ex police cars

[mark20uk]

i was just wondering what interavls the police actually change there cars is it to do with miles or is it a certain time peroid in the north east most trafic police drive around in the new s80 t5s all though a have seen a few s70s still.

[clive d]

the police change there cars after about 5years service. they end up with 110,000 to 200,000miles on the clock some stay in service a tad longer.

[Goof]

Leicestershire used to change them based on mileage ~ some less used ones were kept longer. We had a Granada 3.0S as a Panda car!

[mikej]

If anybody is looking for an v70 t5 explod in the preston area there are 5 coming up for sale on the 10th of this month at BCA auction site, thought someone just may be interested.If you want mileage details give us a shout..

[BrightonBreezy]

I'm in the market for a cheaper V70 T5 so I'd be very interested to know what's coming up at the auctions.
Where is the BCA auction site?
West Oxfordshire auctions seem to deal with the ex-plod cars in the South and they have a ex-police sale on the same day. Usually, they don't post up the actual cars until the same day.

[BrightonBreezy]

Bit of digging around:
Tomorrow, 3 March, these 3 ex-plod V70 T5s are coming up at Enfield BCA. Auction starts 1:30pm.
GK52NLG Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 2002 52 158,670
HY51CPX Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 2001 51 155,111
Y81UOW Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 01Y 139,962

I'll have to see if I can get there in my lunch hour.
Not sure if its actually in my interests to post this info here. One of you lot might come along and bid against me!

[mikej]

Bit of digging around:
Tomorrow, 3 March, these 3 ex-plod V70 T5s are coming up at Enfield BCA. Auction starts 1:30pm.
GK52NLG Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 2002 52 158,670
HY51CPX Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 2001 51 155,111
Y81UOW Enfield 03-03-2005 VOLVO V70 2.3 T5 Estate 01Y 139,962

I'll have to see if I can get there in my lunch hour.
Not sure if its actually in my interests to post this info here. One of you lot might come along and bid against me!

And here are the details for preston 10th/march should anyone require them:

1999 s plate v70t5 142k miles manual
1998 s plate v70t5 128k miles manual
2000 x plate v70t5 124k miles manual
2001 x plate v70t5 84kk miles manual new shape
2001 x plate v70t5 108k miles manual new shape

For those who wish to view BCA stock you have to have a trade account with them first or you could just simply ring them and ask about forthcoming sales .Anyway hope this helps if i can be of assistance just ask......
mike

[Goof]

It'd be nice to see how much they sell for...

[mark20uk]

i live in northumberland and i was just wondering were a would be able to find out who and how i could buy an s70t5.
would contacting the police themselves be a good bet

[BrightonBreezy]

This afternoon's auction at BCA, Enfield:
The 52 plate car was a silver, camera car, manual gearbox. Only a few holes in the dash. It sold for £5,000 exactly.
The other two were white ex-patrol cars with auto transmissions. They weren't presented in good condition: gaping holes in the fascia and central console; roof holes; rips in the seats; damaged paintwork fromthe sticker removal.
I don't want an auto so I didn't wait around to see what they sold at.

[mikej]

