If Hondas and Toyotas are such great cars?

Question

Why do you never see a cop driving one? Wouldnt you want more reliable cars spent on with your tax dollars?

Answer 1

1. The American automakers give really good deals on cars with the necessary modifcations to make a good police/fire vehicle to municipalities, so they generally cost less up front.

2. Many states/cities/etc have laws that restrict who can bid on these contracts.

3. Many municipalities would rather purchase domestic made vehicles, and that can come down to popular perception - I once had a Honda that had a higher % of US made/Assembled parts than my boss's Ford (which was built in Canada) and yet I was constantly harrased by him for not buying American.

4. Until recently, the American cars used as Patrol vehicles have been bigger than the largest Honda or Toyota's available in the US.

In many of the mountain communities in Colorado, the police departments do drive "foreign" vehicles - Vail, CO has had Saabs for patrol cars for years.

Answer 2

One reason is that Honda and Toyota do not build land yachts and gas guzzling V-8's (well, Toyota builds V-8's but for towing purposes only. You see them in their trucks, not in a passenger vehicle).

As someone pointed out, the police cruisers used need to be roomy enough for the cage and a few criminals. The Japanese manufacturers are building larger cars but still nothing comparable to the boats such as Crown Vics and other such cars.

Also, both Honda and Toyota focus more on fuel efficient engines that work wonderfully in a family sedan but not as well in a police cruiser that will often be engaged in high speed pursuits where speed is more important. That is left to the bigger cars that utilize the police interceptor engines.

Answer 3

First reason: Room, Neither Toyota or Honda produce a full-size sedan.
Second reason: Neither automaker seems to have the interest in entering the police fleet market. They don't produce a suitible car and rarely, if ever bid upon the state contracts to provide the cars. Nor will they come in-line with the price Ford offers up for the Crown vic patrol cars.
Third reason: Neither Honda nor Toyota are interested in the fleet market in general. If they do not bid on the fleets, the fleet can not buy the vehicles.

Answer 4

I saw a Honda Accord police car at a service station on the A303 in Wiltshire, England yesterday.

It was there when we went past at 11.30am, and still there when we were returning home at 5pm.

I'm pretty sure I've seen Toyota Avensis police cars too.
But then the UK police drive a vast variety of cars: Ford Focus estates, Mondeos and Galaxys, Vauxhall Astras, Zafiras and Vectras, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and E-Class estates, BMW 3-series and 5-series tourings, Volvo V70s, etc.

Answer 5

Maybe they drive American cars because we are in America??? Also Hondas and Toyotas are not built for speed that high speed chases would require, and the parts are more expensive if an accident. I know cops who drive Hondas and Toyotas. It's just not their patrol vehicle.

Answer 6

It is a lot of lobbying and politics that result in cops driving other brands... also, cars purchased by the police are specially built. Check what card the driving schools use... being not regulated by the government, they drive the most reliable and durable cars.

Answer 7

You are correct but metropolitan governments are still tied to the tired ideal of "buy American". It's a tired premise because most Hondas and Toyotas you buy in America are built in America. Some so called "American cars" are built in Mexico.
In this day and age you should buy the best product available. Ford, GM and Chrysler will have to build a better product if they want us to buy it and stop relying on false Patriotism.
Municipalities, however, feel the need to be politically correct.

Answer 8

COP cars have to pass strict performance tests. One is, they have to reach the speed of 130MPH.

Toyotas and Hondas are built for reliability and economy. NOT high speed pursuits.

Answer 9

Yes, they are very reliable.and fuel efficient. No, you won't see a cop driving one, American cars have always been bigger and faster per size. Also most governments support the 3 big auto makers in the US.

Answer 10

No....most of all I would want the tax dollars to be spent to support our own car makers rather than foreign ones!