The iconic police Crown Vic model was discontinued like a decade ago. Like 80% of police cars I see nowadays are SUV’s.
On March 12, 2010, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Police Interceptor Sedan. While sharing a nameplate with the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, the Police Interceptor Sedan was a variant of the sixth-generation Ford Taurus, shifting from the long-running Panther chassis to an all-wheel drive version of the D3 architecture.[29]
In a design decision, the Police Interceptor Sedan did not adopt the Taurus nameplate, as it was sold alongside the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, derived from the Ford Explorer. Along with heavier-duty components and a redesigned interior, the Police Interceptor Sedan adopted higher-performance steering and suspension tuning. The standard engine was a 3.5-L V6, but a 3.7-L V6 (shared with the Mustang) later became the standard power plant. A twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 (shared with the Taurus SHO) was also available as an option.[30]
The Ford Police Interceptor Sedan was discontinued alongside the North American Ford Taurus model on March 1, 2019.[31] The Ford Police Interceptor Utility remains in production as of 2022 as Ford’s main police vehicle, sharing its design with the civilian market Ford Explorer.[32]
Anyone driving a black or white ford explorer is worry some. The tell is the antennas. Cop cars have big antennas on the roof that normal cars don’t have.
They don’t have external antennas around here any more. They don’t even have the push bumpers. Half the time the flashers are mounted inside the windshield and back window. They’re very difficult to spot. I have a radar detector now, which reliably notifies me when one is in the area.
Used to be my go–to in Florida but I’ve been noticing most unmarked cars don’t have government plates anymore. Gotta look for the light hardware through the limo tint in the windows now
Also just having a new explorer is enough, my parents got a new explorer a few years ago and one time I was driving them somewhere and got into the carpool lane, then I noticed everyone in front just kept getting out of the way and I realized they all thought we were cops
Yeah, if they’re behind me I look for the shotgun. It’ll be fairly obvious, vertically mounted between the passenger and driver seat. You can even see the silhouette at night if there’s someone behind them with their headlights on.
Actually I kinda want to get one of the ex-police Chargers at auction because I’d never spend that much on a sporty car, but I feel like that would be fun, even if it only lasts a couple of years. For less than 6-8k you can certainly do worse!
They do in poorer areas- my local county sherrif only had the budget for two new dodge Durangos in the last 4 years, the rest of the force drive crown vics with junkyard engine swaps to keep them going past 300k miles.
Do cops even drive crown vics anymore? I don’t even see crown vic taxis now.
The iconic police Crown Vic model was discontinued like a decade ago. Like 80% of police cars I see nowadays are SUV’s.
From the Crown Vic Wikipedia Article
Anyone driving a black or white ford explorer is worry some. The tell is the antennas. Cop cars have big antennas on the roof that normal cars don’t have.
They don’t have external antennas around here any more. They don’t even have the push bumpers. Half the time the flashers are mounted inside the windshield and back window. They’re very difficult to spot. I have a radar detector now, which reliably notifies me when one is in the area.
Yea it’s rough. The tax exempt plates are a tell that you can use if they’re ahead of you.
Not in Washington state… I depend on the lack of roof rails, or black dodge chargers or Durangos.
Used to be my go–to in Florida but I’ve been noticing most unmarked cars don’t have government plates anymore. Gotta look for the light hardware through the limo tint in the windows now
And the wheels. I get the homage nod to the past, but that big shiny hubcap is a huge tell that isn’t offered on the non-police models.
Murdered out police insignia and shorty antennas only go so far when you floating on that chrome
Yes, but those are hard to see when the car is directly behind you.
Antennas, that cage on the front bumper, black on black lettering, and no hub caps around my neck of the woods.
Mostly SUVs and Chargers.
Also just having a new explorer is enough, my parents got a new explorer a few years ago and one time I was driving them somewhere and got into the carpool lane, then I noticed everyone in front just kept getting out of the way and I realized they all thought we were cops
Sometimes you can see the grate/cage divider inside too, if you’re sharp eyed
Yeah, if they’re behind me I look for the shotgun. It’ll be fairly obvious, vertically mounted between the passenger and driver seat. You can even see the silhouette at night if there’s someone behind them with their headlights on.
Good tip! I’ll keep an eye out for that detail next time I see one
And the other 20% or so is Dodge Chargers.
Actually I kinda want to get one of the ex-police Chargers at auction because I’d never spend that much on a sporty car, but I feel like that would be fun, even if it only lasts a couple of years. For less than 6-8k you can certainly do worse!
Especially because they beef up the suspension, and performance maintenance religiously on their vehicles.
All the cops around here drive white or grey SUVs that are almost impossible to spot because the LED flashers are so slim.
For those Explorers and Tahoes, the only tell-tale sign is to look at the roof.
Civilian models will have these roof rails, police models won’t.
I always say, the moment cop cars start adding roof racks and bike mounts we’re all getting pulled over lol
They do in poorer areas- my local county sherrif only had the budget for two new dodge Durangos in the last 4 years, the rest of the force drive crown vics with junkyard engine swaps to keep them going past 300k miles.