NT’s Holden SS Commodore Police Cars
March 25, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Seems like there is a competition on who can get the best police cars, from QLD Police getting their hands on FPV Typhoons, to NSW police getting a Lotus, all these Speeding tickers really are paying for something! Not to be outdone, the men in blue in Northern Territory have got their hands on some brand new Holden VE SS Commodores.
The 270kW, 6.0 litre, V8-powered cars are the first instance of a brand new SS model VE Commodores to appear in police livery.
Its not just SS Commodores, a fleet of new VE Commodores is being delivered to Northern Territory Police, with SV6 and Omega variants among the models appearing on the fleet in coming months.
The new Police cars come with all the gadgets, such as
- secure digital radios,
- mobile radar equipment,
- lights and sirens.
Now that the Northern Territory have done away with their speed limit free highways, these cars are also fitted with Advanced multi directional radar equipment which gives police officers the ability to catch speeding drivers approaching from both the front and rear of the vehicle.
As always, these fast cars are not here to scare drivers into behaving, but more to promote safety.
“NT Police are serious about improving the safety of our roads, through a combination of education and enforcement. These traffic units will have a major role to play in our major centres and on the highway leading to them.” NT Police Commissioner White said
Graeme Beere, National Fleet Service Manager at GM Holden says that the new SS police cars are highly visible on the roads and are playing their part in the Territory’s road safety program.
To put all myths to shame before they even start, these cars are not tuned for more power, the only real extras worth mentioning are an additional battery to run all the extra lights and equipment, plus a bigger brake system as well as slightly improved suspension.
Print it: 
Although they are nice… I dont understand why the police need to use gass guzzling V8s. These days they dont even chase people due to the risks involved, so the power isnt really needed… and consdiering the amount of kms they rack up all its doing is costing tax payers a great deal of money so some cop can get his rocks off for free.
I think Highway patrol cops need a high powered
car, you’d be amazed cops will still give chase when they deem it safe, and on the highway most of the time, its considered safe.
Yes, I think they should all drive Camrys.
And how intimidating will a camry police car be?
have a look at the Toyota Aurion Cop Cars in QLD :)
I’ll just pull my tongue out of my cheek….ahh there we go.
What I really meant is that the police should drive Prius’s. Not only could they combat crime but they could do it while combating global warming and all at a reduced cost to the tax payer.
They could use lazer guns to the shoot the tyres out on speeding V8’s which would mean they wouldn’t spill their coffees.
That way they could go back to getting their rocks off eating donuts.
My Windows Automatic update has just fired up with “WARNING: V8 – Pushrod argument imminent, protect yourself now!” :)
Looks like each cop force has take one of each:-
NT – SS V
QLD – FPV & Aurion
VIC – They don’t need fast police cars, just a large speed camera on wheels. Or maybe a dunkin donuts van in police livery!
Has anyone taken the 380? I’m sure Damo should know.
Off Topic, but I have seen a Taxi in Melbourne that was a 300C. Looks stupid in yellow (as do most cars)
Ah I forgot to mention Victoria police have a 300C
Shhhhhh…the mighty Hemi in the 300C has pushrods.
I just got back from a fortnight in the states and many taxis in Las Vegas are 300C’s.
They also have Krispy Kreme Donuts and Starbucks coffee for the cops who drive Ford Crown Victorias. Wait till they get there hands on a Prius!
They don’t pull you over for speeding, instead they make sure the trucks stick to the slow lane and their lower speed limit and that cars stay out of the overtaking lanes unless they are overtaking.
All far to sensible and profit-less for Australia.
Aw that explains the lack of comments from your Steane ;)
I wish we had a new unit of highway patrol in AUS dedicated to bringing Right Lane Hogs to justice.
What, no spirited discussion about pushrods, FWD and high pant wearers in my absence…
You really notice how bad the driving in Australia is when you return from a country that has decent roads, decent rules and decent drivers.
“What, no spirited discussion about pushrods, FWD and high pant wearers in my absence…”
We’re waiting for the launch of the Prius Super Sportivo TRD. Not so much a Typhoon, but a gust bad wind :)
“You really notice how bad the driving in Australia is when you return from a country that has decent roads, decent rules and decent drivers.”
I’ve always said this. A friend of mine tells me its a Victorian thing.
I’ve actually watched cars jump red lights infront of parked police cars and get away with it. But do more than 0.000000001 over the 60Kph and they’ll drop their coffee and donuts, and pull you!
I observed last week someone race a light at a level crossing (NO JOKE). And a UTE undertake on the hardshoulder on the Monash!!
Steane you really are retarded. My point is valid, they rarely make chase these days, certainly not enough to justify having a car which guzzles under spirited driving (which cops most frequently find themselves doing) 20L per 100km. That equates to a sh*tload of money being wasted for a purpose that is redundant.
But keep your blind patriotism for GM known to you bogans as Holden you twat.
