Well, they will make a RWD sedan -- the 2005 300. The question is police car: I don't know whether there will be a police package offered for it or not. There should be.
My understanding from some law enforcement sources is that Chrysler will indeed have a RWD police car. However, it will most likely not be until MY06 off of the up-coming Dodge RWD sedan. Unfortunately, in MY05 Dodge is first going to only do a wagon followed the next year by a sedan.
The Canadian plant that will make all of the new Chrysler Division RWD cars needs time to scale-up and for some odd reason Chrysler Division management decided to do the Dodge wagon first. I also, believe that they need some time to get the police application right after the new line is in production given the abuse police cars have to take.
who's a cop in the next county over from me, in Maryland, and he said they have an order in for 60 Dodge Magnums for police duty. Right now, he drives a 2004 Intrepid police cruiser.
He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala.
Here's some test results I found awhile back, from a Michigan State Police test:
There's also a road course that the MSP puts the cars thought, a 2 mile course that has hills, curves, and corners, and except for the absence of traffic, is supposed to simulate actual pursuit conditions.
Here are the times from that test: Crown Vic: 1:41.65 Intrepid: 1:42.07 Impala: 1:44.25
So while the Intrepid might be better in acceleration and speed, the Crown Vic seems to handle better. So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle!
It'll be interesting to see how the Magnum changes this picture.
Fleet cars have to meet the practical needs first. The Crown Vic outsells the rest because it has RWD, a wide interior, and is easy to work on.
Magnum is RWD, but I doubt the interior has as much room. Also, it has some Mercedes bits (suspension), so let's see how simple it is to maintain, not to mention the cost of replacement parts.
I have a feeling that the Mercedes components are going to be the Achilles heel of the Dodge Enforcer (which is what I think the police version is going to be called). Even if they are durable, the expense is still going to be a killer!
As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two, front legroom is a fraction of an inch, and just going by feel (and not "official" measurements), the Intrepid actually has a bigger back seat! At least, it's the only one of the three where my knees don't touch the seatback.
Size won't be a problem for the Magnum. After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years.
Intrepid didn't have enough head room for me, and the door shape meant you had to duck getting in and out. I wonder how many criminals bumped their heads on the way in, hand-cuffed.
because the cops will make sure to shove you into the door frame! ;-) Actually, I've never had a problem with banging my head on my '00 Intrepid, and I'm 6'3". I did groin myself once, though, on the trailing edge of the rear door...
And FWIW, especially given its size, the Crown Vic isn't that easy to get in and out of. The rear doors have a small opening, and up front the dashboard juts out, similar to the "dogleg" that old Ford and GM cars with wraparound windshields had.
Of course, all of 'em are going to have compromises. What works for one cop may not work for another.
in Arizona. It seems everyone drives a Dodge truck... or a jeep.
>He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala.
Nuts, even the Michigan test doesn't indicate the Intrepid blows away anything. I've driven them all at the largest police academy in the world. Neither of the FWD's (Impala and Intrepid) were close to speed and halding of the Crown Vic, which didn't handle nearly as well as the old Caprice.
This is not the same as saying that Dodge isn't practicably just as fast. There aren't many areas where you can go as fast as any of these cars will go. In Michigan, I'm sure that FWD is favored for the winter traction. A slight decrease in handling may be more than offset by snow traction.
>So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle!
Right, within reason of course. I've also found that the old style Dodge vans are surprisingly agile. They will go very, very fast.
I really have never been a Dodge or GM guy, but the Dodge's in particular have caught my attention. Many of these vehicles have lots of hard miles on them and are still good vehicles.
>As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two,
Take a tape measure and measure it yourself. The measured amounts are per rear pasenger, so a few inches per passenger means the CV has 9-12 inches more width. It really adds up when you're trying to stuff three bikers in the back. Also, police cars usually have cages. Cutting a few inches out for the cage and the CV still has some useable room. Most other cars do not and the perp ends up sitting sideways.
>After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years.
Yes they did. And I was told that they were the absolute fastest. No doubt the new Dodge will be also.
