Buying New Zealand's most hated damaged Ex-Police car 

No Waaaay!!!! Thank you so much for commenting, I gave it a well deserved retirement gift 🎁 thanks!

Don't forget that the Police here in Australia will move their cars on after 3-4 years or so, depending on mileage. It's been nearly 3 years since I've seen a Commodore on Cop duty here in Melbourne.

I had an ex SA PD VE series 2 for just over 10 years , i purchased it from auction and it had only done a years service with the police. It was in excellent condition and no holes in the carpet of dashboard etc. The only thing i had to do was remove the extra battery in the boot and add new carpets. A great car and i loved it.

@@davidthomas9 very true, not many get to 150000 km but I'm more just talking about the brutality of the fitouts and the cutting of things in a way that doesn't happen here. They seem to be much more concerned with resale in Australia. I was involved in servicing NSW police cars up to VE and once they were stripped there would just be a few screw holes in some cheap trim and a bit of extra wear on the seat bolsters from big belts and things and aside from that the average person wouldn't really know their history. This was just hacked up tho, be a bit of work to remove all evidence! ;)

I seen heaps at auction. No more. When you jump in to have a look the aftershave and anti perspirant fumes is ghastly.

Yer....our government clames it spends about $120000 on a new cop car....nz government won't even release the costs 😄probly got thire cuz to fit it out in the back shed for some p...and pocketed the rest.

I had one as well 5 speed manual,it was tidy as well,i thought was quick at the time.lol

Nz made too

I remember those, as you say, I think that the mot guys looked after their cars pretty well, and those v3000’s flew!

@@nonrasputin9260 when the police/ mot merged in 92 the V3000s were in service past there used by date because they were reliable and popular with officers and yes they were fast many speeders in V8s were surprised at how quick the V3 was

@@brittenv1000 it was a unique car for the nz market about 500 served with the MOT and service records were sent to Japan to help Mitsubishi improve the V6 engine

Man, what a score! I wonder why they moved it on after 20k km? Man, that's lucky!

@@nonrasputin9260 probably had a requirement to get more unfit for purpose EV's.

@@nonrasputin9260 At the time they were changing over to BMW. Could be part of the reason...

Fair chance it was a driver training car and got the life flogged out of it.

and he said NO

@@kelvincollyer5738 Lets just say the cops didn't get it all back 😉

hahahahahaha

id tell them they them there is no further lines of inquiry on that case

Thanks mate, I appreciate it! Just start small and before you know it, you’ll be rearing engines out! Thanks!

Hey thanks mate, appreciate it, definitely more to come!

Well said! Potential buyers should do as much research as possible before buying an ex cop car, especially as it may well be on the auction block due to damage/unexplained issues. Not sure if I’d take the chance on a euro ex-cop car eh…

@@nonrasputin9260 The 5s wore their mileage worse than the Holdens. There were X5s, Passats and Tiguans as well as a swag of Kias. Not cars I would take a chance on.

Especially with the cost for parts on euro cars. And they aren't simple cars to work on, generally.@@nonrasputin9260

The BMW and VW are faring visibly better than the Ford and Holdens by a far margin. I see these cars every day .Have a look at the drivers seats for example. Good quality cars. The Chryslers wear rate is not as good though and very similar to the Holdens.The Kia GD cars are shocking and awful cars. @@turn6garage640

For sure, jack it up and you should see “LSD” on the printed barcode label affixed to the bottom of the diff. Cheers mate!

Hey awesome, thank you!

Thanks man! Good luck with your evoke, you won’t regret it! If you have any issues getting speakers, steering wheel volume control etc, check out my other video on the ex cop car and flick me a message if you need tips on getting it working. Cheers!

Much appreciated mate!

Far out, that’s awesome, glad you’ve actually driven it like it should be, rather than just parking it up, good on you!

Wow, I would not have expected a diff on one of those to fail in such a short period of time, lucky it was still under warranty eh! Cheers mate

Thanks mate, appreciated! I started with the service records, that show where in the country it was being serviced, which you should be able to request from customfleet, then I started searching for pictures using the plate number and found a whole lot of interesting stuff eh

Hey thanks mate, just do your sums before you buy to account for “worse case” scenario and you’ll be sweet

Oh cool, you worked for customs fleet? Hahaha you are probably right, these cars definitely were not driven sedately, but the way I see it, what wasent broken and replaced, became battle hardened! One would hope that it was all in the line of duty eh. Thanks for reaching out

It's a Holden, they break😂

@@louisbarningham Very rarely outside of police cars do we see VFs have major failures even when thrashed. Never seen anyone as hard on kit as the police hahaha

Wow, that is cool! I know in the VE’s, one of the cores is cut in behind the curtesy light to deactivate blackout mode, was there no blackout mode on the VF? This one came up from Porirua/Wellington. Thanks for the comment man!

