For Import Haters...

Page 5 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

bigbootydaddy

Banned
Sep 14, 2000
5,820
0
0
problem is you arent gonna convince anyone else to drop what they like, and naturally they will stick to it. its like telling someone the truth who thinks the sky its pink.
 

Rent

Diamond Member
Aug 8, 2000
7,127
1
81
You must realize that the cops have to have a good balance between speed and capacity. Beyond that, the cop crusiers are not stock configurations, they do additional suspension and engine work to most of their cars.

I'd list more, but I have class... boo!
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
"Exactly, they're replacing the traditional boat of a car that you like. It's a fad, people will get over it in time - once people do, the big RWD V8s aren't gonna be around."

genocide, you conveniently forgot about the half ton pickup "fad". Going away soon too? The most popular selling vehicle in this country is a RWD body on frame. And the bigger the engine the better, going all the way up to monster V10s and Cummins diesels.GMC Typhoon vs. Ford f-150 Lighting

And I ain't the only one that prefers that configuration. Obviously, your local cops do too. Do you enjoy seeing them getting neutered because of the public's demand for toy cars?


"Why does it have to be a heavy boat? Why not a well designed lightweight with space inside?"

yakko, I don't know. I was hoping somebody would explain to me why cops need this type of car, but my family and I don't. Why don't they want a "well designed lightweight with space inside" instead? Since most police departments use the same RWD type car, there must be a good reason. My hunch is durability and ease of repair. And I would think any family would benefit from that same advantage.

Radeon, I still want to know why they don't do those same mods to these wondrous, new high tech, FWD masterpieces. Damn, they must have everything going for them since genocide can't wait for them to take over for the old reliables!
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0
Ornery - one more time now - point out where I said "I can't wait for the V8 RWD boats to disappear" and I'll gladly leave this thread alone. I'm stating a fact, plain and simple. And trucks are a completely different subject, so I don't know why you're bringing that up...
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
<< The police though will probably always use domestics for their police cruisers >>


I agree, I just think that cities are going to want something a little more efficient. When something like that reaches a bigger size (the closest thing I can think of is an Intrepid or a bigger Chrysler) I think they might move away from the big ass Crown Vickies IMO. It won't be for a long time tho.

&quot;Really? Ah, good to know my predictions are starting to come true already&quot; :)

What's so good about it? The Intrepids are no more fuel efficient. What is so good about it?
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
Ornery, a lot of the police dept's around here are converting over to the Chevy Impala's. I'm not certain which engine they put in there, but I'm pretty sure that it's the same 3800 series V6 that Chevy puts in the Consumer version Impala LS, the Monte Carlo SS, and the V6 Firebirds and Camero's.

The 3800 V6 gets right around 30MPG on the highway with a car that weighs close to 3500 pounds.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0


<< What's so good about it? The Intrepids are no more fuel efficient. What is so good about it? >>


I like being right - big deal. Who doesn't? I said &quot;I think that they're gonna use cars like the Intrepid&quot;, and they are! Am I yelling &quot;down with the Crown Vics!!&quot; ?? No - so get off my back and get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off.

Oh, and the Crown Vic is as fuel efficient as an Intrepid, but it's weaker as well. The Intrepid's top engine (18/26) puts out 242HP while the Crown Vic (18/25) puts out 220. Torque ratings are close (especially since we're talking about a V6 and a V8 here), with the cars putting out 248ft-lbs (Intrepid) and 265ft-lbs (CV).
 

monckywrench

Senior member
Aug 27, 2000
313
0
0
The reasons for specialized users wanting classic RWD beasts are obvious to any mechanic. They combine a relatively low CG, a trucklike drivetrain, and the ability to carry gear and people conveniently. Having a nice heavy V8 or V6 up front is comforting in a crash. Equally obvious is the reason why RWD family cars are less common than they were 20 years back. A truck or van is a more useful cargo hauler than a car, so those of us who like big cars often buy trucks instead. As trucks/SUVs come with more car-like amenities, why bother with a car?
 

rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
1
0
<<To me, that still begs the question, why would your local patrolmen not be better off with the FWD then? What exactly are their needs that the average family doesn't have? I'm saying the average family would be better served with the good old fashioned American land yacht, same as the cops!>>

Peace officers needs are:

Fast acceleration (this is often a trade off with top speed)
High Top speed
Rigid suspension for offroad pursuits
Large trunk spaces and interior cabin for weapon and emergency medical gear storage
Large Dashes for mounting of computer hardware and cameras

I need none of those. I would love a larger trunk and full size spare but I'm willing to trade it off for 35mpg. Of course police also have other needs that aren't mentioned here. Police in general are trained to drive large heavy vehicles with RWD, they continue to select these vehicles because this is what the officers have training driving and what the fleet consists of. If anything the result of not changing car types is simply the cost that local governments would have in retraining all their officers to drive lighter FWD cars.

For example: Utah 10 years or so ago switched the UHP to the 5.0 liter mustangs. After buying a fleet of them they had a rash of police cars wiping out because the officers were not trained to control a vehicle that was 2000lbs lighter than anything they had driven before. They spent a LOT of money retraining cops to drive the lighter mustangs. As with any similar major change in basic car layout, it will result in numerous wrecks because of lack of experience unless their is corresponding training.

The easiest reason to explain local government purchases is the cost of retraining officers to drive different cars. You simply keep buying the same type of car you have for years and you don't have to worry about retraining.
 

