No, that's because of contracts with the domestic auto makers, and it's just plain good for the image of a U.S. gov't funded organization. And probably because they're the cheapest option.

For example out here, state of CA uses Crown Vics exclusively now for it's patrol cars. Anything else is a drug siezure and only used in small departments for side tasks.



Look at most rental car places for example, some carry almost entirely GM. It wasn't because they liked GM cars, it was because GM signed the cheapest contract.

 

Got this from a list of TOP TEN Police cars

"Another boy racer car making it big with UK cops is the Subaru Impreza WRX. And with good reason...... the WRX is perfect for Britain’s narrow, twisty country roads. If you’ve ever watched reality TV cop shows, most police chases are flummoxed the moment the hoodlums head off road. However, they won’t shake off the WRX, like this last-generation one here that is in use by the Humberside force....... it uses a 2.0-litre turbo engine and grippy four-wheel-drive system to get it to 60mph in around 5.0 seconds and a top speed nearing 150mph.
But this Prodrive-enhanced WRX also has a sump guard fitted, allowing it to fly over speed humps at 70mph and travel off-road. It isn’t quite as sophisticated as the Evo, nor as hardcore and compromising, but it is one police car you don’t want to see approaching from behind at full speed."


Just thought you's like to know.

Other police using WRX's are Dutch, Autralia, Japan, Italy, france...

Matt383

 

Thats because the populace in those countries typically drive putt putts, and not 5.0s, Vettes, muscle cars, SS, TA/s, nitrous oxide anything, etc and other various american muscle machines. Plus the roads in those countries are too damn small for our cars. So....toss in a little turbo rice...and it works....

OK.....enuff WRX and Vette bashing!!!!!

Can a WRX be tweaked for much more power than the stock? (aside from adding Nitrous)

 

Wow.

Looks like someone has never been to Europe or australia.

Hmmm, Italy..no super cars there!

England hmm, Bently R', jaquars, Astin Martins, Benz, BMW's, porche...

Australia is into muscle cars just as much as we are!!!

Ireland..you get out in the country and there are no freakin speed limits!

Anyway a WRX can be modded like you wouldn't believe.
They have forums just like this one with HUGE aftermarket parts.
Bigger turbo's, computer's, brakes, gears, same sh** different cars.

Matt383

 

"When I get my c4 back together. . ."

That seems to say it all - maybe if we just realized that our Vettes are aging in dog years . . . Oh well.

 

But I'm sure they never talk smack about Corvettes over there, because they know Corvettes are superior.

 

That's a good one.


Matt383

 

When I got my '91 I wasn't thinking I could get a vette. I thought my credit union wouldn't finance a car that old, and they won't. The dealer told me about classic car financing and the rest is history. I didn't buy a Vette to impress anyone. I bought it because I always wanted a Vette. I was sick of slow poor handling cars. Many cars today are faster than mine, but mine is fast enough for me. I don't race. I just drive fast. It's a wonderful feeling to have a car that I don't come close to reaching the top speed.

 

I Totally agree with that... Aussies want V8's and anything muscle related, just look at our last 50 years of motoring and now the current price our local 'oldschool' muscle is going.... in some cases we are getting more for our cars, than for your cars (which are concidered quite rare eg. pretty sure there are more Ferraris in oz than Vettes)

on another note, people are quite suprised on how much my car cost me to buy (even though its was double what US citizens pay) i get a lot of 'if i had of known, i would of bought a Vette instead of this!'

 

I was only in your Country for a month and the only Vette I saw was a red Z06 in Melbourne. Did see some ancient, early to late '70's stuff that resembled a Chevy Malibu, mostly 4 doors. Your small pickup trucks (I guess you call them Sport Utes) were/are particularly cool (and V8 powered too!). Also saw what appeared to be (new) Alpha Romeo's which aren't imported here. There were a host of small Asian cars, souped up/for sale and on display in a mall at the Sydney Harbor. I can't remember the manufacturer, but they're not here in the States. A couple of the colors were fairly outrageous, if not nauseating.

