I've seen a fair few of these for sale of late, all old shape 2.6 V6 SRi auto 5dr hatches, factory lowered with xenons but lacking in air con, with around 90k on the clock.
Most are on Y plates in white but I have seen two 02 plates in white and silver too.
My question is this - should I touch one of these with a bargepole?
I know they'll have been thrashed to within an inch of their lives, and the majority will probably have had some kind of accident or other mishap, but should this put me off if the price is right?
The 02 plate in silver I've seen is up for £3995 which seems quite a bargain with only 89k on the clock.
Does anyone know what these fetch at auction, and which auction house the majority of them go through?
PP
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Having seen a few ex-police cars in my time, I wouldn't touch one.
They lead a very hard life and if there is no aircon that further devalues the car (IMHO).
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Don't really know much about Veccy's but 4 grand seems a bit steep for a 90k Vectra.
Being the V6 I'd guess it was either an Area car or traffic car - in both cases - it would have been redlined up to the desired speed which over 90,000 probably hasn't done it much good. As Aprilia says, no aircon PLUS the dash is pretty much going to be ripped to shreds from where they've had everything mounted.
Having said that, it is a V6...
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Adam
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I wouldn't pay £4k, more like £2k. Vectras are ten a penny, bargains to be had, but a tired low-spec one in white with black grommets is worthless.
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8< Snip 8<
Pathetic comments removed. DD
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I had a '98 2.5 V6 Vectra SRi estate that was fine at 86k, engine, (original) clutch and gearbox as new.
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yes but you didnt use yours to chase scroats at 135mph
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Aren't they designed to go fast then? Surely that's just cruising for a V6? Barely ticking over in mine... :-)
Although this price sounds a bit steep I reckon they are probably quite a good buy mechnaically. I would say that the bodywork is more likely to be a problem where it's been rolled or bent than the engine. And if you are saving enough (which at this price you probably aren't) and feel you bought a dog, then stick a new engine and you are still quids in.
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Adam - welcome back? surely I am not the first to spot it!
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pmh (was peter)
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Just spotted the date. I will stick to a Life on Mars!!!!!!!
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pmh (was peter)
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Adam - welcome back? surely I am not the first to spot it!
Err, suggest you look at the post date.
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Err, suggest you look at the post date.
And I will refresh my screen - open and unused for a few hours - before posting in future! :-)
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What you have to remember these are maintained in top condidtion for the duties they have to perform, they to be. So I think although the bodies maybe abit tatty but you can expect good mechanical engine, transmission, brakes and suspension.
so that price is not too bad.
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Hello.
Being an ex police vehicle it should have been service to the highest levels.
I would have the car if it was at a good price. (If i had the space)
Sounds Great.
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
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As somebody who drives V6 Vectras in their intended role, don't go near it. Divisional cars are thrashed to the end of their lives. We are just about to get rid of our last 02 plate old shape vectra. It's falling apart, physically and mechanically. They are maintained, but all the work that is now required will not be carried out. Best avoided.
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What you have to remember these are maintained in top condidtion
These days they're often maintained at the local franchise dealer. We've all heard the horror stories of appalling maintenence at franchised dealers, and you can imagine the extra lack of care that would(n't) be lavished on a police car.
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Thanks for all the replies so far folks.
There seems to be a split of opinion about whether ex police means good or bad.
I realise it's probably a bit of a lottery, that's why I'm trying to weigh up other peoples opinions.
The 02 plate at £3995 may be overpriced a tad but I've seen Y reg with similar mileage for only £2295 which seems a steal.
Another point that has been made to me is that as these are automatic transmission they are less likely to have been as badly thrashed as a manual equivalent. Also I'm told that the Vauxhall 2.5 / 2.6 V6 is normally a reliable lump which can take some abuse.
I think I could live with a few holes in the dash and the cars I've seen don't have any roof holes so I'd assume that they've either been filled and painted or the light bars have been mounted on strap brackets and rubber feet with the aerials underslung on metal plates.
Can anyone shed any light on which auction house/s these are sold through?
HJ recommends West Oxfordshire Motor Auctions but I was hoping that some find their way further north than that?
PP
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www.expolicecars.com/
Not sure about auction houses though.
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The police are now disposing of their cars through Manheim Auction centres and BCA as well as West oxfordshire motor auctions.See there websites for details
Ive owned and bought and sold several Vectra V6s and theve been great,they are great value for money,yes they have been worked hard and look at little used but if you are paying £3-4k for a £7-8k car whats the problem!
