2002 Chrysler Intrepid Police Car

<body topmargin="0" leftmargin="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan="2" height="82" bgcolor="#000000" text="#F7F7FF"> <div> <font size="5" color="#FFFFFF" face="Perpetua"><b>CarTest!</b></font><b>     |     </b><a href="index_htm.html" target="_top" title="CarTest!"><b>home</b></a></div> <div> <a href="automotive_reviews_and_test_drives.html" target="_top" title="Reviews"><b><img src="03b0e0e0.png" border="0" width="14" height="14" alt="up" align="BOTTOM" hspace="0" vspace="0"></b></a><b>  </b><img border="0" src="1x1.gif" height="14" align="BOTTOM" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="14"><b>    </b><a href="/" target="_top" title="2002 Chevrolet Impala"><b><img src="02f0e0e0.png" border="0" width="14" height="14" alt="previous" align="BOTTOM" hspace="0" vspace="0"></b></a><b>  </b><a href="id61.html" target="_top" title="2002 Ford ESeries cargo vans"><b><img src="0300e0e0.png" border="0" width="14" height="14" alt="next" align="BOTTOM" hspace="0" vspace="0"></b></a></div> <div> <a href="index_htm.html" target="_top" title="CarTest!">CarTest!</a>   |   <a href="site_map__contents.html" target="_top" title="Contents">Contents</a>   |   <a href="automotive_reviews_and_test_drives.html" target="_top" title="Reviews">Reviews</a>   |   <a href="/" target="_top" title="Briefs">Briefs</a>   |   <a href="save_on_gas.html" target="_top" title="Gas Miser">Gas Miser</a>   |   <a href="whats_your_car_worth.html" target="_top" title="Whats Your Car Worth?">What's Your Car Worth?</a>   |   <a href="find_the_best_vehicle.html" target="_top" title="Find the Best Vehicle">Find the Best Vehicle</a>   |   <a href="car_care.html" target="_top" title="Winter Driving">Winter Driving</a>   |   <a href="insurance_safety__crash_test.html" target="_top" title="Insurance Safety">Insurance & Safety</a>   |   <a href="guide_to_buying_a_new_car.html" target="_top" title="Insider Tips">Insider Tips</a>   |   <a href="tires.html" target="_top" title="Tires">Tires</a>   |   <a href="free_newsletter.html" target="_top" title="Newsletter">Newsletter</a>   |   <a href="contact_us.html" target="_top" title="About Us">About Us</a></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width="209" style="border-right: 1px solid #0000BF;" bgcolor="#FFCC66" text="#080000"> <div> <img src="234b0750.jpg" border="0" width="176" height="117" align="BOTTOM" hspace="0" vspace="5"></div> <div> Chrysler's new police car is based on an Intrepid R/T.</div> <br> <div> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="132" bordercolorlight="#0000BF" bordercolordark="#808080" frame="BOX" rules="ALL" align="RIGHT" hspace="0" vspace="0"> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="616" width="126"><br> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> </table></div> <br> <br> </td> <td valign="top" height="398" width="100%" style="border-right: 1px solid #0000BF;" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#080000"> <div> <i>2002 Chrysler Intrepid Police Car</i></div> <div> <b>Intrepid R/T dresses up for the law</b></div> <br> <div> <i>After a 12-year absence, Chrysler tries to lock into the police fleet business.</i></div> <br> <div> <i><img src="21a28c50.jpg" border="0" width="296" height="197" align="RIGHT" hspace="0" vspace="0"></i>Sept. 10, 2002 -- In Canada way back in 1955, the Dodge Crusader, along with the whole Plymouth-based lineup, was restyled. Dodge front fenders, hood, headlamps and grille were bolted onto the American Plymouth. Thus, from the cowl forward, the Canadian Dodge looked like an American Dodge, but from the cowl back it was a Plymouth. </div> <br> <div> Few changes were made in 1956. The standard engine in the Crusader was a 250.6 cu in. six, with an optional 180 hp, 270 cu in., or the larger 200 hp, 302.5 cu in. V-8, which was unique to Canada. </div> <br> <div> <table border="2" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" width="179" bordercolorlight="#C0C0C0" bordercolordark="#808080" frame="BOX" rules="ALL" align="LEFT" hspace="0" vspace="0" bgcolor="#6699FF"> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="53" width="167"><div> <b>CarTest.ca Highlights</b></div> <div> 2002 Chrysler Intrepid Police Car </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="20" width="167"><div> <b>Category:</b> Crime</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="35" width="167"><div> <b>Seats:</b> 2 burly policemen plus 2-3 nasty offenders.</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="36" width="167"><div> <b>Engine:</b> 242 hp, 3.5-litre, V6</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="36"><nobr><div> <b>Price (Cdn):</b> $28,075</div> </nobr></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="107" width="167"><div> <b>Pros: </b>Quick con catcher. Good performance and handling. Alternative to Chevy Impala and Ford Crown Victoria. Ride to the cooler in comfort.