Vehicle Gallery - Discussion Thread

POGAN

Old diesel wrote: »

Do you think i40s would be powerful enough????

Honestly would prefer if they were separate tenders wont happen at the moment so i40 would be good as it get current tender

Old diesel

POGAN wrote: »

Honestly would prefer if they were separate tenders wont happen at the moment so i40 would be good as it get current tender

That's part of the problem - tender goes out for cars (or vans) - manufacturer wins tender - and everything that's needed comes from the fleet supplied under the tender.

Instead the tender should work like this - cars needed for particular roles

So separate tenders

Tender 1 - Community policing

Tender 2 Regular

Tender 3 Public order vans

Tender 4 Traffic Corps

Tender 5 Armed response

Tender 6 4 x 4s

Tender 7 anything not covered under the above

Idea been - you work out what vehicles are needed for a role - and tender for those specifically - rather then have 1.6 tdis for traffic

kub

As a national police service, wouldn't the Gardai's time and resources be better spent on what they do best. The way it is currently is they spend millions on new vehicles, then another few on maintenance and repairs, then sell off what is left of them for not a lot.

Why don't they do a fleet lease scheme whereby the lease company provides the vehicles, they routinely service them and repair them and The Gardai tax and cover accidental damage?

Old diesel

kub wrote: »

As a national police service, wouldn't the Gardai's time and resources be better spent on what they do best. The way it is currently is they spend millions on new vehicles, then another few on maintenance and repairs, then sell off what is left of them for not a lot.

Why don't they do a fleet lease scheme whereby the lease company provides the vehicles, they routinely service them and repair them and The Gardai tax and cover accidental damage?

Buying should be okay as the Gardaí are going to bring a vehicle to the end of its life.

The big issue though - is having a big budget for maintenance - and nothing for replacements.

Should have a system where a vehicle could be written off - and its repair bill put towards the replacement.

Kind of like what normal buyers would do - if repair isn't very economical due to age/mileage - the normal motorist scraps the car - and replaces with another vehicle

kub

Is this that typical budget thing that if they don't spend their allocation of money this year that they get less next year?

ectoraige

I presume the Gardaí don't have in-house mechanics so is the only tangible advantage to having the same marque is being able to haggle for bulk pricing?

Theanswers

Land Rovers Reliability has improved of late. Furthermore in all situations the Land Rover would be a better vehicle to the land cruiser. One needs only to read the reviews and comparison tests on the internet. Road handling, performance, off-road ability is all better in the Land Rover.

They seem to be hungry for Police work so maybe a could deal could be struck.
I'm not recommending Range Rovers, but a Discovery 4 would be a good shout.

Capri

Theanswers wrote: »

Land Rovers Reliability has improved of late. Furthermore in all situations the Land Rover would be a better vehicle to the land cruiser. One needs only to read the reviews and comparison tests on the internet. Road handling, performance, off-road ability is all better in the Land Rover.

They seem to be hungry for Police work so maybe a could deal could be struck.
I'm not recommending Range Rovers, but a Discovery 4 would be a good shout.

There's a Discovery 4 going around D2 on it's bump stops - looks like the air suspension's ****ed !!

IMO Land Rover have 'lost their way', going hi-tech when you need reliability and heavy duty capability like the original 71 Range Rover - remember the Sahara beige one up in the Depot , with the big floodlight unit on the roof, same colour as this one
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/range-rover/drive-story-range-rover-classic-early-vs-late/
IF LandRover made a basic suspension,basic trim model of the RR/Discovery like Toyota do with the LC then they might get some sales back ??

