Cops trading in traditional Crown Vic for Tahoe's

[Danny_Boy]

http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=156357

@http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=156357

Chicago police should see lower vehicle maintenance costs as the fleet turns over its Ford Crown Victorias — the city’s standard patrol cars for decades — for Chevrolet Tahoes, a recent study shows.

A February study on law enforcement vehicle costs released by Vincentric, an automotive analysis firm, concluded the 2010 Chevy Tahoe cost less to own and operate than the Crown Vic or the other two vehicles often used by police departments, the Dodge Charger and the Chevy Impala.

“The taxpayers, who are ultimately paying for these vehicles, are getting the most for their money because it costs less to maintain the product and keep it on the street,” said Roderick Drew, Chicago Police spokesman in News Affairs.

But some officers are reluctant to give up their familiar Fords.
“The cup holder is in the door and not the center console,” said Peter Pietrusiewicz, a Rogers Park policeman who patrolled with a Tahoe on Tuesday. “We need our cappuccinos.”

Joking aside, Pietrusiewicz said the Tahoe’s bulk makes it difficult to cut through traffic or zip down an alley for a short cut.
“If I have to get somewhere really fast, I would rather be behind the wheel of a Crown Vic than the Tahoe,” Pietrusiewicz said.

He said the Tahoe slid on the roads after Tuesday’s snowstorm, landing him in a snow pile. Pietrusiewicz said he’d rather have the Crown Vic when trying to drive through the snow.
But his beat partner, Joe Vanourek, isn’t so swift to praise the Crown Vic’s handling ability.
“The rear wheels spin out and they handle horribly on snow and ice,” he said of the Crown Victoria with no snow tires that he drives. “If you’re trying to get somewhere quick, it’s a recipe for losing control.”
Still, Vanourek is hesitant to make the switch.
“I’m accustomed to the Crown Vic because I trained with it and my experience is with the Crown Vic — it’s what I know,” Vanourek said. “Maybe I’ll feel differently when I get a Tahoe.”

Vanourek said a new schedule for police in Rogers Park dictates that cops no longer have assigned cars. They’ll be alternating between Tahoes and Crown Vics until the entire fleet turns over, which he estimates will take a few years’ time.

Drew said Ford is discontinuing Crown Vics, which comprise the bulk of Chicago’s roughly 2,000 police cars, within the next year. The Chicago Police Department will purchase 266 more Tahoes by May, adding to the 230 in service as it continues its changeover of the core fleet.

Although the Tahoe costs about $5,000 more than the Crown Vic, lower maintenance and depreciation costs combine to make it cheaper over all, according to the study.

Drew test-drove a Tahoe on Tuesday. He said it should make a better pursuit vehicle.
“It’s got a lot of punch with the front-wheel drive,” Drew said, “and a higher presence, which is good for visibility. People don’t mistake those cars for anything else.”

Last section lol.
So do you guys get the whole “Tahoe cheaper to operate than CV idea?”

[dawn]

:danny:

[Danny_Boy]

This is quoted from an active duty police officer on crownvic.net…

@jmlock

Being someone that has actually been in a Tahoe during a short pursuit, I will give my experience.

The Tahoe handles just as good as the CVPI. The problem is when officers add too much crap in the back, such as a DOT or SWAT units, which throws off the center of gravity.

The Tahoe is faster. Going to a call last Monday I tried to keep up with a Tahoe. Off the line or just running down the street, my '08 could not do it. Even our '05 Tahoes are faster than our newest Vics. It sucks, but that’s life.

As for price, we just ordered six more for our DOT and SWAT guys…for $100 cheaper than the Vics. That’s fully equipped, marked and all the fancy crap.

Fuel mileage they say is slightly better, but I can’t and won’t bet on that. But, most work is done at either idle or WOT.

I like my '08 a lot, but yes, I would trade it on a larger and faster Tahoe in a heartbeat.

[JustinH]

I would have never guessed that. The 4.6L motor is a gas sipper for a v8, I would think that the truck would be getting 14-16mpg on average.

