The cop spec Dodge Charger is a high-mileage mule for first responders who take that “first” bit seriously. As any pre-pubescent male will tell you, this “race to the scene of the crime and/or chase the bad guy in my bad-ass American sedan” bit sits right at the top of the list of “why I want to be a cop when I grow up.” In fact, it’s so deeply grained in the male psyche that starting up the cop spec Dodge Charger forced me to fight an overwhelming urge to crank, stomp and spin the beast. I swear I didn’t.
The styling of the cop spec Dodge Charger has nothing to do with the facts, ma’am. You either like full size Hot Wheels cars or you don’t. The two-tone high contrast color scheme gave “my” cruiser the requisite mien of mean. Seen in the rear-view-mirror of your WRX, the cop Charger looks like it is going catch you– even if it isn’t.
The inside is ipso facto cop spec. Up front: thick climate controls and the kind of dome light you’d find in a walk-in closet. A steel, grooved mounting rack sits between the front seats where an arm rest used to be, ready for a laptop and radio retrofit. As the rack nixes the floor-mounted shifter, officers must change gears with a column shifter that I’m pretty sure was made out of a crank left over from 1914. It snapped out of park just before I added my second hand; part of an inadvertent on-board workout program.
The cop spec Charger’s back seat is very close to cruel and unusual punishment. Butt-shaped wells made of nightstick-hard plastic replace the back seat. The sloping rear roof, which makes the design on the outside, makes riding underneath an inherently humbling experience; even a Pesci-sized felon has to bow his head in forgiveness to sit back there.
The backseat is blocked off by a chubby plate of bullet-resistant Plexiglas. Cops call it a cage and the frame intrudes on an already seriously opaque C pillar. If justice is blind, it’s probably because she’s trying to see if there’s anyone behind the right rear quarter panel.
While the cop Charger might not have the handling chops of Subaru’s finest, the odds of [at least] dodging a kid chasing a ball in this car are greater than in any other Chrysler product I’ve ever driven. Controlled by a fat-ass (donut shop inspired?) steering wheel, the “police performance tuned” helm’s response is steady, linear and lithe. At pursuit speeds, it firms up like a Hollywood actress after her first baby. Cruising, it’s lighter than an Iron Chef soufflé.
The engine behaves exactly as you’d expect, given 335 horses and 375 pound-feet of torque pulling 3,700 pounds of serve and protectitude (plus some mighty heavy law enforcement equipment). In practice, drop the hammer and you get the distinct feeling the felon-chasing-compatible Charger is pushing you back in your seat, saying “let me handle this.”
The engine comes complete with Chrysler’s MDS (Multi-Displacement System), so it’s not firing on all eight pots all the time. (On purpose.) On paper, this seems ideal for police use, where bean counters and crime fighters are often at loggerheads. Slowly chugging through the neighborhood, the Charger’s a four-banger getting 25 mpg. Cutting to the chase, it’s got a V8 with who the Hell cares about mpg when you’re on a 10-108.
Eighteen inch 60’s put all these bit and pieces to excellent use. While not track ready, the rubber is as safe and predictable as an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. We tested on a rainy day, highlighting the utility of the all-season shoes. Fifteen-inch brakes kept the car in check. They performed well in the wet, though the anchors never had the chance to get hot.
The cop spec Charger’s heavy enhanced suspension is also a revelation. Entering my first turn, I braced to fight the forces of G and traditional muscle car stubbornness, only to find flat compliance. The thing did exactly what I asked. Sure, I’d set expectations lower than a ’70 Impala with an air-brushed Last Supper on the side. Regardless; the cop Charger gets hands off for good behavior.
In the opening voice-over of “It Takes a Thief” cat burglar Alexander Mundy said, “I've heard of stealing from the government, but for the government…” That about sums up this car: it’s a radically tuned, getaway car for the good guys.
The cop Charger doesn’t have SRT8 performance. Nor do buyers get much in the way of creature comforts. But for $24k, it's a steal. If the reliability’s good, a used cop Charger could be just the ticket for a law-abiding hoon— if there were such a thing.
