Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:09 PM |
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Buying an ex police car
Hi
I'm about to buy a Volvo estate for the wife, hopefully a V70. There's a few on the usual places but I thought what about an ex police car
as they may have a relatively high mileage but I'd have thought would have been serviced extremely well and much better than guy blogs
bothers...
Anyone done this and could recommend a dealer or pitfalls to look out for?
I'm more than happy to travel nationwide to get a good car so that's not an issue
Thanks 
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nick205
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:16 PM |
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Not purchased one myself, but share your thoughts that yes maybe higher mileage, but servicing is likely to have been done properly. On the flip side
they will have marks and holes where emergency service kit has been fitted - lights etc.
I'd be interested to hear if you find one and how it turns out.
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SJ
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:23 PM |
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It worked for the Blues Brothers
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sdh2903
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:25 PM |
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I wouldn't bank on the old myth of top class maintenance. A lot of our local police cars use Halfords autocentres for servicing whom I
wouldn't trust to service a skateboard. It will depend on each force and their need to cut cost as to where they're maintained.
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:38 PM |
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this one any good for you?
http://www.expolicecar.co.uk/stockdetail.asp?id=273
[Edited on 3/4/17 by gremlin1234]
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bonzoronnie
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:38 PM |
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Back in the 70's & 80's
Two of my brothers bought a good few former police patrol cars, all were Fords from that era.
They were bought in preference to usual car dealer avenues.
Yes, they had various grommets, zips in the head lining & marks of the dashboards due to equipment removal.
That said, the usual cosmetic defects were more than reflected in the low prices.
Well maintained, they never had problems with any of them.
The upside was, back then the police had the budget to only keep them for 2-3 years.
Today I notice they keep them for a good deal longer.
Dare say, I guess they are still very well maintained.
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Toprivetguns
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:39 PM |
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A friend of mine works for the Hertfordshire constabulary and they spend huge amounts on servicing. However the parts are only as good as the person
installing them.
Only drive as fast as your angel can fly... !
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Slimy38
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 12:54 PM |
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I looked into them, there's one guy up north who just takes ex police cars and bikes to sell. I toyed with the idea of buying a Honda that was
still dressed in 'blood donor' livery... I bet that would be easy to get through traffic!
The ones that I was looking at were more 'superintendent' and other high ranking cars, basically the equivalent of a company car rather
than a forces car. They were coming in very high spec, only three or four years old, but the trim hadn't been messed with (inside or out). They
were pretty good prices too. The only issue was mega high miles, 20-30k per year.
In fact, I've just noticed Gremlin has posted the link that I was using.
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coozer
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 01:21 PM |
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Mate of mine bought one, ex armed response volvo...
Usual hole in headlining, big hole in the dash and a gun case behind the drivers seat.... all looked in good condition....
Then we looked underneath and the floor pan was battered flat off speeding over speed humps...
1972 V8 Jago
1980 Z750
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scootz
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 01:53 PM |
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The only ex-police car I'd go for would be one of their ex-driver training ones. They get pampered!
Wouldn't touch one that's been 'operational' with a bargepole! They get hammered! Also worth bearing in mind that many manky
p**-soaked mingers will have sullied those rear seats. 
It's Evolution Baby!
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scootz
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 01:53 PM |
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The only ex-police car I'd go for would be one of their ex-driver training ones. They get pampered!
Wouldn't touch one that's been 'operational' with a bargepole! They get hammered! Also worth bearing in mind that many manky
p**-soaked mingers will have sullied those rear seats.
It's Evolution Baby!
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computid
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 02:36 PM |
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Agree with the negative comments above.
I wouldn't touch an ex police car with a barge pole. Driven by multiple people at speed with absolutely no care or consideration given to the
vehicle. Sure it will have had frequent oil changes and decent brake pads but it'll have had it's arse thrashed off and probably had a few
scrapes if not worse in it's time. And as above, probably had some drunken scum bags puke/piss or worse on the back seat.
No thanks!
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 03:28 PM |
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hmm all good points to say the least, food for thought
didn't consider bashing the underside etc, had a bluebird like that, I had to cut open the floor inside to sort both the rails...
thanks
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 03:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
this one any good for you?
http://www.expolicecar.co.uk/stockdetail.asp?id=273
[Edited on 3/4/17 by gremlin1234]
yeah that's like I'm after, possibly with a tad less miles
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nick205
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 04:25 PM |
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I had a 2011 V50 and honestly thought it was rather poor, especially inside. A V70, being bigger, may well be better though.
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owelly
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 04:34 PM |
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I had an ex-plod S70 and it was great! Someone had painted the roof with a cabbage dipped in Dulux and the interior had the usual holes but it was
well serviced and had been looked after by a Volvo dealer who had all the service history on record.
I think it's fair to say that a good ex-service car will be a good one. An abused one will be a money pit.
I only sold mine after having to sit in the back of an unmarked Impreza and watch a video of myself doing 127mph......
http://www.ppcmag.co.uk
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 05:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by nick205
I had a 2011 V50 and honestly thought it was rather poor, especially inside. A V70, being bigger, may well be better though.
