New garda Volvo XC 70

Evil_Clown

Here is the new garda Volvo for the response units.



This a little piece taken from todays indo:
"The members will operate in purpose-built, Volvo XC 70 police specials, which are based on an estate car but have a reinforced chassis and modifications to the brakes, engine and suspension -- with the off-road capability of a jeep.

Affixable indentifying strips, flashing lights and an identifying matrix will mark out the turbo diesel cars, which will carry patrols of two or three officers and firearms ranging from MP7 sub machine guns and Sig handguns to less than lethal weapons.

The gardai are the first police force in the world to use this vehicle. Four XC 70s will be in use initially but an order has been placed for a total of 30. "

Seems the Gardai are getting some serious equipment

craichoe

Yeh, as long as they don't write them off

Cookie_Monster

30?! how much armed response do we need

nogoodnamesleft

Majority of gardai havent recieved the proper training to drive patrol cars at speed. Probably a lack of resources is the root cause of this.

At least however they are getting some badly needed equipment thou which is a good thing.

S.I.R

whats the retail on one of these before making the cars Gardi-Friendly ??

about 30-40ish then the mods brings each upto around the 100k mark... so basically 3 million for 30 cars... we could buy poland or romias army for the day with that kinda money.... enough people to take out all known criminals... job done.

peasant

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

30?! how much armed response do we need

One per county and a few extra for Dublin ?

S.I.R

peasant wrote: »

One per county and a few extra for Dublin ?

25 for limerick, 2 for south , 3 for dublin/louth

cabrwab

At least they are starting to look like a police force!

Now give them all the proper training to drive these! I suppose the armed response unit will all have the required training done to drive these in extreme circumstances.

pburns

They should evaluate the Legacy Outback as well. It'll do the same for less money.

Good enough choice though. Better handling than a SUV, versatile enough for rough terrain and decent performance. I don't mind the cops spending some dosh if they put it to good use.

joolsveer

cabrwab wrote: »

At least they are starting to look like a police force!

Now give them all the proper training to drive these! I suppose the armed response unit will all have the required training done to drive these in extreme circumstances.

I agree that they should be trained in advanced driving techniques to cut down on the number of accidents they are involved in. I hope they will receive adequate firearms training to reduce the number of friendly fire incidents too!

cabrwab

Ah in fairness i think they are given good firearms training. Its not just any ol'chief wiggam that can produce a gun for the laugh!

Well accidents happen i suppose too! But the amount of gaurds driving normal squad cars untrained in crazy.
Money well spent i suppose, rather see it going into that then into cowen and co's pockets for themselves

S.I.R

imho they should have the traffic corps trained to do everything... Drive Fwd, rwd even 4wd, in all situations but it costs so much and guess who foots the bill for it ??

if they did , tax goes up and they get slated...

catch 22 asuch.

Eoin

S.I.R wrote: »

whats the retail on one of these before making the cars Gardi-Friendly ??

about 30-40ish then the mods brings each upto around the 100k mark... so basically 3 million for 30 cars... we could buy poland or romias army for the day with that kinda money.... enough people to take out all known criminals... job done.

Do you think that the Gardai will pay sticker price for an order of 30 cars, not to mention VAT?

Run_to_da_hills

No doubt these high preformance cars will be equipped with sofisticated ANPR cams and will be used to apprehend Westlink toll dogers.

biko

S.I.R

eoin_s wrote: »

Do you think that the Gardai will pay sticker price for an order of 30 cars, not to mention VAT?

they will or ill let eddy hobbs and george hook off their leashs

RedorDead

S.I.R wrote: »

whats the retail on one of these before making the cars Gardi-Friendly ??

about 30-40ish then the mods brings each upto around the 100k mark... so basically 3 million for 30 cars... we could buy poland or romias army for the day with that kinda money.... enough people to take out all known criminals... job done.

Hardly 60-70K mods per car?? Surely the wiring changes and paint job wont cost that much?

Retail for these starts at 60K, so stripped of tax you are probably looking at 35K each at least.

-Chris-

And 30 XC70s - I'd say that's Volvo Ireland's target done for the next few years!

superjosh9

it's just about my dream-car! Maybe I should blow all my money! I'd like higher-profile tyres though

lucky Garda, maybe it would be cheaper if I just sign up instead...