@@nonrasputin9260 yep the VE had the blackout up in the interior light, i can't actually remember where the VF had the blackout button, I want to say it was part of the light master switch in the center console. The cars always get the radios/super important stuff removed before they come to us, then off to get livery removed after decom then to auction. Bound to be a VF at work, will check in the morning and let you know. Cheers

Exactly, they feel super stable and “present” on the road eh

Extra weight reduction for high speed chases

True! In saying that, perhaps the fire trucks are owned by the fire service, whereas the police cars are leased from customfleet?

Somehow the managers never allow their utes or fancy vehicles to be 5 years old.. yet they tolerate trucks literally snapping axles to warrant retirement.

Hello mate, all NZ Police Evokes were fitted with limited slip differentials and FE2 suspension, which is non-standard. The differentials are marked as LSD and have a ratio of 3.27 and you are correct, is the smaller 195mm. Unsure why they never got the lfx engines, but I’m assuming they stuck with the lfw’s for the cost and minor fuel efficiency

My Ex Police Series 2 VE Omega also has the LSD, only found that out recently when the dude at VTNZ told me.

@@nonrasputin9260 I'm curious too why they got the 3.0. Fuel economy was the same as the 3.6 (except on paper) as you have to push the 3.0 to get it up too highway speeds. My brother had a wagon and floored it everywhere. Even upgraded the exhaust and cold air induction. It was OK but far from the power of the 3.6.

All Evoke police packs had FE2 suspension, not an LSD. NZ police vehicles were a standard police pack in Aus. Every else you mentioned came with the police pack. SV6,SS & SSV with 3.6lt (210kw) engines had FE2 suspension. Calais had FE1.5. The right hand thumb wheel on the steering wheel was used to detect a motorist speed. Once pressed it would show the actual speed, and show the driver "speed detected" in the instrument cluster. You can check the build plate to confirm if it is a police pack. Ex Holden vehicle supplier. Hope it helps.

@@alanrichards6963 Current Holden technician here XD. The VIN of this vehicle has the RPO code G80 applied to it which means it has an LSD. And yes it is designated as a police car from factory based off of the RPO codes.

Wow, that is a collection, must make servicing etc tricky with so many variants! the SRT Hemi would be the one to get if you could, once the cops are finished thrashing it! Thanks mate

Vic/NSW uses BMWs and unmarked Subaru WRXs among others.

seems the NZ popo have pretty much completely switched to Skoda Octavias ( I think that's the model - wagons. Under GM) - for patrol cars, anyway. I think they still use commodores for unmarked cars.@@teeanahera8949

Absolutely! Hence the sv6’s used for highway patrol are more sought after when they on sell them, they haven’t had the same abuse! Cheers mate

Ah ok, thanks for that bit of info, much appreciated!

Id say stick with 91 as that’s all it’s been run on it’s entire life. Those codes relate to the fuel mixture running too lean, possibly due to the different fuel, but I would not have thought so eh

Yes, they were still in there I believe, you could kind of only just see them on an angle, but, all the light controllers etc were removed so I couldn’t power them

A friend of mine ended up with an ex police car from turners auctions in christchurch around the early 2000's. Still had some of the emergency lighting inside the taillights. Being a Nissan s14 Silvia, it was probably the rarest and least known about NZ unmarked patrol car. Up until a few years ago car jam would suggest it was still being used and road legal. Interestingly enough, completely by accident I came across an archive video on RU-vid of the very same car attending a vehicle crash: Circa 1996/98ish possibly?? Although wearing different number plates than in later years.

Yes that would indeed be a rear car most of the nissans were bluebirds with the old MOT.@@mikesievers1482

​@@GAZZA55Yep, it certainly was a conversation piece. And interesting not many are aware they were used. I know there was a least two in the Canterbury fleet. Although I don't know how many were used throughout NZ, if any others ? I'll dig out the video when I get a minute and post a link.

Yes that will be good to see@@mikesievers1482

That’s no good man, may need to change out all your wheel sensors

Thanks for the sub!

Not sure, the service record notes the centre muffler was replaced not that long ago, so I think they were chasing the fault to. I rekon this one was particularly clogged as it sat idling for months on the covid border between Auckland/Northland

Serviced at the mechanics behind city mission store, which is on Taranaki. Saw them fitting out the new low profile lights when I stayed at the lodge.

