TRD Aurion on Qld Police fleet
January 21, 2008 by Karl Peskett
A new driving style is needed for some police in Queensland. The local wallopers have added a front-wheel-drive TRD Aurion to the pursuit lineup.
According to US site Autoblog, a reader just happened to be driving along, and came across this newly stickered police car. He followed it back to the station, where he queried officers about its dynamics, and whether it’s been worth having on the fleet.
Queensland police say that it’s more comfortable than local competitive offerings, yet has the same sort of punch that the V8 powered pursuit cars are reknowned for. Once the officers had adapted to the Aurion’s tendency to power understeer, they say that they’re overjoyed with the new car.
CarAdvice would love to hear what you think. Is the TRD Aurion the logical choice for a police pursuit car?
Source: Autoblog
Print it: 
Dingo: I think you’ll find the main reason Holden say that the the VE is equal to or better than a BMW [in their TV advertisement] is because thats what the reputable/respectable journalists from Wheels Motor and magazine as wellas Drive said about it.. So there is your evidence.
Not only that but just recently GM flew a few credentialled International Journos out here from the States UK and Europe.. to test it for themselves
A number of them were equally impressed some even said that they wished it was sold back home [in Europe]
i was going to post a couple of on topic things relating to police vehicles etc,
but after reading yet some more total off topic rubbish i dont feel the need to participate in a resourcefull manner as it seems some people only want to come here and ruin what others say.
Once again Alborz take note!!!!!
please start deleting some posts.
dingo has not had one meaningfull post anywhere on this site.
you dont need to ban him but rather simply delete the rubbish that gets spilled.
PLEASE REMOVE THIS RUBBISH
I am totally over it!!!!!!!!!
Oh and just like the ANCRAP tests which take a small number of cars of a particular model inorder to judge the safety of the overall model/series/range.
With recalls.. The reason Holden stated a large figure like 80000 was to cover the approximate number of cars made in the period from X-Y. yet the number of cars actually affected might only be less than 5,000
I mean just because 5 individual models of a particular range or series of cars were able to achieve the [almighty] 5 star safety rating doesn’t necessarily mean the one in your garage is equally “safe”..
Who knows your car might actually have a fault – say the side airbags.. which if you were in the same situation as those in the ANCRAP tests could fail and end up killing you.. yet the manufacturer didn’t notice or tell you about.
Therefore just because 10,000 cars are affected by a particular fault doesn’t necessarily mean the other 80000+ are crap
Wheelnut, I think the real reason would be to sell more of their product. I doesn’t hurt to tell the average joe that the car they are considering buying is equivalent or better than one of the worlds most recognisable prestigious marques.
It’s called advertising and they all do it.
thats exactlly right wheelnut,
but dont waste your time ive spun that line before too and im a ford fan!!!!
ive clearly pointed out that holden has only cleverly regurgetated what journos have said about the car.
i have also pointed out that sponsoring the AFL is simply putting your name on the biggest Billboard in Australia yet Dingo still thinks toyota dont claim a tax deduction for it and do it out of the kindness of their heart and with no intention of promoting their brand
Also wheelnut he doesnt realise that fords and holdens have dominated the family (and other classes) car safety ratings for many years with ford especially being renowned as the safest family car you can get
Wheelnut, mate do yourself a favour and dont bother with him. it will be valuable time of your lifespan you wont get back. go find a brick wall, at least you will get some fresh air outside
Has any1 bought a new pathfinder diesel ST -L what sort of deal should i be getting driveaway 07 08 plated
Andrew – my comment about Toyota sponsoring AFL has nothing to do with tax rights offs and what ever else may go behind closed doors.
However, the fact remains that Toyota sponsors our very own national sport and considering Holden likes to play the ‘We Are Australian’ card then i question why the Lion has not been able to secure such a promotion.
And for the sponsors that Holden does satisfy … it would be nieve to deny that Holden isn’t receiving it fair share of grabs just like Ford Australia and Mitsubishi.
No company is any different to any other on this matter so be resonable.
Andrew – according to the lastest NCAP findings last year … it was infact the Aurion of which achieved the highest rating.