It’s refreshing to read a (fairly) positive review about a product of the Detroit three. I know what you mean about the look of this car. Seeing that “face” in the rear view mirror would make even the most law-abiding citizen nervous.
The back seats look pretty plush to be “night-stick” hard butt plates. I am guessing that isn’t the correct photo of the hinder parts of the cabin?
So it would appear the future of the big 2.8 products is products for global law enforcement agencies? That could be a niche that could be defended against the imports. After all, anyone going to pull over if a Honda Accord is flashing tis lights at you?
The back seats look pretty plush to be “night-stick” hard butt plates. I am guessing that isn’t the correct photo of the hinder parts of the cabin?
The black seats don’t match, so I bet its a higher content package intended for higher ranking officers. I wonder how long term comfort is compared to the Vic, those seats don’t look nearly as comfy.
My one beef with MDS was that it only came on between 50-65mph, go over those speeds and I never saw fuel economy higher than 21mpg. (from my time in a 300C)
But judging by the brakes, this is a Chrysler cop car in the proud 1960s tradition, not a replacement for the troublesome Intrepid Interceptor. And its a serious threat to the CVPI.
I think $24K is very good deal for a V8 Charger. That means it undercuts the V6 Charger SXT by about $2500, while the current R/T starts at $30K.
Why doesn’t Dodge offer a Police-spec Charger V8 to the public at this price? I figure they could add in back seat comfort from the cash they save from not using the lights and sirens on a civilian model.
Why doesn’t Dodge offer a Police-spec Charger V8 to the public at this price? I figure they could add in back seat comfort from the cash they save from not using the lights and sirens on a civilian model.
Question is, does $24k include all the lights and sirens? Usually there’s extra charges for plug ‘n play wiring harnesses, not to mention the aftermarket equipment to go with.
No, the $24K is without full outfitting.
I like the Charger. They’re really nice drivers. I’ll take an R/T with the cop black wheels and chrome center caps.
Great review, except the engine has 340hp and 390lb-ft (why they don’t give the cop cars the 350hp 5.7L version is beyond me).
Sajeev Mehta :
My one beef with MDS was that it only came on between 50-65mph, go over those speeds and I never saw fuel economy higher than 21mpg. (from my time in a 300C)
I owned a 300C, and city mpg was pretty poor. But, man, on the highway that car was a miser. I consistently got 26-28mpg on the stretches between Eastern Long Island and Manhattan and between Philadelphia and Manhattan (I did both trips fairly frequently). My lifetime MPG average for that car (over a year and a half) was in the low 20s. Terrific.
I wonder why they never built the 6000 SUX. After all, the bad guys need a showpiece car too.
No, the $24K is without full outfitting
Well, they could put a normal backseat in it and charge $25K for it then. That would still be $5K less than the current R/T, and about $800 less than an optionless Mustang GT.
I agree about those cop wheels too, they look real good in those pictures.
I thought the going price for a fully equip police cruiser was arund $60,000. That’s what I remember the old Crown Vic’s being in something I read a few years back. The $24,000 is probably for the base car, then they add on the options(paint, lights, crash bar, interior bits, etc.)
But I agree I could deal with a stripper Charger with the goods under the hood for $24,000. As long as it didn’t jump out of park, I wont by a car that does that at any price.
i hate to bitch, but the first picture is of a police magnum, not a charger.
same car though, pretty much.
& the most important part, they look mean as all hell. Makes a Crown Vic look like something Mary Kay would give as a prize.
A real car is one with V8 and RWD.
Back in 1993, GM decided to kill the Caprice platform in favor of some boring FWD cars.
Ford decided just to ignore the future and keep making the Phantom platform unchanged since 1979.
Toyota could read the market a little better by creating the LS400, a modern RWD car with a V8 in front.
Thank god Chrysler merges with a Germen company that doesn’t know how to make FWD cars.
Mr Mulally better focus on “how do I make a new RWD car” rather then try to revive an old name that even his dealers can’t get.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/ford-dealers-still-referring-to-taurus-as-five-hundred.html
If I were a Chrysler dealer in SC/GA/AL, I would market the hell out of this particular model.
