top selling police vehicles

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fleetcomm

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The PPV market is good for an average of 75,000 new vehicles a year.


The number of individual models sold changes every year. This based on large fleet purchases. States are usually the biggest fleet buyers, and local LE agencies often piggy back on the State order. Other large cities might buy 150 cars every other year. The reasons an agency might choose one vehicle over the others range from cheapest to purchase, cost to operate for a set time, resale, cool factor, interior, or safety features.


A lot of agencies have bought the Explorer, and are now having buyers remorse. But then, that is said with any vehicle. The 2006-10 Charger was a big seller, and then became loathed because of the weak suspension and fast fading brakes. In my area, I am see Tahoe's more than any other new PPV, followed by Chargers, then the Taurus and Explorer are popping up about even.
 
In the Memphis Metro area, which is composed of eight counties in three different states (TN, AR & MS), I've seen only one agency put a newer-generation PPV on the road.. the "Hernando Police" in Desoto County, Mississippi. They are going entirely with the Ford PI Ute. There are about 35 other small to midsize agencies in our metro area. NONE of them has anything but lingering Crown Vics and Dodge Chargers (about 95% of the MPD fleet are Chargers). Everwhere else I that I travel I see Chevy Caprices, Ford PI sedans, Ford PI Utilities, etc in use. I live in Olive Branch MS, one of Memphis' biggest suburbs. They haven't bought a new police car in four years.
 
HILO said:
The PPV market is good for an average of 75,000 new vehicles a year.

The reasons an agency might choose one vehicle over the others range from cheapest to purchase, cost to operate for a set time , resale, interior, or safety features..
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It has been my exp. over the yrs. to see some smaller agencies will purchase old state cars and repaint them as they are rotated out of service. HILO hit it on the nail head here; safety and cost to operate, repair & purchase price are the main reason a certain make/model is purchased. Some depts. keep them till the wheels fall off, and then pass them off on public works.. :yes:


From what I've seen, it seems some / not all depts. keep them an average of 5-7 yrs, then auction them off at 70-80k miles so they get a good return on them at auctions. Or convert some into detective or C.o.P cars and run them till the wheels fall off only to add new wheels and run them till their used up then send them to auction. ;)


I've yet to see an agency get a car for the coolness factor, but have seen some LEASE their patrol cars..
 
HILO said:
The PPV market is good for an average of 75,000 new vehicles a year.

The number of individual models sold changes every year. This based on large fleet purchases. States are usually the biggest fleet buyers, and local LE agencies often piggy back on the State order. Other large cities might buy 150 cars every other year. The reasons an agency might choose one vehicle over the others range from cheapest to purchase, cost to operate for a set time, resale, cool factor, interior, or safety features.


A lot of agencies have bought the Explorer, and are now having buyers remorse. But then, that is said with any vehicle. The 2006-10 Charger was a big seller, and then became loathed because of the weak suspension and fast fading brakes. In my area, I am see Tahoe's more than any other new PPV, followed by Chargers, then the Taurus and Explorer are popping up about even.
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I've got to agree with you about the Chevy Tahoe. Both Midland and Odessa P.D. and Fire are using the Tahoe considerably. Odessa is still buying Crown Vics for the P.D., but most definitely the Tahoe is dominating. I really freaked out a few days ago as I was driving around Loop 250 in Midland. A solid white MPD unit had someone stopped, and I had to look twice to see what agency the Tahoe belonged to, as it had the new "ghost" graphics. I've heard about them on this board, but those are the first I've actually seen.
 
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60% Utility, 40% Interceptor so far this year. Been told to expect all Utility's in the future from most departments.


Snow tires on all 4 and my local guys with either of the Fords are all smiles..


A couple of unmarked Interceptors built with a plan of rolling them into patrol in a year or so and will replace the unmarked with new Interceptors again. I've done a few Caprice up-fits in the last calendar year but they all came from new-old stock, the officers and brass don't have much good to say about them. One local PD is sitting on several NOS CVPI's with "0 mileage" that they are debating on up fitting or "turning them into Utility's".


I've been seeing almost as many NYSP Interceptors as I see PPV Tahoe's around here, still kinds throws me..


I've asked numerous departments why they don't go with the Tahoe and they all say that public perception is that the Tahoe is expensive even though the purchase and operating costs are comparable, perception wins..
 
336 said:
I've asked numerous departments why they don't go with the Tahoe and they all say that public perception is that the Tahoe is expensive even though the purchase and operating costs are comparable, perception wins..
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Ahh yes we forgot that one VERY important part of the equasion "PUBLIC PERCEPTION"!


Over the last 30yrs Law Enforcement & Public Safety has shifted to how the Public Perceves the dept. (Protect & Coddle the public) ;)


Heaven forbid if you appear to be wasting funds on new bigger trucks that drink more fuel. (why the big SUV? Oh its a command or Swat or specialty service vehicle) Remember when the Hybrids came out? Many depts jumped on the band wagons using them for detective, public works, inspectors, community service, etc. and were part of the public relations campain showing the government cares about fuel consumption and going green. This concept still carries on today, as many dept. vehicles are equipped with V-6's I-4's some V-8's. ;)
 
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CodeMan said:
Ahh yes we forgot that one VERY important part of the equasion "PUBLIC PERCEPTION"!

