U.S. Police Car Comparison & Exotic Cruisers Worldwide

What if, in the presence of those flashing red-and-blue disco balls, you...made a run for it? Quick downshift, stand on the gas, a nip and tuck through traffic, and...Would you leave the police cruiser in the dust? Would the cops hang right on your tail-the way they always seem to do on the silver screen? How well does modern cop iron stack up, anyway?

Only one way to find out. We rounded up today's three most popular police pursuit sedans-one each from the Big Three-and hit the test track with takedown lights ablaze. To make things really interesting, we also brought along three increasingly formidable "perpetrator" cars-a Mazda MX-5 Miata, a Mitsubishi Evo MR, and a Porsche 911 Carrera 4-and turned them loose on the same course. Did the cops run them down?

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Will_ - 3/21/2007 12:57:29 PM

-2 Boost

"So there you have it: The Dodge Charger is mas macho, the Chevy Impala is lean and surprisingly mean, and the Ford Crown Victoria is as honest and dependable as Andy Sipowicz."

Of course the Charger has the "cool" factor out of the three. What I want to know is why any police force would want the front-wheel drive and slow Impala?

kart1 - 3/21/2007 7:36:05 PM

+2 Boost

I don't know about the online version (I didn't read it) but in the print version I got Motor Trend points out that the Impala is winning praise for its added traction in bad weather (In the Northeast) and also that a majority of the NYPD cars are Impalas.

no1listensanyway - 3/21/2007 3:20:33 PM

+2 Boost

I got pulled over by a Charger over the summer. I ended up having an half an hour conversation with officer over the car. He said there is mini brawl in his NYPD office to get the keys to the car. He also mentioned the Crown Vic being the most reliable and able to handle the unforgiving streets. He gave me a ticket for the tinted windows as opposed to talking on the cell phone, good deal for me. I still think the Lambo in Italy is still the most bad ass police car, pull me over anyday in that.

5MTenthus - 3/21/2007 3:53:32 PM

+2 Boost

Police forces in the North East like the Impala for the inclement weather -- the FWD handles better in the rain/snow.

no1listensanyway - 3/21/2007 6:49:45 PM

0 Boost

Yeah they are great in the winter, but their transmissions melt in the summer.

Rupert - 3/21/2007 4:23:21 PM

+2 Boost

We get 5 series (old style for police, new style in red for armed response), Range Rovers, Subarus, Ford Fiestas and Vauxhall Astras in Britain.

kart1 - 3/21/2007 7:41:26 PM

+1 Boost

Are you kidding me. It would only do better in the snow and rain. It would not run rings around the charger. Do you know what Understeer is??? A fwd car with 303hp is not something to be promoting. Especially if that car is a Impala SS going up against a Charger, which is available with a 425hp V8.

TauronB2G - 3/21/2007 8:19:27 PM

+2 Boost

ONe of the poorest cities in the Chicagoland area has two chargers and even though I think the car itself is hideous...I must admit that in police guise its kinda badass!!!
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