Considering Holden advertised heavily how the VE would be Australia’s safetst car, the aged Falcon was only marginally behind the all new Commodore platform while the Aurion achieveD a commenDable 30/37 rating against the VE’s 27/37.
I thought you would fing it interesting to note
so why the hell does toyota sponsoring the AFL get a special mention????
so does toyota sponsor AFL to grab the attention of the largest available audience, or out of the kindness of their heart?
if you think it is the second option then you are truely showcasing your one eyed view of toyota.
also living in QLD i thought you would have realised that AFL means stuff all to us QLD’rs.
but then again the southerners love it because it does statistically have the largest audience and we cant argue with that
so does toyota sponsor AFL because…..
(a) they are able to promote/advertise to the largest avaliable audience,
(b) or out of the kindness of their heart
Dingo,
just read my comment a little more carefully,
i know the falcon didnt take the safest gong this year but i said they have pretty much always taken it in the past.
they will regain it once orion lands im sure.
you summed it up perfectly when you said it was an “aging falcon” tested against the brand spanking competition.
you cant deny ford has a great safety history on their side. the Aurion is one of the safest cars they have ever had and it beats their previous attempts by a country mile, so it seems they to are learning from what our aussie made gear offers……
Andrew – no company big or small sponsors out of the kndness of thier hearts and Toyota is no exception to the rule so don’t dig them on the matter any more then you would others.
Of course it is about capturing a large audinace – why else would they do it for.
Regardless, the benefit of such sponsorships is mutual as the game recieves added financial support so once again – why isn’t Holden of which is supposedly an ‘Australian’ company sponsoring our very own indigenous game.
I’m not being nasty – i’m just asking the question !!
Yes … Ford does have a good safty record and most certainly a more notable one then that of Holden but so do other manufactuers including Toyota.
And don’t be so sure that the Orion will gain the mantle because that’s exactly what all the hype was about with the VE yet when it came to cruch time – it didn’t square up as exoected so until the Orion has been officially tested – don’t assume otherwise.
Remember – Ford have a restictive budget with the Orion so it just may not shape up as expected … but then again – it just aswell could.
One question for Dingo/Mikka. Do you consider Brembo brakes rubbish? Because that’s what FPV use. Brembo is used by Formula 1, Ferrari, Porsche, AMG and Champ Car teams.
The following is from FPV’s site.
————————————————-
Performance Brakes
Up front, huge 355mm x 32mm cross drilled and slotted front rotors with Brembo 4 piston calipers and 328mm x 26mm cross drilled rear rotors with red single piston calipers and are standard on GT.
Premium Brakes
For the ultimate in stopping power choose the FPV Premium brake package, which consists of 355mm x 32mm cross drilled and slotted front rotors with Brembo 6 piston calipers and 330mm x 28mm cross cross drilled rear rotors with Brembo 4 piston calipers. Standard on GT-P and optional on GT.
————————————————-
I know SS’ are known to have brake fade after only 3 laps of a race track, but HSV use a similar brake package to FPV.
marketers follow stats of viewers very closely before they decide where to advertise. holden has found they can do better with their money else where and toyota has found that exposure to the AFL audience should be beneficial to them.
i just shake my head cause every time you bring up the sponsorship issue in one of your rants you stand heavily as if toyota donates to AFL.
ford sponsors cricket, the great game that is every aussies favourite past time yet no special mention there.
IMO all the falcon is lacking for crash ratings now is curtain airbags or those other silly devices.
they already have they hardest part to put together and that is the actual safety related directly to the design of the actual structure.
im not starting stuff but from what ive seen regarding safety results toyota has had no where near the good safety history ford has had over the years.
dont forget toyotas last offerings before aurion dont fare too well.
remember the avalon?
all the E series falcon rate better than that
even the landcruiser you love so much doesnt rate above american yank tank explorer
Watto – i appreciate the effort you have gone to highlight the brake characteristics but unfortunately it all means very little when the braking package on FPV’s and particularly HSV’s are underdone.
It is my understanding that it has little to do with the brakes themselves but more rather the weight they are trying arrest.