BCYL

Diamond Member
Jun 7, 2000
7,803
0
71
rahvin:

Great point! I have never thought about the retraining cost that comes with a new configuration of police cruisers... not to mention the time and cost it will require to develop a new training program....
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
<< Is there any possiblity of that FWD Intrepid being more durable than the RWD Crown Vic? If not, what's the point? Mileage? >>


&quot;Yes and Yes&quot; :)


&quot;What makes FWD less reliable than RWD?&quot;


<< You think it's funny that cops can't buy a decent RWD Chevy >>


&quot;Haha, yup. Except for the Camaro and Vette, I think Chevy's car lineup sucks hardcore. Plasticy (inside and out) pieces of garbage...

&quot;Ornery, I'd have to say AWD is the dominant layout in the more reliable cars.&quot;


<< Doesn't change the fact that the vehicle of choice is a nice sturdy V8, RWD, body on frame, 4dr American cruiser >>


&quot;Not for long (much to your dismay)...
And it might be YOUR vehicle of choice, but not America's&quot;



&quot;Am I yelling &quot;down with the Crown Vics!!&quot; ?? No - so get off my back and get your facts straight before you shoot your mouth off.&quot;


I'm being perfectly clear in my explanation of why an import can never be what your local police department wants to use for patrolling. You've shown your ignorance about the durability of their preferred configuration, and of what even constitutes durability. You've said that you think it's funny that they can no longer buy a RWD Chevy to fill the bill. And you've hinted that your vehicle of choice for cops is not what they would choose. That it doesn't bother you that they might have to make do with a lesser vehicle. Does that sound factual? If not, what are the facts concerning your opinion? Clearly, spell it out.

Again, to be clear, I'm saying that the import modeled FWD American car is a POS replacement for what we once used as the mainstay family sedan. To be forced into buying a pickup or SUV instead is a load of crap. America's choice, a knock off of the Japanese staple, currently sucks and your local police department doesn't want &quot;America's Choice&quot; any more than I do.
 

geno

Lifer
Dec 26, 1999
25,074
4
0


<< That it doesn't bother you that they might have to make do with a lesser vehicle >>


Oh cmon, they'll survive. I'm sure having a FWD won't hinder the average cop's patrol. High speed chases? It's not like the Crown Vic is the best car for this either (even with the Police Interceptor package), and chases are a rarity as well where the cop doesn't have to overtake the car, but keep up with it. And a 200+ HP Intrepid wouldn't be able to do the job much better than a Crown Vic. Don't get me wrong Ornery, I've got nothing against the cars you like, it's just that they're disappearing at a rapid rate since the SUV fad has begun...
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
0
0
being shallow as i am, i think the cops should drive intrepids.. just darn kewl looking. Would need a slightly modified paint scheme though...maybe metallic black and white:p
 

Zucchini

Banned
Dec 10, 1999
4,601
0
0
being shallow as i am, i think the cops should drive intrepids.. just darn kewl looking. Would need a slightly modified paint scheme though...maybe metallic black and white:p
 

SVTPower

Senior member
Dec 8, 2000
646
0
0
being shallow as i am, i think the cops should drive intrepids.. just darn kewl looking. Would need a slightly modified paint scheme though...maybe metallic black and white:p

Being the tax payer I am I would rather have them drive a GM since the parts are far cheaper then any Mopar crap.
 

yakko

Lifer
Apr 18, 2000
25,455
2
0
Ornery,

The reason the cops need a different car then your family is that you don't see many families ramming others cars to get them to stop.
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
You mean you don't nudge people off into the ditch when they're going too slow? :Q

I'm sorry, but I've been stewing about this shift to these pathetic weenie-mobiles for the last 25 years. Just a pent up rage waiting to unload on any poor hapless victim that decides to participate in a &quot;Import Haters&quot; topic!

The American consumer brought Detroit to it's knees by demanding this type of vehicle over what they use to build so well. We've screwed over Detroit and all for the sake of a few more MPG. The great American family cruiser will never be the same. If I were in the market for a tiny FWD, I'd probably go import too. But that's a BIG if, cause I'll NEVER be in the market for that. NEVER!! :|
 

Static911

Diamond Member
Nov 24, 2000
4,338
1
0
ahh...too much hate here...who cares who drives wat? rite? only in america, we can do wat we damn plz (and get sued for it ;) )

Static911
 

Ornery

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
20,022
17
81
The thing is Static911, that some true blue Americans go ape when other Americans buy imports instead of buying American. Go ahead and work for GM, Ford or Chrysler and see what happens when you park your import in the employee parking lot!

I don't agree with those people. I say that you should buy the best quality product at the best price no matter who makes it. I'm all for totally free trade. It's best for consumers.

My beef is with the American public handing the business over to the importers. We made a solid product here that no foreign builder could touch. Major bang for the buck, solid American V8, RWD cruisers. The thought of blowing that all away for tad better mileage just burns me up. I don't blame the importers, I blame our stupid ass consumers. Thank God we still have the pickup truck market. But even Toyota is making inroads there. But I'd rather see them trying to compete on our turf than the other way around.
 

bigbootydaddy

Banned
Sep 14, 2000
5,820
0
0


<< see what happens when you park your import in the employee parking lot >>



it sits there. how nice. i dont think the trade was handed to importers...things happen for a reason. get over it.

THE SOUTH LOST!!!!! hehe jk:)
 

Ferocious

Diamond Member
Feb 16, 2000
4,584
2
71
A friend of mine bought a new civic a few years ago. I'm pretty certain it's a 1999 model. About the only thing actually made in Japan was the transmission.

The car has been reliable so far, but it's still a little POS in my book!

Ah, how I miss my '69 Camaro and '71 Challenger....now those were REAL cars. Actually smallish by that era's standards....but nevertheless awesome.