because the holster rode kind of up on the top edge of the seat cushion on that side. Those cars were crap as patrol vehicles. Trim was falling apart all the time and the carpet wore thin in many areas in the driver's side foot well. We've gone to the Impalas now and they're not too bad. I'd rather have a Jeep Cherokee as a patrol vehicle though. They might not be fast, but I'll be damned if you can't chase a criminal anywhere on 'em. We actually have two Jeep Cherokees as patrol vehicles and they're nice when the weather sucks or your crime scene is off the beaten path.

Proof:

"RECARO was the production seat on the 1998 General Motors Lumina Police vehicles, and the seat of choice because of its features. This reputation carries over from the RECARO race car seat, which has been the preferred seat for racing sports cars since the mid-sixties."

Clip taken from here.

 

[Ornery]

Somebody is forgetting to factor in maintenance costs. I can't imagine FWD being as durable or easy to repair as the RWD. Ask the guys who work on these things, which design holds up better, and is cheaper to fix.

 

[w9design]

Here in Royal Oak, MI (near Detroit), they've got undercover Camaros... with low-profile light bars disguised as ski/bike racks on top... The only telltale sign is a gaudy american flag custom paint job.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: w9design
Here in Royal Oak, MI (near Detroit), they've got undercover Camaros... with low-profile light bars disguised as ski/bike racks on top... The only telltale sign is a gaudy american flag custom paint job.

Hahhahah

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: Rogue
Actually, I don't know about the supercharger in the Luminas, but ours had Recaro seats in them. In fact, I remember the seats were kind of narrow to "lock your a$$ in" so to speak. That caused a problem as a policeman because we actually need slightly wider seats due to our pistol belts and gear. I remember the cloth wore through on the right side driver's seat because the holster rode kind of up on the top edge of the seat cushion on that side. Those cars were crap as patrol vehicles. Trim was falling apart all the time and the carpet wore thin in many areas in the driver's side foot well. We've gone to the Impalas now and they're not too bad. I'd rather have a Jeep Cherokee as a patrol vehicle though. They might not be fast, but I'll be damned if you can't chase a criminal anywhere on 'em. We actually have two Jeep Cherokees as patrol vehicles and they're nice when the weather sucks or your crime scene is off the beaten path.

Proof:

"RECARO was the production seat on the 1998 General Motors Lumina Police vehicles, and the seat of choice because of its features. This reputation carries over from the RECARO race car seat, which has been the preferred seat for racing sports cars since the mid-sixties."

Clip taken from here.

They use Recaros in the city buses in Austin.