Read the latest Wheels article and once again the issue on the Falcon is highlighted but todate the braking capacity of the TRD Aurion has received wide spread comments about thier stopping power and the fact that exhibit strong resistance from the effects of fading
Andrew – all companies have come leaps and bounds in recent years regarding safety because of the growing expectations from consumers but some have moved forward more then others.
Now, Ford in Australia currently exhibits a good standard for safety just like Toyota. Holden … well, they don’t fair aswell.
And i wouldn’t comment to much about the Explorer in America because that is the vehicle that claimed 279 lives with the tyre issue that is still being played out in court.
I’ve never driven an FPV so can’t comment. I will be test an Orion Typhoon prior to buying one.
The standard brakes on my standard Falcon seem very good to me.
High-performance Brembo’s have to be a WHOLE LOT better. I like spirited driving and have tested out my brakes pretty well, but certainly am not a street racer, so I’m sure they’ll do just fine.
Watto – fair call !!
Its ridiculous how blind some really are.. the “tribalists” mentality is bad with some of the people here.
First off… Holden is owned by GM… an American car.
There is no such thing as Aussie car…. maybe adopted as Australian cars. Holden answers to GM… Ford AUS answers to well.. Ford.. in US.
Aurion/Camry, Holden VE, Ford BA… all give employment to Australians… thousands of Australians.
I can tell you out of them 3, Toyota has the most happiest and content employees at the plant. Holden and Ford recently just sacked a lot of Australians due to some re-shifting… although Ford may give some jobs back when they get the Focus here in a couple of years…. but thats not guaranteed… and who will wait 2 years for a job?
Its just ignorance to see people hate on Toyota because its a Japanese company. Its not fair really… the Aurion/Camry is as much Australian as the Fords and Holdens over there… The Camry made there is actually being imported in far more numbers than any of the other locally made cars… if anything Australians should be proud of them. Because Australians made them.
Yes Holden and GM have designers there… but so does Toyota. And for Toyota to continue to produce more satisfying jobs and guaranteed jobs for Australians… some of you people need to get over the ignorant attacks on Toyota, specifically condemning them of exporting cash out of the country… when Ford and Holden does it too.
Now back on topic… well, I agree cop cars should have a budget of 40K… the amount of cameras on the high ways in melbourne does enough damage to speeders… hot pursuit cars are just adding to the danger in chasing speedsters.
Jamison – could not have said it better myself.
Jamison,
just quickly,
if ford has already sacked the I6 assembly line workers then who is going to be making those fabulous motors for the next 2 yrs?
I6 goes in 2010 and focus starts in 2010
ive read many of reports from ford employees and they are very pleased in the way ford is being informative and helpfull. they also say it isnt as the media portrays it
Toyota have been peddling their wares to police forces in most, if not all, states. The responce from most of the assessors has been “no thanks” (not even at that discounted price). At least one police force rated the Aurion as a “light duty” vehicle only – ie. suitable for door knocking and speed camera cars.
Qld however accepted the offer, not just for TRD’s but also std Aurions. And no, I don’t know the logic used in either decision (to accept or reject).
But here’s a thought: TRD Hilux paddy wagon. It might just be a versatile cop-mobile, but price may kill it.
Hey guys,
Ill tell you all this
“A true enthusiest respects the car for what it is, not what badge its got on it” im probably a more knowladgable enthusiest here take it from me,
Truely the words of an enthusiest, well spoken Max
And QPS favourite pursuit car to date……
Drum roll please?
The F6
I’m sure the Aurion is a great car, but I pity the poor sucker who has to sit in the back seat.
Hey again,
I dont understand why some people make such fools of them self on thread posts, oh and dingo ur an absolute idiot, go bak to school.
I support the culling of Dingos
Personally i think that the queensland police and other ones should use RHD conversions of a Saleen S281 or something like that. They should stop wasting money on cars that might not even be able to catch most offenders, instead they should buy cars that can totally dominate anything on the roads. When most of the people who speed on the highway drive powerful cars, why can’t the police? Or if they want they can get a Shelby GT500KR Supersnake (would any olice officer refuse to drive a 541KW Psycopath of a car?).