What sort of donuts do you reckon most police prefer Paul? Now that Krispy Kreme are in Australia I reckon they would be favouring the original style. There might be the odd Snr Sgt giving the custard filled chocolate one a nudge though. You just can’t tell what they’re going to go for though…can you? I mean, they might not be into Krispy Kreme at all and that means they could be buying them from just about anywhere! Milk bars, supermarkets or lunch vans. Maybe their wives are dropping one in their lunch boxes? How would we ever be able to pin them down.
It’s troubling.
When you have a quick moment check out the following website. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about and it will stay just between you and I
http://www.angermanagement.com.au
Good luck buddy, I’m rooting for ya.
Lol anger management… I think you need to get back onto your medication mate, youve lost it – keep your little games in your head!!!!
So am I going to hear a serious reply? There is no justification for a gass guzzling V8 cop car… as a deterant they mean little as the kinda people who will try to outrun them will do so regardless (just look a the many races of underpowered cars) and even if they do find themselves in a pursuit they have to break it off anyway.
Im convinved these high powered cars are just for the cops to have abit of fun… Ive lost count of the number of times Ive seen them thrashing these cars when not in pursuit. Classic example is queensland, why the hell they need Monaros for as a cop car – ridiculous.
I think they should just get the cheapest deal possible, which is the 380 not that I give a stuff what they use because if they want to buy money with other people’s tax money it is fine with me because due to my little tax evasion (which is prefectly legal) I get a rebate equal to what I pay in tax per year so I am prefectly happy.
Well Paul, you may have a point. But we would need to know the numbers of high performance cars vs the normal cars that the police have. Its not like all police cars are V8’s. So as a percentage of the total, i’d recken the V8’s fuel bill would be minor.
I have seen the police perform moderately high-speed persuits on the freeway. But admittedly not one that justifys 250+ KW of power. So I can imagine they have a case for a number of High-Performance cars.
Yep, blatant waste of fossil fuel and hard earned tax dollars.
I think the solution is (and I’m being serious here) a special ‘police tax’ on the hole in each donut.
Make them pay I say! They are just out there having fun in V8’s drinking coffee and eating donuts. Bastards.
I really don’t think they need a V8. A VRX manual 380 can do 0-100 in 7.4 seconds. They usually chase ten year old hoon cars with crappy week 4 speed auto’s which are not all that fast anyway (not bagging gen III’s I mean the old fishermens bend 5 litres), I am not saying that the police should get 380’s and I believe that all states have their respective contracts with the local manuafacturers but alll of the V6’s could keep up with hoons, commy SV6, aurion, 380, falcadoores, ect.
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be a little excessive. Have a little more than the minimum requirement or even desire a little more than the bare minimum to get by on.
This urge and desire is one of mans oldest companions and in simple terms is the reason we all have the priviledge of making comments on this Blog. If the creator of the silicon chip thought that the computer chip was a waste of damn sand then I’d be sending this comment by express post to Alborz.
A little excess, a touch of variety and a positive attitude make it a nice world to live in.
Having a dark cloud hang over your head as you try and calculate the lost tax dollars because the police just bought a few dinosour like, fuel guzzling boganised pursuit cars…is jusy really boring.
We are not all Communists Paul. We are not all equal despite what the workers party has told you. We do not all want to drive utilitarian FWDs or stand in line for a loaf of bread. We do not all want to work in the coal mines, smoke Winfield Reds and drink Vodka. And we don’t all want a grey and sullen world full of the modern equivalent of the Trabant simply because a few people think anything else is excessive.
I think its great the police have V8’s. It would be even better if like the Italian police force they would be given a Gallardo or two (A V10 for chrissakes).
Looks like another wonderful day in paradise to me. Hows it looking for you Paul?
WTF are you on about Steane, you really have lost it… me saying that V8s are excessive and have many disadvantages while their advantages aernt even used (which other people have agreed with) now turns into me being a communist? Wake up mate… your opinion isnt always right, contrary to what you may think.
QUOTE = Well Paul, you may have a point. But we would need to know the numbers of high performance cars vs the normal cars that the police have. Its not like all police cars are V8’s. So as a percentage of the total, i’d recken the V8’s fuel bill would be minor.
I have seen the police perform moderately high-speed persuits on the freeway. But admittedly not one that justifys 250+ KW of power. So I can imagine they have a case for a number of High-Performance cars.
You do make a good point in relation to the numbers. But even the Falcons imo are useless, most ordinary cop cars rarely need the power they have (anyone who has had to wait hours for them to turn up would know this all to well) so they are just wasting fuel really for advantages of particular cars they seldom use. And its not just limited to the police, I have a relative who works for a govt department, they get SV6s… now why the hell does an office worker need a sporty type car… let alone a car at all!? (this particular persons position didnt require a company car for their duties).
Its all rorted.
Fair enough Paul. We will just have to agree to disagree.
Although even agreeing to disagree could be difficult for us. It’s lucky that I am not offended by name calling or this could go on for ever.
Anyway, it’s nice to be back. I feel at home now.
Good work there Steane. I think your kewl because your not retarded. That is a compliment coming from me by the way. Don’t know about that Paul guy.
