what has a au xr8 s3 ex chaser opt20. got that a standard one dosnt?

adrian302 · 11-02-2011, 09:08 AM

hi have seen a few option 20 au xr8s particular series 3 , just wanted to know what the difference between it and a normal s3 xr8??

iv herd the cluster and something is done with the trans anyone got any information ??

Mr Hardware · 11-02-2011, 09:22 AM

I'd hazard a guess that the only things different will be the same as the sixes, ie just interior stuff and nothing mechanical. Light switch on the dash, 2km increment speedo, power windows all round, and something else boring that i've forgotten.

Donny · 11-02-2011, 01:12 PM

Surprisingly enough, a lot of them also seem to be manual too.. When I was looking, I saw 3 or 4 of these particular S3 Manual ex chasers.. I would have more expected them to be autos as the joke goes around that cops cant drive stick too well..

I used to work at a Holdon dealership back when virtually all the cop cars were Commondogs (VN to VT era).. They all had the sport suspension FE2 option, steel wheels and Police dash.. The SS versions were also dressed down to look more like executives and interiour SS embroidery was deleted on earlier ones. Added later (after delivery) was heavy duty wiring, alterations to interiour lights in how they work, radio gear etc and some used to get upgraded power chips in the Dellco computer days before BCM's and the later computer controlled trannies..

WoodysXR6 · 11-02-2011, 01:27 PM

s3 all power windows in the 8 standard

b2tf · 11-02-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodysXR6

s3 all power windows in the 8 standard

Huh? Thats not a police thing, thats just standard fare.

The main cop differences are the speedo, switch to turn all interior lights off, lots of extra holes where things have been added/removed and sometimes connection for a battery in the boot. Other than that not much.

Donny interesting what you say about them being manuals, in VIC it seems to be common but not so in NSW.

hendoau99 · 11-02-2011, 07:20 PM

^this.

AUIIPURSUIT · 11-02-2011, 07:37 PM

oh and a car that isnt generally cared for by the driver and has had its neck wrung on multiple occasions... adds KW tho bro.

JC · 11-02-2011, 09:27 PM

Having owned an OPT20 XR8, I can confirm that speedo, light switch and holes are all that is different. Urban myth suggest the ECU has been tweaked and the engine and/or auto internals may have been strengthened etc, but that's all it is - urban myth.

As for the cars being flogged - I'm not too sure about that; they are serviced as per the book, and are generally kept running so not too many hard run on cold start. ie, they were driven how they were designed to be driven, so it didn't worry me that I was getting an ex-police car (of course, they're all HWP, aren't they!!!).

WoodysXR6 · 13-02-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Huh? Thats not a police thing, thats just standard fare

No ****!

**Peuty** · 13-02-2011, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Huh? Thats not a police thing, thats just standard fare.

That's what he was saying....

CARLO5 · 13-02-2011, 01:26 PM

i owned one.... found it to be a top car!! it was ex victorian police, 5sp, ratio's in them are geared real low, used to rev a bit in 5th on the hwy whilst only doin 120 odd clicks.

FPV+fteT3 · 13-02-2011, 05:09 PM

lots of cinnamon in the carpet and behind the seats...............

Donny · 13-02-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV+fteT3

lots of cinnamon in the carpet and behind the seats...............

Empty coffee cups squashed inbetween the seats too..

Bobman · 14-02-2011, 03:26 AM

There were very few AU3 XR8 police cars in Victoria and even less unmarked ones but the ones I saw seemed to be more respected than the common VX/VY SSs that were everywhere.

AU3 XR blue police cluster is very nice too with the extra increments and how you can play around with some features on it.

JC · 14-02-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CARLO5

i owned one.... found it to be a top car!! it was ex victorian police, 5sp, ratio's in them are geared real low, used to rev a bit in 5th on the hwy whilst only doin 120 odd clicks.

Same as any other manual falcon then.

leighroy' · 17-02-2014, 06:39 AM

Does anyone know how many of the au3 manual opt20"s there where in vic?

OwnTheRoad · 24-02-2014, 07:48 AM

The drivers seat in particular shows considerable wear on the upper right side due to the firearm rubbing there was one thing I noticed when looking at a used ex police series 3 at Jefferson Ford in Mentone several years ago .