Comments
know if (chry)will make a rear wheel drive sedan
police car to compete with the ford CV any time
soon
-Andrew L
The Intepid dies in a few months, and FWD will never be as durable as RWD. Why are there no Camry or Accord copcars or taxis?
-juice
-juice
The Canadian plant that will make all of the new Chrysler Division RWD cars needs time to scale-up and for some odd reason Chrysler Division management decided to do the Dodge wagon first. I also, believe that they need some time to get the police application right after the new line is in production given the abuse police cars have to take.
-juice
He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala.
Here's some test results I found awhile back, from a Michigan State Police test:
0-60
Intrepid: 9.14 seconds
Crown Vic: 9.14 seconds
Impala: 9.25 seconds
0-100
Intrepid: 24.80 seconds
Crown Vic: 25.58 seconds
Impala: 26.73 seconds
Top Speed:
Intrepid: 136 mph
Crown Vic: 128 mph
Impala: 126 mph
There's also a road course that the MSP puts the cars thought, a 2 mile course that has hills, curves, and corners, and except for the absence of traffic, is supposed to simulate actual pursuit conditions.
Here are the times from that test:
Crown Vic: 1:41.65
Intrepid: 1:42.07
Impala: 1:44.25
So while the Intrepid might be better in acceleration and speed, the Crown Vic seems to handle better. So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle!
It'll be interesting to see how the Magnum changes this picture.
Magnum is RWD, but I doubt the interior has as much room. Also, it has some Mercedes bits (suspension), so let's see how simple it is to maintain, not to mention the cost of replacement parts.
-juice
As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two, front legroom is a fraction of an inch, and just going by feel (and not "official" measurements), the Intrepid actually has a bigger back seat! At least, it's the only one of the three where my knees don't touch the seatback.
Size won't be a problem for the Magnum. After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years.
-juice
And FWIW, especially given its size, the Crown Vic isn't that easy to get in and out of. The rear doors have a small opening, and up front the dashboard juts out, similar to the "dogleg" that old Ford and GM cars with wraparound windshields had.
Of course, all of 'em are going to have compromises. What works for one cop may not work for another.
>He says that they've already raced the Intrepid against other cars, and supposedly it blows away the Crown Vic and Impala.
Nuts, even the Michigan test doesn't indicate the Intrepid blows away anything. I've driven them all at the largest police academy in the world. Neither of the FWD's (Impala and Intrepid) were close to speed and halding of the Crown Vic, which didn't handle nearly as well as the old Caprice.
This is not the same as saying that Dodge isn't practicably just as fast. There aren't many areas where you can go as fast as any of these cars will go. In Michigan, I'm sure that FWD is favored for the winter traction. A slight decrease in handling may be more than offset by snow traction.
>So much for the myth that just because a car is bigger and bulkier, it can't handle!
Right, within reason of course. I've also found that the old style Dodge vans are surprisingly agile. They will go very, very fast.
I really have never been a Dodge or GM guy, but the Dodge's in particular have caught my attention. Many of these vehicles have lots of hard miles on them and are still good vehicles.
>As for interior room, the Crown Vic really isn't that much bigger inside than an Intrepid or Impala. Shoulder room is within an inch or two,
Take a tape measure and measure it yourself. The measured amounts are per rear pasenger, so a few inches per passenger means the CV has 9-12 inches more width. It really adds up when you're trying to stuff three bikers in the back. Also, police cars usually have cages. Cutting a few inches out for the cage and the CV still has some useable room. Most other cars do not and the perp ends up sitting sideways.
>After all the Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury compared favorably to the Crown Vic and Caprice for years.
Yes they did. And I was told that they were the absolute fastest. No doubt the new Dodge will be also.
So, if that first figure is per passenger, what are you doing, rolling the widows down and counting part of the great outdoors???
Seriously, there is very little more room in the backseat of a Vic than an Impala. And the commonly used figures are NOT per passenger...
The NEW Dodge is RWD, has a V8 but is NOT body on frame. I doubt it has perceived gas tank problems, though.