Mileages of ex police cars suspcioiously low?

On Wed, 3 May 2006 11:20:45 -0400 "Steve" waved a wand and this message magically appeared:

Simple answer; they're not right hand drive.

Steve ( snipped-for-privacy@microsoft.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Why not?

Yes, but our roads have bends in them, thank you.

They use the odd Merc ML and E-class, too.

Alex Buell ( snipped-for-privacy@munted.org.uk) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

He did say "RHD" in the first para...

The Range Rover is made in the UK?

Would that be in the same way they send over crappy Chryslers etc, but sell them at 'special' UK prices where the pound equals the dollar?

A basic Jeep Cherokee V6 costs 21 grand here. What is it in the US?

Perhaps it's escaped your notice that Britain is in the EU and it makes sense to trade with other member countries as hopefully they do with us.

Plenty of the volvo forum guys have ex cop cars, only the odd spec (often cloth / manual with oodles of power through 16" rims and no stereo) can be awkward. Well maintained but not loved is the usual condition - interiors worn but engines happy - I recall one running 13s quarters (with chip and nitrous) despite 160k miles and being purchased from a police auction mega cheap.

Current proper rangey is a BMW unit petrol and diesel. Disco / sport is the Ford / Jag unit.

Only in 1st, 'cos once the car's rolling, it's stuck straight into 5th.

Regardless of the mileage, don't buy one. Ex police cars are ex for a reason, they're pretty well shot by then.

Over in Europe many of the cars we get as luxury cars are not so luxury and are not terribly expensive in comparison to what it would cost to have American cars imported. I've seen pictures of Volvo 740s with manual crank windows, no sunroof, no AC, and even carbureted engines and stripped down cloth or vinyl interiors, that sort of thing wasn't even available here.

You do realise of course that the X5 is built in the USA and exported to the UK? The new MKIII Range Rover has essentially an identical drivetrain to the X5 and a similar driving experience. The policeman who was commenting on TV was probably talking about the previous Mk11 Range Rover with the horrendous Rover V8 [sorry Dave!]. These had all kinds of problems, the most serious of which was the block cracking around the main bearings on some versions. They were moderately OK with light private use but given some stick and they would fail regularly, as the cop pointed out. In fact even privately owned and moderately driven ones failed at low mileage due to, I believe, the block going porous.

Huw Huw

Just shows what happens when you sell a once decent product to Ford.

But are they? The oldest V70s are nine years old now and there are a few intergalactic mileage ex police examples knocking around. Not that I've been window shopping for one or anything. Oh no.

It's possbile that Volvos are more robust than other makes - but I doubt it, because they share a lot of mechanical parts with other manufacturers.

A few years ago, I worked for a British manufacturer which was supplying cars to the police, and we couldn't work out why they were knackering gearboxes in double-quick time. Then we found that they were often extricating themselves from motorway traffic jams and accidents by reversing along the hard shoulders at high speed for a mile or more at a time - something which 'ordinary' motorists would never do, and for which gearboxes were not designed!

I wouldn't have an ex-police car as a gift!

Hence the use of autos these days which won't be damaged by such treatment.

Remember seeing a police Rover P6 3500 auto where the first gear selector had been blanked off. Seems in a town chase they'd previously locked it in first from standstill and just run the engine up to tappet pump up...

It was a yank engine first anyway wasn't it?

Yes, indeed, that just illustrates my point. They may not be able to wreck an auto box in quite the same way as a manual - but they'll find other creative ways of wrecking things, including the engine!

Yes - but not Ford. Buick.

However it was substantially modified for UK use - including the way the castings were made.

Cost, reliability and repairability for 3.

So do ours. our mountains are rather more comprable to the alps then the hills of scotland. The GM900 or the new model IRS explorer will outperform the rover in every measure save ultimate off road ability, and will be close to the x5, at 1/2 the cost.

All the more reason to go for the Dodge charger, the last E class with a good ol boy body, and 350 hp (425 with the special version) I think 15,000 pounds should cover a RHD version in a decent order size for the 350HP version. BTW it's got RHD in the Chrysler version right now!

have noticed that **everything** in jolly old costs the same as here, just in pounds, and have noticed that for over 20 years now. Is it taxes, third party profits, other factors, all of the above??

I still think a fleet deal would be much less expensive for US rather then BMW or Rover!

same ish 22,175 for the liberty 2wd,23,700 for the 4wd , which, although I have about the same interest in Jeeps as Hummers - nill does look at a glance to be the same vehicle.

Perhaps it's a better idea to purchase more utilitarian and cheaper vehicles, and perhaps you have forgotten a long and close relationship between our countries. I would much rather see you guys buy Jeeps then follow our lead in other (mis)adventures.