Crown Vic vs. Impala

[CJ_Student_07]

I have noticed that many agencies in the midwest, both police and sheriffs, have begun to opt for the Cheverolet Impala over the incumbent Crown Vic interceptor. I'm sure this decision was made for financial reasons. My question, however, is not so much why has this change occured, it's more of a net-effect question directed to the officers who now find themselves adjusting to a smaller, lighter, less powerful chariot of justice.

What's the consensus guys and gals? Are you liking the smaller yet more nimble V6 platform or do you find yourself daydreaming and reminiscing outside of your local ford dealer? :D

[River rat]

I have noticed that many agencies in the midwest, both police and sheriffs, have begun to opt for the Cheverolet Impala over the incumbent Crown Vic interceptor. I'm sure this decision was made for financial reasons. My question, however, is not so much why has this change occured, it's more of a net-effect question directed to the officers who now find themselves adjusting to a smaller, lighter, less powerful chariot of justice.

What's the consensus guys and gals? Are you liking the smaller yet more nimble V6 platform or do you find yourself daydreaming and reminiscing outside of your local ford dealer? :D
Just before I went FLE, my SO went to the Impala and they had to drag me out of my vic kick'n and screaming. Although the Impala is a decent car,it sucks as a Patrol vehicle. They are much slower than the vics, REALLY suck if you're woking a 2 man unit (no room and the MDC makes it difficult to reach seatbelts for passenger) and I found the fwd was an issue when you needed that extra kick to turn around and run someone down. Standard day lights were a pain too. .... I'd trade both of them in any day of the week for my old LT1!
:sniper:

[CJ_Student_07]

I recently began the application process to join my local Auxiliary police squad and in speaking with some of the current officers, both Aux and full time, I'm hearing a lot of the same from them. Our department went from the LT1 Caprice to the C. Vic Interceptor to currently running the Impala. I've yet to hear anything overwhelmingly positive from the officers about this new squad car.

[md1735]

Not advocating one vehicle over the other, but I saw this report detailing performance of 3 different types of police vehicle completed by Michigan State Police in 2005. Suprised me as to the results they obtained. Chev and Ford were very similiar, but look at that new Charger Hemi. I'd like to go for a test drive.

Anyone out there have seat time in the new Dodges yet?

2005 competitive comparison: Michigan State Police tests
Charger 3.5 Charger Hemi Impala Ford (3.27 ratio) Ford (3.55 ratio)
0-60 8.9 6.5 8.8 8.9 8.6
0-80 14.6 10.8 14.3 14.4 14.2
0-100 24.6 16.5 23.6 24.1 23.4
Top Speed 135 150 142 130 120
Braking 60-0 (est.) 130 131 151 143 143

*OK, the cut/paste feature didn't work that well and the columns don't line up. Hopefully we are all smart enough to figure it out. Improvise.

[kenoshacop]

My department ordered the Impalas for one year ('02) and we hated them. They were too small for our bigger guys and even I, at 5'9" 210lbs felt cramped in the drivers seat. The trunk space was smaller which is a big deal when you're trying to fit SWAT gear, rifle, Accident Investigation equipment, Evidence Tech equipment, and occasionally your duty bag, when riding 2 man. In addition to all this stuff, our squads have traffic cones, flares, AED's, crime scene tape, a first aid kit, modem and other hardware for the MDC's,a full size spare tire, camera, rain gear, and jacket. All that stuff just didn't fit in the Impala's.

Although I live in the upper midwest, and front wheel drive is better in the snow, there were many more times during the year I would have preferred the rear wheel drive then there were times I was glad I had the front wheel drive.

We have since gone back to the CVPI's and I don't see us changing. Another drawback for the Impala's was that they only came with a donut spare in the trunk instead of a full size spare like the CVPI. Can't do too much Code 3 driving on a donut spare.

-Kenoshacop

[TANKMGA8]

OK, I will be the descenting vote here. I had a 2002 Impala for 14 months until I was rammed in a pursuit and totaled it. I had never driven a CV. After that wreck I went to the SO and was issued a CV. I liked the Impala, except for the front wheel drive. The trunk was adequate for what I carried in there, but I did not have the SWAT gear, or the stuff for the MDT, but it carried everything fine for me. The vehicles our department ordered came with a full size spare tire, so that was not an issue either. As far as the top speed, my topped out at 121, but rarely did I ever take it out of town, as it was a local PD vehicle.

My CV on the other hand with the SO, I fell in love with, and have now gotten used to the extra room inside, I am only 6' 1" and weigh about 185 lbs, so I am not all that big. I sat in an impala after getting used to my CV and do understand that complaint. Another problem that I noticed with my Impala was ground clearance. The ground clearance is a real issue for our SO and the Sheriff hates the look of the impala. The state police have gotten alot of them for their plain clothes officers and such, but stick with the CV for the marked units. Also as far as the day running lights, there was a switch that would shut those off. Having a choice of the two, I would take the CV, but I liked the Impala for what I used it for. It was just city work, and I was by myself all the time, single man units, and it was a smaller town, so the speed factor was not that big of a deal. One thing that I noted was that the Impala had a quicker takeoff, but the CV has better top end speed and mid range speed, at least in my opinion.

[kennethm3]

Those departments that chose to join the lawsuit against Ford are now precluded from buying the Crown Vic, which may explain why more of the smaller, cheaper, Chevys are showing up. This lawsuit situation may become a boon to Chrysler and their Dodge Magnum and Charger police models. I have been inside both police versions of the Dodges and I have to say as marked patrol units they are really going to suck. You cannot see out of them, the side windows and the rear windows are way too small, especially once the vehicle is fitted with cages (two for the Magnum). You cannot get in and out of them in uniform gear (too low to the ground). They may drive nice but as workable patrol units the Crown Vics and the Ford Expeditions reign supreme.

