Car Shopping, Cool or Not Cool?

[amulford]

The only cop motor I'd consider having is the old Mopar 440 Police Interceptors. Talk about badass...

[audiobliss]

I second the 2001 Suburban. Tons of room, great ride, and not too bad of gas mileage, considering. Though, that's probably going to run you a little more than the Intrepid.

[ND13]

I had a 96 Intrepid with the 3.5 engine.
.

Completely different engine design. Changed when gen 2 LH/LX cars came out in 98.

[bobman1235]

He's keeping his pickup, why do you people keep suggesting he get a Suburban as a second vehicle?

[okiepolkie]

Completely different engine design. Changed when gen 2 LH/LX cars came out in 98

Didn't realize that.

I don't think I mentioned it before, but one of the things I dislike about the newer ones is that vision out the rear of the vehicle seems to be a little restricted.

[Dennis Gardner]

Officer Gates..................................now that's some funny sh*t!!!!

[hoosier21]

He's keeping his pickup, why do you people keep suggesting he get a Suburban as a second vehicle?

Last I looked a a truck and an SUV weren't the same thing. ;)

I was thinking about Russ's buy and selling stuff, and his comment about the rain. There was a 6 month period when I didn't have a Suburban, needed to pick up some speakers, and SH*T, I don't have a suburban to haul them in.

later

[hoosier21]

I will add this, I test drove that car, not sure of the year, but man the blind spots were very bad.

[madmax]

I had a friend whos brother had a police looking car like that. He said people around him always slowed down, sometimes rather quickly when they saw it. He said never again...
madmax

[Sami]

Yeah, they have that 'bar of soap' look to them, but I figured it would be a little more reliable, and take a beating better than a German counterpart (at twice the price).

A Dodge? Sure the Germans have had a little downward spiral in their quality but worse than a Dodge, no effin way. I'd even get an Audi before American car.

[disneyjoe7]

Ok, on the mechanic side of this story. I once owned a 76 Olds Cutless large 2 door thing, bought used a car for parts / cash paid. V8 403 ci in fact these didn't come from factory this way the largest engine was the 350ci in the car or even a small 8 or 6. But this engine was from the factory and everything under the hood said so. Knowing other engine builders I ask around the word back it's a used under cover State Police car from Connecticut, I bought used from a private owner in Rhode Island so this was possible indeed. Car had a blown lifter and or intake gasket, replaced both starts up ran strong.... But you can assume something else was ever wrong with this engine. I did some checking and my eyes drop'd from my face when I could move the front crank pulley like a 1/2" This was a trust bearing also a main bearing so this engine needed a complete bottom end. That also was my last Police car I ever owned.

[brettw22]

Disney: Learn it........Sentence Structure......PLEASE!!!

I'd pass on it.....Intrepids were dropped from the line for a reason.....(insert own reason here).

[RuSsMaN]

It's the 3.5, real mixed bag of replies. I'm going to at least take it for ride, and come out of the dealership, sideways in a Rockford slide.

[disneyjoe7]

Disney: Learn it........Sentence Structure......PLEASE!!!

Sorry, that is all.

[ohskigod]

I'm going to at least take it for ride, and come out of the dealership, sideways in a Rockford slide.

a true test of any vehicle prowess :D

[audiobliss]

It's the 3.5, real mixed bag of replies. I'm going to at least take it for ride, and come out of the dealership, sideways in a Rockford slide.

Sweet idea! Just have somebody standing across the street with a video camera when you do it! :D

[cmy330go]

......sideways in a Rockford slide.

Another good reason to get a BMW...Rear Wheel Drive. It is way too much work and not nearly as fun sliding a front drive car.:D

[SKsolutions]

It looks like a bleached platypus.

I think it's cool regardless. It's unique. It has character that your Acura/BMW/Audi/Toyota will never have. I am looking for a new car and all I see are these cookie cutter cars. The only maker I've seen with striking stylistic cues are the new Chrysler 300's and Nissans, and I won't buy import. . . yet.

I say buy. . . and paint.

[mantis]

Honestly I would never own another American car. And to own anything Dodge built is just asking for repair bills. Every single person I know who has bought a new Dodge Product has replaced the transmission under 60k. They all have repeat trips to the dealer for many many repairs, warranty claims, recalls the list goes on and on. Dodge makes very cool looking products but it stops there.
I perfer German or Japanese cars. In the last 8 years I have owned 3 japanese and 1 german car. None of them spent any time in any repair shops other then brakes ,oil changes and tires. Yearly Inspections.

Good luck if you decide to go with that ride.

Dan

[ND13]

Oh nevermind, it's useless......

Russ,
Just do what you think is best. PM me if you need any advice on values of ANY vehicle. I'm out of here.

[disneyjoe7]

I know America all the WAY Neol........................

[Airplay355]

I thought you just bought a car Russ? Was that car for wifey?

Don't go for this one. Where's the appeal? Do you really want people to think there's a cop behind them that bad?

[dkg999]

Russ - look at Subary Outback wagons. I have a friend who has a business where they travel a lot, and they get 300k miles out of these, with normal maint. They can haul a lot with the rear seats down, and have all wheel drive for the nasty stuff. Decent gas mileage also.

[dagame27]

I caught this post late, but now you are stepping to an area I know! If you are looking for a great autocross car, check out Porsche 944 Turbo's used. You should be able to get a nice one for about 8K. Not TOO expensive to maintain and with 2K in suspension mods will dust anything on an autocross track,plus easy to modify for more horsepower. It is an awesome car provided it is not used as a daily driver. It can be (I used it this way for years) but it does get expensive. Check out www.rennlist.com for more info on this car. I hope you get one, it would be nice to see more on the road.

[dorokusai]

That's a great suggestion....a car with a tune-up charge of almost $1K just screams cost effective.

A Porsche never has been an every-man vehicle, never will be....even used.

The Ford Pinto, SCCA GT3, defines this idea. That's cost effective and kickass.

[TroyD]

Club Polk in action, for ya... ;)

BDT

[RuSsMaN]

Good God man.

I had a 944, a f$%king electrical nightmare. It did run good WHEN it ran. Never again.

If I went Porsche, I'm all 914 baby. Car shopping is on hold, I just can't make up my mind right now. I'm too busy with gear and my woman...and I mean BUSY.

Pinto GT3, yeah baby. I always wanted to do an early Capri to the 9's. Lightweight, smallblock V8, cheap parts, easy to work on.....

Cheers,
Russell the Love Muscle

[dorokusai]

No ****e. Ask for something cheap and these folks suggest you sell the kids.

[brettw22]

Workin off some of the roundness oh great one? :D

[Shizelbs]

I came 'this close' to punching a baby when my grandparents sold their moss green Pinto just weeks before I turned 16.