Ive currently got one of the last 02 reg met police vectras in white with 87k on the clock,after a good valet and some paint you would never know the police once owned it.
If you are buying from auction beware of strange noises,(v6 engine are normaly very quiet!!)air bag lights on(can be expensive to rectify)and poor panel alignment due accident damage.
Ive got to say with the uprated ecu,suspension and brakes you cant really go wrong,you wont get anything as late or as quick for the money.
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"with the uprated ecu,suspension and brakes you cant really go wrong"
Unless you fail to tell your insurance company that it isn't a standard vehicle then....
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with the uprated ecu,
What's different about the ecu in a plod car over one that's sold to Joe Public?
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"Ive got to say with the uprated ecu,suspension and brakes you cant really go wrong,you wont get anything as late or as quick for the money."
Don't think there is anything over and above the standard spec. on these cars. From my experience of ex-police cars they are often stripped of some 'luxury' kit (e.g. aircon can be missing) and they are generally well shot by the time the police get rid of them (tight police budgets and all that).
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Seen one in manheim this week - the roof looked a mish mash of holes and poor paint work.
The stickers, while being removed still eft weathered marks and POLICE could easily be read.
It was V6, white and in poor/average nick on a S.
i didnt stay till it went through, but seemed to have some interest which surprised me.
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To those comments made above,The ecu is upgraded to one similar to a GSI model,ie extra bhp,i had one car out a batch that felt like a turbo to drive,abolutly mad to drive and still drives like a car with half the miles.
I have just got fsh from the met for the 02 plate car i mentioned which i sold yesterday and boy has it had some money spent including a cambelt and manifold gskt,tyres ,new wheels,suspension,new springs,the list goes on and on.A new gearbox fitted by vauxhall as a warranty claim!!
They even fitted two new door panels and a passsenger seat cover.
I put 400 miles on this car and found it a lot of fun to drive and in private hands will have many years use left.
Yes you should tell your insurance company that its ex-police spec car.My trade policy covers this so im ok.
The Vectras the met run seem like a special hybrid of a base SRI with Gsi performance mods,special police spec suspension,CD model alloys.
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Unusual Autos,
Since you're in the trade I'd appreciate it if you would clear it with HJ before advertising your services here. I have temporarily removed your link in the meantime.
You can reach him at mailto:letters@honestjohn.co.uk
Thank you.
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> The ecu is upgraded to one similar to a GSI
It is an urban myth that previous generation Vectra GSi models have a different ECU to other V6 Vectras.
All such Vectras left the factory as SRi models, and were then converted to GSi spec by MSD in Milton Keynes. From March 2000 I hugely enjoyed running a GSi Estate for three years, so out of interest at the time checked exactly what the conversion to GSi spec entailed.
When it came to power enhancing work, the only change was to fit the camshafts from the 3.0 V6 Elite. These alone were responsible for the power hike from 167 to 192 BHP and a lovely wadge of mid range torque at the expense of that at the lower end of the rev range. (Having previously owned a V6 SRi Estate for three years, this is exactly how it felt, too, lacking the tug boat pull from tickover to 2000RPM of the 167 BHP motor, and then taking off like no tomorrow)
Even the huge, superb looking, Irmscher twin tailpipe is cosmetic only in nature, and asking specifically about ECU programming, I was informed (with an air of "not that old chestnut again...") that it remained exactly per donor SRi.
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SjB is 100% correct. Also, looking at the GM parts cat. there are no 'police spec' suspension parts listed.....
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I am thinking of getting an ex police motorcycle.Is it the same problem with these?
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I am thinking of getting an ex police motorcycle.Is it the same problem with these?
No, they usually have aircon ;-)
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I recall Car Mechanics bought an ex Met Police Astra panda car from auction as a project car a few years back. It had done something daft like 140,000 miles, but the engine compartment looked absolutely immaculate. Not a drop of oil, dirt or corrosion to be seen. It apparently drove superbly as well.
I was very tempted once by a four year old 170,000 mile ex Thames Valley police Rover 827 Vitesse at auction which made £1600. It sounded as sweet as anything (what's 170k on a well serviced Honda V6?) but it was the effect of 170k on the rest of it that put me off. That, and it was a bit rough looking. A heck of a lot of car for the money though.
Cheers
DP
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The BEST place for ex Police (& military) motorcycles is www.forcemotorcycles.com
If you talk to Nick, the guy whos place it is, he's very helpful & well into what he does.
VB
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