GM caprice cop car is faster....because they ignored the ford PI LOL

[Ghiadude]

http://jalopnik.com/5644254/gm-claim...-ignoring-ford

Basically because the ford PI is a year away from production they have said that the caprice is faster...typical GM head in the sand mentality

[ltd]

Gm is a joke. Typical propaganda and not much substance. Refuse to admit to facts and selectively pick and choose criteria to ensure victory. It's no wonder John Z Delorean came from their ranks; he may have been far too ethical for them.
I'll wager that if his stainless steel DMC12 POS was a time machine, the British government might go back in time to get some of their money back.

[Ghiadude]

Ive read the whole article now. he chevy is indeed a tiny bit faster o-60 and quarter mile but the PI walks around it on the track. I get the feeling though that GM and Ford arent giving the cops what they want. A utalitarian rwd V8 thats robust and easy to repair. I get the feeling that although the ford and chev may pick up a few sales here and there the DOdge will get the gong in most cases.

[mik]

compared to other companies, GM comes across as an underhanded sort of company.

[chevypower]

I'd like to see the Caprice catching the Taurus SHO on an icy freeway with heavy winds... hmmm not going to happen. The Charger AWD Hemi would also be a nice weapon on the highway.

[Resurrection]

Originally Posted by mik

compared to other companies, GM comes across as an underhanded sort of company.

Only GM could produce the Holden blimp which got free publicity at sports events when other companies had to pay for the privelage to appear on TV. That was very underhanded and laws had to be written to prevent repeat offences.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Only GM could produce the Holden blimp which got free publicity at sports events when other companies had to pay for the privelage to appear on TV. That was very underhanded and laws had to be written to prevent repeat offences.

I work occasionally at the Flemington Race Course, a few years ago the owners and management where chucking a tantrum because on cup week the Holden blimp was hovering above us getting free advertising, VRC didn't seem to understand that they don't own the airspace above the race course, rofl.

Originally Posted by geckoGT

As has been said, it is a pain for the cops having a console mount shifter as it takes space that can be used for all the other gear and electronics. We had the same sort of thing with the first Mercedes Sprinter that had a floor mount t bar shifter, prevented the fitment of a console for all the other crap we carry. The later Merc's had a dash mount shifter which was much better for equipment storage.

Interesting you mention this as all our Ambulances we build for Ambulance Victoria are all Sprinters with T-bar, but its not floor mounted.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Interesting you mention this as all our Ambulances we build for Ambulance Victoria are all Sprinters with T-bar, but its not floor mounted.

That is what I said, the dash mount allows the installation of a console for equipment storage, the floor mount does not. Sprinters have not had a floor mount for about 8 years.

I can see the cops would have exactly the same issue, the difference is US cops get purpose built vehicles, aussie cops get whatever is on the go on the local market. Specialisation is about as extensive as putting in a radio and bolting on some lights.

[SSD-85]

Wow, if only articles here in Australia were that unbiased. If it were carsguide or the like, it would just read:

"GM Caprice Police car bestest in the whole world. Nuffink else comes closer. All hail Mightee General Motors."

(Yes a bit of an exaggeration, but i made my point)

[OzJavelin]

The PI is a Taurus right? Maybe you need to consider that this is really only full-sized cars, hence why it's a Caprice participating and not a Commodore .. hence why GM dismissed the midsized Ford as a competitor.

Have any police departments in the US actually purchased the PI yet? Might be a hard sell as most American police departments seem fixated on larger vehicles.

[FPV GTHO]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

The PI is a Taurus right? Maybe you need to consider that this is really only full-sized cars, hence why it's a Caprice participating and not a Commodore .. hence why GM dismissed the midsized Ford as a competitor.

a) There is no police pack Commodore GM could compare for the US

b) Taurus is very far from midsize. Its almost 2 tonne.

[OzJavelin]

Might also be this reason:

Ford will take orders from the Crown Vic through March, and won't start building the new Police Interceptor sedan and utility until December 2011. Yet it wanted to take part in the Michigan State Police trials, to give agencies a sneak peak of how well the new models would perform.

[Road_Warrior]

GoAuto referred to the Ford car as "the 2011 PI" but their article contains none of this crap about GM "winning" any "contest".

[Road_Warrior]

Having read the full version of that Jalopnik article, it would seem that the console mounted trans shifter on the Caprice is going to be a deal breaker for quite a number of Police departments.

Surely they could have worked this out - doesn't the base spec Commodore ute come with a column shifter option?

[Brazen]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Having read the full version of that Jalopnik article, it would seem that the console mounted trans shifter on the Caprice is going to be a deal breaker for quite a number of Police departments.

Surely they could have worked this out - doesn't the base spec Commodore ute come with a column shifter option?

The ute hasnt had it since VE, and is sorely missed.

The column-shift will be the biggest issue out of everything. I dont think Chevy will have a problem selling Australian made cars as US cop cars, but they will have a big issue selling cars with no column shift.

[irish2]

Interesting to note the commodore barely beats the old Crown Vic in the times.

[Interceptor]

wtf is with the yank fascination with column shift? and FWIW, the VS commodores wouldve been the last with column shift, possibly earlier......

