Volvo Now Out Of Favour With Police Forces?

triang · Feb 29th, 2016, 12:15

I have nicked this thread from another forum...not written by me I'd add but by someone involved with Police vehicle procurement..

It seems the Volvo XC70 has been playing up for the boys in blue...

"I've had the pleasure of testing some new cars for work.

34 forces are buying together and the main winner is....the Vauxhall Astra. Big deal you might say. But this is the new car. Fair bit of cynicism with the badge, but my God what a difference!

The new Astra is properly good. We currently run Focus. Handles well but the diesel is glacial and the blue lights are for a avoiding overtaking g traffic hitting you up the arse.

Handling is brilliant and the 1.6 d can hit 130 mph. Mostly because it's 200 Kg lighter than rivals. Even the VW dominated press grudgingly admitted it was better than Golf or Focus. That's a 1000cc bike chucked out of the boot. Well screwed together and sips fuel. Standard WiFi a bonus for mobile data policing.

Then the Kuga to replace Yeti. Much closer to the outgoing get Yeti. Not a huge leap. Looks a hell of a lot better than postman pat's van. Performance with the 150 about the same. Bit rolly polly in a hurry but planted at speed. Feels a lot bigger. Bit more refined. Some nice tech.

Guns. Volvo out. X5 in. Troops have mixed feelings. The XC70 twin turbo is such a massive turkey a good one lasts 6 weeks between going bang. Walking would be better. Comfy but that D5 engine is proper shiyte. Beemer not a popular choice either. Weight is an issue in the class.

Jag XF beat the Beemer but we couldn't be seen to drive them in times of austerity.

Transits out. The new Turkish built Transits cant live with the new Vivaro vans. Our Sprinter fleet is dying. They drive terribly in old age.

Some room for 170 bhp Insignia tbc. Mondeos have been hated. Frightening handling when loaded. Octavia Scouts okay, but a bit weedy in 136 bhp estate.

No decision on Defenders. Only got a few. Need that hard core ability in the back pocket."

NigelDay · Feb 29th, 2016, 12:20

Future '4-cylinder decision' coming home to roost ?

Prufrock · Feb 29th, 2016, 12:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by triang

I have nicked this thread from another forum...not written by me I'd add but by someone involved with Police vehicle procurement..

It seems the Volvo XC70 has been playing up for the boys in blue...

"I've had the pleasure of testing some new cars for work.

34 forces are buying together and the main winner is....the Vauxhall Astra. Big deal you might say. But this is the new car. Fair bit of cynicism with the badge, but my God what a difference!

The new Astra is properly good. We currently run Focus. Handles well but the diesel is glacial and the blue lights are for a avoiding overtaking g traffic hitting you up the arse.

Handling is brilliant and the 1.6 d can hit 130 mph. Mostly because it's 200 Kg lighter than rivals. Even the VW dominated press grudgingly admitted it was better than Golf or Focus. That's a 1000cc bike chucked out of the boot. Well screwed together and sips fuel. Standard WiFi a bonus for mobile data policing.

Then the Kuga to replace Yeti. Much closer to the outgoing get Yeti. Not a huge leap. Looks a hell of a lot better than postman pat's van. Performance with the 150 about the same. Bit rolly polly in a hurry but planted at speed. Feels a lot bigger. Bit more refined. Some nice tech.

Guns. Volvo out. X5 in. Troops have mixed feelings. The XC70 twin turbo is such a massive turkey a good one lasts 6 weeks between going bang. Walking would be better. Comfy but that D5 engine is proper shiyte. Beemer not a popular choice either. Weight is an issue in the class.

Jag XF beat the Beemer but we couldn't be seen to drive them in times of austerity.

Transits out. The new Turkish built Transits cant live with the new Vivaro vans. Our Sprinter fleet is dying. They drive terribly in old age.

Some room for 170 bhp Insignia tbc. Mondeos have been hated. Frightening handling when loaded. Octavia Scouts okay, but a bit weedy in 136 bhp estate.