Bit of history from GMP http://www.policecaruk.com/40YearsOfGMPRangeRovers/40YearsOfGMPRangeRovers.html

Such was the relationship between GMP and Land Rover that prototype Range Rovers were regularly given to the Motorway Group. One of the first four door cars was fitted with a fuel injection system and L470 YAC was fitted with air suspension. The request was always the same, please put as many miles as possible on the cars and see if the new system fails. The cars were passed on to the troops and used 24 hours a day and must have save Land Rover huge amounts of money in testing. In 1995 the force purchased its last order of ten Range Rover Classics, and a decision was made to remain with Range Rover as the primary motorway patrol vehicle for GMP. In 1996 ten new Range Rover P38A’s arrived starting with N461VVM, all being equipped with Federal Vision light bars. When these cars appeared on patrol the pleas from Divisional Traffic Units for the new light bars was deafening and very soon they were being fitted to Divisional Traffic Cars and Beat Cars. The P38’s were fabulous cars, but had again moved more ‘up market’ and the load carrying space had been reduced, so more kit had to go. In 1997 GMP purchased a second batch of ten P38’s further reducing the Classic fleet.

I retired from GMP Motorway Group in June 1997, and the writing was already on the wall. Officers with no Traffic experience were being put in charge of the Department and vehicles and equipment, which had been hard fought to obtain was being dismissed as irrelevant and obsolete. GMP stuck with Range Rover until 2001 when a decision was taken to purchase Mercedes ML’s for the Motorway, on the basis that they were more reliable. They weren’t and the load carrying capacity was nowhere near that of a Range Rover. They also didn’t have any ‘presence’ looking like a toy car alongside a Range Rover. Unfortunately, the damage was done and, although in 2004 a small number of 3rd Generation Range Rovers were bought by GMP, there would be no return to the size of Range Rover fleet previously seen on the Motorway Group.

I have always thought that the Traffic Department was the “shop window” of any Police Force. The motoring public would look at what the Police were using and, if the cops use it, it must be good. So why did Land Rover allow the demise of the Police Range Rover. They were basically free advertising for “the best 4x4 by far” and I would have thought that to keep the lions share of the Police market they could have been sold to Forces at cost price, but it was not to be. In my time on the Motorway Group we evaluated Isuzu Troopers, Nissan Patrols, Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Land Cruisers and several others. None of them could beat the Range Rover as an “all round” motorway car. Yes, they could do the job if restrictions were imposed on the car, like no towing of disabled vehicles, but they couldn’t do everything a Range Rover could do.

The job of patrolling the motorway network has now been given to the Highways Agency. They drive ‘full size’ 4x4’s as they carry the kit the Police used to carry.

The motorway patrol car of choice for the Police now is the BMW X5 and they attend incidents on the strip as and when required to do so. As I drive up and down the motorway network of this country I rarely see a Police Motorway Patrol. As I said earlier, GMP had a fleet of 30 Range Rovers dedicated to Motorway Patrol. How many Range Rovers do GMP now have within their fleet of 1750 vehicles these days – 3! Two ARV’s and a shiny black one for use by VIP’s and the Chief. I suppose that’s what you call progress!

Toyota seem to get the majority of the world's heavy duty work - this crowd supply most of the Toyotas to aid agencies /governments
http://toyota-gib.com/English/VehicleList.aspx

Pajero size - http://toyota-gib.com/English/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=1862283
L-Cruiser - http://toyota-gib.com/English/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=1862260

Theanswers

Capri wrote: »

There's a Discovery 4 going around D2 on it's bump stops - looks like the air suspension's ****ed !!

IMO Land Rover have 'lost their way', going hi-tech when you need reliability and heavy duty capability like the original 71 Range Rover - remember the Sahara beige one up in the Depot , with the big floodlight unit on the roof, same colour as this one
http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/range-rover/drive-story-range-rover-classic-early-vs-late/
IF LandRover made a basic suspension,basic trim model of the RR/Discovery like Toyota do with the LC then they might get some sales back ??

Toyota seem to get the majority of the world's heavy duty work - this crowd supply most of the Toyotas to aid agencies /governments
http://toyota-gib.com/English/VehicleList.aspx

Pajero size - http://toyota-gib.com/English/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=1862283
L-Cruiser - http://toyota-gib.com/English/ProductDetails.aspx?ID=1862260

The reviews of the toyota Land cruiser even the new one state that it's very agricultural. Head on Head off road the Land Rover leaves the toyota wanting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkzJ18FHgac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V05uNdqXqqU

I've had both Land Rovers and Toyotas. The Land Rover is more capable in every regard to the Toyota except reliability. However, they're really not as bad as one is implying.

