Chevy Impala Police Package

[FTK]

Just curious if any departments out there are using the Impala for their patrol units. My Dept. is looking at them and was looking for feedback, both good and bad, on the Impala.

Thanks in advance & Stay Safe...

[FedRich]

We used Impalas on the FLETC emergency response driving course. I was actually impressed by its acceleration, probably because its weight to power ratio is better than a Crown Vic. Being front wheel drive, I don't think it handled high speed corners as well as a RWD Crown Vic, seemed to plow into the corners even if you loaded up the brakes before going in.

There isn't much room in the back seat, especially if you put a cage unit in. Also, due to the high trunk line, vision is restricted out of the back windshield. Because of their size, they probably will do pretty well in a city or heavily populated area. I don't think I would want to have it on the highway though. But my personal belief is there is no replacement for displacement. I'll take the 4.6 V8 over the 3.8 V6 :)

[Eaglearm]

Our department looked at them once. That is all we did. As a one officer car, you'll probably be ok. As a two officer car forget it.

Check with Chicago PD. They were doing some testing a while back on the Impala. I don't think it held up to inner city police activity. I think alot of state patrol agancies utilize the Impala. Try Missouri and Nevada Highway Patrol.

As for Crown Vics they will be around for a long time. The $$$ may be a bit more. Yet, cost is no always a fator when considering future replacement parts, equipment inside vehicles, RESALE VALUE, moral of officers (8 -12 hour tours), handling, inner city driving, horse power, and other related matters

[Jedi]

Most of the Air Force Security Forces patrol units that I've seen are Impalas, so if you can track down an SF guy somewhere, you can probably get some good feedback.

[kenoshacop]

Our department purchased 8 of them in 2001. We will never go back to them. They were too small for our larger guys to fit in, were uncomfortable to sit in, and we didn't like the front wheel drive either. We have since gone back to the Crown Vic Police Interceptor's. Another local department uses the Dodge Intrepids, and their officers don't like those either.


-Kenoshacop

[kingpervis]

My department uses all three: Crown Vics, Impalas and Intrepids.

I prefer the Impala over the Intrepid, but of course there is just no substitute for the Crown Victoria. The only thing that sucks about a Crown Vic up here in Minnesota is the rear wheel drive on snow and ice. You can be the most cautious driver while making a normal turn and you'll still swing the car's butt out a little bit. Took me forever last winter to get used to that.

I wonder what Crown Vics will look like ten years from now? Look how much they've changed since the early '90s.

[D.Ulvestad]

Our Police here in Colorado Springs use the Crown Vics mostly and some drive the impalas. As for the SUVs they have a few new Dodge Durangos and still have Chevy Blazers of course and couple of Ford Explores. I do know of one Officer who won't give up his chevy caprice. I think that's the only one left on the streets. As for Sheriff Department they mostly drive the impalas. As for the State Patrol they use the crown vics.

[DoD NucE]

I would hold out for I believe 2006 or 07. Chevy is supposed to be releasing a larger, RWD, redesigned Impala that will be a true full-sized car. Not that you can wait per se, but the new Impalas will be better than the current ones.

[FedRich]

I think the plan was to use the chassis that the Pontiac GTO is on and create a true Impala SS. The GTO is rear wheel drive and has a 5.7 liter V8 (that would be 350 c.i.d.). The old Caprice 9C1s had a 5.7 liter V8, which proved to be a great highway car, we held on to the one we had as long as possible.

The Crown Vic will get a squarer look to it sometime next year. Ford should think about dropping the new 'Stang's DOHC 4.6 in it to make it a true Police Interceptor. If only my G Crown Vic was a PI :(

[gbcop]

I'm sorry, but the Impala's aren't that much smaller than the crown vic's. I'm 6'1 250#s and don't have any problems, two other officer's are 6'3 and 6'5 and they don't have any problems and even go so far to say they're more comfortable which i agree with. The statment about putting two officer's in the car is almost impossible with the Impala goes true for the Crown Victoria.... With our ridiculous MDT Mounts, being the front seat passenger is EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. Chevrolet needs to put a passenger side air bag disable switch on the vehicle. If your riding shotgun and you get into a front seat collision, you are GOING to be SERIOUSLY injured due to the manor in witch the computer is mounted.

