Football Armageddon Weekend III Twitch vs Edition

[wolfie]

But, closer to home, new cruisers are always Chevy Impalas or newer Ford Taurus sedans.

If I'm not mistaken, the Taurus is only offered as a sedan (many years ago, there was also a wagon).

That one is bound to result in a bit of ribbing from geeks who tie it to a police stereotype - after all, what common object has the topology of a torus?

[sld72382]

Around where I live, most of the Crown Vics have been replaced by the Taurus-based "interceptors," the Dodge Chargers or the Chevy Caprice PPVs (A model only available to law enforcement). And the occasional Tahoe.

[protege]

If I'm not mistaken, the Taurus is only offered as a sedan (many years ago, there was also a wagon).

There are some Taurus X (SUV) variants running around here. My borough's department has at least one. I've never seen it around though--the officers seem to prefer their Crown Vics and Tauruses.

[emax4]

It's somewhat easy to spot a concealed Dodge Charger. If they really want a sleeper, try a souped up Camry in beige.

[sld72382]

There is a sheriff's deputy around town here who drivers an older model (2004 era) Ford Taurus completely unmarked and with no visible "cop" lights, just hidden ones.

He uses it to catch people speeding on private residential streets. I've seen him pull over a couple of people. You think it's just a regular Taurus and then - wham - his previously hidden lights are like a christmas tree.

[dalesys]

... - wham - his previously hidden lights are like a christmas tree.

Near as I can tell, they're hiding in the trunk.
[/Cos]

[pzychobitch]

It's somewhat easy to spot a concealed Dodge Charger. If they really want a sleeper, try a souped up Camry in beige.

If your eye is good you can spot the lights in the grill.

[pzychobitch]

There is a sheriff's deputy around town here who drivers an older model (2004 era) Ford Taurus completely unmarked and with no visible "cop" lights, just hidden ones.

He uses it to catch people speeding on private residential streets. I've seen him pull over a couple of people. You think it's just a regular Taurus and then - wham - his previously hidden lights are like a christmas tree.

LOL that's good!

[DiRF]

Once saw what appeared to be a Mercury Grand Marquis, complete with a half-vinyl roof... noooope Chuck Tes-- err, I mean, unmarked unit.

Also, I love it when some jackhole is zig-zagging through traffic, then ends up behind a white or black Impala/Tahoe/etc, and tailgates the crap out of it... then the heavily tinted back window lights up blue and red... but, both times I've seen it happen, it was simply a warning... jackhole backs the hell off, and the lights go away.

[Chromatix]

Volvos are popular among traffic police over here. Not only are the marked versions quite fast enough to keep up with almost anything on the road (at least in a reasonably straight line), but they also make pretty decent sleepers, since civilian Volvo drivers have a reputation for being slow and safe drivers, and there are enough of them around to blend in. If you pay attention though, you can spot the heavily tinted windows and the large number of antennas fitted to these cars.

By contrast, the Crown Victoria is practically as distinctive and unique to American police forces as a product of the London Taxi Company is to its particular profession.

Not to mention that the old Volvo 240 is occasionally used as a "sleeper" in the more traditional sense, due to its rather large engine bay and overbuilt transmission. Apparently a decent V8 will fit in comfortably, replacing the original inline-4. Tune one of those properly, and it'll give any prospective street-racers a rude surprise.

[Argabarga]

Not to mention that the old Volvo 240 is occasionally used as a "sleeper" in the more traditional sense, due to its rather large engine bay and overbuilt transmission. Apparently a decent V8 will fit in comfortably, replacing the original inline-4. Tune one of those properly, and it'll give any prospective street-racers a rude surprise.

A few maniacs on this side of the globe have stuffed Corvette engines into them, I can only assume it's because they have a death wish.

[RealUnimportant]

A few maniacs on this side of the globe have stuffed Corvette engines into them, I can only assume it's because they have a death wish.

Paul Newman did something similar to the maniacs, twice - http://jalopnik.com/5540957/the-ford...l-newman-built

I just sold a 240 wagon, if I hadn't felt so cramped in the driving seat I was thinking hard about doing some tweaking...

[dalesys]

A few maniacs on this side of the globe have stuffed Corvette engines into them, I can only assume it's because they have a death wish.

... I did three laps around the tree in my front yard ...

You take this car, don't worry - it's paid for, and give it to George Wallace.
[/Cos]

[mjr]

If I'm not mistaken, the Taurus is only offered as a sedan (many years ago, there was also a wagon).

That one is bound to result in a bit of ribbing from geeks who tie it to a police stereotype - after all, what common object has the topology of a torus?

A donut, AND a coffee cup.

[protege]

A few maniacs on this side of the globe have stuffed Corvette engines into them, I can only assume it's because they have a death wish.

A 5.0 Mustang V8 will fit into a Volvo 200 or 700-series engine bay. At the time, the V6 as used in the 260-series cars, was supposed to be part of a 'family.' Then the oil crisis happened, and the planned optional V8 never happened. No worries really--the V6 version was incredibly smooth, and would cruise all day at 90mph without problems. My mother got freaked out with ours. She's look down and suddenly see the speedometer pegged at 95

But, the best highway interceptors had to be the PennDOT trucks used by the state police. Those had hidden radar guns, and were simply parked inside construction zones. Zip past one of those trucks, and you'd be pulled over as soon as the cones ended. The truck would radio ahead to marked units, who would then pull your ass over...and have you fork over $500. Fines are doubled in construction zones, folks