I've had a Land Cruiser break down - leaving me stranded before.

Regarding the basic models, One can order a Discovery without air suspension however it's not recommended as it destroys the ride and limits off road ability.

For Policing work the land rover would be better as it's engines are more powerful than the toyota. Also I seem to note Toyota is very busy with the recalls these days. The new Toyota are not like toyota's of old. Different beast all together. But sure what car is?

Theanswers

The reasons the motorway patrol are dropping the RR is due to budget factors. Police forces in the UK heavily use Discovery 3s and 4s. Likewise individual forces do have RRs. One has only to drive around Northern Ireland to see that. The reduction in RRs has been on the motorway patrols section.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjcPzmqQpvA

Capri

Regarding the basic models, One can order a Discovery without air suspension however it's not recommended as it destroys the ride and limits off road ability.

The ride/off-road are f'd altogether if the air susp fails :P

For Policing work the land rover would be better as it's engines are more powerful than the toyota. Also I seem to note Toyota is very busy with the recalls these days. The new Toyota are not like toyota's of old. Different beast all together. But sure what car is?

It used to be 'built-in obsolescence' , now it seems to be 'built-in failure' (= workshop repair $$$$$$$ time :mad: )

These cars are supposed to be 'tested to their limits' but look at any forum and you'll see regular faults occuring on every vehicle

sdanseo

Looks very lucky that no-one was killed in that DFB crash, tender hit the driver's door

Stupid motorists need to stop doing silly things behind the wheel and be alert to sirens, lights, etc. Tht's presuming of course that DFB weren't at fault.

On a side note - why do fire engines not have two-tone airhorn any more? You would NEVER miss that in a million years.

flazio

Capri wrote: »

Recycling lightbars off 1980's stuff ? Can't help the topspeed, nevermind the comedown from a 2.2Mondeo as well

I'm guessing that this vehicle is meant for Airport work (not sure if I can make out a yellow beacon) anyway you need a large blue light bar for there to make sure pilots can see it from their high vantage point.

Mr Simpson

flazio wrote: »

I'm guessing that this vehicle is meant for Airport work (not sure if I can make out a yellow beacon) anyway you need a large blue light bar for there to make sure pilots can see it from their high vantage point.

Its not.

Its so big because it has a scrolling text screen on the back of it. Theres a few of them with those lightbars, they look absolutely cack

Mr Simpson

Mr Simpson wrote: »

Its not.

Its so big because it has a scrolling text screen on the back of it. Theres a few of them with those lightbars, they look absolutely cack

The text board is sh1t during daylight too.

sdanseo

Could they not put the LED board in the rear window like normal people?

sdeire

sdeire wrote: »

Could they not put the LED board in the rear window like normal people?

To hold a position of power or responsibility in AGS you are required to relinquish all common sense.

Boaty

KKV just like to say I really enjoy all your photos in the ES gallery you do a great job.

Most Gardai couldn't give a crap about you wanting to take a picture, more than likely they are thinking that you'll use the pictures against them in some way.

"Is there an 'inside ruling' of sorts that photography is frowned upon?"

That's the case at my local station after pictures of cars appeared on this fourm.

carzony

Boaty wrote: »

KKV just like to say I really enjoy all your photos in the ES gallery you do a great job.

Most Gardai couldn't give a crap about you wanting to take a picture, more than likely they are thinking that you'll use the pictures against them in some way.

"Is there an 'inside ruling' of sorts that photography is frowned upon?"

That's the case at my local station after pictures of cars appeared on this fourm.

I'v often been down the courts in park gate street looking at the patrol cars parked up. It doesnt take long to get guards looking at ya thinking your up to somthing.. I'd imagine if you had a camera they wouldnt be to pleased.

