Tahoes v Pontiacs
Here's what some Departments are doing to save on gas costs:
- CAHOKIA, Ill. - Police Chief Richard Watson admits his department's newest patrol car is a curious departure from its big-horsepower Ford Crown Victorias. But the four-cylinder Pontiac Vibe GT has plenty of pep for policing, he said, and gets twice the gas mileage.
Law enforcement agencies across the country looking for ways to cut corners and reduce costs after last year's $4-a-gallon gas are increasingly turning to more fuel-efficient cars.
While few expect that more muscular cruisers like the Crown Victorias or Dodge Chargers will be replaced altogether, there's little confidence gasoline will stay below $2 a gallon much longer.
We don't expect anything like this to be on the streets of Chicago any time soon, but it's nice to see what a professionally run department can do with their vehicle fleet.
Labels: general
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
47 Comments:
I want to see that VIBE get thru our side streets when they don't get plowed for hours or days after a big snow.
It appears to be about 3 inches off the ground?
Same as Seiser!
Let's get the police equipped Ford Flex
Every take home car for the bosses should be a prius. My how they bitched and complained when the bosses learned they were getting a Malibu. If you think it's hard to screw the office dollies in the back of a Chevy wait until you are in the back of one of those. The CFD migh have to use the jaws of life to get some of those fat ass bosses out of them.
Ya. Bec the Impalas worked out so well...
Police Chief Richard Watson Vs. J-Fed in a cage match. Wagers?
fwd is not sturdy enough for neglected city streets.
between potholes, speed bumps and the odd angry curb a solid axle truck is more like it.
I would like to see the Vibrator or any other shitbox actually be able to make it over these bullshit speed mountains we have on our streets.
GM announced two days ago that Pontiac will be reverted to a small, performance niche of their line as part of the restructuring process.
The Ford Crown Vic is still the most sensible vehicle for big city policing. Not too big, not too small,roomy front and rear, durable, cheap to fix.
Wait til the tire bill alone for Tahoes starts to add up.
Cars like Vibes are not durable enough for 24/7 use in a city like Chicago with horrendous streets and extraordinarly violent residents who need to be transported to lock-ups, hospitals, asylums, treatment centers, etc.....
Gas isn't $4 anymore and is at a several year low. I like my 'Vic and will miss it when it's gone. The v6 G8 is RWD and extremely roomy. It'd be the next best thing to what we have now.
The Vibe does horrible in snow not because of it's ride height, but because of the tires that come on it (I should know, I have one). It's a base model and gets high 20's in city traffic, and low to mid 30's on the highway. However, IT HAS NO BALLS. My wife didn't want to get the GT because at that time, they only came with a 6-speed. You guys should know that the only thing GM builds on those cars is the body and interior. Toyota builds the rest (Yamaha designed the motor). I drove a GT once and it's a fun ride, but it's a beer can. It may have its place on patrol, but to get rid of heavy patrol cars entirely would be a mistake.
Hope you guys enjoy your 2WD tahoes! More of OUR tax money down the drain!
Get VW TDI JETTAS!!
Seiser eats beef jerky and shits gunpowder. Then, he uses that gunpowder to make a bullet, which he uses to kill a cow and make more beef jerky. Some people refer to this as the "Circle of Life."
SCC,
I'm former CPD now working in the Western Suburbs (But still living in the City). I have time on the job and actually drove at one time an old LTD (pool car) with actuals Mars lights on the roof. Now mind you, the squad was piece of junk but did run well.
Are things so desperate now that the City can't fix, or won't fix the cars? I have seen squads driving around with no bumpers, another car on the way to a job had only the front left corner of a light bar working.
Where is the leadership in the CPD. The Supt. should be ashamed to have personnel driving around in these wrecks. The squads on the streets today look like they should be rented to a production company doing a re-make of "Hill Street Blues," or maybe "Robo-Cop."