[LearninginMN]

I like the CV, we had both impalas and CV's at one point and every officer hated the Smaller Impala and no one ever used them. As long as ford makes the CV they'll be spot for it in our parking lot.

[FedRich]

I have never driven an Impala 9C1 in a patrol capacity, but did drive them at FLETC. I currently drive a non-PI Crown Vic and have driven CVPIs and 9C1 Caprices (LT1) on patrol. In my experience, the Caprices were much faster off the line (when running stationary radar/laser) than the CVPIs, however, had a lower top end. The trunk of the Caprice was large but shallow and the dash about the size of a football field. The Caprice suspension also felt tighter than the CVPI. You just can't beat the Chevy 350/5.7L. The CVPI outfitted for prisoner transport had more room than the 9C1.

My non-PI CV is a rolling s#*% box. The suspension is horrible, the bench seat uncomfortable, and the thing just constantly makes noises. However, it is free, so I can't complain too much (just really looking forward to a new G-ride). I'm hoping to get a crew-cab truck next go around, alot more practical for what I do.

The Impalas actually felt faster off the line than the CVPI but really ploughed through corners due to the FWD. The interior felt very cramped, not unlike the mid-90s Luminas (total s#*% boxes). It is hard to see out of the back window due to the trunk. The Impalas are probably pretty decent for city patrol, but I can't see running highways with them.

[LearninginMN]

Does any dept. have the magnum/chargers yet? I know MN state patrol may/maynot have a Mustang GT. (it's the new hot rumor around our PD.)

[saber-six]

We're supposed to have or get 7 of the Chargers. However, the rumor is...that after they bought them, the brass found something they really did not like with the car and we won't be getting any more of them. I don't know what it was...safety factor, didn't like the way it looked, something else stupid... Nevertheless, THEY will be the ones testing them out...THEY being people who left patrol work behind 20 years ago and have 8 hash marks on their arms. Mind you, these are the same jokers who decided to buy only 7 of the Z28's the last year they made them while the rest of the State Police agencies around us have had them for years??? At least we finally got "A" Tahoe out there. So, in terms of vehicles, we're living behind the curve.

BTW, my vote is decidedly for the CVPI. Impala's have their place, but for everyday IHP work Ford has the only game in town.

[msp]

I am pretty certain that the MN state patrol does NOT have a mustang gt.

[CJ_Student_07]

Z28's are super low, have an ackward windshield angle, and the dashboard goes on for miles. It must be very difficult to make the adjustment from CVPI. Although if your cruising the highway, I'm sure the superior handling and acceleration make up for any short comings! I've seen quite a few Z28's while driving the New York Thruway.

[LearninginMN]

I am pretty certain that the MN state patrol does NOT have a mustang gt.
Cool, it was just making its rotation around the rumor mill.....

[Boba Fett]

Drove all the above listed, ('cept for the Charger) and I do miss the Chevy Caprice w/LT1. The one vehicle not listed that I loved and put 131K miles on was the Police Package 2WD Tahoe. Easily my favorite. It had the power, room to spare and handled like a car. Of course in the winter I had to add some weight in the back, but it was still a great patrol car.

[FPS/SFI]

I'm a Crown Vic man, all the way. We have both, here, and recently I had to drive an Impala for two days while my car (a CV) was in the shop.

I hated it. It drove fine, but it was way cramped for me.

[bootcamp]

I have driven both vehicles and I much prefer the Crown Vic! I am 6'2 and have a lot of trouble getting comfortable in the Impala and I have a lot of trouble getting into and out of the Impala with all my gear on. The Crown Vic is just a smoother all around ride hands down!

[newbie31]

I driven both on patrol, and they each have there pros and cons. My previous department only had Impalas while the department I am with now has almost all crown vics.

From my experience neither one is really better than the other. The Fords are faster and have more leg room and the rear wheel drive is a plus. Other than the size, I liked the interior of the Imapalas better and thought they were a smoother ride.

The patrol car I like the best is the old 95 Caprices. We still have two unmarked units in out fleet and they are solid cars. They are much, much faster than the Crown Vics and Impalas. I would take a 95 Caprice over a 05 Crown Vic anyday.

The magnums look cool, but i could see how the small windows could be a issue.

[army_recon]

My agency has 3 different patrol vehicles. Crown Vics, Impalas, and 3 Dodge Intrepids. Every officer on my dept. HATES the Imps. All of them have roughly 40,000 miles on them, and already spend as much time at the mechanic as they do on the road. And yes, they are horribly small and cramped. As far as fwd goes, the Intrepid is pretty decent. Roomy, and pretty quick.

We just got 3 new CV's and admin. says we are staying with Ford from now on. Suits me just fine!

[kenoshacop]

My agency has 3 different patrol vehicles. Crown Vics, Impalas, and 3 Dodge Intrepids. Every officer on my dept. HATES the Imps. All of them have roughly 40,000 miles on them, and already spend as much time at the mechanic as they do on the road. And yes, they are horribly small and cramped. As far as fwd goes, the Intrepid is pretty decent. Roomy, and pretty quick.

We just got 3 new CV's and admin. says we are staying with Ford from now on. Suits me just fine!

Be careful with the Intrepids! A pd in the county I work in had them for a year. They had numerous brake fires and brake failures even after they were replaced several times by the dealership.

[CJ_Student_07]

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[darrell]

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