[Danny_Boy]

@dawn

:danny:

Great contribution to the thread… :roll2:

[deebo]

Not surprised to hear cops go WOT all the time lol

[system]

I did not expect this thread from you.

[travisn]

@maxwell

I did not expect this thread from you.

fixed.

on topic: a relative of mine is a few months away from retiring from NYST and for the first 17 years or so he did canine and always had a tahoe (they didnt get him another dog since he was retiring soon). He says he hates driving a CV when he has to now. I dont blame him one bit. afaik he still drives the old body style tahoe.

[Danny_Boy]

@JustinH

I would have never guessed that. The 4.6L motor is a gas sipper for a v8, I would think that the truck would be getting 14-16mpg on average.

True,some members on CVN have reported getting 28 or more mpg on the highway.

From what i have heard/read the newer 5.3L V8’s do quite well on gas milage.Heck even my ol’ '99 Tahoe does quite well on gas,much better than i thought it would.If it were bad than their is NO way i would be able to keep this vehicle as my DD.

[Danny_Boy]

@travisn

fixed.

on topic: a relative of mine is a few months away from retiring from NYST and for the first 17 years or so he did canine and always had a tahoe (they didnt get him another dog since he was retiring soon). He says he hates driving a CV when he has to now. I dont blame him one bit. afaik he still drives the old body style tahoe.

Tahoe’s make for great canine and D.O.T. units.Most if not all of the NYSP Tahoe’s around here i see being used for such dutys.

However,they were also good for chasing down speeders if need be,The 2WD Police Tahoe’s were “pursuit rated” and often used for highway enforcement.Their has been a few times i have been going down the 400 or the I-90 and seen the NYSP running radar in a 2WD Z56 Tahoe (just like they used to do in the ol’ B4C Camaro’s).

Since 2005 the CV has really seemed to take a back seat to the Police package Tahoe.

[somedude]

i guess ford should have stepped up their game a bunch of years ago and actually upgraded their car. I don’t for a second believe that the tahoe will be better on gas though. heavier vehicle with more power at wot ripping down the highway or through city streets.

[jt76]

When did they take the Camaros out of service?

[Justin]

@jt76

When did they take the Camaros out of service?

I’m gonna guess not long after 2002…

[travisn]

it was 07 ish

[jt76]

Did NYS have a formula cop car? For some reason i have a memory of one at the trooper substation at the 390 exit off the 90 in Henrietta NY.

[Jam]

@dawn

:danny:

.

[Danny_Boy]

@jt76

When did they take the Camaros out of service?

As far as i know the last year for the 5th gen F-bodys was 2002.So if i had to guess,2005-2006 would be the last year that Police stopped using the B4C Camaro’s,esp in the northeastern states.In the warmer states they may have only been used to '04-'05.The B4C Camaro could be used more often in the warmer states.

Also from what i know you had to be a veteran officer and “specially trained” to opperate the B4C Camaro.I mean its not like they would hand the keys to some young rookie cop,makes sense…

[travisn]

again, it was 2007.

[Danny_Boy]

@jt76

Did NYS have a formula cop car? For some reason i have a memory of one at the trooper substation at the 390 exit off the 90 in Henrietta NY.

They may have if it was a drug related charge.

I had a MM&FF mag years ago were the NYPD took possession of two Mustangs that were drag racing in the streets.One was SC’ed and the other had many bolt on’s.The NYPD painted them up,slapped on their decals,and then used them as highway traffic enforcement units.They even had “highway Patrol” on the windshields.They were '87-'93 model GT’s,any true SSP Mustang was a notchback.

So yeah,its very possable you may have seen a in service Firebird being used for traffic enforcement.

Honestly the B4C Camaro was really nothing special.It was just a de-badged Z28.

The '84-'93 SSP Mustangs were way more purpose built for police duty than the Camaro was.

[Danny_Boy]

@travisn

again, it was 2007.

Yeah that is very possable,esp in the cold states.I can’t remember the last time i seen them on the highways.