Hello again all,
Firstly let me say i am in no way an authority on this although i am on my 5th T5 and all i might add all have been explod and purchased at auctions throughout the country.I hope this may help those of you who are wondering where and when you can buy these cars ,firstly you can buy throughout the uk from London to Scotland BCA auctions are used to dispose of quite a few as well as others like those in oxford .Based on personal experiences i would stick to the BCA sites ,don,t bother trying to contact the various forces as they are very reluctant to give any details hence very few come with service records , there are some but these are few and far between basically they dont want joe bloggs knowing how much they have spent on servicing etc .I,ve heard many people going on about how well they are serviced using only genuine parts and how the police must chip them etc,this however is mostly dealers trying to shift them for silly money.Again my own experience dealing with my local main dealer and force is that No cars are ever chipped,the only time the car is serviced at main dealer is for a warrenty claim all serviceing is done by police to keep costs down and every one i,ve purchased direct from plod has had aftermarket parts fitted?These cars should never be valued the same as a private car you will find this out if you buy and then sell at a later date.Buying is easy, ring the auction houses up and ask abouth forthcoming sale dates,ring a few days before and speak to entry control about what vehicles are in and then go along,get there a few hours before and check the cars out properly make a note and go and get a coffee.Again for those of you who dont know what to check for try tyres & make sure you have spare and jack,disks,exhaust,front screen for cracks/chips etc,dash and console for holes ,roof linning for zips/rips,body damage especially inside & under boot and engine bay ,oil and water conditon and MAKE SURE you are next to/behind car once started ,if poss jump in and try gearbox/clutch/steering etc.I,ll bet those out ther who have bought an explod from a so called specialist dealer and there are a few have paid over the odds for it and been totally gutted when you come to sell basically because those people and dealers know what they are actually worth would you do it again i think not! My personal advice would be buy it yourself ,take a mechanic with you if you need to and the money you save you can spend getting the car as you want it.I have always checked my cars out thoroughly and never had any issues,considering what you are paying for them who cares if its white ,the miles are high,you can even buy your own warrenty if it makes you feel better.Oh yes i was a dealer in my part time for many years , if i can help just ask.....i am now getting off my box todays lesson is over bye bye...

[mat562be]

As a serving police officer, I can offer the following view:

Ex-police cars (in this case Volvos which have been used as Traffic/Roads Policing cars, or, in some cases as response cars) are, in my humble opinion, not the bargains that many people think them to be. Several myths and old wives tales exist when it comes to these cars.

Many people assume the cars to be performance bargains due to them having been "chipped" and subjected to various expensive suspension mods. The fact is, very few cars are chipped, either by the manufacturer or any aftermarket operators. The simple fact is that most cars which are bought or leased by forces carry a warranty element from the manufacturer which does not allow for, or warrant, any aftermarket alterations. In addition, the cars are tested and approved by a Home Office agency which then gives that particular car (model, engine/fuel type, transmission etc) a seal of approval. To interfere with that setup would fall foul of that approval. In addition, the cars are selected based on an assumed level of reliability and servicabilty. Forces, operating under ever more tight budgets are reluctant to change any aspect of the car which would conceivably make it differ from this.
Basically, in all but a very few specialised cases, the cars are standard.

A second myth is that the cars are religiously serviced. In many cases this IS true. However, remember that the cars cover a heavy milage. In the case of motorway patrol cars and ARVs they may cover upwards of 1500 miles a week. Whilst all of this driving is undertaken by advanced-grade drivers, all of whom are disciples of the Roadcraft system of car control (one aspect of which is mechanical sympathy for the vehicle) they are driven for extended peroids of time far harder than any layman would, or probably could, drive his own car. They are also, through the rigours of the work, subjected to some pretty rough treatment; when was the last time you drove your own V70 over a series of pillowcase speed humps at 70 mph? Often, particularly in cases where the ownership of the cars remains with a leasing company (e.g. one midland force who lease all their vehicles from Vensons) the servicing is undertaken 'in-house.' A company, being paid an all-in, sum-per-mile for each vehicle on a "maintenance-included" contract will, inevitibly not lavish the same attention and care that a respected Volvo franchise would with your own car. I could relate stories, but that wouldn't be right or proper.

The cars also necessarily end up being 'Cop-ified' which in the case of any vehicles used for armed duties or dog-carrying duties will involve extensive modifiction with the associated effect on interior and exterior trim. One saving grace is that the new issue radio and Vascar kit are designed more around the existing fitments of the vehicles in question and do not involve the kind of butchering seen in older cars. Radio aerials and Tracker receiver devices will always leave some scarring however. Also, the waist-worn belt rig of todays officers, with dozens of vehicle entries and exits per day, make for well-worn seats and interior fitments.

The cars are often also driven hard, from cold, and are very often left standing idle at the scene of an incident with no "warm down" allowed to prolong the turbocharger life.