KVV, the difference between the light bars on the RSU and the traffic cars is the RSU are just info boards, the traffic ones are used for lane closures. Came across one in the outside lane on the M50 on day. Couldn't see it until I was practically on top of it. Plus the blues were crap compared to the new Avensis ones.

foreign

foreign wrote: »

KVV, the difference between the light bars on the RSU and the traffic cars is the RSU are just info boards, the traffic ones are used for lane closures

Can I ask what the difference is (genuine question)? They both seem somewhat similar in regards to screen size/amount of wording/content they can display?

I drove behind the RSU one before in daylight and it had 'Garda Armed Response Unit' (or something to that affect) scrolling on it and it was easily seen.

In that case they were in front of me in traffic though. Not the same situation as encountering a lane closure on a motorway, obviously (although I thought the Isuzu D-Max with it's big roof sign was intended for those purposes?).

Boaty wrote: »

KKV just like to say I really enjoy all your photos in the ES gallery you do a great job.

Most Gardai couldn't give a crap about you wanting to take a picture, more than likely they are thinking that you'll use the pictures against them in some way.

"Is there an 'inside ruling' of sorts that photography is frowned upon?"

That's the case at my local station after pictures of cars appeared on this fourm.

Boaty, are you a Garda, yourself? If so, can I ask why, once car images started appearing here, the station chose to frown upon it, rather than embrace it? Were there any real reasons given (I stress 'real', because I'm well aware of the usual 'operational reasons' cop out that's usually thrown about).


I just find it very odd that they (AGS) are always giving out about having no fleet, then there's an enormous song and dance about getting new cars, and once the cars start appearing around the country, anyone found looking at them gets a raised eyebrow.

carzony wrote: »

I'v often been down the courts in park gate street looking at the patrol cars parked up. It doesnt take long to get guards looking at ya thinking your up to somthing.. I'd imagine if you had a camera they wouldnt be to pleased.

It's strange you say that, one of the nicest Gardai I've ever met was sitting in a car outside the court in Drogheda (Garda was in from Dublin, so I haven't seen him since, I don't think). Wholly encouraged me to shoot everything in sight.

But that, again, is obviously down to each individual Garda.



I'd just need to find one, currently active Garda in Drogheda's Station who has even a remotely similar interest in Garda equipment and I'd be laughing.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Can I ask what the difference is (genuine question)? They both seem somewhat similar in regards to screen size/amount of wording/content they can display?

I drove behind the RSU one before in daylight and it had 'Garda Armed Response Unit' (or something to that affect) scrolling on it and it was easily seen.

In that case they were in front of me in traffic though. Not the same situation as encountering a lane closure on a motorway, obviously (although I thought the Isuzu D-Max with it's big roof sign was intended for those purposes?).

I mean their use. Could be the same units in them. But I don't find them suitable for use. Now obviously if it's going to be an ongoing closure then they would have better equipment, like the M50 concessions vehicles or even the NRA incident response vans. But the visibility is just too poor for daytime, and as you can see from the pic that I've posted they went backwards with the blue lights compared to what was fitted to the Avensis and the later Connects and Focus'.

foreign

foreign wrote: »

I mean their use. Could be the same units in them. But I don't find them suitable for use. Now obviously if it's going to be an ongoing closure then they would have better equipment, like the M50 concessions vehicles or even the NRA incident response vans. But the visibility is just too poor for daytime, and as you can see from the pic that I've posted they went backwards with the blue lights compared to what was fitted to the Avensis and the later Connects and Focus'.

Well, can I ask, unless I'm picking you up wrong somewhere along the way, are we not in agreement with each other? (that the RSU lightbar serves the same function, but is much more modern looking)?

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well, can I ask, unless I'm picking you up wrong somewhere along the way, are we not in agreement with each other? (that the RSU lightbar serves the same function, but is much more modern looking)?

Not really. The RSU May as well be advertising the daily specials in the local convenience store. The scrolling bar is just stupid.

foreign

foreign wrote: »

Not really. The RSU May as well be advertising the daily specials in the local convenience store. The scrolling bar is just stupid.

foreign wrote: »

I mean their use. Could be the same units in them.

I'm confused. Are they not both scrolling units? I haven't seen the Soviet Russian Garda car in reality, but I assumed the displays on both units would be the same thing (or close, anyway?).

