This has in all probability happened to you a few sentence in life history : you see a cop railcar in your rearview mirror , instinctively check off your speed indicator , and hit the brake – only to realize , oh , it ’s just some far-out civilian who has procured an old cop cable car for God bang what reason . Weird .
Here ’s the deal : an ex - pig car can be a great day-to-day driver for many reasons – beyond just dash the shit out of texters and boost other cable car to stay out of your path . They can be amazingly well-heeled and fun to force back , thanks to the heavy - tariff " police package " that makes them muscular enough for a high - speed Salmon Portland Chase . Plus , they ’re cheap to uphold and perdurable as hell .
That being said , some ex - cop cars are used , mistreated , and deserving more in pieces than whole . Others have take in thecrème de la crèmeof care and sustainment . So how do you have it away when you ’ve got a success ? Here ’s where to expect and what to look for .
Flickr/D.C.Atty
Remember, not all cop cars are treated equally
Many cop gondola are not actually used for police duty . State and county official will oftentimes get a vehicle that come up equip with the police package , but never get a line a high - fastness quest or a donut - intensive patrol . The software program comes with aheavy - duty suspension and beefed - up internals and cool systems– everything you ’d need for a high-pitched - fastness chase or hour spend idle – but these cars do n’t receive the everyday ill-usage that their on - duty sib experience .
What you really want is an off-duty car
Off - tariff cars have all the constituent that make a cop car worth driving , but they also feature nicer , more conventional cloth tush , instead of the industrial - grade vinyl a police cruiser will tend to have . A chosen few even come with leather seating room , but those are rarefied and generally give to county commissioners , chiefs of the attack and police departments , and other bigwigs . Not too coincidently , these vehicles also have the high oftenness of persevering maintenance .
But don’tassumethat all patrol cars are junk
When you ’re shopping foranycheap used car , it really comes down to the sustenance and upkeep that the previous owner put into it . Some patrol cars are given plenty of care from departments that have the financial resources and work force . Suspensions are rebuilt , powertrains are repaired , and in many cases you’re able to end up with a virtually brand - new vehicle for less than 10 % of the toll .
Each variation has its appealingness . More times than not , the ones used by the men in blue can be grease one’s palms for less . They are also the genuine black - and - white car with the on - route flavor and engagement mark to prove it . Still , if you have a family or significant other that might not divvy up your honey of a marginal - bone credit card interior , you may be happier with an off - duty version .
Narrow your search online before checking cars out in person
GovDealsandPublic Surplusare the kings of on-line auction and regularly liquidate cop elevator car for local municipality . There are thousands of cars to prefer from , ranging from mint - stipulation cherry rides that have barely been put through their paces , to those unfortunate many that have been smashed to hell andhave potentially fatal amounts of somatic fluids staining the stern .
Don’t take the listing at face value, though
Most delegacy sell older cable car absolutely give suck at it . Sometimes the pictures online are for the wrong car , and the criminal maintenance records are almost never list online , even when they would further the final cut-rate sale price . For deterrent example , I once grease one’s palms a fomite for $ 700 that I later betray for over $ 7,000 . The listing had the untimely moving picture , incorrect miles , and featured a shockingly common idiomatic expression you see a flock at police auctions : " sour experimental condition unknown . mechanically skillful experimental condition unknown . fuel consumption rate unknown . "
You’re gonna need to figure out the history for yourself
CARFAX can be somewhat valuable , but only if the agency had a dealership or an autonomous repair quickness palm the criminal maintenance needs – and larger city are less potential to do that . Looking at the pictures online can help you quickly cross out the cars that take care like they got into a fight and lose – so long as you ’re reasonably certain the photograph are of the right car . The remaining cars can all be inspected and verified for their condition by you or a mechanically disposed mortal . That take a bite of planning .
Conduct your own forensic investigation
Has the transmission been of late replaced ? Has the engine received recent repair work ? What about the suspension ? These are the three heavy disbursal element of most police vehicles , and to work out them out , you take to reach the functionary who posted the on-line list . Or , if the government authority in question is n’t online quite yet – yes , that still happens – connect with the maintenance department and find out who observe these records .
Either style , ask the official when you’re able to come by and see the records in mortal , and whether there is a specific time of day when you’re able to inspect the vehicle . Every home has rules and policy that are set in Harlan Fisk Stone .
Start it up and look around
Some places will offer an escort and a battery jumper , while others have folks who will simply point , oink , and let you do the heavy lifting of cowl , etc . Most gondola batteries will be DOA so make certain you have some juice with you if the agency wo n’t give you a jump loge .
In nearly all display case you will be allowed to jump the fomite up and do a elaborated review , but driving the car is not an option . As for the platter , it ’s almost always unspoiled to go over them with a mulct - toothed comb beforehand because you really have no estimate what you ’re getting yourself into otherwise .
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Flickr/C.Holmes
Flickr/Incase
Flickr/Natalie Maynor
