gjm

Police carry a lot of kit around with them, yet expect their cars to really motor along, fast enough to catch teh majority of speeding motorists. Carroll Shelby said he'd never put more than 250bhp through the front wheels... Load the boot of a large fwd saloon with 200kg+ of kit and it is unlikely to handle. Big power + big weight tends to mean rwd is the sensible option. Besides, it'd be more fun! Typically, police drivers are enthusiasts, too. Sadly (or fortunately!) they've missed the boat with 4wd Autech Stageas.

The Mustang is 50 next year, and Ford are doing their damndest to (re)launch it as a world car. RHD, LHD, V6, V8 - all will be represented. They're keen, and no mistake. I agree with the Japanese-sourced suggestion. The variety of vehicles available is huge, and a single-manufacturer source would certainly appeal to the procurement people and the bean counters. Do Toyota (or Nissan) produce a good-sized four-door saloon with rear wheel drive? I really don't know!

So Holden won't be an option in the not-too-far-distant future. What will NZ Police drive then? Can't be a Oz Ford because they aren't going to be made either. Would they go for a front wheel drive car? It seems unlikely, but the options are starting to get limited. The Land of the Rising Sun isn't exactly local, but it is one of the nearest places to get new cars from (once Oz production ends). However, a little leftfield perhaps, but who would count out the possibility of 5-series BMW Saloons and Tourings stepping in? There's no Ute (which the police here also like) but it's viable... Purchased in sufficient quantity, in police-spec, they'd certainly do the job. And there is provenance - the Germans (obviously) use them, but so do other European countries, including the UK. So the new police car needs to be large, be able to carry lots of kit, be fast enough to hunt down many road users, and be reliable. What do you think would suit?

I found myself liking the M4 until I thought how it would look on the road, and wondering who would (could) buy it. Then I felt a bit let down. The new M3 is purposeful, but nods to the fact that it could be used for more than trackdays and showing off. All academic. I can't see me affording one!

At least they are the colour I would like...!

Post #55, page 4 of this thread.

Sweet... But (personally) I think they'd look better on an E39 5-series. Certainly suit a darker coloured (blue, green, black, maroon) car very well. Just imho, y'know.

That's probably why they are for sale! Would you mind terribly if I say "but Blue-540i made me do it... He was so persuasive and reasonable"? You've not met my wife. She's cuddly and fluffy, honest. And not at all handy with a big frying pan.

It'll be interesting to see what the upcoming P13 can do... Pretty much a sure thing it won't be slower.

Lol. It's the same everywhere. The space isn't such an issue - the money is. Bad time of year for buying naked rims, but I'll see what I can do.

A view on why: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11170914 At least Holden lasted longer than Saab under GM... But it does seem GM Is still struggling, even after the huge bailout they took.

They do look rather nice... If someone had bought my 45s it'd be so much easier!

17x7.5 et38(ish). Very tempting...

Aye... I suspect you're right. I just wanted to offer them to folk on here first.

Not even an offer...? Please don't make me try TradeMe!

Bought a PS3 just so I could drive the 'ring in GTx... Can't remember which one! Not got GT6. May take a look.

I'll have you know I really do like pink shirts!

Hmm. Not sure.

If you have AA or similar cover, it's worth giving them a call. If not, it is possible to buy 'keys' for locking nuts, but it'll probably be cheaper to buy another suitably-sized socket.

I did a double-take when I saw your comment, checked how many posts you made and assumed you were kidding. No worries. I've read several accounts of threads in ally blocks stripping out, although it doesn't seem to happen in all cases. I've worked on Porsche 928s (and other ally block engines) and while it isn't unheard of for a thread to strip, it has been unusual. I've no idea if it is more common with the BMW blocks (perhaps a different thread rate is used?), or if it is a case of a few examples having been well-reported.

I'm very pleased with my E46 320d Touring (so far - touch wood), and may well consider something like a M-Sport 530d Touring in the future. When I've saved lots of money. I think someone said the 530i had been for sale for a while. Not sure why - it looks OK.

Made me smile. Something along the lines of a punctured tyre only be flat at the bottom, so just turn it over. She'll be a'right.

I couldn't (*) see that the clamp was in two halves?!? There seemed to be a continuous metal band around the outside, which appears to pull down on something which compresses and clamps on to the join between the two pipes. I was very wary about attacking this as I had no replacement clip, and I really didn't want to end up with a dead car in the drive! The 17s are as much for retaining as much ride comfort as anything else. Putting 18s on my car now wouldn't look right and would require suspension work to suit, something I don't have time or money for at present. I can get a set of 4 used 17x7.5s for no more than $500, probably less. The (single) 17x8.5 (but wrong pcd) was new and offered in Germany for €59. Useful only as a guide price. Edit: (*) - somehow I missed the n't from couldn't - completely changes the meaning and tone of the post. Sorry!

Thanks Glenn. It's far from a done deal, but the donor car is a nice one, 'right' spec (for us) and reasonably priced... Just has this teensy ickle engine issue where water is finding it's way into the combustion chambers.

Lap time? Well, McLaren have said the average speed was 'more than 111mph' suggesting a sub-7 minute lap. McLaren released a shot of the P1 at the 'ring a month or so ago, with the inscription '6:33' on it. But yes - no categoric info as to what they have achieved.