VE back to XR8.

Outbackjack · 28-07-2007, 04:59 PM

Hey all, I have just spent some time with an NT cop here in Alice. It looks like NT gov has retired their VE patrol cars and gone back to ford XR8's and XR6T's. I wonder why???

Smoke Pursuit · 28-07-2007, 05:04 PM

Probarly cheaper??

Not sure, the SS is far far superior then the XR8 so it seems a little odd.

BLDNUT01 · 28-07-2007, 05:06 PM

coz the VE is crap and i heard that in the ve if you do a handbrake turn the car shuts off

Smoke Pursuit · 28-07-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

coz the VE is crap and i heard that in the ve if you do a handbrake turn the car shuts off

Thats a positive reply...

The VE is hardly crap, although in V6 form its not that great the V8s are definately a better car...

Outbackjack · 28-07-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Probarly cheaper??

Not sure, the SS is far far superior then the XR8 so it seems a little odd.

The Gov always gets full fleet discount on all the cars they buy. Not sure that cost was the issue. The cop thought that it was the car had trouble coping with the extreme cold that we get up here in the winter. But he heard that second hand, so dont treat it as fact.

Smoke Pursuit · 28-07-2007, 05:12 PM

yes but Ford may do them a better deal, plus its normal for them to alternate brands on big orders, they usually buy a shitload of Holdens then the next round by a shitload of Fords, in QLD we had a shitload of VZ's but now they change them all over for BFII Futuras, which is good, no MORE poverty packs

Outbackjack · 28-07-2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

yes but Ford may do them a better deal, plus its normal for them to alternate brands on big orders, they usually buy a shitload of Holdens then the next round by a shitload of Fords, in QLD we had a shitload of VZ's but now they change them all over for BFII Futuras, which is good, no MORE poverty packs

Too true, but they replaced 8 VE highway cars with 8 XR8's. They only bought the VE's in January to enforce the 130k limits out here, which the cops reckons that they cant enforce anyway.

Full Spectrum · 28-07-2007, 05:57 PM

I'm still of the beleaf that they shouldn't get these sporty cars anyway, All they need is a base model with V8 option and that's all, Wings huge rims full house electrics leather etc should be left to the public.

bodes-sh · 28-07-2007, 06:00 PM

^^well i bet if you were a cop, you wouldn't be saying that

Smoke Pursuit · 28-07-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

I'm still of the beleaf that they shouldn't get these sporty cars anyway, All they need is a base model with V8 option and that's all, Wings huge rims full house electrics leather etc should be left to the public.

Yeah thats good, lets get a V8 without the factory fitted bits to make it hold together...

Reason they by the Sports models is because they get better resale on them and they are safer then dropping a V8 in an Omega / XT with 16 inch wheels, sloppy brakes etc.

Dazza XLT · 28-07-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

I'm still of the beleaf that they shouldn't get these sporty cars anyway, All they need is a base model with V8 option and that's all, Wings huge rims full house electrics leather etc should be left to the public.

Hmmm XT V8 or XR8....
I know what I'd rather in a pursuit.

GS608 · 28-07-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

Hey all, I have just spent some time with an NT cop here in Alice. It looks like NT gov has retired their VE patrol cars and gone back to ford XR8's and XR6T's. I wonder why???

i thought i heard from somewhere that the VE's were in the dealerships every odd week being fixed, they were always breaking down or had some sort of troubles with all the police gear.

probably not true though

the BF MK2 XT/Futuras look tons better in police trim than the VE i reckon anyway

Full Spectrum · 28-07-2007, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Yeah thats good, lets get a V8 without the factory fitted bits to make it hold together...

Reason they by the Sports models is because they get better resale on them and they are safer then dropping a V8 in an Omega / XT with 16 inch wheels, sloppy brakes etc.

Well you wouldn't just toss it in a vase model and expect to drive it with stock suspension and brakes.
I said leave out all the sporty stuff they don't need, They don't need the centre screens as they block them off, Leather seats sporty kits 18-19" wheels they really don't need that.. And that is why going back some years the base model with V8 option was great.
My brothers BA Fairmont is a ex police car, 16" rims lowered it did have wider tyres.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darran

Hmmm XT V8 or XR8....
I know what I'd rather in a pursuit.

The lighter XT that goes faster??

5.4 GT · 28-07-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLDNUT01

coz the VE is crap and i heard that in the ve if you do a handbrake turn the car shuts off

Heh funny you should say that because that's exactly what they XR8s would be doing if you did a hardlock turn like when the cops try and do a U-turn to pursue somebody going in the other direction. The reason for it was that the extra load with the car on full lock along with all the police gear would actually stall the car (making them a sitting duck in the middle of the road, you can imagine the police that had experienced this were not too happy).

However i'd prefer the BF XR8 in a pursuit with the premium brake option and a ZF behind it. The VE brakes and transmission are woeful at the best of times.

**Grunter** · 28-07-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

...The lighter XT that goes faster??

