[sahajesh]

Also, why aren't the factory-fitted front flashers an option - I'd love those on my car

[Marksw76]

Still the ultimate (for those of us of a certain age!)

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by samm134

They have a 435d GC in Northamptonshire [IMG][/IMG]

Flash bastards

[JustChris]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

Still the ultimate (for those of us of a certain age!)

My word yes.

[machman767]

Better than the SD1.....

[Skwirrel]

Anyone catch traffic cops on Channel 5 last night? Some scrotes in a Mazda 3 MPS doing 160mph on the M1, a van who jettisoned a quad bike into the path of the pursuing police car and the absolute biscuit, lobbing a club hammer out of a moving vehicle, which hit the police car smack bang in the drivers face. Respect.

[sensible]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

Still the ultimate (for those of us of a certain age!)

Oh yes!

[sensible]

Originally Posted by JR1664

Excellent stuff and brings back some memories. I left in 2013 however my career took a different direction from yours. Reminiscing about cars this was our 'Incident car' from the early 90's with a lot younger me on the left.Note the door markings, the previous had been taken out with a shotgun, unfortunately two mates were in it at the time. They recovered but I'm not sure that door ever did !!

The driving courses were epic (probably still are but not for the same reasons I doubt) and I remember the cockpit drill and Roadcraft like it was yesterday. The instructors advice was 'You're an Iron fist in a velvet glove' haha..sounds good and worked in a 3 litre Senator but difficult to achieve for the majority when back in a Montego or diesel Maestro

As I said my career took a different direction, utterly fascinating towards the end and absolutely miss it. Part of it involved buying vehicles from auctions and elsewhere for our role and kitting them out with some right quality tech. So my advice for anyone would be never to try and guess what vehicles Police use, just assume the worst

Haha...yes Roadcraft. Mirror, signal, speed, gear, mirror, signal horn, accelerate. It was a bit long winded for every hazard, and all that braking before you could select a gear. It was so alien at first.

Back in the day the Montego was considered a fast area car. This was me in the late 80's on the left. Funny how times and cars change. All of about 80 bhp.

[TouringPleb]

"Drive to arrive" and "ease and squeeze" were drummed into me on my response course!

As you say though, it's one thing doing it in a 2.0d Insignia or Volvo S60 as they use now, then you go back to section and you are driving a 120k mile diesel Astra!

[sensible]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

"Drive to arrive" and "ease and squeeze" were drummed into me on my response course!

As you say though, it's one thing doing it in a 2.0d Insignia or Volvo S60 as they use now, then you go back to section and you are driving a 120k mile diesel Astra!

My later courses were less regimented and more suited to response driving. They would even let you clutch and brake at the same time, which was never allowed in the old days when you would get a slap on the left leg from the instructor.

"Stretch the elastic band" was another expression for dropping back from a car approaching a bend, only to accelerate up on it as it apexed the bend, get your view and catapult past them because you were already travelling faster. However, if the view didn't materialise....." ease"....stretch that elastic band again....to the next bend then "squeeze" I still practice it on the lanes when following a car. They must think, why does that car behind keep dropping back then catching me up, then dropping back again.

[Scoobyd]

Originally Posted by machman767

Better than the SD1.....

Now we're talking... my dad had a beautiful 3500 V8 one of these when I was a kid. Red with cream leather. Absolutely loved that car!

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by sensible

My later courses were less regimented and more suited to response driving. They would even let you clutch and brake at the same time, which was never allowed in the old days when you would get a slap on the left leg from the instructor.

"Stretch the elastic band" was another expression for dropping back from a car approaching a bend, only to accelerate up on it as it apexed the bend, get your view and catapult past them because you were already travelling faster. However, if the view didn't materialise....." ease"....stretch that elastic band again....to the next bend then "squeeze" I still practice it on the lanes when following a car. They must think, why does that car behind keep dropping back then catching me up, then dropping back again.

Also the way to make progress in various underpowered vehicles like 80bhp Merc Sprinters and Metros!

[Watsey]

Originally Posted by sensible

I still practice it on the lanes when following a car. They must think, why does that car behind keep dropping back then catching me up, then dropping back again.

Depending on the age, experience and confidence of the driver ahead of you, you might find that they...

think you want a race, as they increase their speed accordingly, or
think you are driving to intimidate them, making them lose concentration on the road ahead, or
think that you aren't able to carry a constant speed through the corners, because you're a bit of a liability behind the wheel.

I doubt they'd be thinking "look at that skilful ex traffic officer honing his impressive road craft".

[cramsnik]

I used to work as transport manager for a delivery company, every now and then we took on temps from a local recruitment company. One of these guys we took was an ex copper, decent bloke. One day we had to take one of the company pool cars out to the general managers place in the country.

To this day I've never seen a MK3 1.6 Astra move so fast. he was the guy that showed me limit points, something I've been very grateful for.

Last year I was planning to try some sort of advance driving course, until covid put paid to it.

[Billyray911]

Sensible-Tally Ho car park?Take it you were based at PB,from your earlier picture?

[PeakyJ]

Originally Posted by Marksw76

Still the ultimate (for those of us of a certain age!)

Ultimate Ultimate

[sensible]

Originally Posted by Billyray911

Sensible-Tally Ho car park?Take it you were based at PB,from your earlier picture?

Yes it was Tally Ho.

Yes, based at CMPG off the M6, Perry Barr, on the Collision Investigation Unit. We moved there when CMPG took over Ops Traffic and we became a regional unit with Staffs.

You familiar with those places too?

[RickLS7]

The main reason most forces don't use 435D's is because they sound sh*t.

[mikeoz]

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

Been an interesting read this thread..

So.. the cars are police spec where they have cloth seats, as they are cheaper to replace and wear better.

Engines and gearbox are standard but they are generally driven with gearbox in sport.

Suspension is stiffened to take into account all the kit carried in the boot. To be honest I don't know if it's M Sport spec or whether it's a police spec but it is stiffer.

30d is chosen because it's the best balance of performance/handling/cost/economy/reliability. These cars are driven hard and are during a shift will be left running. Every time they are turned off all the on-board computer systems shut down. As they take a while to reboot the cars are left idling to keep them powered. Some of our cars can do 60-80,000 miles a year. For anyone thinking we have a huge fleet of cars, the same car will be out all day. Earlies will hand the car over to lates who will hand it over to nights

The speedometer is changed to a more accurate calibrated one, rest of the dials are the same.

Idrive is left in but a lot of the functions are disabled.

Finally there is very little that will outrun a well driven 330d, even the Golf R/S3 etc. When police loose a car in a pursuit , it's generally because the car being pursued will take risks to themselves and the public that the police just can't take. I've done an attachment with traffic and the skill level of the drivers is amazing and they are trained to such a high level. Being a passenger in a pursuit in an urban environment is one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done!

Inbox mate..

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Scoobyd

Now we're talking... my dad had a beautiful 3500 V8 one of these when I was a kid. Red with cream leather. Absolutely loved that car!

Rover P6 3500 was the first V8 I got to drive. Was in a Rover/Triumph dealer at the time, and when the SD1 was launched.

[G50]

Originally Posted by mikeoz

Inbox mate..

If you asked whether you could do an attachment with Traffic, can I be next on the list?