The Superintendent is waste of taxpayer money, I don't see what he has done except destroy a once effective and well respected Police Department.
God Bless the Members of the CPD, I pray for you all daily.
Ah yes. Harkens back to the early 80's when we had 6 cylinder single barrel carb Dodge Aspens. Couldn't go through a red light if there was a car within half a block as you couldn't accelerate across in that space of time. Cars are better now certainly, but I still want to really move when I need to. Never did write any speeders when I drove one of those.
I saw this police vehicle parked at a Gas Station this summer. The Officer riding it had about 5 positive community contacts in the short time I filled up.
6 if you include me telling him I was jealous.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=225664&src=3
Safety issue:
Has anyone here on this blog ever pulled up to a job in progress and had to get out of the Tahoe in an instant and been "trapped" due to the power locking system?
I HAVE numerous times!!
I think the coputerized locking system is not applicable for emergency responders ...just my opinion!
Hopefully this will not be a COFFIN ON WHEELS for one of us!!
Did anyone EVER test this thing out before this EMERGENCY vehicle was purchased and put into action on the City streets?
Probably not...
Oh well....Keep on Truckin'
Concerned Police Vet....
You're lucky Chrysler's in trouble, otherwise they might be looking at buying something like the Dodge Aspen....or bringing back the Ford Fairmont.
I do drive a prius, yes it get great gas milage and is confortable.
It would make a great parking enforcment or gofer car. However, it cannot get down the side street or alley with any kind of snow on the ground, and the small tires just fall into any kind of pothole.
Also, the electical sysytem does not support light bars, sirens, radios etc.
So sticj with the crown vics, over the long run they cost less to run than the tahoes.
The Impalas suck and they dont have a full frame (uni-body) Years ago the FLOP beefed about putting p/o's in cars without a frame and said it was not safe. I wonder how Chief Watson would feel if he was in one of those Vibes with a full size pickup truck about to hit him? I think he would want to upgrade to a Tahoe at that time.
Every take home car for the bosses should be a prius. My how they bitched and complained when the bosses learned they were getting a Malibu. If you think it's hard to screw the office dollies in the back of a Chevy wait until you are in the back of one of those. The CFD migh have to use the jaws of life to get some of those fat ass bosses out of them.
1/23/2009 12:54:00 AM
Isn't the purpose of the take home car so they can be on call 24 hours. The smaller cheaper car will get them from point A to point B. Aaaw but you can't show that off to your friends & neighbors, budget be damned.
JUST THINK WHAT THE CHICAGO STREETS POT HOLE WILL DO TO THAT JUNK.
Why buy cars,we should ride the cta to our jobs the city will save millions and we get there when we can! If you have to wait for back up oh well! We have nothing but junkers to drive, and the bosses are getting fatter like before! Great morale booster!
How cute! Since the country is going to become socialist like Europ. It is only fitting that we get those little police cars that they have. Obama will definately raise the price of gas either by ending the further drilling of oil or through taxation.
You should have no fear, freedom is not that important when you have a benevolent government watching over you.
The Ford Escape Hybrid is a good idea. The department still gets an SUV, the city saves money on fuel, and we're not crammed into compact cars.
http://icma.org/pm/9006/public/feature1.cfm?author=Robert%20S.%20Hoffmann&title=Hybrid%20Police%20Patrol%20Vehicles%20Praised
I want to see that VIBE get thru our side streets when they don't get plowed for hours or days after a big snow.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
The Vibe will drive MUCH better in the snow than the Crown Vics do. The Crown Vics aren't bad but you can't compare them to a FWD vehicle.
The worst thing about trying to patrol the side streets are all teh damn speed bumps.
They must take away years of a vehicle's life, esp front wheel drive cars.
What's wrong with chargers?
thank god i don't work the street.
Since the USA is funding both sides of the terror war through our taxes and oil purchases perhaps the Feds should offer "incentives" for governments to convert their vehicle fleets to electric cars.