There are so many folks who are looking for an intimidating car that can be semi-miserly on the highways. In fact, this vehicle would actually be a nice transition for the SUV drivers who are still looking for that bit of machismo.
The only issue with it is that it would have to be a customizable vehicle for it to work in great quantity… and it’s going to take a few years for the aftermarket to fully catch up with this model.
Great review!
I am betting that there is a different warranty as part of the price reduction. Wouldn’t make sense to pay for a warranty when you know your officers will be, quite properly, abusing the car.
I wonder why they never built the 6000 SUX. After all, the bad guys need a showpiece car too.
The 6000 SUX? I’d buy that for a dollar!
“As long as it didn’t jump out of park, I wont by a car that does that at any price.”
He didn’t say it jumped out of park by itself; he said it nearly took both hands to shift it.
As for the price, that’s more than likely just the car, no lights, no paint and probably no cage or equipment rack or pushbars. Most departments have their own preferences for all of that cop stuff to go on the car with cop motor, cop brakes and cop suspension.
“Back in 1993, GM decided to kill the Caprice platform in favor of some boring FWD cars.”
Dror, they didn’t have to decide to kill it, it died because Chevy put that godawful bulge-mobile body on it. Plus, it wasn’t fast enough to get out of its own way, so the few police departments that bought them, dumped them as soon as possible.
The real question is this:
“What do you say, is it the new Bluesmobile or what?”
With big Dodge emblems plastered on it, thanks to TTAC I keep imagining this car being specially designed for the THE FEMALE ANATOMY POLICE FORCE… and imagining myself joining the force!
Buick 61: how fast were you going in the 300C to get 26-28mpg? I’m guessing that cruising at 60mph will make it happen. I set the cruise to 75-ish and from Houston to Austin I never saw anything higher than 21mpg. It was depressing.
And how cool is it that we brought up the 6000 SUX?
I think GM should make it, the name has a stronger connection to Pontiac than the G8. Sell it to Pontiac dealers with an LS3, 6-spd auto and all the modern upgrades.
Now THAT’s an authoritative brand statement that’s worth the 8.2MPG. And if the Taurus can come back…who’s with me?
Sajeev Mehta :
September 19th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Buick 61: how fast were you going in the 300C to get 26-28mpg? I’m guessing that cruising at 60mph will make it happen. I set the cruise to 75-ish and from Houston to Austin I never saw anything higher than 21mpg. It was depressing.
Weird. Well, the speed limit from Philly to NYC was 65 mostly the whole way, so 70mph returned 26mpg. From Eastern Long Island to NYC is 55 the whole way, so 65mph returned the 28mpg average (sometimes even higher!).
I always had the correct tire pressure, ran the recommended 89 octane, usually limited a/c use, and maximized the cruise control. No fancy techniques or below the speed limit cruising, though.
Hmmm, maybe MDS bows out after 70mph. That’s the speed limit and nobody in Texas seems to drive it.
Since most cop cars are in service well after 100k, I’m curious to see how the HEMI Charger does in both long term reliability and economy. No doubt it will spank a CVPI the pistonhead department but the Charger is a complex (suspension) and thirsty beast.
And if the 3.5L V6 model is anything like the 300 Limited I tested a while back, its performance isn’t any better than the CVPI.
In my limited time in vehicles with cylinder deactivation I find that there’s a disproportionate gap in fuel efficiency when going from the 55-65 range to the 70+. Actually, that’s pretty much true in all cars, though even more so with the 300C and the like.
Actually, it’s pretty amazing the kind of fuel efficiency we can get if we simply just set the cruise control at 55-65mph on the highway like Buick61 mentioned. I get in the low 30’s with a 230HP 330i and the 258HP Acura TL at those speeds. Economy cars like the Civic or Corolla can record 40mpg under those conditions. Of course, it’s pretty difficult to drive like that even when the rare opportunities present itself, and I’ve only done so like twice in my lifetime, but it just goes to show how much our driving habits can influence fuel economy regardless whether you’re driving a hybrid Prius or a high powered sports sedan.
