Vehicle Gallery - Discussion Thread

kub wrote: »

Great pictures EireGun, I am just wondering why AGS feel they need to test a BMW X5, when RSU in Anglesea Street already have one?

Different models and the test one may be police spec, the one used by RSU was confiscated by CAB

kub wrote: »

Great pictures EireGun, I am just wondering why AGS feel they need to test a BMW X5, when RSU in Anglesea Street already have one?

The RSU fleet of 30 Volvo XC70 vehicles, which were purchased in 2008 and 2009, needs to be replaced. I'm not sure what the RSU is down to now, but of those original 30 vehicles bought, a number have been crashed and written off. Most have been replaced in some shape or form. The armor-plated BMW X5 in Cork is a 2005 model, and it must have enormous milage on it now. It was used by Limerick criminals before being confiscated by CAB (along with other armoured BMWs), and then handed over to the Special Detective Unit. It was used by the Emergency Response Unit for a few years, before being marked-up and shipped back down to Cork where it replaced a written off Volvo, and has remained there in service with Cork City RSU for 2 or 3 years now.

The Gardaí have recently purchased 4 USED 2012 Volvo V70 T5 for the RSU units to replace some obsolete XC70's. The used Vovlo V70s are former Thames Valley Police Armed Response Unit vehicles (aru/ARV), which were replaced after 100,000 miles. Thames Valley ARV have now a new fleet of BMW 5 Series, Touring and X5's. It's safe to say in the UK or other EU police forces, the RSU vehicles - a lot of which are over 300,000km now - would have been replaced a few years ago with similar or better modified police vehicles, which would by now probably have been replaced again. Thames Valley ARVs bought in 2012 were replaced by the end of 2014 - that's just 2 years - while Garda RSU vehicles bought in 2008 still haven't been replaced in 2015, 7 years later.

The entire Garda RSU fleet needs to be upgraded. All their vehicles are at least 6 or 7 years old. BMW 5 Series/Touring or similar Volvos would probably be best suited as replacements. The BMW X5 would also be a good option. The RSU drivers are, however, used to driving Volvos. The increasing importance of the RSU role nationwide, who are now armed 24/7, with at least 24 members in each of the 5 regions outside of Dublin (120+ in all) should surely be recognised by Garda management and the Government and keep them well equipped and up-to-date. As far as I know, €30 million was spent on equipment/vehicles for the RSU when it was founded. Even half that figure now would go a long way to replacing the RSU fleet, with purchasing a bulk order of special police BMWs or Volvos. High-powered police spec cars are needed for this role, no ordinary vehicles can carry out this task.

The Traffic Corps are getting a new fleet of vehicles this January. €10 Million is being spent on new Garda vehicles, many of them going to Traffic.

265 liveried cars (marked-up) are being bought, comprising; 160 Hyundai i40 Estates, 85 Hyundai i30 Estates and 20 Opel Insignia Sports Tourer-Traffic.
As well as this; 80 unmarked cars including; 50 Hyundai i40 Saloons and 30 Ford Focus Saloons. Another 25 unmarked vans (Ford Transit, I think) have also been bought. Not all for the Traffic Corps, though.

Its unlikely we will see the Traffic Corps getting marked BMWs, such as the X5 being trialed currently, although there remain a couple of unmarked BMW 3 Series Traffic Corps vehicles. They could do with a few more unmarked BMWs in and around Dublin (and outside) for high-powered motorway pursuits.

The Special Detective Unit and ERU will probably receive new BMW vehicles this year, possibly X5s, but at that - a handful. They will be used for rapid armed response and transport for VIPs/protectees. There are currently a number of BMW models within the Special Branch for various roles, including 3 series, 5 series, 5 series touring and X5s. There are a few 7 series (armoured) for international visiting dignitaries.

The ERU still use unmarked Toyota Land Cruisers dating back to 2006 - that's 9 years. They will have to be replaced soon. Other specialist units received '06 and '07 Land Cruisers at the same time, although these will remain in use with some units, who don't have as much emphasis on high-powered, fast, reliable, well maintained vehicles as the ERU does. The X5 may fit this role. There was up to 9 Land Cruisers in use with the ERU; black, silver and maroon. There isn't as many with them now. Newish X5s, Audi Q7, Isuzu D-Max, Land Rover Discovery 4 and Land Rover Range Rover vehicles are all in use with them as unmarked SUVs. There is a couple of newish 5 Series Tourings being used by the ERU.

Old diesel wrote: »

Well at least BMW is still in the frame for some aspect of the Garda fleet.

The thing im struggling with though - is i30s - are they for traffic too - I realise they've bought the Insignias obviously.

But are the i30s that are coming going for some of traffic corps requirements as well......

But thinking about it a bit more - you've got i30s and i40s for traffic (im assuming by the above "new traffic corps fleet" comments the unmarked i40s are for traffic - i30s are on traffic already).

Is there any practical reason why you couldn't use a Golf 2.0 tdi 150 ps for traffic if your using i30s (same size of car) or does the 150 ps in a Golf take you into some higher level of driver training category.

I know that if VAG don't tender they can't be bought - but other then that???? size is an issue - BUT some of the unmarked in this order are FOCUS saloons (same class of car)

To be honest, I'm not clear in the break-down of which vehicles is going to Traffic. I'd imagine the majority of the 165 marked Hyundai i40 Estates - the more powerful - are going to Traffic, and all the 20 marked Opel Insignia Sports Tourer-Traffic as well. The 85 Hyundai i30 Estates are probably being marked for ordinary duties. As for the unmarked cars, the 50 Hyundai i40 Saloons and 30 Ford Focus Saloons are likely going to Traffic, maybe some for regional/district detectives.

One thing for sure is that the Traffic Corps has never been as ill-equipped as the state its in now, this will help somewhat. New bikes are badly needed, new SUVs are needed. The remaining Toyota Land Cruisers are 9 years old.

EireGun wrote: »

I still see them knocking about? Especially '07 unmarked Mondeos.

Yeah I still see plenty of unmarked but it's been months since I've seen a marked one.