3fullback

KKV here in anticipation, looking forward to the pics !

carzony

3fullback wrote: »

KKV here in anticipation, looking forward to the pics !

same

love kkv pics

So, just to add a bit of back story, as obviously I'd been whinging about the Gardai only two or three posts prior to putting up some new shots of their latest gear.


Pretty much, they wanted me to pop down to the Station, as the Gardai are playing a game of football against a Local Youth Team, in aid of "A Chance For Alice" (A local, known, charity set up to benefit a young child).

Whilst on the phone to me, to ask would I do the photos for them, I said I absolutely would, no problem at all, but also asked about the Hyundai (now, I want to stress, I made it clear that I didn't care if I never seen the Hyundai again, I'd still do their group photos to promote the game).


So she said she'd ask about it and see what she could do. Today, I arrived at the station and did their group photos and, as I was finished, I was saying my goodbyes when she said they had a new Hyundai, which was currently not in service, as it had only arrived at the station that day (about an hour before I arrived I'd been told).

So I wandered around and the Sergeant over the ComPol in the Drogheda station gave it a quick hose off (To get rid of the minor dirt that had gotten onto it from the lads presumably giving it a test drive or two).

After this, he brought it to a different car park across from the station (at my request) to isolate it a bit more. After taking a handful of photos, the Sgt. remarked that it'd have been good to get the two of them together. I agreed it would have been a nice touch, so out came the phone and he rang the lads that were out patrolling in the other Hyundai.

About 2 minutes later the other car was with us and I had both on blues. I got about 10 minutes with both cars and did two or three different 'poses' (for want of a better word) before letting the other lads head off to do their other bits. Was surprised they came down in the first place. Just wish I'd known and I'd have prepared a bit more.

After they'd left I got one or two quick interior photos of the new Hyundai, and thanked the Sgt. for his time.

I took a quick shot of the Gardai together and told them I'd email it on along with some car photos (obviously I wont put photos of the lads themselves up here).


So I have to say, they were really quite sound and went far above any expectations I had of them. Very surprised. They also weren't rushing me or 'tutting' at every request, so I don't know what to make of the situation at all. My usual impression is that they don't want the hassle of people shooting their stuff, but then after spending 5 minutes doing some quick group shots, they give me about 20 minutes with their cars, and even clean one off for me (I know the new car being there is more a case of good timing, but still).


So, if any of the Drogheda lads are reading this (I'm sure they know who the ComPol Sgt. is) it's much appreciated that you gave up your time and a sincere thank you to the Community Gardai today, and to the other two lads who came out to us for a few shots of both cars.



Just don't leave it so long next time.. :mad: be an awful shame if anything happened to those cars.. say you're going down a hill and the brakes suddenly don't work..



(joking, of course! :pac: Haha. )

3fullback

Great photos , shane! Also great to here the Gardai obliged you ! Any chance of getting a few more interior ones up ?

Absolutely, Fullback, but I should be honest and say my interior photos aren't the best, as I'd no wide-angle with me. So they're only basic enough dashboard/seat shots. But I'll get them up in 5 mins.

3fullback

Great photos shane ! Cheers , really nice!

I see the PTT button is in different places in each car ?

Mister Jingles

How are the i30's holding up so far ? Better or worse then the Avensis/Focus ?

Boaty

The dash in the unmarked car is so much nicer, just a clean simple look with 3 buttons hidden away for the sirens/blues

What's PTT out of curiousity? Push to talk? If so, is the one that's lower down not a bit of a pain in the hole and a bit of a distraction?


Also, completely unrelatedly, but when the two lads arrived in the second patrol car, I was asking if they'd like to jump in for a photo with the cars and they jokingly said no, but let me do some faceless shots (the photo of the back of the Garda beside the car).

One Garda joked that the other Garda (who's in the photo) should be proud to jump in cos he lost 5 stone recently. Now I don't know if he was just joking or whatever the case may have been, but it sounded like a genuine comment, and it really added a lot of humanity to the two chaps, I have to say.

