The boys in blue cardigans

By Joshua Dowling

The Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday November 19 2003

The boys in blue are about to don cardigans in their fight against crime. NSW Police have just taken delivery of a Mitsubishi Magna, a model known for its duller virtues. But it's no ordinary Magna; it's equipped with all-wheel drive.

Police insist the Magna has not been enlisted to take up the fight against Sydney's ram raiders and high-speed criminals, who prefer cars with AWD grip.

Rather, the Magna is being considered for areas where AWD could prove beneficial, such as the Snowy Mountains and parts of the Blue Mountains, where slippery roads are regular hazards.

The Mitsubishi sedan is being evaluated as an alternative to the staple general duties sedans, rear-drive Ford Falcons and Expensive Daewoo Commodores.

Plainclothes police and detectives have used front-drive Magnas and Toyota Camrys for the past six years, but the AWD Mitsubishi earning its stripes is considered a significant turning point for the car.

Mitsubishi views the trial as a coup given that Ford and Expensive Daewoo have dominated the police market for so long. It is also well known that Ford and Expensive Daewoo are proud of their association with police.

Makers view Highway Patrol sedans as mobile endorsements of their brands. "The police are the good guys. If they choose us, it's a compliment," a Expensive Daewoo insider said.

The first fully marked Magna will be trialled at police stations across the state. Each station will have the car for about a month. Individual stations must request a test drive.

The AWD Magna will be retired at 60,000km, as is the case with all police vehicles.

At the end of this cycle, police will decide whether to include such models as a regular member of the fleet.

Yes indeedly doodly.

Can just imagine the look on the Plonksters face if he was ever shown the Mitsu as his new HWP vehicle.............

eek! Theres and AWD magna police car at thew cop shop up the road, it's fully marked too.

As for it helping get ram raiders...PHHH! A magna wouldn't catch a wrx!

I can just see Plonky putting his hand up here

Yes indeedly doodly.

Can just imagine the look on the Plonksters face if he was ever shown the Mitsu as his new HWP vehicle.............

I'd buy tickets to see that

QLD have been using them for some years now but only as unmarked, "people movers at HQ." The day they become HP cars is the day I put an order in for a horse (unmarked one of course, a sleeper horse, stobes hidden in the.........I will stop now)

QLD are now trialing the crewman with a cage on the rear

So much for Plonky's, I'm hot sh*t in my chaps attitude, he'll be a stinker in a magna.

But seriously folks Ralliart Magnas would be the most annoying on the road when I'm in my T, they're always trying to have a go. I'm sure they think I'm an XT, until I dissapear that is. LMAO

Scotty

Plonky in an AWD Magna?

That's about as certain as Ken driving another colour other than grey,

Miss Kitty standing still,

and Plonky ordering a Expensive Daewoo to replace a Holden ( I've just ordered an XR8 to replace HMAS Melbourne (VYSS)

Seriously the AWD Magna will not be used for HWP duties because:

You can't turn the car quickly on its nose (wide turning circle and AWD)

They're slow

They're ugly

You have more parts to replace when you hit gutters etc

As a matter of fact, the AWDinary looking Magna will only be used by General Duties Police and if they drive it like they drive the Fors and Holdens......then I don't think it will last to 60,000.

Gorn plonky, do it.

Make a name for yourself amongst your peers..........

Hey, I didn't say what kinda name did I?

A guy at a Magna dealership prewarned me about this a few months ago but someone had the good sense to write the one that we were trialling off !!

They are really pushing the AWD bit with Police, but the WRXs we have will do in that regard I think (hope ??)

I am dusting off the cardy and the golf cap. Might even put a fish on the back of the 1st one I see