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

wtf is with the yank fascination with column shift? and FWIW, the VS commodores wouldve been the last with column shift, possibly earlier......

Prob fitting all their gear might cause issues.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by Interceptor

wtf is with the yank fascination with column shift? and FWIW, the VS commodores wouldve been the last with column shift, possibly earlier......

As has been said, it is a pain for the cops having a console mount shifter as it takes space that can be used for all the other gear and electronics. We had the same sort of thing with the first Mercedes Sprinter that had a floor mount t bar shifter, prevented the fitment of a console for all the other crap we carry. The later Merc's had a dash mount shifter which was much better for equipment storage.

Where did you get the 200 from JPD. Holden are going to be severly dissapointed if they cant get great numbers, especially with the all money required for engineering the LHD Caprice.

Engineering for LHD would not have been that much, they have been selling LHD commodores and statesman in the Middle East for years. The whole VE range is already engineered for LHD and has been from day 1.

[Bobman]

Have to say, the Ford Police Interceptor looks pretty good. More suitable to police work than the longer Caprice I would think. Comes in AWD as well.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/fordpoli...ery/photos/all

[jpd80]

If Holden plough on without a Column shifter for Caprice PPV, they will lose many potential orders.
Ford have gone the distance with Taurus Interceptor and have an interior that works for police
and has local (USA) electronic equipment.

[bobthebilda]

The news has been quite lite on how the Caprice orders are going. But doesnt look like it will be much. According to the Port, they are expecting 4500 in the first year.

http://benicia.patch.com/articles/co...through-benica


Whereas Carbon Motors say they already have reservations for approx 16000 cars.

http://www.autotalk.com/carbon-motor...s-states-7141/

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

The news has been quite lite on how the Caprice orders are going. But doesnt look like it will be much. According to the Port, they are expecting 4500 in the first year.

http://benicia.patch.com/articles/co...through-benica


Whereas Carbon Motors say they already have reservations for approx 16000 cars.

http://www.autotalk.com/carbon-motor...s-states-7141/

Bob, those figures from carbon Motors are only responses from police officers
saying that they would consider supporting the purchase of a Carbon Motors E7.
There have been no firm orders placed by any Police department, Carbon Motors needs venture capital....

As for Holden's Caprice PPV, at last count Holden had less than 200 orders.
Not saying that won't get much better sales numbers but evidence from USA suggests a big
surge in Crown Victoria sales as PDs begin dumping unloved Chryslers and going back to CVPI.

[bobthebilda]

Originally Posted by jpd80

As for Holden's Caprice PPV, at last count Holden had less than 200 orders.
Not saying that won't get much better sales numbers but evidence from USA suggests a big
surge in Crown Victoria sales as PDs begin dumping unloved Chryslers and going back to CVPI.

Where did you get the 200 from JPD. Holden are going to be severly dissapointed if they cant get great numbers, especially with the all money required for engineering the LHD Caprice.

Not to mention the viability of the whole operation if they are booking a car carrier every month, just to take a few hundred cars over. My guess would be that after the carrier dumps off 3000 japanese cars here, it loads up 200 police cars, detours to japan, picks up 2800 japanese cars, and dumps the load in america. Sounds alot like another GM folly.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by bobthebilda

Where did you get the 200 from JPD. Holden are going to be severly dissapointed if they cant get great numbers, especially with the all money required for engineering the LHD Caprice.

Edit,

Here you go, it was October 20 so nearly a month ago: LINK
Caprice PPV orders have begun but only a few had been received so far. The article gave
a number lower than 200 but also added that Major Police departments like Los Angeles
hadn't placed any orders yet. I'd expect that that lowly 100 number has significantly grown.

LHD Caprice and Commodore were originally developed for Middle East market and then
incrementally adapted to USA specs, I suspect Caprice PPV was an early sales plan revisited
after Pontiac G8 was canceled.

It's very early day yet for the Caprice PPV, it's only fair to just wait a bit and see
what rolls in next year. If there's still only small amounts by March April 2011 then
I'd say the LWB Caprice and Statesman are history in this country.

[boris]

Howz the strong aussie dollar going the effect the cost of the caprice in US?

[Joe5619]

I hope they get more soon.. Holden has just started up the 2nd shift & employed 100 new people this month.. Holden arn't selling that many more Australian built cars at the moment & ford have planned down days too. What are they going to do with all these cars they must be builing with 2 shifts working now?? Hope these orders start coming in soon or they'll be in big trouble..

[Windsor220]

Originally Posted by Joe5619

I hope they get more soon.. Holden has just started up the 2nd shift & employed 100 new people this month.. Holden arn't selling that many more Australian built cars at the moment & ford have planned down days too. What are they going to do with all these cars they must be builing with 2 shifts working now?? Hope these orders start coming in soon or they'll be in big trouble..

Isnt Cruze starting up soon?

[burnz]

Originally Posted by Windsor220

Isnt Cruze starting up soon?

yeah started last month, in dealers around march..

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by burnz

yeah started last month, in dealers around march..

There are building Cuzre now (November) to send to dealers in March?? I'll admit I know nothing about how building cars works, but that sounds really wrong to me... 5 months from start building to being in dealers?? Where are they going to put all those cars & having cars with a 5 month old build date, before you even start selling??