But doesn't turn or stop as well as it's cousins with better suspension and brakes. If I was a police officer, I know which car I'd rather be driver in a pursuit.

ST · 28-07-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

The lighter XT that goes faster??

? You are forgetting you said it'll have an 8 in it, which of course means it'll need all the essentials to run it. The weight advantage by then will be minimal if any.

The XR8 is easily the better option.

Dazza XLT · 28-07-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

The lighter XT that goes faster??

BF XT with 230kw 3v V8- 1770kg

BF XR8 with Boss 260 Fitted- 1784kg

It's only 14kg!

Smoke Pursuit · 28-07-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

Well you wouldn't just toss it in a vase model and expect to drive it with stock suspension and brakes.
I said leave out all the sporty stuff they don't need, They don't need the centre screens as they block them off, Leather seats sporty kits 18-19" wheels they really don't need that.. And that is why going back some years the base model with V8 option was great.
My brothers BA Fairmont is a ex police car, 16" rims lowered it did have wider tyres.

The lighter XT that goes faster??

They dont option them with leather etc, most of the xr8s they order with 17s only, its all about resale...

Full Spectrum · 28-07-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grunter

But doesn't turn or stop as well as it's cousins with better suspension and brakes. If I was a police officer, I know which car I'd rather be driver in a pursuit.

You know the price to upgrade suspension and brakes form factory? Much cheaper on there budget then ours.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSW

? You are forgetting you said it'll have an 8 in it, which of course means it'll need all the essentials to run it. The weight advantage by then will be minimal if any.

The XR8 is easily the better option.

Just suspension and brakes nothing more, It wont be weighed down by heavy leather seats body kits and large rims, The police drop back a size with rims anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darran

BF XT with 230kw 3v V8- 1770kg

BF XR8 with Boss 260 Fitted- 1784kg

It's only 14kg!

Must have had something in the boot then

.

Full Spectrum · 28-07-2007, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

They dont option them with leather etc, most of the xr8s they order with 17s only, its all about resale...

The police don't sell them most of the time, And the car yards that do have a heap of them to sell, They get them from auctions so cheap if we were able to pick them up at the price we would buy 1 for the wife also. Maybe a second to sell ourselves make some cash.

gtfpv · 28-07-2007, 06:40 PM

i wish someone knew the answer to the 1st post, rather than all this crap about leather seats !!!!!!!!!

ST · 28-07-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slick_Aussie

You know the price to upgrade suspension and brakes form factory? Much cheaper on there budget then ours.

Just suspension and brakes nothing more, It wont be weighed down by heavy leather seats body kits and large rims, The police drop back a size with rims anyway.

Must have had something in the boot then

.

You can just say "i'm wrong" and be done with it, rather than prolonging it and making yourself look incredibly ignorant and stubborn.

prydey · 28-07-2007, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSTerritoryGhia

Probarly cheaper??

Not sure, the SS is far far superior then the XR8 so it seems a little odd.

i would have left out both the 'far's' in that statement. they are superior, yes, but i wouldn't say by a huge margin.

i guess its the difference between getting the donuts fresh out the oven or after they've been sitting for a bit on the tray to cool. can't imagine there'd be too much else to do in the alice

Full Spectrum · 28-07-2007, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTSW

You can just say "i'm wrong" and be done with it, rather than prolonging it and making yourself look incredibly ignorant and stubborn.

Your to kind.

But if i am was wrong i have never had a problem with letting the world know i am

..
No i'm not i'll tell you why, Many years back we had a police pack, It was basically a base model with V8 it was really a XR8 or SS in base outfit.. And it's missing today and this is the kit they should be offering to the police, They don't need half the stuff in these cars today these sporty cars are as close to Fairmonts and Calais and you can get.

MRJUCY · 28-07-2007, 06:51 PM

We've had some pretty patchy quality with the VEs in our fleet at work some have been back numerous times with collapsed suspension, loose brake parts & dodgy wiring. It's still sadly quite common for all new models to have these sorts of problems I'm sure when the update model comes out they'll be on top of most of these.

sleekism · 28-07-2007, 07:55 PM

We had a VE taken back with complaints of "funny engine noise".

Turns out it was just the crappy sound of the Alloytec V6

S3SR · 28-07-2007, 08:32 PM

no more of this if i was a cop....because if i was youd already be in hospital with bullet wounds

i think itd be more that the xr8 were better suited to the environment, straight line power means nothing in a pursuit your always gonna be behind the suspect anyways

banarcus · 28-07-2007, 08:42 PM

Issue with the cost of tyres perhaps?? Exactly the reason why VZ SS had the 17' ute wheels. Hopefully Ford will rectify the issue it has with the XR8 and its constant electrical issues that dont seem to plague the turbos. The eights smell as though they are over-fuelling too....

schnoods · 28-07-2007, 08:49 PM

Does the NT still have XR6T pursuit cars? The ones in gunmetal grey with orange stripes?

SpoolMan · 28-07-2007, 09:15 PM

Cost of the car along with running costs, even tyre replacement size is a issue.
They would rather spent money on 17's than 18''..