Compression etc all checked out ok, so I was pretty happy once we traced the fault and changed the exhaust, how night and day the performance was eh

Did you find the exact cause of the exhaust blockage? That would be interesting to know.

Hey that’s awesome mate! You kind of feel like a automotive archeologist when you find that stuff

Thanks mate! Unfortunately other than the rear muffler, nothing was able to be unbolted, so it would have meant multiple cuts to find the blockage. From the service history I saw that the centre muffler was replaced not long before I purchased it, so perhaps the police repairers were also chasing the same issue and possible the remnants of the old centre muffler were causing the clog. Luckily a replacement set is fairly common to find, if it wasent that, I would not know where to look next 😂

Thank you so much!

Thank you!! Back pressure was measured at the o2 port

Hey mate, the guard inners are different between the evoke and the sv6, so youll need those. If you buy a bumper, best to get a complete one if possible, it works out cheaper in the end. The sv6 bumper harness will plug into the evoke wiring and the sensors will work, but as you say, the DRL's won't. Its real easy to get the DRL's working, just score a DRL controller module online, then all you need to tap into, is ACC power, L and R side DRL and one of the headlight power lines. You can do the side skirts too, but then youre best to do the rear bumper also (are you in Nz? pretty sure I have a mildly damaged complete sv6 rear bumper if you are keen). The side skirts are identical to the VE sv6 ones, so score those from pickapart or similar for cheap. Its a cool project, reach out if you have more questions bro!

Ugh, what a waste!

Looking back, you could be spot on mate

@@nonrasputin9260Between that and Kouhoura park on another vid I just watched, I'm betting you're a Pakitoetoeite. I was too, 30+ years ago.

Thanks mate, I have half a suspicion that if I cut the old exhaust up I’d find a potato!

Interesting, did you try googling the plate and going through images? That’s how I managed to get some pics of this one eh

Score! Better than finding someone’s undies eh 😂

That sounds about right eh, if you buy private, can you really trust the service history? I tend to sway more towards cop cars now for that very reason mate

Cheers mate! Yes, the standard patrol cars are/were the 3ltr Evokes, and the highway patrol car are/were the 3.6ltr Sv6's. I'd own an ex-cop car any day, what they break they fix, what hasn't been broken is battle hardened! lol

@@nonrasputin9260 yep, the beauty of government used cars. No expense spared. You technically paid for this with your taxes.. 😏

I just brought mine it’s. 14 vf evoke sport wagon

@@kevinhalliday3683nice one mate, of all the wagons, I rekon these look the best!

VF Evoke was a 3 litre in Australia too, and so was VE2 Omega. The VE1 Omega had the 3.6 with port injection.

No problem 👍

Wow, those must be pretty rare mate, good stuff! And they are only getting rarer!

@@nonrasputin9260 just the usual couple coins😂no rare dates on coins.

Yes, definitely has the reading lights up top 👍

For sure man, he’s my chief mechanic! Not to bad at auction, this was in a damaged car auction, so, even better of a deal at around 2/3 the price of an undamaged Commodore VF. It’s worth it if you are able to do the work eh

Hey mate, the more you can do yourself, the better. Test drive if you can, as sometimes the transmissions can change gear harshly due to wear and tear, good luck

For what its worth, I quite love my ex cop car VF.

​@@nonrasputin9260 Luckily im a Mechanic by trade and my background is predominantly GM so fixing any issues on one is no biggie.

I got lucky with my 2016 evoke ex police . New trans fitted jan 2020 - car bought by me not long after. I am happy as with the car👍

@@Moolaanz awesome stuff mate!

Thanks 👍

Ah sweet! The checkpoints were there for awhile eh. The border with Waikato was harder to police as there was so much farmland. There were known underground tunnels used to smuggle kfc into Auckland…

😂 certainly at least a deep clean….

Glad you enjoyed it mate!

Hey thanks mate, I appreciate the feedback, cheers!

Soak in vinegar for a day or so and then rinse really well. The carbon just kind of disolves eh

Thanks mate, much appreciated!

As far as I’m aware the Police mode options are not reversed when they offload them. I have driven a VF rental car before and the ex-police VF does feel more gutsy

I’ve had mixed info on that eh, some people say there is a police mode others say a police chip, and other rekon it’s standard. It certainly feels like it goes better than a standard Vf

Same models in Nz and Aus, the Commodore Evoke was the base model Commodore, then it was Commodore sv6, SS etc

I totally believe you! That’s awesome, it’s like the most car you can get for good money eh

I think it was turners mate

About 2/3rds the cost of a non damaged one, so, the more you can do yourself, the cheaper it makes it, cheers mate

@nonrasputin9260 thanks mate! Been at turners a few times looking but sometimes they are well over priced for the damage I swear to god

@@masterwindleborn sweet man, test drive if you can and just price up the repairs worst case scenario. Cop cars are great because they’ve been serviced on time and typically battle hardened

That was an emotional roller coaster man! It can take a bit to get it back to original, some needing more work than others. Cheers mate

😂 😂 😂

😂 for sure man!