Oh yeah, I’ve seen the Police Charger in person around Michigan and it is one head-turnin’ bad-ass car.
Has anyone seen the Charger used by the cops in Miami Vice (the Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell version) with the black wheels? Every time I see a Police Charger I imagine it’s loaded with a undercover police squad on their way to a dramatic take-down of a international drug cartel… but really it’s just some grumpy dude handing out speeding tickets to soccer moms. Still…
No Comment with this Manly Car
The real American Muscle Car is Back.
Oh Boy!!! Next year will be awesome for a lot of American Cars it might “Transform” OUR Economy to Greenspan.
By the way,I don’t see any “Cage” on your picture.
Hmmm. With my previous car being an 02 WRX and my current car an 06 Charger RT this review really spoke to me. True, the MDS works great on the highways at low(er) speeds but it isn’t evident in city driving. It really needs an indicator light to tell you when it’s on – didn’t even know about the ‘limited’ active range. Shows you how cosmetics can influence your perception – look at the gawd-awful superbee compared to this intimidating ride, IMHO. Complaints: a dash creak that I’m waiting to worsen so the dealer can ‘duplicate’ before rectifying and build quality that isn’t on par with my japanese cars of the last 15 years – but I thought I’d give ‘Canadian’ muscle (built in Brampton Ontario) a go this time. Love this car.
The base car costs $18,511 to official New York State agencies. Up-grades on the test car including the engine (base is the six) brought it up to $24,000, not including the laptop, radio or decals. Nor does the price include installation of the push bar, light bar, electronics and decals. Installation can add thousands to the final out-of-pocket cost.
These won’t be in police service for long unless Dodge can get the brake issues figured out. A quick google shows stories of departments replacing brakes every 4000 mi or so.
If they do it the same as in Canada, all the extra stuff is “extra” and it’s not a generic kit, the individual dept’s choose the lights, sirens etc. they want so the price of the compete car would vary.
I’m afraid these police and military sales that Chrysler has picked up still amount to fleet sales. If they can’t give up that income stream then they should just start to embrace it. If 100% of your income came from the Federal and State governments, well that ain’t so bad.
My sister is a police officer. They looked at this, along with other police offerings and ended up sticking with the Crown Vic. Interior space seemed to be the biggest thing she mentioned, and the layout of all the interior controls (once you throw in all the goodies). The speed and all that was good, but for everyday usability, they preferred the CV (they being everyone in their fairly small PD).
Pretty interesting discussion on the sociology of how we perceive police vehicles and, to a certain extent, how we perceive the police.
We lament how the police these days are not as well connected to the community. They “gear up” and react to crime instead of being more involved in the neighborhoods and help to prevent crime.
How does a “bad ass” vehicle help that situation?
CeeDragon –
It’s called “visible deterrence”. I’m not saying it works everyplace (sometimes I enjoyed driving a clapped out K-Car and watching idiots commit crimes in front of me – and other officers enjoyed their bicycles), but try running a police department without it and see how many citizen complaints you get because they never “see any police officers”.
Fact is, law enforcement is complicated and changing, and each agency has their own challenges. But almost all departments require a standard, reliable, patrol car – might as well make them a visible deterrent.
Not that I’m a fan of this car – it’s interior is too cramped (once it’s properly equipped for duty) for me. Also, I have also heard more than a few anecdotal reports of serious brake overheating issues (literally flaming brake components), but perhaps they have been addressed by now.
I’m just wondering if a kinder and gentler “visible deterrence” wouldn’t be more effective in the long run rather than a “bad ass” presence?
Blautens, you’re right, every situation is different… but in communities that do not have a good relationship with the police, I question the image this kind of vehicle would project.
While this is pretty sweet, here in Vancouver I’ve seen a completely stock looking black Charger R/T that turned out to be a cop car. Normal rims and everything. Usually you can spot the ghost cars with the extras like lights in the grille or extra antennas, but this thing was completely invisible. One second normal charger, then bam! side marker lights turn into red and blue strobes, and some very well hidden lights behind the grille come on.