Thanks Damo. I comfortable with being kewl. It’s better than being retarded. Those were dark days and I have only recently stopped stuttering.
the new Holden GTS and the Chrysler 300c are the best and fly like the speed of light ! THEY ARE COOL all the vic police cars should eventually become 300c’s and GTS’s
VICPOL RULEZ, are you in the police force?
Do the Vic Police ever catch anyone in a 300c? Only if its in a straight line I imagine and it has as many litres as a whipper snipper ? Americans don’t make cars that handle so what are the police doing with them.Some one take the Atlas back off the yanks so they forget the rest of the world exsists again and stop sending cars to us!
Mr J Clarkson once said being in a 300c was similar to be intangled in a doona on a hot night,all you want to do is get out of it. Not to mention it was design with a ruler!!!
i think the police should all get dodge vipers, nothings more intimidating than being chased by a viper with flashing lights lol
yer right I am for that they will never catch us!Being killed by an axe murder I think Jeremy Clarkson said it was like to drive. I don’t think even for American it can go in a straight line ???????????? It doesn’t handle !!!!! Or go in a straight line!!
Its not just about high speed chases, or more power.. the SS’s, sv6’s, XR6 & 8’s hold there resale value for longer. for the 2-5years they lease/buy their cars, when the time comes for upgrades, minimal cash has been lost. ok, with a lil more polution and money saved, they can plant trees for the gases produced, negating there effect on the environment. Emmission standards and requirements have come a long way in the last 10 years, and even thou they run around with V8’s, they consume a hell of a lot less than what they have.
Why not have a little more power than the average motorest out there, plus the ones that will run, are the knobs in high powered cars..
So high powered car are driven by knobs ai?
no, you’ve just taken it out of context..
But most take more risks because they have the power, and end up worse for wear..
HEY MI BRO SAID U LOOK AT FORD FALCON BA XR8 HEAD LIGHTS THERE R DA SAME ONES WELL DERRR
The thing is, that they DO have the power. That is important if you consider the way of thinking called specific deterrence and rational choice theory which basically says that there is increased risk and people that see the risk and weigh it up are less likely to commit the offence. And yes I know that there is often high adrenaline running in these things or even drugs where people may not be thinking straight – But even still if it is decreasing the OVERALL instance of offending then it is having a positive effect. There are also people who may be already risk takers and have their chance in becoming involved in risky behaviour increased, however, there is also evidence to suggest that this may happen progressively through any kind of justice or enforcement response (and we can’t just leave them be ;) – so in effect if there is an area that can be combated, I think it should be followed. But that’s just me.
You’re all fools.
1. Most police don’t eatr doughnuts. You watch too much American TV.
2. A 6.0 litre V8 gets up to 600 litres per tank on the HWY. What does your Getz get?
3. V8’s just aren’t for high speed. They are also for rapid acceleration. The quicker you get to a speed, the less time you have to travel at it. IF someone is clocked doing 160 km/h on the freeway (which happens all the time) how long do you think a hybrid would take to catch it. You’d be travelling at a high speed for ages. A V8 on the otherhand….
4. Police Force’s get their fuel at a contracted rate, so they probably spend less on fuel for a V8 then most spend on their Kia’s.
Steane, I hope that puts your mind at rest. You sound like someone who has had their ego battered by a cop or two before and now vents his frustration on websites. Remember, the bloke you put your head down and walk past on the street too scared to look at is the bloke a cop would have no hesitation in grabbing if he did the wrong thing. Show some respect.
steane, if you hasd your way police would be issued with hoola hoops and a stick to pat them down the road. You are an easily flommoxed buffoon who should go back to reading our donald duck paperbacks.
Steane,
you are a dud mate
The fastesr police car is the safest for them and the public. They can catch a crook-rapist-liberal in a bug hurry and that makes any chase much shorter.
As for gas guzzling V8’s, more cars and trucks in Australia use propane as a percentage than any other country. Propane is 105 octane and consists of 18 percent hydrogen. It is about half to 2/3 the price of gasoline around the world and it burns so clean, that the engines last about 3 times longer than running on gasoline. Any car or truck can be set up at the factory or aftermarket to use both gasoline and propane. In cold countries like Canada, they start on propane and can automatically switch over to propane after 3 or 4 minutes. I have driven both cars and trucks on propane for over 1 1/2 million kms and it is a much better fuel than diesel or CNG. Right now in Toronto, it costs less than 42 cents per liter for LPG while gasoline costs about 95 cents per liter. NO CONTEST.
Sorry for the above confusion. I meant to say the engines start on GASOLINE and then automatically switch over to propane after a couple on minutes.
I have a Commodore on duel fuel in Australia and have driven 604km from full to empty and it took 71 liters to fill at a cost of $A31.40. It starts on petrol and then switches to gas straight away with the first rev of the engine even in winter when the temperature is around zero. With a maximum range of about 800 km plus on petrol and 600 km on LPG going on a trip is great because you can always buy fuel at city prices.