On the whole, police vehicles represent a ready pool of high milage, well used Volvo cars which will inevitibly have been driven over and above what an equivalent car would ever have been in private hands. They will have been regularly serviced, but to a standard which is often unknown, and will most likely have suffered some knocks and bangs along the way. A force about to offload a 150k vehicle is unlikely to indulge in expensive, but permanent fixes for worn items and is more likely to shore up what is already there. My experience is that equivalent-milage police vehicles often feel markedly "looser" than an equivalent private vehicle as a result. If you can live with this, and the often "tired" interior, then they can be a bargain. Also, nowadays you don't have to end up with a white one either...

[Wobbly Dave]

Thanks Matt. A valuable insight into ex-plod. Something I have always believed having seen the posts of ex-plod owners is that it is a lottery as to what you end up with. As far as mods go I thought the only general mod was the fitting of the larger front brake disks (302mm rather than 280)

[CAMO]

DITO WHAT MAT562BE HAS STATED- ITS A LOTTERY WHAT TOU WILL GET. THE T5'S ARE A WORK TOOL, WITH CAR SYMPATHY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST!

[siamblue]

It just shows you how strong these engines really are,If they can do 120k via the Police,That's more than likely over 200k private owner mileage in comparison,
If you want a newer car get a ex plod,If you want a older much loved car go private,As i know what i would rather have now,

A MUCH LOVED AND UP RATED/GRADED CAR

[mat562be]

Thanks Matt. A valuable insight into ex-plod. Something I have always believed having seen the posts of ex-plod owners is that it is a lottery as to what you end up with. As far as mods go I thought the only general mod was the fitting of the larger front brake disks (302mm rather than 280)

Dave,

My understanding is that the brakes were changed, by Volvo, as factory fit modification for early 850s as used as traffic cars. A colleague, who was on traffic when the first Volvos began to be used, says that the standard brakes used to be very prone to fade and even warped disks due to the punishment they got. As a result, Volvo - anxious to maintain their relationship with the police as a valued customer and advertising tool - changed them for the bigger items. Apparently this meant modification to the wheel and tyre setup too, and must have cost a packet...

[siamblue]

I was up at Notts Police HQ afew weeks back,and i had a lot of attention from the Police,The car being ex police as well,Maybe the Police drivers love them too,
I have lots of cars in my time,But these are comfy safe and very quick,
Matt what car do you drive?

[Wobbly Dave]

Dave,

My understanding is that the brakes were changed, by Volvo, as factory fit modification for early 850s as used as traffic cars. A colleague, who was on traffic when the first Volvos began to be used, says that the standard brakes used to be very prone to fade and even warped disks due to the punishment they got. As a result, Volvo - anxious to maintain their relationship with the police as a valued customer and advertising tool - changed them for the bigger items. Apparently this meant modification to the wheel and tyre setup too, and must have cost a packet...

Yes I know - you can't fit 302's inside the standard t5 wheel. I think 280mm were phased out with the 850s. P1 V/S70's came with 302mm as standard?

It also goes to show what a waste of time AP kits are (not to mention money)

[siamblue]

Yes I know - you can't fit 302's inside the standard t5 wheel. I think 280mm were phased out with the 850s. P1 V/S70's came with 302mm as standard?

It also goes to show what a waste of time AP kits are (not to mention money)

On the S/V 70s the wheels are a different shape the 850s won't fit with 302mm brakes,
Dave don't go there lol,
By the way was it standard as well

[mat562be]

I was up at Notts Police HQ afew weeks back,and i had a lot of attention from the Police,The car being ex police as well,Maybe the Police drivers love them too,
I have lots of cars in my time,But these are comfy safe and very quick,
Matt what car do you drive?

A V70N T5 (2000) with a stage 1 BSR upgrade to 300bhp-ish. I only went to a Volvo last year due to needing a bigger car. I have a brood of hefty German Shepherd dogs and needed the boot space. Previously, was a Ford Cosworth man - Sierra, Sapphire 4wd and a t35 Escort Cosworth, all modded by Graham Goode to anything up to 380 bhp or so. Also, have had a Prodrive Subaru in my time. Despite being a bit different I'm happy with my Volly, since it has enough space, all the toys (it's a fully loaded SE) and it's quick enough to still have a play every now and again. I also know it will be a reliable bit of kit since I drive one at work and know a fair bit about them as a result...