cory y said:
cajun youre making an assumption of a completely 100% new vehicle, based off of prejudice against a the previous generation.
thats extremely uncalled for. I would think better from an upfitter/installer.
Since when is someones opinion about something "uncalled for"? I didn't know you were the opinion police around here cory, but thanks for clearing that up.
How many Durangos have you done upfits on cory? What agencies around your area are using Durangos today? I'm not talking about someone's
POV with some lights installed on it....I'm talking about a full blown POLICE vehicle in service for patrol or K-9 use.
Whether the vehicle is 100% new or regurgitated, it's a Durango, and it's not spec'd as a "police package" vehicle....never was..... other than the fact that it was a "cheap" SUV that could be included in a State Contract for government and municipalities to buy to use as a "police" or "utility" vehicle.
From 2003 until present, the great Dodge Durango didn't even make it into the Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation tests (which BTW anyone in this industry worth their salt knows is the benchmark for Police Vehicle evaluations).....ever....not even as a "Special Services" vehicle, like the Escape or the Explorer. Wanna check my facts?
MSP - Police Vehicle Evaluation
At least the Dodge Magnum made it into the tests......oh yeah, where is the great Dodge Magnum today? Bueller.....Bueller? We can all see how well the Magnum worked out as a spec'd Police Package vehicle now can't we?
As a FORMER professional upfitter/installer in this industry, I wouldn't be doing my due diligence if I didn't express my opinion to agencies or anyone else that ask for it when deciding on what to purchase for "POLICE" vehicles. From ergonomics to comfort to safety and the availability of emergency equipment specific to that vehicle, as well as being able to safely install equipment that was not specific to the vehicle, I want my customers to understand what they could and could not expect when deciding on which vehicle to employ as a POLICE vehicle.
We've got an idiot Sheriff around here that utilizes Nissan Sentras.....NISSAN SENTRAS.... as patrol vehicles because he wanted to save some money. Would you just go with that flow and say "yeah Sheriff.....that's a GREAT idea!"? Would you? Do you care about the deputy that has to work in that clown car for up to 12 hours a day? Can you mount everything he needs to do his job in that car safely? Can you really?
So regardless of what YOU think better from an upfitter/installer, my opinion still is the Dodge Durango is SHIT as a Police Vehicle along with a host of other vehicles. If you want to go make love to it for whatever reason...be my guest.