No decision on Defenders. Only got a few. Need that hard core ability in the back pocket."

How old is this?

Some of it rings true/correct, but Transits have been built in Turkey since 2001, Ford built a factory there specifically to build the Connect.

Surprised about the Jaguar comment, I'd rather see plod driving Jaguars and keeping British workers in Jobs than driving Bimmers.

No decision on Defender - decision made, they don't make 'em anymore.

Jon.

StatusRed · Feb 29th, 2016, 13:12

Would be brilliant to see the police driving Jaguar XF's! :P

Ninja59 · Feb 29th, 2016, 13:39

Hmm from bm point of view, bm will build them a police spec car from the start of it's life not a modified car to fit police needs which critically means they can be on the front line quicker with less hacks to make things work as needed. Furthermore many of the bm ones can just pull into any bm dealer....

volvorocks · Feb 29th, 2016, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by StatusRed

Would be brilliant to see the police driving Jaguar XF's! :P

Or Aston Martin so as to be on par with the Lamborghini driving Dubai cops...

Regards

Rossi-fan · Feb 29th, 2016, 14:38

From what I've heard, the P3 Volvo cars are not as robust as they could, or should be.

triang · Feb 29th, 2016, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prufrock

How old is this?

Some of it rings true/correct, but Transits have been built in Turkey since 2001, Ford built a factory there specifically to build the Connect.

Surprised about the Jaguar comment, I'd rather see plod driving Jaguars and keeping British workers in Jobs than driving Bimmers.

No decision on Defender - decision made, they don't make 'em anymore.

Jon.

The OP posted this today.

Agree with you about Transits,they have been made in Turkey for the last 10 years or so - I guess the OP meant the new 5th generation 2013 Transits that are not made in Southampton at all now and churned out in Turkey.

That surprised me as well because I heard that the Vauxhall Vivaro were pretty fragile as well since BT have huge issues with them and they are considering standardising on... wait for it...

Transits!!!

domhart10 · Feb 29th, 2016, 15:46

saw the coppers driving an Audi Q7 in Cardiff ... around Gloucester they also have an Evo and impreza obviously to keep up with all the chavs. Think the Evo was written off though.

Prufrock · Feb 29th, 2016, 15:49

Triang.

Transit Connect was/has been assembled in Kocaeli Turkey from 2002 (I was fortunate enough to visit), various models of the full-size 4th Gen Transit were also assembled there - chassis and LWB if I recall. After Southampton closed (SWB production only), production of the fifth generation Transit moved to both Kocaeli and Missouri - The first time Transit has been built and sold in the USA.

Ford might assemble Transit in Valencia going forward. I've not heard bad things about Transit from fleet users - e.g RAC patrolmen prefer them to Transporter (VW).

Good that plod is buying Astra, I think they are still assembled in the Wirral.

Jon.

Feb 29th, 2016, 12:15	#1
triang New Member Last Online: Jun 20th, 2016 22:49 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: London	Volvo Now Out Of Favour With Police Forces? I have nicked this thread from another forum...not written by me I'd add but by someone involved with Police vehicle procurement.. It seems the Volvo XC70 has been playing up for the boys in blue... "I've had the pleasure of testing some new cars for work. 34 forces are buying together and the main winner is....the Vauxhall Astra. Big deal you might say. But this is the new car. Fair bit of cynicism with the badge, but my God what a difference! The new Astra is properly good. We currently run Focus. Handles well but the diesel is glacial and the blue lights are for a avoiding overtaking g traffic hitting you up the arse. Handling is brilliant and the 1.6 d can hit 130 mph. Mostly because it's 200 Kg lighter than rivals. Even the VW dominated press grudgingly admitted it was better than Golf or Focus. That's a 1000cc bike chucked out of the boot. Well screwed together and sips fuel. Standard WiFi a bonus for mobile data policing. Then the Kuga to replace Yeti. Much closer to the outgoing get Yeti. Not a huge leap. Looks a hell of a lot better than postman pat's van. Performance with the 150 about the same. Bit rolly polly in a hurry but planted at speed. Feels a lot bigger. Bit more refined. Some nice tech. Guns. Volvo out. X5 in. Troops have mixed feelings. The XC70 twin turbo is such a massive turkey a good one lasts 6 weeks between going bang. Walking would be better. Comfy but that D5 engine is proper shiyte. Beemer not a popular choice either. Weight is an issue in the class. Jag XF beat the Beemer but we couldn't be seen to drive them in times of austerity. Transits out. The new Turkish built Transits cant live with the new Vivaro vans. Our Sprinter fleet is dying. They drive terribly in old age. Some room for 170 bhp Insignia tbc. Mondeos have been hated. Frightening handling when loaded. Octavia Scouts okay, but a bit weedy in 136 bhp estate. No decision on Defenders. Only got a few. Need that hard core ability in the back pocket."

