are police cruisers/interceptors (Caprice) a good or bad buy?

Vic Smith wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 15:49:01 -0500, Paul in Houston TX
> > wrote:
>
>> wrote:
>>> Clearly you have to check them out. Overall I just want to hear from people that put
>>> the car through it's paces and how it worked out. Looking at mid 90s Caprice /
>>> Roadmasters and wondering if I should bite. TIA.
>>
>> Police cars idle for long periods of time between frantic dashes while
>> ignoring road hazards. Better figure the engine is worn out. Suspension and
>> trans probably on their way out.
>> However, at $500 it would still be a good deal even if it only lasts a few months.
>> I would not go much over $750.
>
> I had a '76 Caprice that was former "official". That's what I figured
> anyway,due to the equipped spotlight. Bought it in '82 for $800.
> It was a nice car, and only needed tuneups.
> Rusted out within 5 years.

A friend gave me his old '85 Chevy, ex-police car, back in 1992 or 3 when my
Toyota blew up. Don't remember the Chevy model but it lasted for a year
as a work car. Quart of oil per day, 70 psi compression, clean the plugs
every few weeks. I ended up giving it away to some even poorer people.

On Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 5:51:40 PM UTC-4, Vic Smith wrote:

> I had a '76 Caprice that was former "official". That's what I figured
> anyway,due to the equipped spotlight. Bought it in '82 for $800.
> It was a nice car, and only needed tuneups.
> Rusted out within 5 years.

Come on Vic! Chebbys don't rust out like that anymore yer know. LOL.

My old 82 G10 van got kind of rusty. Our family's 76-77 Malibu rusted some too. You could see daylight. Or moonlight if it the moon was full. Through the floor that is.

: "the moon was full. Through the floor that is. "

Did you roll that sonofabitch? Cause that's the
ONLEEE way to explain moonlight or daylight
coming through the floor! LOLOLOL!

On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 11:40:03 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

>Clearly you have to check them out. Overall I just want to hear from people that put the car through it's paces and how it worked out. Looking at mid 90s Caprice / Roadmasters and wondering if I should bite. TIA.

They are good cars. I had a 95 Caprice police package bought new and
it went to auction when it had about 130K on it. The only problems it
had in it's life were that the rear windows came loose from the track,
some senor on the transmission needed replacement and that was about
it. Cosmetically, the plastic used for the door panels was crap and
the shop had to put large washers on the hold down screws by the pull
handles because the screws pulled thru the cheap plastic. Expect the
usual maintenance items, brakes, shocks, etc. I got as high as 25 mpg
on highway trips but only 13 mpg in town

It was replaced with a 2005 Crown Vic police package. The Caprice had
a stronger engine but the Crown vic had better seats. They each had
their own "feel" to them, both handled well. I thought the CV looked
better and the interior held up better.

Buying used you'll need to go by their current condition obviously. A
City PD vehicle that's been beat to hell may not be a good choice. I
lean toward highway patrol vehicles that were unmarked cars if I'm
buying at auction.

On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:53:38 -0500, Vic Smith
> wrote:

>On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:26:27 -0700 (PDT),
>wrote:
>
>>ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?
>>
>
>How many Caprices you see running around? Hell, I don't think I've
>seen one for the past 5 years or so. To put it in perspective, when I
>rode in that new Caprice, I was owned an '88 Celebrity that was Caddy
>or Lincoln in comparison to the tin-can feeling of the Caprice.
>It was the equivalent to my '71 Nova. But not as fast.
>
>>I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.
>
>I haven't had a Ford since I traded my '66 F-100 for a couple of
>drop-off boxes.


I've driven caprices, 89, 90, 92, 95, 2003 and celebrities 87 and
Crown Vics 05, 09 and I can't reconcile your comments. All the
caprices were very solid quiet cars, no "tin car" feeling at all and
easily as good or better "feeling" as the celebrity.

On Fri, 30 Oct 2015 11:56:08 -0700, Ashton Crusher >
wrote:

>On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:53:38 -0500, Vic Smith
> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:26:27 -0700 (PDT),
>>wrote:
>>
>>>ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?
>>>
>>
>>How many Caprices you see running around? Hell, I don't think I've
>>seen one for the past 5 years or so. To put it in perspective, when I
>>rode in that new Caprice, I was owned an '88 Celebrity that was Caddy
>>or Lincoln in comparison to the tin-can feeling of the Caprice.
>>It was the equivalent to my '71 Nova. But not as fast.
>>
>>>I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.
>>
>>I haven't had a Ford since I traded my '66 F-100 for a couple of
>>drop-off boxes.
>
>
>I've driven caprices, 89, 90, 92, 95, 2003 and celebrities 87 and
>Crown Vics 05, 09 and I can't reconcile your comments. All the
>caprices were very solid quiet cars, no "tin car" feeling at all and
>easily as good or better "feeling" as the celebrity.

Well, it was a new '90 or '91. It was used by the Chevy dealership to
ferry customers who had their car in for work.
The road noise was terrible.
I remember mentioning it to the driver as soon as we left the parking
lot. Only one I've been in.
Didn't notice if it had floor mats. I thought my '03 Impala was loud
too, but putting in good floor mats and a hump console really quieted
it down.

On Sat, 31 Oct 2015 03:30:26 -0500, Vic Smith
> wrote:

>On Fri, 30 Oct 2015 11:56:08 -0700, Ashton Crusher >
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:53:38 -0500, Vic Smith
> wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:26:27 -0700 (PDT),
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?
>>>>
>>>
>>>How many Caprices you see running around? Hell, I don't think I've
>>>seen one for the past 5 years or so. To put it in perspective, when I
>>>rode in that new Caprice, I was owned an '88 Celebrity that was Caddy
>>>or Lincoln in comparison to the tin-can feeling of the Caprice.
>>>It was the equivalent to my '71 Nova. But not as fast.
>>>
>>>>I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.
>>>
>>>I haven't had a Ford since I traded my '66 F-100 for a couple of
>>>drop-off boxes.
>>
>>
>>I've driven caprices, 89, 90, 92, 95, 2003 and celebrities 87 and
>>Crown Vics 05, 09 and I can't reconcile your comments. All the
>>caprices were very solid quiet cars, no "tin car" feeling at all and
>>easily as good or better "feeling" as the celebrity.
>
>Well, it was a new '90 or '91. It was used by the Chevy dealership to
>ferry customers who had their car in for work.
>The road noise was terrible.
>I remember mentioning it to the driver as soon as we left the parking
>lot. Only one I've been in.
>Didn't notice if it had floor mats. I thought my '03 Impala was loud
>too, but putting in good floor mats and a hump console really quieted
>it down.

Maybe it was a stripped model with particularly noisy tires. Not
disputing your experience, it just doesn't match mine is all. It does
seem to me that there is quite a difference in how quiet cars are
these days.. with the less expensive ones tending to be pretty noisy.
I also think the trend to wider and wider tires with sticky compound
is generating more tire noise.