I am betting that there is a different warranty as part of the price reduction. Wouldn’t make sense to pay for a warranty when you know your officers will be, quite properly, abusing the car. That and a reduced overhead of selling hundreds to the same customer.
CeeDragon –
Would you prefer a patrol officer drive a Scion? Patrol cars are tools, like pistols. Form follows function. Much as a Sig-Sauer P226 will always appear just like most other typical 9mm pistols in that class; I would think a RWD, front engine, 4 door sedan with interior space and performance that meets department specifications, state emergency lighting regulations, and the police agencies particular paint scheme will all look similarly as “bad ass” as the next car that meets those specs.
I would suggest that the fact that one person stated this car looked “bad ass” doesn’t make it more or less suitable for law enforcement duty than its competition.
In fact, when people admired the appearance of my patrol car (I drove two test cars for my department), it often started a dialog between the citizen and myself.
There are a number of people that want x police cars as used cars after their tour of duty as a police cruiser.
There is some sort of “cool factor” attached to x police cars, and people in the know are well aware of which police force has better cars.
As a general guideline the “highway patrol” cars are more desirable than the “urban / city cars”.
Police officers can quickly explain why the back seat is moulded plastic or fiberglass, and why the rear floor covering is rubber.
Just would like to clear up a few misperceptions:
dror: Back in 1993, GM decided to kill the Caprice platform in favor of some boring FWD cars.
The year was 1996 and the Arlington Texas plant was switched over to build more profitable Tahoes, Yukons and Escalades.
dror: Ford decided just to ignore the future and keep making the Phantom platform unchanged since 1979.
That would be the Panther platform, which has evolved since 1979.
MX5Bob: …they didn’t have to decide to kill it, it died because Chevy put that godawful bulge-mobile body on it. Plus, it wasn’t fast enough to get out of its own way, so the few police departments that bought them, dumped them as soon as possible.
The published performance numbers for the 1994 Chevrolet Caprice police model, as independently tested by the Michigan State Police, were 0-100 mph in 21.64 seconds with a top speed of 141.2 mph.
Noted police car expert, Edwin Sanow, has written: “the Caprice was the best overall police car ever made by anybody.” This would mean even better than the Camry Toyota once offered to North American police agencies as well as Volvo’s 1990s attempt at this market.
I think CeeDragon makes a legit point that perhaps a car with this sort of aggressive aesthetic isn’t really the best choice for neighborhoods with poor citizen-police relationships. The ghettos of Camden and Newark in New Jersey would be good examples. Perhaps the subtler standard issue Crown Vics are better choices in that case? This is just speculation of course, who knows if a Police Charger’s looks serve as a deterrent or if they only incite more police resentment in neighborhoods like those?
Ultimately, I doubt it matters either way. Given the rates of crime in this country (especially in poorer minority neighborhoods) how a few of our police cars look seems rather irrelevant in the bigger picture.
I think a Charger PI with Chrome double-dubs would go over great in some inner city neighbourhoods. If you could keep the wheels on the car, anyway.
blautens :
September 20th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
CeeDragon –
Would you prefer a patrol officer drive a Scion?
Can you imagine if that happened? What message would be sent?
If we changed the message from, “we’re here with the best tools to pursue you in a high speed chase and arrest you” to “we’re here with the best tools to be friendly and approachable, connect with the community, and tailor our services for you since you pay our salary”.
Perhaps we wouldn’t catch all the criminals in their fast(er) cars. But I would rather invest my tax money into a police culture that works with the neighborhoods and focuses as much on preventing crime as stopping it.
I know. It’s really, really hard. It’s much easier to carry a bigger gun, drive a more intimidating police car, and cruise neighborhoods in those cars than walking the beat.
Know what my favorite police vehicle is? A bicycle. I love these guys/gals who ride them because of the great community work that they do that often goes underappreciated because they prevent more crimes than catch criminals. And when they prevent a crime, they didn’t need a “bad ass” car to haul them to jail.
Blautens, gotta give you props for having those dialogs with your community. I think if more officers did that, we would all be living in a much better world.
“as Volvo’s 1990s attempt at this market”
Actually, to clear up your misconception, it was a 1980s attempt Volvo – early 80s if memory serves me correctly.