England has been using Volvo T5s etc for years, so suppose about time things got more serious here. I feel embarrassed everytime I see a Yaris flashing its blue lights. Where's the subconscious fear in that?? A XC70 in the mirrors would be a little bit more intimidating.

hottstuff

They look the part anyway.

superjosh9

hottstuff wrote: »

They look the part anyway.

yep, if only they had a rwd bias, instead of the 90% fwd no matter what you do. There'll be no four wheel drifting in these. :mad:

S.I.R

RedorDead wrote: »

Hardly 60-70K mods per car?? Surely the wiring changes and paint job wont cost that much?

Retail for these starts at 60K, so stripped of tax you are probably looking at 35K each at least.

35K plus transport, plus factory overhauling:

beefed up engine via new ecu , better brakes and suspention, around the 5-6 k

Good tyres, around 1000 for the semi slick near racing profile... at the least.

out fitting with lights, new age anti-hack radio & gps not to mention there cages to sepperate the gardi from the criminal, around 4-5k again.

then theres the labor which in most Upmarket factorys that cater to this, around the 75-80 per hour with taxs included.

also theres the importing which works out at about 500 per veichale... oh and thats before you even get into it.

thats around 50k each, bargin basement style

oh and all the spare stuff for the booth like guns armor and first aid kits... they would be brought from home i'd say...

not cheap at all though regardless of the country.

Makes sense they would choose these.

Wasn't one of their primary aims after a recent incident to get a vehicle that offered the best passenger protection?

cashmni1

ronoc wrote: »

Makes sense they would choose these.

Wasn't one of their primary aims after a recent incident to get a vehicle that offered the best passenger protection?

Right enough, there was an incident in dublin (garda car T-Boned) not so long ago, and the whole thing was a mess.
Anyway, the volvo is agile enough to keep up with a speeding car and ruggad enough to cut across fields. If the criminal has a 4x4, they probally won't be able to out run a C70 and unless they go actually offroading, the C70 should also keep up.
Good choice alright, but I would also have gone for the Subaru option. Better value and quicker.

JimmyCrackCorn!

cashmni1 wrote: »

Right enough, there was an incident in dublin (garda car T-Boned) not so long ago,

T-boned at 60mph+. I dont care what car you have it wont protect you from a 60mph side impact.



Iv always had an issue with the way the traffic corps drives normally. Iv seen some appalling driving done by marked and unmarked squad cars in no particular hurry with no Siren or lights on.


Best of luck to them i hope there put to good use and the training goes in. I'm just hoping police reform actually happens and we get the professional police force we need.

ssmith6287

pburns wrote: »

They should evaluate the Legacy Outback as well. It'll do the same for less money.

Good enough choice though. Better handling than a SUV, versatile enough for rough terrain and decent performance. I don't mind the cops spending some dosh if they put it to good use.

Theres an unmarked legacy going around drogheda, saw it giving chace one day, serious grunt out of it, must be a beast of a motor, dont know the specs on it

E92

S.I.R wrote: »

then theres the labor which in most Upmarket factorys that cater to this, around the 75-80 per hour with taxs included

Huh?

The Guards certainly don't pay VRT, and I'm almost certain they don't pay VAT either.

Re-mapping an engine wouldn't "cost" money as such, we all know that what the manufacturers do is they just put in a different chip to raise the power of an engine and then charge about €2-3k more for an otherwise identical engine.

R.O.R

S.I.R wrote: »

then theres the labor which in most Upmarket factorys that cater to this, around the 75-80 per hour with taxs included.

And if you are talking about the company which does the fit out to the Garda cars, I personally wouldn't describe it as Upmarket (although the quality of work is excellent).

ssmith6287 wrote:

Theres an unmarked legacy going around drogheda, saw it giving chace one day, serious grunt out of it, must be a beast of a motor, dont know the specs on it

Sure that's not one of the Forrester's? There are about 30 throughout the country. Blue, Red and Silver - all early 06D reg's. Last of the 2.0T 180bhp models before they upped the engine to the 2.5T.

