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

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.

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.

I had a ride in a brand new Caprice once. Really bad tire noise.
Like it had no sound insulation at all.

On 10/29/2015 1:51 PM, Vic Smith wrote:
> 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.
>
> I had a ride in a brand new Caprice once. Really bad tire noise.
> Like it had no sound insulation at all.
>

Yeah, and no inside door handles in the back.

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?

I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.

On Thursday, October 29, 2015 at 2:26:30 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?
>
> I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.

If it runs real good and hasen't been wrecked before and not rustd out, it might be a good buy. You can buy door handles and quieter tires.

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.

On 10/29/2015 2:26 PM, wrote:
> ok, but did you read the question. What the h* do door handles and tires have to do with anything?
>
> I'll bet anything those 2 guys are Ford fans.
>

Can't say anything technical about a Caprice, I've only been
in the back seat a couple of times.

I love my small block Chevy 283 V8. It's quick enough to
land you in a Caprice back seat!

--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

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.

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.

If it's a real 9C1 car you want to check the 8th digit of the VIN. They
used 2 V8s with one being a slightly detuned version of the Corvettes
LT1 350 (VIN P) and the other being the 265 L99 (VIN W) base engine.

Look it over VERY close. Most of the ones that stayed in service this
long will have a LOT of miles of hard living. Many have been through a
complete rebuild/repaint at least once. They generally saw better
maintenance than civilian vehicles, but the miles do cause issues.


--
Steve W.

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.