Feb 29th, 2016, 12:20	#2
NigelDay Premier Member Last Online: Feb 29th, 2024 15:46 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Barnard Castle	Future '4-cylinder decision' coming home to roost ? __________________ 2015: XC60 D4 FWD SE Lux Nav 190hp manual, Osmium Grey, 17" Segin, Tempa, Winter Illumination, Security, Family, DSP, 4C, HK Sound, Subwoofer, Front Parking, Rear Camera, Dark Tinted, Power Passenger Seat, Speed and Heated Steering.

Feb 29th, 2016, 13:12	#4
StatusRed Premier Member Last Online: Today 11:00 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Glasgow	Would be brilliant to see the police driving Jaguar XF's! :P __________________ 2009 S40 SE Lux 2.0i \| 2022 Suzuki V-Strom 650 \| 2002 Audi TT 225 Previous: C70 Coupe 2.4i \| Saab 9-5 Aero \| Daihatsu SporTrak Last edited by StatusRed; Feb 29th, 2016 at 13:29.

Feb 29th, 2016, 14:38	#7
Rossi-fan Premier Member Last Online: Feb 12th, 2023 10:07 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Durham	From what I've heard, the P3 Volvo cars are not as robust as they could, or should be. __________________

Feb 29th, 2016, 15:46	#9
domhart10 Volvo S40 Last Online: Today 14:44 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Chichester	saw the coppers driving an Audi Q7 in Cardiff ... around Gloucester they also have an Evo and impreza obviously to keep up with all the chavs. Think the Evo was written off though. __________________ ----------------------------------------- Current: 2009 Volvo S40 T5 Progress Thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=271945 Previous Volvo: 2008 S40 SE Lux R Design 2.0D

Feb 29th, 2016, 13:39	#5
Ninja59 Probably Akita's Toyboy.. Last Online: Dec 27th, 2023 22:24 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: A House.	Hmm from bm point of view, bm will build them a police spec car from the start of it's life not a modified car to fit police needs which critically means they can be on the front line quicker with less hacks to make things work as needed. Furthermore many of the bm ones can just pull into any bm dealer....

Feb 29th, 2016, 15:49	#10
Prufrock I've Been Banned Last Online: Aug 10th, 2018 09:22 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Lincolnshire Wolds & West Sussex Coast	Triang. Transit Connect was/has been assembled in Kocaeli Turkey from 2002 (I was fortunate enough to visit), various models of the full-size 4th Gen Transit were also assembled there - chassis and LWB if I recall. After Southampton closed (SWB production only), production of the fifth generation Transit moved to both Kocaeli and Missouri - The first time Transit has been built and sold in the USA. Ford might assemble Transit in Valencia going forward. I've not heard bad things about Transit from fleet users - e.g RAC patrolmen prefer them to Transporter (VW). Good that plod is buying Astra, I think they are still assembled in the Wirral. Jon. Last edited by Prufrock; Feb 29th, 2016 at 15:55.

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