I was down at the "Upmarket factory" when those were being fitted out in Feb 06.

joe316

The guy on RTE (Paul Williams??) said that Volvo themselves did the prep work for these as it works out cheaper than buying off the shelf xc70s. Makes sense could be a good money spinner for Volvo (not in the robbing us kinda why) but if these things become the defacto high power cop car across Europe like in the states with the Interceptor.

delly

Cartell actually has a unique description for it.

Registration 08D64342
Make VOLVO
Model XC70
Description DS XC SPEC GEARTRONIC 70 SV D5 AWD GARDA
Fuel Type DIESEL

ssmith6287

R.O.R wrote: »

And if you are talking about the company which does the fit out to the Garda cars, I personally wouldn't describe it as Upmarket (although the quality of work is excellent).



Sure that's not one of the Forrester's? There are about 30 throughout the country. Blue, Red and Silver - all early 06D reg's. Last of the 2.0T 180bhp models before they upped the engine to the 2.5T.

I was down at the "Upmarket factory" when those were being fitted out in Feb 06.

yep my bad, wine forrester

AJ1

Evil_Clown wrote: »

Affixable indentifying strips, flashing lights and an identifying matrix will mark out the turbo diesel cars, which will carry patrols of two or three officers and firearms ranging from MP7 sub machine guns and Sig handguns to less than lethal weapons.

I take it they meant the Heckler & Koch MP5 :rolleyes:

I remember being stopped at a checkpoint coming home past the border a few years ago and an armed garda was pointing his UZI 9mm at my car. I said to him "aren't you supposed to be holding that weapon in the 'non threatening position' ?"

"What the FCUK would you know about it" was his polite response.

I told him I was a professional soldier for 3 years so I would know. He went scarlet red and said "oh, er, ok move along now":D

WHITE_P

Good to see them getting some decent hardware, and hopefully they will get the training to go with it.

Can't help but find it amusing, how many people on boards think 4x4's don't handle and can't be driven quickly.

I know they will never handle like a sports car but in the end it all comes down to the compentancy of the drivers.

I gave a genuine 02 BMW M5 a real run for its money across a section of the N52 a few years back while driving a Nissan Terrano, I'd say the driver of the M5 was not impressed as he couldn't lose me no matter how hard he tried, and I'm no race driver either.

ArseBurger

S.I.R wrote: »

brings each upto around the 100k mark... so basically 3 million for 30 cars... we could buy poland or romias army for the day with that kinda money....

What planet are you on? For a start, Poland and Romania are countries and deserve capitalisation. Secondly, both have strong economies (Romania has negative inflation) and have large military infrastructures - far outweighing Ireland's feeble effort.

I find this remark racist and endemic of our nations culture.

These days I'm embarrassed to be Irish more and more. Where do I hand my passport back?

Owen

According to Jalopnik, Volvo are actually offering police forces in Europe a turnkey police car product :

http://jalopnik.com/5044935/volvo-claims-v70-police-package-first-turn+key-police-car

superjosh9

arse- why would you take offence from a throw-away comment like that and try to make a big deal out of it. get off your horse. it was clearly only banter.

btw, are you a student?

Owen

WHITE_P wrote: »

I gave a genuine 02 BMW M5 a real run for its money across a section of the N52 a few years back while driving a Nissan Terrano, I'd say the driver of the M5 was not impressed as he couldn't lose me no matter how hard he tried, and I'm no race driver either.

I call bullsh*t on this one. A genuine 394 Bhp e39 M5 would have no issue dusting a Nissan Terrano. I would imagine, he was happy to let you be the human shield for the Gard's radar/laser detector, and be the car behind.

Especially as I've driven a Terrano II, and have driven both the e39, and e60 M5's. There's a whole world of difference.

superjosh9

ned78 wrote: »

According to Jalopnik, Volvo are actually offering police forces in Europe a turnkey police car product :

http://jalopnik.com/5044935/volvo-claims-v70-police-package-first-turn+key-police-car

Saw that alright, been reading for a few months now how uk are using V70s etc. was it the 2.5t flexifuel I think. Nice engine.

btw all - I once saw a saab 9-3 sedan in garda blues driving around, anyone else ever noticed it about?! It was in temple bar..!

