Is this your car, officer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pebb
  • 31 comments
  • 1,699 views
Pebb

Pebb

Messages
16,737
England
Southampton, UK
Messages
Pebb--
Messages
Pebb
Source: AutoCar

16477104639.jpg


No need to worry if you see this Police-liveried Ferrari 612 in your rear-view mirror; it is (somewhat inevitably) no more than a publicity stunt.

Ferrari is celebrating 60 years since it made its first car with a world tour, and when the cavalcade hits Britain today (18 April) this super-fast jam sandwich will take the lead.

The 60th Anniversary Relay started in Abu Dhabi on 29 January. It will reach Maranello on 16 June, having travelled around the globe. Up to 10,000 Ferrari drivers will be involved.

The police-liveried 612 will be driven by police officers from five UK forces as it makes its way from Belfast to Scotland and then through England to London.

All of the officers have volunteered for the task - not surprising considering that the £200,411 612 is a touch more interesting than your standard police Vectra. We’re assuming that PC Mark ‘159mph’ Milton isn’t among them.
 
-> Wow, they skipped the entry-level Ferrari F430 and went all the way to the 612 Scaglietti. Well thats good thou, because its the only 4-seat new Ferrari on its lineup. By far this beats the Gallardo from Italy. :dopey:
 
Why don't Ferrari celebrate it's 60th anniversary by making it's current range look good?
 
Love the little remark at the end. :lol:

It's quite fair that they use the 612, it is GT car as opposed to the 430 bring a "sport coupe".

ultrabeat
Why don't Ferrari celebrate it's 60th anniversary by making it's current range look good?
Click to expand...
Hang your head in shame! It looks much better than that attrocity the Megane :D
 
The 612 is a perfect Ferrari police car, I think more high speed chase cop units in the UK should attempt to order a 612 to use for chases they might be involved in the future.
 
TVR&Ferrari_Fan
The 612 is a perfect Ferrari police car, I think more high speed chase cop units in the UK should attempt to order a 612 to use for chases they might be involved in the future.
Click to expand...
You're joking right?

At which point do they justify the luxurious interior? Plus, something like a WRX STi is much stabler at higher speeds on not-so-perfect roads.
 
TVR&Ferrari_Fan
The 612 is a perfect Ferrari police car, I think more high speed chase cop units in the UK should attempt to order a 612 to use for chases they might be involved in the future.
Click to expand...

rapid and armed response units already use tuned amg mercs......what more could you want?
 
ExigeExcel
Hang your head in shame! It looks much better than that attrocity the Megane :D
Click to expand...

:grumpy:

You deserve -rep for that, but I'm in a good mood this morning.:D

Please do not state such whimsical falsities in future Mr. Phillips.

Holdenhsvgtsr
rapid and armed response units already use tuned amg mercs......what more could you want?
Click to expand...

They do? :confused: Any sources?
 
iceburns288
Oh, you've driven both?
Click to expand...
I haven't driven a Ford Ka or an Ariel Atom but I could still tell you the Ariel Atom is probably quicker 0-60 :rolleyes:

My simple logic is that 4wd would be better for all-weather high speed driving. Do you care to argue that point?
 
TVR&Ferrari_Fan
The 612 is a perfect Ferrari police car, I think more high speed chase cop units in the UK should attempt to order a 612 to use for chases they might be involved in the future.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. If ever a Police forced wished to blow their whole budget on one single car, undoubtedly that'd be the one they'd buy. I hear spending the price of a house to stop some chav in a Mk2 Escort is one of the best decisions a force can make 👍


Why are you all staring at me?




Supercar makers have got to stop doing this. Literally several people every year become convinced that their local force will replace those '02 Omegas with models worth the best part of a quarter of a million pounds. That's ludicrous that is.
 
Jondot
Supercar makers have got to stop doing this. Literally several people every year become convinced that their local force will replace those '02 Omegas with models worth the best part of a quarter of a million pounds. That's ludicrous that is.
Click to expand...
But, but, the Elise one was so cool and entirely affordable!
 
They'd catch more petty burglars in a Veyron.
 
ExigeExcel
The Police should all drive Meganes, because everyone I know breaks down crying as soon as they see it's ugly mug. And you can't drive while crying :dopey:


:sly:
Click to expand...

🤬

The police should drive your girlfriend for the same reason.

Burn!


disclaimer- Laura is actually very nice.
 
ExigeExcel
My simple logic is that 4wd would be better for all-weather high speed driving. Do you care to argue that point?
Click to expand...
Yes, I do. 4WD won't matter at very high speeds. Those kinds of speeds wouldn't even be reached in that kind of weather anyways, so it's a moot point. In the simple wet, the 612 will have the advantage over the WRX in its aerodynamic stability. The main advantage of 4WD in performance driving is traction, and pretty much everything will have traction above 100 or 120mph.

In the dry there is nothing to support the STI would be more stable. The Ferrari is designed to be taken to speeds above 195mph. At 150mph, the STI would be approaching its aerodynamic limits.
 