Qusus :
My car is Mazda 3 s hatch 2.3, if there is one thing I dislike about this car is fuel consumption, the whole point of getting a small car for me was fuel consumption.
I live in NYC, so my day is mixed hwy and heavy stop and go.
The advertised MPG on this car (2006) is 25-31, I can only manage 22-25 but on a recent trip to DC, 560 miles all together, I manged 31 to 33! MPG, it was a long trip so I figure there is no mistake on my side, the average speed was 70mph, 85 degrees so the A/C was on all the time it means that I beat the pre 2008 EPA which is a little surprising for me.
Austin Greene :
I thank you for the corrections.
dror
kgriff1118: Actually, to clear up your misconception, it was a 1980s attempt Volvo – early 80s if memory serves me correctly.
I was referring to the Volvo 850 turbo that was offered in 1997, as well as the S70 and V70 / T5 offered from 1998 to 2000. These were purpose built police vehicles and not consumer models that were pressed into police service by agencies such as those in Vail, Aspen and elsewhere.
I am not aware of Volvo offering a police model in the North American market at any other time and would welcome any additional information that you can offer in this regard.
The local city freeway patrol still uses mid-90’s Caprices – they have rebuilt them numerous times, but the majority are now Crown Vics.
The Charger is a decent police package, but it is unproven, and many agencies have deemed them too small, with poor lines of vision for the driver. Intial quality reports have not been entirely positive.
The Crown Vic is still the standard, not that Ford should rest on it’s laurels in the market. Unfortunately, Ford appears willing to lose that market as well chasing a pipe dream of what kind of people will buy their products.
dror:
Yeah, the Mazda 3s is less fuel efficient compared to the other cars in the economy class. But hey, you get a considerably bigger engine, more HP, better acceleration and a better overall driver’s car than the Civic’s and Corollas.
My daily driver is a 2002 Corolla, and while I average 37mpg on my daily routine a little piece of my eternal soul dies every time I drive that thing. So really, what would you rather have? Better fuel efficiency or your eternal soul? Better fuel efficiency… eternal soul. Yeah…
On a sidenote I love New York City but that’s one of the few places I’d never want to drive. A mpg in the 20’s is pretty good for that kind of traffic.
Austin Greene –
Your memory of the Caprice 9C1 platform is very accurate – the Arlington plant was converted to truck based SUVs, and most who drove the 9C1 daily (or reviewed them in the proper context) considered the 9C1 to be the best police car – ever. I drove more than one Caprice – and won a 36 department driving course shoot-out with one. And that one had the anemic 5.0 liter V8 – but it out handled the more powerful Crown Vics of the day. I loved it so much I bought a 1996 Impala SS (which I sold in 2003 with 40k miles).
CeeDragon –
Best practices would indicate that uniformity of training, repair (and parts) consolidation, and other budgetary considerations suggest you should buy only ONE type of standard marked patrol vehicle – which is what we’re talking about here. Not to mention virtually every department’s preference for RWD sedans’ handling characteristics, particulary when loaded with all the gear you need for patrol.
Marked patrol cars need to meet certain realistic specifications. When I first hit the road, I can remember dozens of our patrol cars (myself included) being outrun in my 1987 Diplomat that had a top speed of 89 MPH. Over and over and over. That same car could only hold two suspects – a real problem when my usual zone was 25 square miles, or the zone next to it had 36,000 residents – either serviced by a single deputy. It couldn’t tow the 4WD Yamaha Mules we needed for rural patrol unless the rear suspension was modified heavily.
We tried a plethora of vehicles over the years (and I was one of test drivers). We test drove Luminas, K-cars, Diplomats converted to run on propane (really!), Oldsmobile Cieras, Caprices, Crown Vics, Jeep Cherokees, and refurbished Caprices (when they stopped making them in 1996).
Fact is, I think Scions (okay – first gen xB’s) are practical and cool – I’d use forfeiture funds to buy one or two as an “image” car for a department (such as DARE cars), but if you plan to equip the entire metro department in your average million citizen plus area (such as where I live) with Scions or the like – I’d suggest that’s not as practical as you might think. It has less to do with image, and more to do with the aforementioned items – function, specifications, cost, reliability, training, etc.