Over the last 30yrs Law Enforcement & Public Safety has shifted to how the Public Perceves the dept. (Protect & Coddle the public) ;)


Heaven forbid if you appear to be wasting funds on new bigger trucks that drink more fuel. (why the big SUV? Oh its a command or Swat or specialty service vehicle) Remember when the Hybrids came out? Many depts jumped on the band wagons using them for detective, public works, inspectors, community service, etc. and were part of the public relations campain showing the government cares about fuel consumption and going green. This concept still carries on today, as many dept. vehicles are equipped with V-6's I-4's some V-8's. ;)
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I've got to agree with the "public perception" aspect, too. I've assumed that the Tahoes would be out of sight price-wise. But this is West Texas, where the economy is better than it's been since the boom and bust of the early '80s. I live in a rural area that sits across the street from an oil field. The big oil field trucks are up and down my road constantly; and with the way those idiots drive, it surprises me that someone in my neighborhood hasn't been hit. Just before I left home yesterday MFD was running on an accident where a water-hauler tanker had rolled over. The speed limit where I live is 15, and they're running 45 at least when they pass my place! So here in West Texas, money for Tahoes is no problem, and I'm seeing all of the sedans....both in the city and the county being replaced with Tahoes. Odessa has their share of Tahoes, too, but they're also buying the new line of CVPIs. As to the new Caprices, I haven't seen a single one out this way yet.
 
I know the Utilities are a big hit here in North Dakota. Although I think a lot of agencies will go to the Tahoe PPV AWD when its available.


We have 25 patrol vehicles and all but 4 are now Utilities. We try and retire our vehicles at 70k.
 
Despite our complaints, we're still 99.5% Impala here in the city (We have 18-20 Tahoes for the K9 units including spares). Some of the suburbs are going to Fords. We buy them cheap then sink loads of money into them for repairs. Most are run to about 150K miles and sold at auction for around $2K.


That being said, the 2012+ Impalas are much better than my POS '09. Hoping to get a '14 soon.
 
You know in reality, we drive what they give us. Weather we are ford , chevy or mopar men/women as long as they don't give us something like pictured below we will always have our opinions, personal prefs & favs. And drive what's given or you walk.... :yes:


1.jpg
 
In my experience buying factory-ordered police cars as POVs, the Tahoe's bid/contract pricing falls in the $28,000-$31,000, where a similarly equipped police sedan bid/contract pricing falls in the range of $25,000-$28,000. Further, it's my understanding the service life of the Tahoes are longer, their maintenance and repair costs tend to be less than sedans and their re-sale value is higher. Except for the fuel costs, I would think the Tahoes are a better deal for the taxpayer.
 
RL1 said:
Why is that?
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Yes, why is that because I have not talked with a department that doesn't like or had problems with the ford police packages.
 
RL1 said:
Why is that?
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It is more the actual Officer's who drive them, admins do not care.


From Chicago PD beat coppers, the foot well is uncomfortable, the driver has a hard time getting a decent position for their left foot to rest. Entry and exit difficult. Passenger seat space is more uncomfortable and cramped.


From a Canadian agency, "The Explorer was given to the supervisors and has not held up, even though the same 4 Sgts drive it. The door arm rest has collapsed the heater controls stopped working and the car was down for 2 months waiting for parts. We have had Ford installed emergency light in the front turn signals fail on 2 separate occasions which has been expensive and we have had to wait weeks for the parts. I find the Explorer cramped and all the controls very cheap. I hate the thing."


Dallas County Sheriffs Deputy told me that while he hated the CVPI, he asked to be assigned another one after spending a month in a Explorer. He is a big guy, and getting in and out of the thing was always a problem. Less than 1000 miles on it, and the interior was falling apart. Hesitation on launch after idling for more than 20 minutes doing radar. The only thing he liked was the brakes, but said another Deputy had his brakes get hot soaked, and the rotors started warping after a long code 3 run, again less than 1000 miles.


Ft. Worth traffic cops did not care for it, and found the Taurus more comfortable, and better suited for their use.


But this is the case with any vehicle, LEO's are going to find something to complain about With the exception of allowing an Officer to buy his own PPV of choice, or extensive real world testing from all PPV's offered, the LEO's are going to have to drive whatever the admins decide to purchase. It used to be, for some of the big agencies, a variety of PPV's would be bought every year. This was when everything was RWD and V8, and there were Ford LTD/Crown Vics, Chevy Impala/Caprice, and Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Grand Fury.
 
Interesting... Indiana must be weird... Most of our fleets here are going exclusively Tahoe and Charger, mostly Tahoe. Our county is well on it's way to having only Tahoes in the fleet.
 
My city, Grand Prairie, is 85% Tahoe right now, with a 95% goal by the end of the year for marked units.
 
HILO said:
My city, Grand Prairie, is 85% Tahoe right now, with a 95% goal by the end of the year for marked units.
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My county is probably the same. State police has a MONSTER fleet of Tahoes just waiting to get detailed and warning equipment added, so I have a feeling they are aiming to do the same. Only see crown vics on the highway and interstate now. Everywhere else is Charger or Tahoe, with Tahoes starting to take a lead.
 
Thanks HILO. We are all Chargers and the county is CVPI's and a few Tahoes, with the PI being replaced by Caprice's.
 
Texas is pretty much Tahoe nation out here. Since they are made here. The Tahoe's have gotten more popular over the years but with the inception of an all new Tahoe ... Well I'm just waiting lol
 
I've heard of a few turbo failures and some transmission issues on the Explorers. Anyone else? No major issues I am hearing about on the Taurus PI thus far. My county is using the chargers and tahoes with the exception of 1 Explorer Ute being used for K-9.
 
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