😂 “well thank you pal, the day I get out of prison, my own brother pics me up in a police car!”

9 times out of 10 it’s not though eh 😂

Hey mate, no, the Police were using the VE/VF at the time the FGX's were released. The last time a Falcon was used as a cop car would have been around the EA/EB era

Hahahaha I hear you mate! Definitely a story worth telling I rekon though

I’ll take that as a compliment mate, thank you! I’m based in Auckland, unfortunately no workshop, just my driveway for fun stuff. There are a few decent ones around that I’d trust for the tricky stuff

Welcome aboard! Thank you for the feedback

Seems pretty premature eh, but it’s usually a mixture of kms and age, mixed with the desire to move over to the new adopted Skoda platform (ugh)..Plus, it had a fault that was tricky to diagnose, so they cut their losses I guess

@@nonrasputin9260 but as you said it’s leased these days 3 years they throw u a new one 😂

10 7 in the UK is at least 10 years old 😄

It cost around 2/3 the price of an undamaged ex police commodore and mainly time to fix it up, really. The exhaust was 2nd hand

@nonrasputin9260 good stuff it's worth 10k now. Good job boss

Sorry man, possibly using different mics eh

It’s just a pressure gauge that most mechanics have. You could probably use a compression tester at a push maybe?

Oh man, we never got the v8’s for cop use over here, but I totally get why you bought it, what could possibly go wrong, right? Thanks for the feedback and telling your story, I can image you totally regret selling it eh… Cheers mate!

Head gasket failed because cops drive it hard without letting the engine warm up first

@@tomtom1541 no doubt. But very unusual for me to see an LS with a head gasket issue, well for me at least

😂 😂

Looking at the service records, the center muffler had been replaced recently, so I’m thinking maybe the baffling material etc from the failed one may have caused a blockage downstream? As soon as I changed out the exhaust system, it was night and day change eh

Hahaha world famous in Papatoetoe

Good spotting mate!

It was a bit grimy underneath where the “customers” sat, but generally in decent condition eh

I think you could be right mate 👍

I agree! Thankfully it’s a pretty decent 3.0, but I’d say budget had something to do with it, unfortunately. Would have been great to get the v8’s over here!

@@nonrasputin9260 *The 3.O V6 has fcuk all torque. Gutless as Fcuk. Couldn't pull the skin off a rice custard.*

Public auction mate

@@nonrasputin9260 shot bro

I’ve heard that too, but difficult to prove eh

Soak in vinegar for a day or so, then rinse really well. You need lots of vinegar eh

Welcome! glad you like the badges! Yes, I do happen to use the forerunner 235, can't beat it for simplicity. Cheers mate!

@@nonrasputin9260 In begin I watching Australian trucks,then Cutting Edge Enginiring,and RU-vid give me Youre video.Nice man!See ya!

Hell yeah brother!

No way! That’s gutting man

​@@nonrasputin9260 yeah mate. It was gutting because I wanted a VE so bad, and kept pouring money into it just for the next four figure repair. Subscribed too mate, and dropped a like 👍

@@scottcarter2362 I know what it’s like eh, sometimes it is just the right thing to cut losses and get another one… thanks heaps mate!

Hahaha is that due to the bodily fluids that get leaked out?

Obigado! Eu ta feliz vc gostei, diverte-se!

Yeah man, a cop spec evoke with a 3.6 would have been a nice semi-sleeper eh

About 2/3 the price of a non-cop car, pretty reasonable, but, there was risk involved as it was in a damaged car auction

Hard to say eh, either that or everyone else went underboard… it was crazy times

@@nonrasputin9260 NZ, Australia and Canada were world famous for their draconian lockdowns. The occupation was justified

Only going off the info provided bro, cheers mate!

Hahahaha thanks mate, much appreciated! You never know, you may see this car at Motat one day…

That’s true, Skoda, now that Holden have closed shop

I know man, if only the cops had the v8’s eh

@nonrasputin9260 yeah, big fan of the Holden 308, would be sick if there were second hand torana cop cars, my dads got a kingswood with a 202 in it that used to be a cop car back I'm the 70s

It was a crackup, the deeper I looked, the more strange information I dug up, cheers mate!

😂 😂 😂

Hahahah no man, but he must be an awesome sounding guy