</div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="TOP" height="89" width="167"><div> <b>Cons: </b>Cons won't like being in it. Low rear doors make it hard to stuff big bad boys into the back seat.</div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div> It's noteworthy that 1956 also was the first year that Chrysler built a vehicle especially for police use. The Dodge Coronet 220 (black & white photo)<img src="22e78610.jpg" border="0" width="120" height="97" align="RIGHT" hspace="3" vspace="3"> in the U.S. was touted as the "most powerful police car on the roads." Chrysler incorporated heavy-duty parts developed for stock car racing. The Plymouth version followed in 1957. Both these cars could be powered by Chrysler's famous 315 cu in. HEMI rated at an industry high, 230 hp.</div> <br> <div> Standard police equipment in 1956 included a rotating beacon and a motor-driven siren. These items would be replaced in the latter half of the 1960s by a light bar and an electronic siren. </div> <br> <div> Now, after a 12-year absence, DaimlerChrysler has introduced the Intrepid Police Car Package. The package is available to police departments only and is based on the Intrepid R/T sedan that comes equipped with a 242 hp, 3.5-litre, V6. The police package also includes a high performance suspension; heavy-duty, four-wheel disc, anti-lock brakes, purpose-built lighting, fog lamps and a severe-duty powertrain cooling system.</div> <br> <div> The 2002 Intrepid comes with a light bar that has multiple settings -- everything from full flashing to side running amber lights are possible. Likewise, the electronic siren has a choice of three basic sirens, plus optional variations. With its laptop computer connections and high-tech communications capabilities, it is a long way from the old Brodrick Crawford "Highway Patrol" TV series of the 1950s with its "10-4, 10-4" hand-held radio connected to headquarters.</div> <br> <div> Other nifty features that officers will find on their Intrepid police car include a 240 km/h calibrated, certified speedometer; a severe-duty cooling system for high-temperature, high-speed performance; external engine oil, transmission oil, and power steering coolers for high-temperature, high-speed performance; a four-speed automatic transaxle with overdrive; column shifter; heavy-duty, four-wheel anti-lock brakes; heavy-duty cloth front bucket seats with manual lumbar adjustment; and a vinyl rear bench seat (all the easier to slid the bad boys in and out).</div> <br> <div> Other equipment includes a 160-amp high-output alternator to handle computers, electronics and lights; a 100-amp battery power and ignition feed to the instrument panel to support high-tech equipment; a 100-amp battery feed to the trunk; a trunk ground stud; a dual spotlight prep package; wiring for alternative lamps; a "Stealth-mode" switch that turns off the instrument panel cluster and radio indicators and dims PRNDL to the lowest legal limit for stealth pursuit; fog lamps, an emergency rear door lock override, and optional switchable daytime running lamps. </div> <br> <div> A few things removed from the consumer version of the Intrepid R/T include the dome light switch. The rear door locks and handles are deactivated and the rear windows are inoperative from the rear seat.</div> <br> <div> The "police package" doesn't have the severe ride you might expect from a vehicle with a heavy-duty suspension. The ride is firm, but not unlike a "sport" suspension. None of the good qualities found on a regular "showroom" Intrepid have been lost. (Editor's note: The air dam under the front bumper is low enough to scrape the pavement on steep driveway ramps.)</div> <br> <div> The new Intrepid Police Car retails for $28,075.00 in Canada. <i>(As a consumer you can't buy one new, but if you wait a few years, these models may show up in police auctions of old vehicles. That's the only time consumers can get their hands on a rough and ready police-spec vehicle. -Ed.)</i></div> <br> <div> According to DaimlerChrysler Canada Inc. product information specialist Tom McPherson, the response from police departments in North America has been good and we should now begin to see Intrepid police cars patrol our highways and streets on a regular basis. That's also good for Canadian autoworkers as production began in January 2002 at the Brampton, Ont., assembly plant where Chrysler and Dodge (for the U.S. marketplace) police cars are built.</div> <br> <div> <i>Reviewed by Norm Mort, with additional material by Bill Roebuck.</i></div> </td> </tr></table></body>