I have a s60 which is the saloon version of the v70 which in turn are updated versions of the 850 cars, also owned those. Look under the skin and you
see the linage. Their generally bomb proof and good for crazy mileages.
V50 is a totally different platform based on a shared ford/Mazda/Volvo chassis and is not remotely in the same class an wouldn't recommend them
even though they are built better than the ford cars.
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snapper
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 06:01 PM |
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I have some insider info on this....
The high speed stuff is maintained well but no more than what you would expect from any fast car owner
Most plod cars are bought on contract and maintained on a service agreement by a private contractor, some contractors just sub out the maintainance to
any old local garage.
Because of he severe budget pressures imposed on all public sector budgets Police cars are kept much longer than they ever were and therefore have had
a long and tough life, a lot do short journeys over and over again 24 hrs a day 7 days a week
Me I wouldn't touch one with a barge pole
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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morcus
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 06:09 PM |
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My hairdresser had a V70 for a while and you could still make out the word 'Police' on the bonnet where the bonnet faded to matt apart
from where the stickers had been. He had it a decent amount of time (Though I've no idea how much driving he did).
In a White Room, With Black Curtains, By the Station.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 07:18 PM |
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V70 is a 300,000 mile diesel car, I sold my D5 geartronic with 160,000 miles no rattles anywhere, quite extraordinary although the ride was best
described as wooly!
Turn the steering slowly, if it kicks back you have a potentially expensive problem.
It was vey fast, did not really slow down with the little car on trailer behind it, it was certainly capable of hitting it 135mph and returned 40mpg.
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phelpsa
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 07:41 PM |
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Don't bother with a police one, look for a high miler with lots of receipts. I bought a top spec 07 S60 D5 with 160k on the clock in October for
£2k, I've done 15k in it on mostly back roads and it still drives like a new car! Still averages over 50mpg too. Went through its mot last week
without so much as an advisory.
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spiderman
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 08:50 PM |
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My uncle used to drive cars through a local auction house for a bit of beer money, he said he had not driven a good ex police car yet and he did it
for years.
Best way to look at it is get it cheap and don't be surprised if it has a few problems, the money saved will pay for the repairs.
Spider
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benchmark51
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 09:14 PM |
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I bought a Transit minibus, it was registered as an ambulance and used to ferry patients about. Had seats and a wheelchair lift in it. It had over
200k on the clock but was in great condition. 2.3 duratec petrol/gas and never misses a beat. Uses no oil and is on the button everytime. Good
upholstered interior and a high roof. Been through 3 MoT's no problems. Yep, I would buy a 'services' vehicle again.
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 09:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
quote:
Originally posted by gremlin1234
this one any good for you?
http://www.expolicecar.co.uk/stockdetail.asp?id=273
[Edited on 3/4/17 by gremlin1234]
yeah that's like I'm after, possibly with a tad less miles
note, the one I linked to, its worth looking at its mot history, it
appears to have done 500 miles in the last 6 months without one,
(yea this could all be done on trade plates etc) but doesn't seem to be the best maintained car in the last couple of years.
from https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Check the MOT history of a vehicle
Registration number: PE60FNH
Vehicle make
VOLVO
Vehicle model
V70
Date first used
1 September 2010
Fuel type
Diesel
Colour
Grey
MOT history of this vehicle
Test date
16 March 2017
Expiry date
15 March 2018
Test Result
Pass
Odometer reading
146,753 miles
MOT test number
1196 8304 3997
Advisory notice item(s)
engine cover fitted
undertrays fitted
Test date
16 March 2017
Test Result
Fail
Odometer reading
146,753 miles
MOT test number
8699 8701 1490
Reason(s) for failure
Nearside Front Front position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)
Nearside Front Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
Advisory notice item(s)
engine cover fitted
undertrays fitted
Test date
1 September 2016
Test Result
Fail
Odometer reading
146,343 miles
MOT test number
4437 6675 9621
Reason(s) for failure
Offside Front Brake hose has insufficient room to move, resulting in fouling on any part hose incorrectly mounted (3.6.B.4a)
Offside Front Additional braking device damaged warning wire damaged (3.6.I.1)
Offside Front Additional braking device wiring not secure (3.6.I.5)
Offside Front Seat belt damaged sufficient to significantly weakened the webbing (5.2.2a)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak (2.7.3)
Nearside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm worn on inner tread band and inner sidewall of tyre (4.1.E.1)
Offside Front Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm worn on inner tread band and side wall of tyre (4.1.E.1)
Test date
11 August 2015
Expiry date
1 September 2016
Test Result
Pass
Odometer reading
136,559 miles
MOT test number
4770 6342 5242
Advisory notice item(s)
Steering system slightly rough (2.2.D.1)
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Sam_68
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| posted on 3/4/17 at 10:25 PM |
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Just to add a further negative comment that from a quick skim of the thread I can't see has been mentioned before:
Police cars are usually to a fairly low spec for what is otherwise a high performance executive model. They don't tend to waste money on
options, so it will be less attractive to most buyers when you want to shift it on.
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