It's a small thing, I know, and probably not something most would pick up on, but I like when little things like that are said and you get to see beyond the uniform a little bit. Small reminder that they're just everyday Joe Soaps like the rest of us at the end of the day, with their own personal struggles and problems and have their own good and bad days.

3fullback

Yup push to talk it allows for use of radio by drive or passenger instead of using the bit with wire !

Only thing I would see wrong with the high up one is the crossing over of the lights and sirens if in a pursuit ??

Anyone know if Hyundais have siren change fitted to their horn ?

source

Is my memory failing me or did some of the avensis have ptt on the wheel?

3fullback

source wrote: »

Is my memory failing me or did some of the avensis have ptt on the wheel?

Yup you are dead right worst place ever to have it.

source

source wrote: »

Is my memory failing me or did some of the avensis have ptt on the wheel?

Yup, in the Mode button. Actually handy as you can keep both hands on the wheel while using it.

3fullback

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yup, in the Mode button. Actually handy as you can keep both hands on the wheel while using it.

It's very hard to use in emergency situation when you need to turn the wheel you can never keep it pressed ! Very very bad place to have it, that's why they've stopped putting it there !

TheNog

3fullback wrote: »

Anyone know if Hyundais have siren change fitted to their horn ?

No that feature is not fitted to work with the horn on the marked i30s. It is on the unmarked ones though

3fullback

3fullback wrote: »

It's very hard to use in emergency situation when you need to turn the wheel you can never keep it pressed ! Very very bad place to have it, that's why they've stopped putting it there !

In an emergency situation turning the wheel I wouldn't be taking one hand off reaching for the stalk or fiddling with the dash.

foreign

foreign wrote: »

In an emergency situation turning the wheel I wouldn't be taking one hand off reaching for the stalk or fiddling with the dash.

I've obviously never used one of these, but are they actually press to talk, or is there a 'constant' mode? (ie, press lightly to talk, and release to stop, press hard to turn on constant). Like a kind of a 'double click' kinda situation?


Can't imagine it'd be much fun driving at high speeds with your hand halfway across the dash (unless you've a passenger to do it of course).

[Deleted User]

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I've obviously never used one of these, but are they actually press to talk, or is there a 'constant' mode? (ie, press lightly to talk, and release to stop, press hard to turn on constant). Like a kind of a 'double click' kinda situation?


Can't imagine it'd be much fun driving at high speeds with your hand halfway across the dash (unless you've a passenger to do it of course).

You have to hold it down.

fiverfriday

Deleted User wrote: »

I've obviously never used one of these, but are they actually press to talk, or is there a 'constant' mode? (ie, press lightly to talk, and release to stop, press hard to turn on constant). Like a kind of a 'double click' kinda situation?


Can't imagine it'd be much fun driving at high speeds with your hand halfway across the dash (unless you've a passenger to do it of course).

You've to hold it down. Nine times out of ten its the observer using it though so no hassle usually.

kub

fiverfriday wrote: »

You've to hold it down. Nine times out of ten its the observer using it though so no hassle usually.

How do the traffic lads manage, usually they are alone.

Mr Simpson

kub wrote: »

How do the traffic lads manage, usually they are alone.

Are they? Any traffic car I see (DMR) is usually double crewed

Hooch

Mr Simpson wrote: »

Are they? Any traffic car I see (DMR) is usually double crewed

The vast majority of traffic isn't in the DMR and were almost always single crewed unless units are overlapping.

Mr Simpson

Hooch wrote: »

The vast majority of traffic isn't in the DMR and were almost always single crewed unless units are overlapping.

Ah I know DMR's a small part of it, just wasn't aware of the single crewing in other parts

kub

kub wrote: »

How do the traffic lads manage, usually they are alone.

That's easy, traffic don't take calls!

kub

http://www.news.com.au/technology/design/veyrons-aventadors-and-huracans-these-are-the-worlds-best-police-cars/story-fnjwucvh-1226933084955

It is a surprise that no Garda vehicle made it onto this article :rolleyes: