Ex-police cruisers. Look better painted or left police colors?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

kbuskill

***CAUTION*** I do my own stunts!
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Posts
5,213
Reaction score
8,068
Location
NE. FL.
its just a standard tahoe with a basic police package tune and maybe better gears no?

The PPV Tahoes are 2wd and are "pursuit rated". They have a firmer/stiffer suspension (better handling), they are lowered approximately 2" in the rear for a lower center of gravity (better handling), the front is stock height but the trucks appear lower due to the 17" wheels, the tires are pursuit rated, they have less sound deadening material in the interior which makes them louder in the road noise department, depending on how they are ordered many have 3:08 gears for better top end and better highway fuel economy, the interiors are usually cloth front/vinyl rear seat and no center console, the '07-'08 PPV Tahoes had air ducts from the front bumper(fog light location) directed to the front brakes for additional cooling this was discontinued on later models.... I'm probably forgetting some stuff.

The SSV Tahoes are usually 4wd and are not "pursuit rated".
 
Last edited:

drakon543

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2016
Posts
2,473
Reaction score
1,713
The PPV Tahoes are 2wd and are "pursuit rated". They have a firmer/stiffer suspension (better handling), they are lowered approximately 2" in the rear for a lower center of gravity (better handling), the front is stock height but the trucks appear lower due to the 17" wheels, the tires are pursuit rated, they have less sound deadening material in the interior which makes them louder in the road noise department, depending on how they are ordered many have 3:08 gears for better top end and better highway fuel economy, the interiors are usually cloth front/vinyl rear seat and no center console, the '07-'08 PPV Tahoes had air ducts from the front bumper(fog light location) directed to the front brakes for additional cooling this was discontinued on later models.... I'm probably forgetting some stuff.

The SSV Tahoes are usually 4wd and are not "pursuit rated".
so cloth seats and air ducks for the brakes. everything else everyone is able to do anyway.
 

kbuskill

***CAUTION*** I do my own stunts!
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Posts
5,213
Reaction score
8,068
Location
NE. FL.
so cloth seats and air ducks for the brakes. everything else everyone is able to do anyway.

Well anything can be done if you have the desire to. Including cloth seats and air ducts.

I was just listing some of the differences between PPV and Standard Tahoes. The main difference is in the way the trucks handle.

Every agency orders them to there own specifications. Some want the DRLs to be disabled. Some don't want the lights to flash or turn on when unlocking with the key fob and don't want the dome lights to come on when a door is opened. This is referred to by some as "stealth mode" to keep from giving away an officer's position.

The other thing I forgot to mention is that the PPVs come with the heavy duty cooling package which has bigger/higher wattage cooling fans and an oil cooler and AUX Transmission cooler... it's the same as the tow package but the PPVs don't come equipped with a hitch they just have a crash bar there instead. They also have the roof rack, door moldings, and badges deleted from the factory.

Again there is probably more that I'm forgetting but the reason for my post was to point out some of the differences between the PPVs and the civilian model Tahoes... it wasn't to say that one was better than the other or that one couldn't be converted to the other... where there is a will, there is a way... lol

I personally have an LTZ Burb... I have always liked the look/stance of the PPVs which is why I did the research I have on them... but they are not everyone's cup of tea... different strokes for different folks.
 

CrashTestDummy

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Posts
855
Reaction score
292
Location
Pearland, Texas
To each, his own....I guess. :)

Yep. You've obviously never owned an ex-police vehicle. Many are actually, in their own way, pretty special. There are specific examples I'd never get in, or own, but we currently DD two ex-police vehicles. They're our 3rd and 4th such vehicles. We'll do it again.

Most of the things listed Ken has right. They all come with pretty heavy duty parts and extra cooling and power equipment. One thing that they usually don't have, which is a plus to us, is all the stupid electronic nannys and infotainment crap that only causes grief when they fail.

As Ken noted, they can be ordered with many different options, and different offices have their own favorite options. Our PPV, for instance actually does have a class 2 receiver from the factory. It's nice to have, even though all we've done is move empty trailers around. We have the 2500HD for the loaded trailer hauling.
 
Last edited:

BG1988

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2018
Posts
2,925
Reaction score
1,329
I've never understood the appeal of owning an ex-LEO vehicle. Unlike your average civilian vehicle, many cop vehicles have interiors that have been doused in all manner of human bodily fluids...and some solids. :eek:
most have plastic interiors they get hosed off
 

Forum statistics

Threads
128,792
Posts
1,805,544
Members
91,777
Latest member
DamThatRiver24
Top