Warren t claim wrote: ↑Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:13 am
SiC wrote: ↑Sun Jun 18, 2023 2:48 pm
The best value (due to preferential pricing) and best performing police pursuit vehicle was said to the the Porsche Cayenne. But even though they were cheaper than many other equivalent options, there was no way the plod bosses could let their front line staff be driving around in Porsches. Despite even if it worked out as better value as a fleet.
There isn't really that many fast SUVs or even large estates now. Especially non-German. VAG have a selection but they are very disinterested in supplying the police as their order backlog is big enough as it is. Long order times mean police fleet buyers were at the back of the queue and they got no preferential treatment. Likewise Mercedes and they are a lot more expensive than say an Octavia VRS. No good when almost all the BMWs were taken off front line duty very suddenly and needing to be replaced quickly.
None of the Japanese brands offer fast estates or SUVs. Lexus possibly would be in their SUVs but their hybrid system provides the extra performance but is complex and probably not suited to police duty where sustained performance is required.
Stellantis offer little in the same categories and they are a large part of the rest of the market now. Maybe an Alfa but a fleet manager has to put their neck on the line for reliability. Peugeot 508 is another hybrid that is only fast because of that.
Ford don't offer anything large and fast. Maybe the Focus ST but that's not going to be big enough for a motorway plod and all their kit. Mondeo is going and none are that fast.
Koreans brands are the same problem. Renault too.
What's left? Volvo. Or second hand older stuff that they can hoover up and press into service.
JLR products?
We had a few ST Focus's. Bloody useless as small tanks, low mpg, especially compared to the Octavia VRs, which weren't much slower, and had far more room, and were less noticeable in traffic.
But then I preferred to use a van, higher up so a better view of the road and you could drive like a wanker (as most vans are driven).
HiAce vans were my favourite, especially in the wet when they could be drifted with ease.
Those days will soon be over though, as my former colleagues have told me the fleet will be all electric by 2030. Good luck following a lorry load of illicit cigarettes from Dover to Edinburgh.
