mr-rad Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 A freind of mine is after a buying a car with a budget of about five grand. He has 2 dogs and would like an estate with a bit of go about it. While searching he came across a place that buys, preps and sells ex police cars and from there he can buy a 2004 Volvo T5 estate, 100k on the clock in budget. It will have been well serviced and should be in good order as long as it hasn't been used as a battering ram. Can anybody tell me if buying an expolice car is a good or bad idea? Quote
windy Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 Been and looked at one once. Benefits - well maintained, cheap Negatives - have a look underneath - exhaust and floor were bashed flat by speed humps / going off road Holes in roof full of filler Car felt knackered when driven - probably due to weakened body The one I looked at had a gun cabinet in the trunk - could come in useful Quote
adamnreeves Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 If one of the motorway cruisers then most of the miles will of course have been attained from doing just that. Quote
steve_m Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 I remember being pulled over on the M18 a few years ago and commented to the plod who was giving me a speeding ticket that the engine sounded a bit rough, given it was a Jaguar. His reply was that they don't get serviced very often and get thrashed all the time. If that Jaguar was representative of their cars then I'd not buy one. Quote
Pilot Pete Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 Well, if its good enough for Jake & Ellwood Quote
JeffC Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 wouldnt buy one , few of my customers are coppers and lordy me do they give them abuse plus all the ones ive seen have had more paint than the Forth road bridge Quote
lukeyboy Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 I've driven with the Police quite a few times and quite simply I would never buy an old police car. They thrash the nuts off them. At the end of the day they are a work horse, no matter how often they are serviced. Quote
flat_four Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 Usd to work for the company that prepares and modifies all the vehicles for the Met, and a lot of the other forces as well before they enter service. We used to get a lot of vehicles back after their active life for decommisioning. 99% of the time I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole. As others have said, they're thrashed and abused and they are usually 'serviced' by external contractors who are, ahem, not always as scrupulous as they could be... There's always the odd diamond in the rough, but they are generally knackered! HTH, John Quote
Crazy Eddie Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 If you can find the diamond you are a better man than I! We went through this same thought process about 4 years ago. The theory being it would be a "newer" car than we could buy private. Problem was, as has been mentioned, mileage is high and to be fair it seemed to be 100,000 miles of abuse! The final nail in the coffin though was our local Ex-Plod Car salesman who to be fair was a bit of a tool! Telling me that he didn't think I should buy and ex police car if I wasn't prepared to do a little bit of work to it!!! Why would I spend £5k on a car to then do work to it??? (Apart from Westie but that is fun ) Anyway we ended going for a Private T5 (which are still readily available for that price) with FVSH and was a fantastic car that had been well looked after too and drove brilliantly My 2p from my experience and as far as the T5 itself is concerned it is an excellent car if a bit thirsty, D5 worth a look too Quote
Asterix Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 Dont do it!!! End of debate then, in this context Quote
philsugrue Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 I drive one, when at work. DON'T DO IT!!!!! when they're disposed of they're knackered. Our cars are only serviced according to manufacturer's guide lines. They are frequently driven very hard.......often left on 'run lock' some times for hours, left ticking over, at accidents etc. I've never seen one of our cars that has not been painted, most if not all get in at least minor scrapes. HTH Phil Quote
Darrell O'Neill Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 Half of my family is plod or 'Job' as as they call it, I wouldnt buy a b****y wheel barrow off them! Apparantly its their 'response training' that causes them to drive in a gear lower than neccessary everywhere As is mentioned above they thrash the hell out of them! Quote
John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison Posted January 20, 2008 Posted January 20, 2008 They are just loosened up at 100k Quote
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