Fact is – marked patrol cars draw ire or respect (or a shower of bullets – twice in my case) regardless of manufacture. So I’d prefer the best tool for the job. And again – I don’t know in this case that it’s the Charger over the Crown Vic (which are the only two options for most departments).
But I certainly respect your opinion in this matter.
Qusus :
Don’t get me wrong, I love that car!
Too bad Plymouth’s gone. Slap a couple of Warner Bros. decals on the front doors of a $24k V8 Charger police car and you get the ‘real’ retro 1968 Roadrunner that all the old-school musclecar types have been clamoring for decades.
In fact, if Chrysler had really wanted to come up with a new Super Bee that was faithful to the original, they would have just put the Super Bee decals on a $24k V8 Charger cop car instead of on one that was so loaded it jacked the price up to 40 large.
We purchased a fleet of 2006 Charges/Magnums this year for our city. My only concern has been the continuous transmission issues (leaks, slippage, and a circlip on the linkage. I really hope the reliability is there, because the performance is great. We paid 21K for the Charger and 22K for the Magnum.
FYI with all the police equipment (incl installation) most cars are around 30-34K
hey just for the record the hype is wrong the cop car is a 350 hp daytona spec set up suspension and brakes ttoo so dont think you will walk away from it my daytona eats wrxs for breakfast and anymustang under saleen cobra or gt 500 for the record if your scared to drive your vette ill eat it too lol
oh and to add a little more im born and raised in the nations capitol and have had my share of police chases and when the suspect gets away in a toyota supra becase you drive a (fast)slow to accelerate vic wich handles with the strenths of a chopped dumptruck it does hurt a officers pride and also the charger is fast enouth that many more will just not run becase they think all police drive like rusty wallace but anywho ive also ad the police v8 5.7 liter beside me ecses of 140 and it holds it it seems to acually accelerate faster than mines maby its lighter than my daytona with all its comforts but I doubt it oh and on the track my car has seen past the posted 160 so criminals do beware it isnt the car to run from for sure and i kik her arse all day everday sumwhere around 12 to 17 mpg and mds on my car kiks in over 60 also just let go of the peddle and it does in less time than you can blink your eye you get ther best city milage letting it cruse i have a habbit in the city of hitting forty and letting it come back down and get a little better than most in the city but who buys a hemi for gas milage oh polise need to upgrade to full ventalated disks and hawk brake pads the tranny problems are probbaly due to the bad servicing systems generally associated with the departments and with all advised matainance it will be alot better and alot cheaper REMEMBER PEOPLE IT IS A HIGH PROFORMANCE CAR
I think Michael should have compared the Charger to the Ford Crown Victoria or the Chevy Impalla so we can see how chrysler can challenge the guys who have been building them for years.
And personally (I love the Crown Vic) I think if dodge gets the cop contracts, tisk tisk, shame on ford and chevy for not advancing there cars over the years.
Believe it or nuts but the 1980’s Volvo 240 with the intercooled turbo was available to US police forces. I think Vermont and/or New Hamphire had some. Considering the locale and lack of rust-proofing, most have probably succumbed to the tinworm by now.
Well, for most law enforcement agencies – day-in and day-out durability is probably the primary attribute, rather than brute, neck-snapping acceleration. And police departments tend to be pretty conservative in terms of equipment – don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.
Other than the Crown Vic, which has the lion’s share of the police market practically due to default, I’ve been seeing some Impalas, most notably in New York City. I don’t know how these FWD models stand up to heavy use but heard that they’re liked because they can move a bit better in snow conditions…
Just learned something about the Charger, last gen,(’10). The one the company rented was just broken into and robbed of the company computer, 4G card and other items. It was parked at Ala Moana in a semi-secure parking lot. The security guards and Hono Police both said the Dodge Charger is the easiest car to get into. The locks are simple to get past. Not a scratch on the car. All of the recent robberies have been Chargers.