Now since police cars are used 24 hours a day there may be some issues; however, I'm sure a few consulting contracts can be given out in Chicago to find a solution.
If the department manages to find a way to cut vehicle costs perhaps the savings can be put into other areas such as rifles, shotguns, better training, and mental health services.
I'm really, really, trying to contain my sarcasm here.
It's difficult. Give me a chance to breathe.
Ok, I think I'm ready to proceed.
As for take home cars, except canine handlers, small fuel efficient cars should be mandated. That would be policy throughout all government agencies. Why the hell do CTA or Streets and San supervisors need SUV's? It's a rhetorical question ladies and germs.
Then how about replacing the CPD "fleet" of mountain bikes with recumbent bikes? Recumbents are more expensive and look silly, but they are more comfortable. Added benefit is keeping CPD members in better shape. I for one strive and hope to one day be as sexy and in shape as our unfrozen caveman Superintendent.
Hell, I've even seen hand powered cycles on the lakefront. Get me one of those and I'll approach the Adonis like sexiness of Phil Cline himself.
There is even such a thing as cycles that are both leg and hand powered. I've never seen one up close, yet I imagine if we had those I might even be almost as sexy as the Huberman himself.
From my typing fingers to the Almighty's ears.
There are absolutely no pool cars. Is this crazy or what. There hasn't been a pool car on the key rack for over 6 months. Our car keeps getting downed for rear end and suspension work. They keep giving it back to us and the problem still exists. Meanwhile, no car to give us so we're on foot patrol in the station. It's like pulling teeth just to get your wiper blades replaced or the a/c recharged too. My partner and I had to go buy another roll of duct tape and bring in a couple wire coat hangers just to keep the cars together.
Thats nice for them
But, do they have:
1)automated citation reader/writer, 2)camera and audio equipment,
3)GPS
4)big ass PDT's and their mounts 5)ALPR equipment and,
6)The officer's personal stuff?
in those things?
And if they do, are they ever 2 man? or can they get a mount for all the stuff that just goes over the passenger seat? And where does 350lb pookie ride after I lock him up? In the trunk?
Anonymous said...
I want to see that VIBE get thru our side streets when they don't get plowed for hours or days after a big snow.
It appears to be about 3 inches off the ground?
Same as Seiser!
1/23/2009 12:37:00 AM
Umm, you must work INSIDE.... I bet a front wheel drive vibe will do much better than our REAR wheel drive vic...if you worked outside, you would know that it can't be any worse. But, you are probably inside, writing up orders for more useless crap because you don't have a clue what is going on. Hey, thanks again for the pdt mounts that dont rotate and are installed so high that we cannot access our emergency equipment, much less our climate control, without shifting into neutral first. Keep up the good work!
Don King said...
Police Chief Richard Watson Vs. J-Fed in a cage match. Wagers?
1/23/2009 03:34:00 AM
My money is on Jfed... he will indicte watson AND the cage prior to the match...
Anonymous said...
I want to see that VIBE get thru our side streets when they don't get plowed for hours or days after a big snow.
It appears to be about 3 inches off the ground?
Same as Seiser!
1/23/2009 12:37:00 AM
The Vibe has an all-wheel drive option. It could make a lot of sense for some uses.
Want to see what a real police car should look like...see
http://www.carbonmotors.com/machine
I've sent SCC a group of photos of police cars from around the world, including Porches, Lamborghinis, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguars and Smart Cars. I would like to see them posted.
But, I still miss my Crown Vic and for that matter my Dodge Monaco.
That Impala is a piece of crap, and a death trap.
I'd be happy to have one as compaired to the cars in my unit !
THE SUV'S ARE NO BETTER IN THE SNOW THAN A CROWN VIC, CHEVY IMPALA OR EVEN THIS 4 BANGER. THIS VEHICLE HAS PRACTICALITY. I LIKE IT!!!!
LETS PURCHASE A FEW AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!!!!!