Now granted the Series II 3800 V6 Engine isn't the most powerful engine in the Chevrolet's stable, it is more than sufficent for what my small town department needs. Granted I would enjoy nothing more than going on everyday patrol in a '02 Chevrolet Z28, it's just not reasonable for the needs of my department.

The Impala would be 100xs better in my honest opinon if it were REAR WHEEL DRIVE!! After driving a FWD unit for a little over a year after driving a vic for a year, I can honestly say the RWD is ALOT Safer.

It might be installation problems, but with out cars, even after you have turned EVERYTHING OFF, leaving the car sit for 3 days drains the batteries in ALL OF OUR CARS.

For whatever reason the bolts that hold the center caps on have a BAD Tendency to loosen, resulting in missing center caps and a ticked off LT.

My unit's factory breaks, for whatever reason had absoutly NO sqeelers on them. After putting 20,000 miles on it, it started making a HORRIBLE grinding nose. Metal to Metal and just totally warped the breaks resulting in EXPENSIVE REPAIR DAMAGE.



My final opinon. They are decent patrol vehicles and would be ideal patrol vehicles for city departments and NOT for highway patrol. None of of Impala's will drive at a sustained speed of 120mph. Speaking from personal experience trying to catch up to speeders on the highway driving high 90's low 100's, the impala will get up to 120mph then almost immediately drop down to a sustained 112mph speed. Which incidently you do not want to drive at any extended periods due to instability, probably due to being FWD. But as a city patrol vehicle it is absoutly ideal. The only thing that could make it any better as a city patrol vehicle is if Chevrolet would make them RWD. I don't care that it has a V6 engine, just loose the FWD.

[falcon2]

My experience with the Impala in the NYPD has been horrible. 1) When braking around tight turns the Impala's nose dives and will continue to go straight instead of turning.2)After about 20,000 miles the cars lose alot of power and turns into slugs.3)The suspension just cant take the beating of some city streets and the noises it starts to make during routine driving sounds like its going to fall apart at any time.4)The power steering seems to be a common problem. Sometimes it goes out with little warning.5)Cars overheat in the summer on a regular basis.6)The impala becomes a torture chamber if your taller then 6'0 with our computer and cage setup.7)If you have even a minor accident in the Impala it often needs a new frame.8) key ignition goes bad on all of them and you have to become an expert in the key jiggle to get them started. Unfortunately every car is different and requires it's own unique jiggling.9)If the front passenger or driver side doors ever gets caught in the wind or flung open to fast the gap between the front quarter panel and the door panel will get pinched and every time you now open the door up it will make a nice loud popping noise. (you really appreciate that popping noise when your trying to be quiet and sneak up on somebody)?
I'll take a crown vic any day over an Impala.
PS. our Hwy patrol guys refuse to use them.

[FTK]

Thanks for the imput. Our Dept. is looking to pick up a couple of new cars this year. We currently use all Crown Vic's, but due to serious budget issues the idea of the Impala came up. More research is definately needed before the powers that be make a decision.

Thanks again & Stay Safe...

[kenoshacop]

I'm 5'9" 200 lbs, and the driver seat of the Impala's was too narrow for me with my duty belt on. The contoured edges dug into my back and shoulders. As for our bigger guys (as in 6'5" 300+), with the cages in them, their knees were pressed up against the dashboard with the seats as far back as they'd go. There may not actually be much difference in interior space, but to me, the Crown Vics "feel" a lot bigger inside. And it definitely felt more cramped with 2 of us in the Impala vs. the Crown Vic.

-Kenoshacop

[gbcop]

OH, and I almost forgot. Don't lean on or cut a loud fart next to the front quarter panels on the Impala's or else you'll have a dent.

[dutch9277]

Just another FYI about the Impalas that I haven't seen mentioned yet, there is absolutely no trunk space! Once you throw a few boxes inside the trunk is gone. And as for using a trunk organizer, that just takes more space and leaves less room.

My opinion on the Impala, great family car for the smaller size family.