612 over 430

Advantage: 612 has backseat. Sure, can't put a crook back there, that's what a cruiser is for, but heavy radio equipment, radar guns, computers...

612 Vs STi

Neither is a Crown Victoria reliability-wise. STi has more interior room, similar performance at normal pursuit speeds (Seriously, how many real-life pursuits exceed 100MPH?) and is slightly more manuverable, However, is much lighter, hard to push a crook's car around. that, and what would you be more likely to pull over for; a japanese rally sedan, or a Ferrari?

I thought so. still, day-to-day, STi's more practical.

612 vs Veyron

Backseat issues in the Veyron (read, NONE) and lack of space to put equipment. 612 wins.
 
iceburns288
Yes, I do. 4WD won't matter at very high speeds. Those kinds of speeds wouldn't even be reached in that kind of weather anyways, so it's a moot point. In the simple wet, the 612 will have the advantage over the WRX in its aerodynamic stability. The main advantage of 4WD in performance driving is traction, and pretty much everything will have traction above 100 or 120mph.

In the dry there is nothing to support the STI would be more stable. The Ferrari is designed to be taken to speeds above 195mph. At 150mph, the STI would be approaching its aerodynamic limits.
Click to expand...
Well hot damn that's new to me. I bet you know that cause you've driven both of them at high speed, right?
 
iceburns288
Yes, I do. 4WD won't matter at very high speeds. Those kinds of speeds wouldn't even be reached in that kind of weather anyways, so it's a moot point. In the simple wet, the 612 will have the advantage over the WRX in its aerodynamic stability. The main advantage of 4WD in performance driving is traction, and pretty much everything will have traction above 100 or 120mph.

In the dry there is nothing to support the STI would be more stable. The Ferrari is designed to be taken to speeds above 195mph. At 150mph, the STI would be approaching its aerodynamic limits.
Click to expand...

So, you're telling me that in wet conditions you'd rather be driving a 540bhp RWD car than one with AWD, purely because it's more aerodynamic.

In a chase (even in the dry) you'd be better off with the Impreza. Yeah, it's not going to keep up on the motorway but a) who goes over 150 in the first place and b) when it does happen that's what the 'choppers are for! Forces don't risk driving at those kinds of speeds most of the time - they follow from overhead and create rolling roadblocks up ahead etc.

Judging by what I've seen, forces aren't given Evos and Scoobies to go and chase people at 150mph, they're given them to go and chase cars around town. That's where the advantage lies: in town. Very little will out run one because of a combination of grip, speed and ease of driving. Most of the Evos esentially drive themselves ffs.

Just as a reference point, watch this. I know it's a Lambo instead of a Ferrari, but frankly who gives a damn. Especially considering there's someone a little better than the average cop at the wheel of the Murcielago.

 
I don't like the idea of using a television show (with possible bias) as evidence. However, the Evo and STi are more practical as police cars than a supercar, that much is certian. What's even more practical? A Chevrolet Impala, Ford Crown Victoria, or Dodge Charger. Motor Trend's proven they're slower than even a Miata, but a police officer's not concerned with the speed of his car. He's concerned with reliability, room, comfort, and ability to carry heavy equipment, and, perhaps, a perp in the back. Besides, it's been proven time and again: there's no car faster than a Motorola.
 
ultrabeat
They don't bend the laws of physics for entertainment.:lol:
Click to expand...

They can drive slower, though. That Murc didn't look like it was being driven 10/10ths. The Evo (the tuner FQ400, by the way, probably on gumball tires) looked like it wasn't being driven flat out, either.
 
Jim Prower
The Evo (the tuner FQ400, by the way, probably on gumball tires) looked like it wasn't being driven flat out, either.
Click to expand...
not really a tuner,if that was the case then EVERY uk evo that wasnt the 280 would be a tuner car but they are classed as production models.
 
Jim Prower
They can drive slower, though. That Murc didn't look like it was being driven 10/10ths. The Evo (the tuner FQ400, by the way, probably on gumball tires) looked like it wasn't being driven flat out, either.
Click to expand...
Ok then, a Merc not being driven 10/10 by a professional driver = still very very very good, against Jeremy Clarkson driving 10/10 to his ability = same thing.

I also don't see any reason why they would get a professional race car driver to not drive the car to it's full potential, when they could easily just get the stig to do it.
 
I'm not saying that the FQ400 couldn't beat the Murc (in certian arenas, Handling, accelleration,) either. I'm simply saying that you have to take everything with a grain of salt.

But we're straying from the topic. My points:

- You can't beleive everything you see on T.V.
- The Evo/Impreza are more functional than Ferraris and Lamborghinis as police cars,
- Most departments will take something more reliable, (In the U.S., Impala, Crown Vic, or Charger,)
- Nothing outruns a radio.

That's it. All I'm trying to say.
 

Latest Posts

Back