1/23/2009 - 0836AM Said:
"However IT HAS NO BALLS. My wife didn't want to get the GT because at that time, they only came with a 6-speed".
Got news for ya, pal. The Non-GT version of the Vibe ain't the only thing with NO BALLS. (Insert cracking-whip noise here).
- Westside, Inside Do-Nothing
Chrysler wouldn't come down in price since they will soon be the only rear wheel drive police car option left GM made a big mistake getting rid of the Caprice although they plan to reintroduce it. It will be basically a Pontiac G8 with Chevy badging and rear wheel drive.
Anonymous said...
Chrysler wouldn't come down in price since they will soon be the only rear wheel drive police car option left GM made a big mistake getting rid of the Caprice although they plan to reintroduce it. It will be basically a Pontiac G8 with Chevy badging and rear wheel drive.
1/23/2009 09:25:00 PM
sorry rwd caprice is gone forever1
When will the enw tahoes arrive? Or will they cancel the order like the assholes did with the crown vics? Cline had balls and stood up to get us equipment, the budget director was shut down by Cline looks like j-fed is silent!
Safety issue:
Has anyone here on this blog ever pulled up to a job in progress and had to get out of the Tahoe in an instant and been "trapped" due to the power locking system?
I HAVE numerous times!!
I think the coputerized locking system is not applicable for emergency responders ...just my opinion!
Hopefully this will not be a COFFIN ON WHEELS for one of us!!
Did anyone EVER test this thing out before this EMERGENCY vehicle was purchased and put into action on the City streets?
Probably not...
Oh well....Keep on Truckin'
Concerned Police Vet....
1/23/2009 10:52:00 AM
Yep, that is my biggest issue with these Tahoe's. When I tell my family about it they can't believe they'd give those to Police.
Anonymous said...
Safety issue:
Has anyone here on this blog ever pulled up to a job in progress and had to get out of the Tahoe in an instant and been "trapped" due to the power locking system?
I HAVE numerous times!!
I think the coputerized locking system is not applicable for emergency responders ...just my opinion!
Hopefully this will not be a COFFIN ON WHEELS for one of us!!
Did anyone EVER test this thing out before this EMERGENCY vehicle was purchased and put into action on the City streets?
Probably not...
Oh well....Keep on Truckin'
Concerned Police Vet....
1/23/2009 10:52:00 AM
Yep, that is my biggest issue with these Tahoe's. When I tell my family about it they can't believe they'd give those to Police.
1/24/2009 02:28:00 AM
0000000000000000000000
HAPPEND TO ME LAST NIGHT......
trying to assist officers chasing robbery offenders got to the scene and the damn car door locked still would not open and it took me several seconds (10-20 which could be a lifetime) to figure out how to disengage the locking system!!!
All I can say is wait until more P/o's drive the Tahoe the STORIES will follow and I hope it is not a DEATH of one of OURS!
It is definitely a safety issue for first responders but the Tahoe is great for CRUISING and just arriving AFTER the FACT however!!!!
My 2 cents
>>>When will the enw tahoes arrive? Or will they cancel the order like the assholes did with the crown vics? Cline had balls and stood up to get us equipment, the budget director was shut down by Cline looks like j-fed is silent!
1/24/2009 12:15:00 AM<<<
WTF!!! Cline is the one who got us these frigging Impalas.
But, I never saw him drive one.
If we can't get new Crown Vics, can we get reconditioned ones from the suburbs through a Daley connected vendor.
You guys should find a manual or just check the 'net - those locks can be reprogrammed rather easily...
HTH...
DD
In re: my previous comment, it looks like now one must go to the dealer to get this done.
See http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?autocom=ibwiki&cmd=article&id=481
Still - surely you guys could hit a local auto dealer on a donut break... ;-D
I know other Chev vehicles can be programmed to auto-unlock when shift into park or just Driver door (probably best IMHO)...
Call ahead, should take <10 mins...
HTH!
DD
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