Samson

AJ1 wrote: »

I take it they meant the Heckler & Koch MP5 :rolleyes:

No, the Regional Support Units will be equipped with the MP7: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP7
All of the force's Uzi SMG's are due to be replaced with the MP7 eventually.

AJ1

Samson wrote: »

No, the Regional Support Units will be equipped with the MP7: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP7
All of the force's Uzi SMG's are due to be replaced with the MP7 eventually.

I stand corrected;)

Holsten

Car looks great, especially with the skinny lightbar.

miju

E92 wrote: »

The Guards certainly don't pay VRT, and I'm almost certain they don't pay VAT either.

mmmmmmmmmmm

S.I.R wrote: »

thats around 50k each, bargin basement style

oh and all the spare stuff for the booth like guns armor and first aid kits... they would be brought from home i'd say...

not cheap at all though regardless of the country.

seriously, you are either on a completely other planet and have no idea who these things work are your just plain crazy

superjosh9 wrote: »

btw all - I once saw a saab 9-3 sedan in garda blues driving around, anyone else ever noticed it about?! It was in temple bar..!

that marked one is a few years old IIRC

master-d

I gave a genuine 02 BMW M5 a real run for its money across a section of the N52 a few years back while driving a Nissan Terrano, I'd say the driver of the M5 was not impressed as he couldn't lose me no matter how hard he tried, and I'm no race driver either.

Are you sure it wasnt just a 520 with an m5 badge stuck on? Even still I find it hard to believe........Are you sure he was trying to race you??

WHITE_P

ned78 wrote: »

I call bullsh*t on this one. A genuine 394 Bhp e39 M5 would have no issue dusting a Nissan Terrano. I would imagine, he was happy to let you be the human shield for the Gard's radar/laser detector, and be the car behind.

Especially as I've driven a Terrano II, and have driven both the e39, and e60 M5's. There's a whole world of difference.

If you read the post, he was the one in front, and as I was just trying to point out, it's not always down to the car, but the compentancy of the driver.

There is no doubt that the M5, any 5 series for that matter should be able to out drive a Terrano, but that all depends on who's driving what.

You call it anyway you like, you have experience of both vehicles so you know the BMW should have left me for dead, but it didn't.

WHITE_P

master-d wrote: »

Are you sure it wasnt just a 520 with an m5 badge stuck on? Even still I find it hard to believe........Are you sure he was trying to race you??

I know cars well enough to know the difference, its all about attention to detail. As for the race, he was probably just out for a blast, but the way his back seat passengers kept looking back to see if I was still there, he obviously wasn't happy about it.

If the shoe was on the other foot and I had been driving the M5, I know I would have been very p!ssed off to see a Terrano keeping pace with me, particularly as I would have known that the cars capabilities were far greater than the jeeps.

As I've already said, more to do with who's driving what than the actual handling / capabilities of the vehicle.

Anyway if the garda drivers are porperly trained, I'd say only the really foolish, or totally reckless will try and outrun them these days, as they have some really serious vehicles now.

Owen

WHITE_P wrote: »

If you read the post, he was the one in front, and as I was just trying to point out, it's not always down to the car, but the compentancy of the driver.

You said in your post that the M5 driver couldn't loose you, which implies you were behind. But, if you were in front of the 'M5', there's little or no way to tell it's an M5 without noticing the exhausts, or rear view mirror, or wheel arches.

It was most likely a 5 series, with the M pack - which looks almost identical to the M5 from the front.

WHITE_P

ned78 wrote: »

You said in your post that the M5 driver couldn't loose you, which implies you were behind.

10 out of 10, I was behind him.

Owen

Jesus. I'd best sell my car and buy a Terrano - it's the way of the future!

maidhc

WHITE_P wrote: »

As I've already said, more to do with who's driving what than the actual handling / capabilities of the vehicle.

Or how far the guy in the m5 was pressing down the loud pedal! Seems like a waste to have an m5 and obey the speed limit, but maybe that is what he was doing!

Eoin

So, that volvo is pretty cool.

WHITE_P

ned78 wrote: »

Jesus. I'd best sell my car and buy a Terrano - it's the way of the future!

Well I wouldn't go that far.