Judging by how fast these cars go over speed humps on these police programmes on the TV I'd hope they at least fit the sump guard off the Scout

Having been a traffic cop for nine years I can assure you that all cars are as is. There is no super douper police speck. They come with bog standard kit, normally no radio or CD. Sometimes a boosted battery for the electrics but certainly no upgraded suspension or extra bhp. Sorry to disappoint.

I'll keep an eye out for those! I used to live in Feltham, now stanwell staines. Haven't even seen another VRS driver let alone Police as of yet

Keep an eye out for me and the p

Vauxhall definitely used to do police spec brake pads on the vectra, I've got a set fitted in my SuperTouring.

Bought them from main dealer, and they have the words "police spec" printed on them

Don't know what real benefit they have, I just bought them cos I could.

The police officers commenting on here are all saying the same thing, that the cars are standard spec but have uprated electrical systems, usually done by a contractor other than the manufacturer.

In my 23 years in the Met I have driven some horrors.

Rover 827- engine and gearbox great (Honda) the rest pitiful.

Vauxhall Cavalier- just plain slow and unreliable.

Vauxhall Vectra V6- The first ones cooked their brakes after 2 big stops. After that they were GSI spec but auto boxes only lasted 15-20K. Brake pads and discs about 2-3K!!!!!!!

Luckily things change and I drive BMWs 525 and X5 at work. They do the job they are bought for but are standard as like any company, police forces will call on the warranty.

I will buck the trend and say that, whilst currently on duty during a very boring night shift, our focus estates are standard as are the 530d's. However, we have recently switched over to Astras and Volvos. The Astras are only just filtering through and are standard but the Volvo's are bespoke. They are made up with a few different parts, such as xc90 brakes, beefed up suspension to handle all the extra weight of the armed response gear and a remap to give a little more power. I don't drive them personally, but the guys all prefer the few BMW's that remain.

We also have a few vRS's and R32's. They are all standard.

Vectra C police cars really only came in a couple of forms as follows - preface 3.2 v6 208 bhp, Sri body and interior but fitted with 314's up front from the GSI and also had xenon and climate control, the diesel model was the 3.0 cdti 184 bhp and same spec as above. Facelift - petrol was 2.8t v6 turbo, 250 and 280 bhp depending when made, vxr spec engine, 345's up front from the VXR. Sri body trim and interior but fitted with afl and climate control. Also fitted with alloys from the elite model as they were the only 17" facelift alloy that would fit over the VXR big brakes, diesel model was same spec accept 314's. All marked as special on the log book.

Sent from my phone, using my thumb.

the Volvo's are bespoke. They are made up with a few different parts, such as xc90 brakes, beefed up suspension to handle all the extra weight of the armed response gear and a remap to give a little more power.

Made by Volvo's Special Vehicles.

http://www.carpages.co.uk/volvo/volvo-v70-police-car-02-09-08.asp

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/14/new-volvo-v70-police-car-in-uk/

I think the answer to the OPs post is "sometimes there is a police spec"

Other times some forces will have standard vehicles lightly modded (maybe only in certain departments of for a limited number of vehicles) whereas other times a police car will be totally standard.

This makes perfect sense, as the police will (and should) buy special kit when needed but try to keep costs down when a standard car will suffice.

Just referring back to Volvo, they come with uprated wiring and, dependent on the model, suspension. Not sure about Skoda.

When it comes to making a car move quickly it's usually down to the skill of the guy (or girl ) behind the wheel, as many an id/@t has discovered to their cost.

A family friend was for years on the traffic, starting in the days when here in Leicestershire they had Mk2 Jags. Wasn't a need to up grade them then as there wasn't much that would out pace them. As more "stuff" was deemed necessary, suspension was uprated in the Granada's they had, two 20 stone coppers hooning about 24/7 is really a bit beyond normal usage. I think the Lotus Carlton was breathed on.

Today the emphasis is not on the high speed pursuit of bad boys up from the smoke, but on beating the other crew at battleships, hence all the sophisticated radio gear.

But really, costings are king. So reliability comes top, anything cheap which enhances that might get done. The power/speed game is one they can't win, so they gave up. They can all drive better than most so that makes up some deficiency, but there are lots of loonies who can do quite desparate things to get away. Queue catsclaw and co-ordinated tactics.

Older spec maybe!

:rofl:

Well Hampshire run a Race Blue vRS unmarked round here, until I put my private plate on mine, it was amazing how many cars slowed as they approached me on the M27

Well Hampshire run a Race Blue vRS unmarked round here, until I put my private plate on mine, it was amazing how many cars slowed as they approached me on the M27

Had the same until my private plate went on. Its great on the motorway as lane hoggers tend to move over :-P

Have the same thing round this way, also have a deck strobe for work in the bottom of the screen which gets some double takes when i get behind people

Had the same until my private plate went on. Its great on the motorway as lane hoggers tend to move over :-P

For a little while people occasionally pulled over when my colour-coded grilled black L&K snuck up behind them.

Mate at work who shares a house with a copper says they prefer the vrs' over the beemers, but there'll always be different opinions.

They have and they are (apart from the additional wiring) standard spec with a diesel engine and a DSG box. There are no modifications at all. They are to replace the BMW 325D saloons. Apparently in these times of austerity it doesn't look good for the police to be driving around in 'premium' cars hence the switch although I reckon buying 80+ at the end of the build life would lead to a big discount.

Im surprised they took them with DSG box. Normally all the cop cars ive seen have been manuals. Kinda makes sense getting a dsg though as it means they can still drive it and operate all the other gizmos more safely.

its funny around my local area we have a unmarked cop car same colour - year & spec as my standard octy lol

In Notts the VRS are standard spec vehicles apart from the rear seats being removed to fit the dog cages. The Volvos here are remapped by Superchips but they havent as yet done the VRS.

Keep an eye out for me and the p

I live over Hayes way and have seen a few Police Vrs's recently, one an anpr interceptor, and more recently 2 which had boxed in a Ibiza about a mile from my home...

Saw a marked VRS estate knocking round NE Hampshire the weekend. Not seen round these parts before so either a new one or redeployment from another area.

will these be petrol or diesel?

Hi all , been in the job for 21 yrs all front line response ..... The cars are all standard , in fact less standard than you'd get in the showroom .... They are cheap not lowered or mapped ... Carry a lot of kit in them which makes them looked lowered ( wish they were mapped tho lol )

will these be petrol or diesel?

Will almost certainly all be diesel. Huge mileage, cheaper to fuel.