 

For the record, I have personally see Evo's and STi's drive to teh track, click off 10 second 1/4 mile and then drive home. I have no idea what they did to them because when they see you pull up in a vette and ask questions, they assume you are out to make fun of them, or they are just too cocky for their own good and ignore you.

Say what you will, but it's important to learn about these foreign cars. Keeping yourself limited to one type of car makes you ignorant of teh rest of the world.

These people modding out Suburu's,Honda's etc are no different than us, they just do it to different cars that's all.

The world wouldn't be interesting if we all drove the same car.

 

In TEXAS we have a saying "There ain't never been a bull that can't be rode, or a Cowboy who can't be throwed." Same goes with vettes and other cars. Several years ago I had a 78 Z28 with all the go fast stuff for a 1/4 mile. Ran in the 11's. A strange looking vehicle pulled up beside me at the drag strip during time trials, a TERRAPLANE, sucked the doors plumb off my Z. Never raced him again and he refused to open the hood to allow a look. The tech guys would not say what he had in it but it was awsome.

Cruizer

 

There is a guy who comes to our local track with a honda civic. He is a mechanic by trade. Anyways, he drives it to the track and in one run with me, I ran a 7.76 at 92 mph and he ran a 7.80 at 102.7 on street tires. He told me he was running 18 lbs boost and with slicks at MIR (1/4 mile track) he is in the mid 10's
Very nice guy to talk to, and he knows his cars and how to make them fast.
IMHO, if I was going to pick a car based on it being a street car and drag racing, (not anything else) then I would go with a mustang. Parts are cheap, and its easy to get one in the 10's. I have a friend with a street legal 93 that has run in the mid 9's.

 

The Pontiac GTO'S are aussie Holden cars . They have Ls2 motors with 400 hundred ponies.Chevy is basing a lot of cars on the Holden platform . The aussies have a El Camino like vehicle but Chevy wont import it because it would compete for truck sales ,it is also 400 horses .

 

It had a big block Chevy.

Larry
code5coupe

 

Different strokes for different folks. Do people go down the street and argue argyle Vs. stripe sweaters? Jeans Vs. Khakis? Arguing a cars performance merits based on country of origin is pretty weak. Some perfer the lighter, high revving Japanese cars. Others prefer the torque customarily associated with American V8s. Some still prefer the build quality and longevity of a European car.

I work for a race team that is sponsored by Subaru from the factory. I prefer the look and feel of the Corvette for cruising along on a summer evening. I also enjoy wrenching on my Corvette as a hobby. That does not mean I automatically assume the Corvette is the end all be all of automotive existence. Subaru's have no inherent flaws and their engines and (especially the nearly indestructible STi 6 speed) drive trains are top notch. Styling is a matter of personal taste.

Both cars are very capable in stock form. Both respond well to modding and ANY car responds to a bunch of cash thrown at it. In 2001 I rode in a full WRC Spec Prodrive STi that goes from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds ON DIRT. Subaru's can be made VERY capable and have a fantastic racing heritage in the WRC and more recently in the USA. ANY car can be made fast. What is important is the car that stirs your soul. That car may be something different to everyone.

Live and let live. What floats your boat may not be what floats someone else's boat.

Putting down another person because of the car they drive shows a lack of class that no "Corvette" or any other car can make up for.

 

And regarding the original topic between an LT1 vette and a WRX: It's a drivers race.
Benchtop racing the Vette would win a drag race. You're both about the same weight and the Vette is up 70HP and even more torque on the WRX. With AWD wheel spin is difficult so he can really launch. Even dropping the clutch he will get nothing but traction. With practice if you can launch your Vette you can gain an advantage and probably hold it through the race. With a good set of rear tires and a little practice you should have him all day long

 

The problem with ricers usually isn't the car, it's the drivers. They are young punks that think that since daddy gave them a car, and bought them go fast parts, they are better than anyone else. Daddy isn't doing them any favors.

 

If you can't run mid 13s in an LS1 F-body, you can't drive, so what's to "taunt"? You had better be packin' some serious power if you are going to run my Z28...

 

In case anyone was wondering what a Terraplane looked like: