I Bought a Cheap Chevy Police Caprice 9C3 Detective Car at a State Surplus Auction
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- Опубліковано 28 лют 2018
- I recently bought this 2011 Chevy Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle at a vehicle surplus auction in Delaware. I've spent one week and 250 miles with this car so far and have had a blast. In this video I'm gonna share with you what makes this PPV so much fun to drive. I'm also gonna share with you some of the weird things about the car that really seem unexplainable. And finally, we're gonna go for a drive and I'm going to share the driving experience behind the wheel of the most stealthiest, most capable and lowest production police car around.
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As others have pointed out the second battery is on the passenger side of the boot (trunk) and if you look at it you'll find a lot of disconnected plastic plugs which once powered the police siren and lights. The battery also allows the electrics to run for extended periods without the motor running. I would leave the battery installed. It's actually an asset in your cold winters to have it to improve the cranking voltage. I own the station wagon variant of the Holden Commodore (Sportwagon) which is also an ex-police vehicle. I was lucky because mine had very low mileage and had been very well looked after by the officer who drove it. The final two Commodore model cycles, the VE (G8) and VF are the finest cars ever made in Australia and the engineering is exceptional. Bear in mind that they were designed for Australia's very varied road network which can be ultra modern smooth freeways to horrible rutted outback tracks. You will find that the dust barriers are superior to any car you have every owned (because cars here need to be able to keep out the dust which pervades the country landscape) and the unibody chassis is probably the toughest of any car in the world.
Your car is not actually a Commodore but a higher spec model called the Holden Caprice built on the station wagon underbody to make it a tad longer in the wheelbase. I know one of the guys responsible for engineering the car for your PPV needs. Essentially all the luxury fittings were removed, the led-lit and chromed fender vents were swapped out for a plain Jane ABS plastic vent and the under cowl sound deadener was removed. The unusual shapes you see under the hood are there to add strength to the panel as it is actually weight-saving aluminium.
I'm glad our American cousins are able to sample the best our engineering minds could muster. The Commodore / Caprice was sold as a Chevy in the Arabian peninsula, a Buick Park Royal in China and a Vauxhall VXR in the UK. Personally I found GM US's approach in doing this particularly insulting to the men and women at the South Australian plant who poured their blood and sweat into these cars. They ARE Holdens...the Holden logo is a Lion holding on tight to the rolling stone of progress. Lots of US folks debadge the Chevy bowtie and replace it with Holden badges. Sadly, thanks to Mary Barra and the beancounters in Detroit the Holden factories have fallen silent and no cars are now made here which is a crying shame. That a small nation (population size-wise) could produce such excellent world-class cars is a testament to the brilliance of the Holden design teams. Sadly I note that the beancounters have also done a number on many GM US plants as well...terrible! I notice they've kept their Chinese plants running at full capacity. What a disgrace! Bailed out by US taxpayers so that China can benefit! Good luck with your car. If you maintain it properly and use top quality synthetic oil it will last you for years. If I were you I'd also trawl the Aussie Ebay page to pick up the various Caprice trim parts that will beautify the car and make it something very rare in the US.
I live in Australia and proudly own a 2016 version of this (called a Caprice locally), in fact one of the last before GM Holden here stopped making them. This car is based on the Holden Commodore, the body though being a unique long wheel base, a luxury version of the Commodore. Most of the running gear is the same as what is used in the Commodore. In earlier years there were Statesman as well as Caprice models, the Statesman was lower speced or 6 cylinder version while the Carice was always the top model version. The car I had pre my 2016 current Caprice was a 2006 Statesman 6.0L V8 ... I absolutely loved that car.
Holden Commodore has in years past had versions of Commodores that have had sports or luxury versions above their standard model. SSV for example was from memory is an acronym for Super Sports Vehicle.
My Caprice is a 6.2L V8 with sports modifications such as Sports Suspension, Extractors 3 inch Exhaust system, Whipple Supercharger, and HSV (Holden Special Vehicle) brakes. It looks, sounds and drives great - A real sleeper of a car ... it is frightening how it has get up and go and always a joy to drive.
Great Video, at some time in the future I will get something up on youtube on the baby I have.
Sounds like a the perfect bolt on build as far as HP per dollar. What's a setup like that dyno? Or a close estimate.
Aussie engineering all the way 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺😘
Chris, this is my favorite video. It felt so well put together. It flows like a video should, something that I fight with all the time. Keep up the great work as I always look forward to seeing your videos.
Thanks so much John. I like to think that I'm getting better at making videos but than I rewatch what I just made and I still cringe.
The Caprice in Australia is a Luxury Limousine that competed with the Hyundai Genesis, Chrysler 300 and in some ways the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes Benz S Class. They were fitted out with leather interior, Bose sound system, rear fitted displays etc etc. Not only sold in police spec.
Excellent video!!
Hey man, I was just responding to comments when your's just popped up. Alex, I appreciate you checking out my Caprice vid and the comment. It's amazing how your channel has exploded over the past couple years. Incredible and it's also a testament to what you do and how you do it. Keep those vid's coming! Chris
6:15 never inflate your tires to the psi reading on the sidewall, that is the limit of pressure the tire can hold.
Hey man, thanks. And..., thanks for checking out my video too. -Chris
So? If that's what they can hold why not?
You have to leave room for to air expension due to heat. On the car the tires are called "Police pack". Since they drive the cars roughly 24/7, they don't cool down like a normal tire. Normal tires psi limit is between 42 to 44 psi.
Maxima If a shop doesn't know the difference between a tire's max pressure rating and what the car actually suggests... that shop needs new employees and you shouldn't be going there... for your safety!
Bill Metz I agree. Having a shop myself.
Great video Chris! They are always entertaining and educational. Keep up the good work! That's a nice bonus that the auction gave you paperwork with the maintenance history of the vehicle, I wish I had gotten that with my Crown Vic.
steven ciancio Steve, thanks so much for the kind words. And yea, that paperwork is a big thing. Nice to know what’s been done to the car.
Well made video! I picked up a 2014 caprice a few months back and I don't regret it. It's fun to drive and people tend to not tailgate or cut you off on the freeway, so it feels safer too.
Love these Caprices and thanks for checking out my video. My car is a 2011 and I'm told the suspension is crazy stiff compared to the '12 - '17's. I took the car to NY city a few months ago and driving through the Lincoln Tunnel with the washboard roadway was almost enough to loosen a tooth filling! Seriously, it was that rough of a road and that stiff of a suspension. I love the dash of the '14's and I'm told they are all spec'd as a 9C3. Pretty cool. Enjoy your car! -Chris
Enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work. Subscribed!
Sweet looking Caprice Police Persuit Vehicle. :)
I prefer the taurus and charger body style but this car need a police stock wheels to look more agresive
@@thechampion9525 I also like the early 90s Ford Crown Vic Police Pursuit vehicle. :)
Thank you for this wonderful and informative video, Sir.
I am going to sell my 7 series to get one of these
You go by weight not tire size when inflating a tire. The number on the side of the tire means nothing but the maximum pressure. ALWAYS go by what’s in the door jam that is the proper way.
Thanks for the comment on my Caprice video and for checking it out too. I appreciate what you've said about tire pressure - max versus recommended. I ended up setting the tires at 40 lbs each which seems to have really helped with the ride quality too. The care rides stiff already but at 50 lbs it's just plan jarring. -Chris
Finally, someone who knows what he talking about!
@vladimir putin Thanks for 2016. Did Hillary's check bounce?
vladimir putin that’s just stupid. The manufacturer specified that pressure for a reason.
Very popular here in Australia. Many Limo companies use the Caprice (AKA Statesman) Not used by the police. Even our PM has one. These will be popular with US rev heads, probably as much as the Crown Vic. Great Vid.
Thanks so much for your comment and I really appreciated reading it. I didn't know the PM is driven in one and I can see why limo companies would use on since the back seat is really pretty spacious. Here in the US these are law enforcement cars only but they are just now starting to show up at the State and city surplus auctions. I'm finding that very few folks here know anything about these cars since about about 15K or so were imported. I'm betting that will change soon as more are sold through auction to the public. Thanks again! -Chris
In Australia it was marketed as a Holden Statesman/Caprice which was the luxury version of the Holden Commodore with an extended wheelbase.
Not quite. The PPV uses a Statesman/Caprice body, but with poverty pack Commodore dash and interior components, with steel wheels.
Another excellent video Chris. I read the comments below and it's true, your videos are very well produced.
Now onto the car. I really like how there isn't any badges indicating that it's a PPV. The engine has very nice sound also. Seems like the pricing is somewhat higher the the P71. It's very nice but for the price difference I would have to go with the CV. Pat
Pat, thanks so much. I appreciate you following along with my videos too. This PPV is a real sleeper. Funny though, when I'm in the Vic, folks recognize it as a police car and of course drive nicer. This car however is just like any other car on the road. Kinda looses it coolness unless there's someone who knows about it. It's pretty mundane looking but a blast to drive. I paid a lot less than what others seem to sell for but that's for another video. Catch up with ya later. -Chris
Notice on your window sticker the $31k price tag. Ford prices the Taurus at $26k, so departments can get one extra vehicle after 5 purchases. I saw the two Caprices at that auction about 2hrs too late. I was sick that I missed one. I have an '11 9C1 and a '13 9C3 but it's a V6. Was looking to "trade up". Oh well.... I'll keep looking!!
Nice video!!!
It needs a Doug score.
Doug cannot count , leave him out
im ded
Doug score is right.
Great vid~ it's amazing that you found a 9C3 'for cheap'? Im in Las Vegas & anything that says 'Caprice' on it gets bought up for 11 thousand dollars by gangstas from LA. I've always driven police auction cars. I had the famous 96 Caprice~ tons of power but lots of problems. I had a 95 v6 Impala~ no power & even worse mechanically. In 2012 I got a 2004 Crown Vic & it's been so good that it may outlive me. I DO want more power though so I'll keep my eyes out for one of these, but will probably end up with the much more common Charger.
The PPV is based on the Holden Statesman a stretched version of the commodore. More specifically a WM in 2011 vs a VE commodore. VE and WM ended production is 2013. 2014 and up ppv’s were WN.
Thanks for the checking out my Caprice video and for your great comment. Holden and what they were building isn't something that's very common in the US so I really do appreciate what you shared. -Chris
This model was first built in 2007
MARSSS it’s my understanding they were first introduced in 2006 but I could be wrong. Wikipedia says 2006.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Caprice
@@dualsnorkel Model change occurred 2007
The Daytime running lights stay on all the time even with the lights off. Being a detective spec ppv I’m assuming the deleting the DRL was to remain inconspicuous during a stake out or possibly following someone. To not seem like a police unit they were offered in different colors and separate styled wheels to blend in better.
Another considerate and nicely produced video Chris! Looking forward to your comparison video, but in the bang for your buck category it seems that the CVPI is already the clear winner. Interested to see how you weight acquisition cost into your evaluation. Perhaps it's like comparing apples to 747s?? Staying tuned! -- James
Hey James, thanks again! Now, don't start binge watching my stuff! It will put you to sleep faster than NyQuil. Yea, I'm anxious to get going on a comparison between the CVPI and Caprice. I actually have my Vic out getting vinyl wrapped and thought it would be done by now. Looks like it's gonna take at least another week before it's done. Once done though, I've got some ideas on what I want to say and present and even though these cars are from different era's, I think I can do something with it. Also, I'm working on a video now on the pricing for these Caprices. Pretty tough to nail down retail resale prices so I'm using auction sales from the Delaware auctions. Not a big sample size but I'm hoping it helps others on the right amount to pay. Again, Thanks! -Chris
Cop tires, cop suspension, cop exhaust, Cop coolant system, and cop fuel tank. Perfect I'm going to the next Police auction in my area of town this month in about 3 weeks and bid on one. Nice video sir. :-)
Antony the Muscle car nut Good luck getting parts for it though. And no; they are not regular GM parts.
@@jeffthornton6998 I agree. I'm not going to buy one now.
I just picked up a 2013 caprice 2 of them one v6 and one v8 there awesome enjoy it
Sweet deal on that gorgeous Chevrolet PPV!!! I bet you paid at least $11K for that sweet ride!?! ~ BTW,...I saw that 95 Corvan peaking it's face out of your garage when you were turning around in your driveway, you and me are old school Chevy. lol!
the second battery is hidden on the passenger side of the trunk
WJ Handy Dad Thanks so much Gary. I’ll check it out. Do you know if that second battery is needed for everyday driving? Can I take it out and use it in another car without effecting the Caprice?
I left mine alone so I don't know. My car still had all of the police equipment in it though and I sold it to a reserve officer so the extra battery might have been needed
Yes you can remove the battery without issue but you’ll have to remove the battery cable as well to not short the electrical system out
Its for auxiliary police equipment. Also its a backup battery. You dont “need it. Mine doesnt have one.
East Coast Classics As with any car, when the car is running the alternator is what powers all the electrical components. The battery is mainly used for starting. The auxiliary battery wired in parallel is used to increase the amperage.
There was an audible squeak when you started it which is a GM trademark faulty tensioner, you could hear it while you drove up the driveway too.
What is the music used at the start of the video? It flows so well with the cinematography.
Great job, great video!
Great video. Also I’ve noticed this engine requires more specific parts vs other Popular LS engines. Have you had to do any major maintenance yet? If so what was the cost difference ball park?
Notice the massive external Trans Cooler at the 3:26 mark. :) Australia's HOLDEN / GM or chevy downunder built these beast and the Caprice Police pack is based on the australian HSV model of the same year, with a little extra's ?
Love yo video I am sold as owner of a 87 caprice.I got to have one especially cause of the LS 6.0 al the upgrades will be pretty easily to do
@@zcoleman4187 so what is it then
These idiots are on every page...crying its not an ls...
the Aux battery is normally mounted as part of the radio and ECU coms unit on the passenger side in the rear boot or trunk area, cheers :)
You take a risk of buying a piece of worn out crap when you buy a police vehicle at auction. But, you have better odds when you buy a detective's car or a car that was a take home vehicle that belonged to upper management. They tend to not see as much use or abuse as a fleet car or a marked unit. Ideally, find an upper management vehicle they spend more time parked at the office than doing daily police work. I've been an officer for 23 years and counting and when we switch out cars the Chief's and numerous Deputy Chief cars are always the ones in the best shape at and lowest miles turn in.
That super sleeper is a hidden GEM!
Long wheel base holden commodore . the luxury version called statesman . and top shelf was statesman caprice . rip holden .
Wow, good information. I didn't know there were different versions like a short and long wheelbase. It would be interesting to see and compare them to what we have in the US. I know that my 2011 Caprice PPV rides super crazy stiff so I wonder how the luxury models are calibrated. -Chris
ua-cam.com/video/o16Bi8W_fL0/v-deo.html
The luxo models would have mostly have FE1.5 suspension, but alloy wheels. The 18" steelies weight wouldn't help the ride much.
Plus it’s been in production since 2006
@@hullinger Magnetic ride shock's keep it stiff which you can adjust. It's a lot smarter than it looks read the book that came with it. It will blow you away how many TRICK'S are hiding in there. Just read the book an learn something special about this truly awesome car If you want parts for it Junk yards in Australia are full of them. Now GM only sell re badged crap not worth the time or money. GM is dead in Australia no longer the cutting edge of anything. That is one of the finest cars GM has ever made. Sad to see them fall so hard. Meeh.
The pressure printed on the tire is its max operating pressure, not the recommended pressure. I used to sell tires and had to clear that one up a lot, people would put in 50 psi and prematurely wear their tires in the center.
Fantastic video!
Great video very professional
The Chevy Caprice PPV is a stripped down (compared to its Australian parent) Holden Caprice. The Commodore is a separate car (different bodies) even though they do have many parts in common The Caprice in Australia has every luxury feature you can think of, and they are seen to be luxury cars. Handling has always been sharp, as Holden's "benchmark" at the time was the BMW 5 series. The Zeta floor pan they're based on is also in the Camaro. For those of you that don't know, much of the R&D on the Camaro was done by Holden, which is why it never handled like a typical American muscle car
You should look up the HSV Grange. built by the tuner wing of Holden. If you can imagine a Caprice PPV with every luxury option you can think of, plus four pot Brembo brakes, sharper suspension, bigger rubber, and an aggressive body kit, you have some idea of the kind of car it is:
Similarly, the Chevy SS has an HSV version, the HSV GTS. You could bolt 80-90% of the parts from an HSV Grange onto a Caprice PPV, likewise similar parts from an HSV GTS onto a Chevy SS
The auxiliary battery is an option, it would be located on the opposite side of the trunk across from the car battery.
just got the US impala version , love it , runs great !! hope it hangs in there , gotta last me a couple years
I hope it serves you well for many years to come!
I have the 2011 Holden VE Series II which is shorter than the one you have, as gigaboat said, yours would be our Statesman or Caprice. Because these vehicles were part of our domestic market unlike yours which initially only came our for service use only, we had a few more variants to the model. Station wagon and the 2 door ute or pick up as you would call it.
Also unlike the V8 in the US, we had the 3.6L SIDI as you mentioned but there was a 3.0L SIDI that could get around 26 Miles per Gallon (roughly translates from 9 Litres per 100 Km's) although torque wasn't the best in the 3.0L range, the fuel consumption more than made up for it. Cops in NZ had the entry level Omega Commodore with added Sport Suspension. The VE Platform ran from 2006 right up to 2013 as a series I then II before the totally new VF platform came out and I believe that model ran in the US. After Holden's manufacturing plant closed in Elizabeth, Adelaide South Australia, Holden did the ultimate unthinkable act and started importing German made Opel rebadged Commodore but we won't go there.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Commodore_(VE)
I almost thought you were gonna give it a Doug score too 😂
are they tuned for more power? if it is, does it get detuned before being sold? ive heard, not sure, that the chargers have a police tune. like to 420hp. is this true?
I think the radio will work when the keys are about up to 3-4 feet from ignition...FOB?
Yess! More interceptor videos please!
You got it. I've got some video plans that I'm working on now that include more CVPI videos and another one or two videos on this PPV. -Chris
Amazing!
I have the worst luck! I told you if you ever wanted to get rid of the Chrysler executive limo I was interested but I’m going through so much in my life right now I’m flat broke! Don’t know what I could offer you. I’d love to have that car in my collection of odd crazy cars. I’m 22 and cars are my passion. Just got into an accident in my Crown Vic and trying to save it and have so many other projects but man that Chrysler executive is one of a kind I’ll never find another 😭😭😭
As others have mentioned this is a Holden Statesman/Caprice or Grange. it is a stretched Commodore designed to be Australia's large RWD Luxury car. But what other have failed to mention is the Commodore and Statesman/Caprice were manufactured in LHD versions and badged as Chevy's then exported to middle eastern countries like Saudi Arabia since 1997, So there are 10's of thousands of them over there. So if you wan't more of them, you simply have to figure out how to bring them over and register them. One concept if it's less than 25 years old, is to have the cars pulled apart then reassembled in the US. and then registered as Holden's the same way others have registered the Holden Utes.
how do you like those goodyear rs a tires that you have on your ppv my cvpi have those tires they grip pretty good but expensive
Hey man, thanks for checking out my video and for the comment. Those RS-A's, man they get a lot of hate from folks. Me, I like them. They grip well like you said, handle well too, are pretty quiet and are really strong. If I was buying tires though, there's no way I'd buy them. They're stupid expensive as you already know. For half the price I could get a set of Kumbo's or Firehawks and keep the extra $400 in my pocket! -Chris
Really nice and informative video!
Thanks for the comment and thanks for checking out my Caprice PPV vid! -Chris
@@hullinger No problem, very nice Caprice. We don't have those over here
What sort of preventative maintainence should i do when i get one of these? A friend of mine reccomended an engine rebuild kit
Hey man, thanks for checking out my Caprice PPV video. I'll tell ya, this Caprice is really surprising me. Smooth, refined, super quick, effortless, great brakes, quiet, roomy..... They're outstanding in just about every way. On my car, I haven't had any problems with it but heard from others that say the first thing to do when buying one is to replace the cam and lifters in order to get rid of the Displacement on Demand feature. Its called a DoD delete. Not really sure why but at least it gives you an excuse to get a bigger cam! I'm hearing the cost for this is around $1100 plus labor so it's not cheap at all. That's about the only issue I've heard. Good luck and I'd love to hear more about whatever you get! -Chris
Haha fellow Delawarean. What’s chances. Sup man. New sub been thinking getting one these cars
Cool video. I’m an Aussie and I’m guessing the gauge cluster misalignment and the vents not blowing on to the steering wheel might be a rhd to lhd conversion issue. I had one and could get the vents to warm my hands.
You can certainly say the car is based on a commodore but in Australia this car is called the Statesman. It is a Commodore (or G8) but with a stretched wheel base and was Holden’s flagship luxury vehicle with the “Statesman Caprice V” being the most luxurious version. (Obviously with loads and loads more gadgets and luxury appointments than this Chev and all covered in leather)
We use the Commodore as cop cars but your American cops wanted the extra wheelbase to fit your bulky and hardcore cages and still have good legroom for passengers. Our cars don’t have cages, for transporting troublesome customers they call in a Divisional Van or “Divvy Van” which was a Commodore Ute with a big cage on the back.
Hey man, great comment and thanks so much for sharing all of that. I'm still learning about Holden and I'm still getting confused too about all of the different versions; Commodore, Statesman, Caprice, VF, VE.... It's a lot to understand and absorb. I appreciate you taking the time to give me some guidance! -Chris
East Coast Classics No worries man, you seem to be a natural presenter and I’ve always admired the Crown Victoria. There’s been many cars that claim to be body on frame or are said to have a chassis or a “3/4 chassis” but just have a dumb irons supporting the front end assembly and engine at best. As far as I know there is no other modern sedan made with a true full chassis since at least 70s or 80s. I’m 6’4” so large sedans appeal and if there had ever been a rhd Crown Vic sold in Australia I would have one in my yard. They only need 50-100 more Newton meters of torque and 50-100 more horsepower👍
Thanks Chris! Looks like you got a great one. How many miles on yours? During your research on these, what is a good price range to look for on a detective version with average miles?
Hey man, thanks for checking out this video and the others too. I really do appreciate it. This PPV has 85K miles and she runs great and cosmetically looks really good too. I'm planning another video on these cars that goes over normal pricing on both the 9c1 and 9c3 models, insurance costs, parts availability.... I'm finding prices plummet on these cars at around the 100K mile mark. Of course there's a premium for the Detective model and it seems to be around 20% or so. As an example, another State auction closed last night here in Delaware and the exact twin to this car sold for $11.6K while the patrol car versions sold in the mid $9K range. -Chris
Doesn't Carfax & AutoCheck have the service info on it also? I wonder if you can get the phone to work on that radio. Maybe good idea for aftermarket radio.
you say cheap but no Price. What did you pay all in?
The good old Holden Commodore. Used by police in Australia
excellent... well done... great buy... and a great car...
did you have trouble getting insurance? When I bought mine the insurance company told me "that car doesn't exist" and it took talking to some higher ups in the company just to get coverage
Funny you should ask about the insurance, and I've got that as a planned topic for the next PPV video. I use Geico and like you, they didn't list the Caprice as a model to choose from. Since I added the car through their online portal, the website instead gave me a drop-down list of Chevy's to choose from. I think I clicked either Lumina or Malibu and well, it took! So, my insurance rates are like super cheap. Something like $525 per year.
I'd call them! They were super cheap for my Caprice. But you don't want to risk them saying they won't cover you.
Thanks man. Is that the "legal" side of you coming out?
Yeah that is definitely fraud to just type in a totally vehicle different engine fwd vs rwd, emission ratings, crash, etc.. If you ever had a claim there would be a serious problem. Likely a potential felony(s) I would talk to someone and get that listed correctly.
Cactus Sensai Doug who cares about that shit. The important part is they wont fix or pay you when if it gets damaged
"It's got a cop motor, a 440-cubic-inch plant. It's got cop tires, cop suspension, cop shocks. It's a model made before catalytic converters so it'll run good on regular gas." ;)
You sound like Dan Ackroyd in the Blues Brothers.
😂 love that movie
Fix the lighter
aux battery is behind the trunk lining on the passenger side if it's equipped. I've upfitt a boat load of these things for my local police dept.
Hey, thanks man for the info on the aux battery. I'll have to dig through the trunk to see if I can find it. -Chris
Hello there! First-time viewer here, I appreciate the info as I am looking at former Interceptor Police Patrol Cars. There is a dealer nearby that cover the full choice of these interesting vehicles. But I have just one correction for you like the tire pressure info that is included in every vehicle by law, that information sticker is from the vehicle manufacturer, NOT the tire manufacturer. That being said, the info on that sticker is telling the operator what they need to know for that particular vehicle and the intended uses of it. The info in the sidewall of the tire is from the manufacturer of the tire, telling the operator the MAXIMUM P.S.I recommend by the engineers that designed the tire! Most of the time they will NOT be the same. Also, the auxiliary battery, if not in plain sight more than likely is under the rear seat. I have also driven a Police Tahoe, Explorer, Caprice, Impala, Crown Vic, Taurus and the two generations of Police Chargers with the V6 and Hemi. Of all f them I like the Tahoe best, but have had a very hard time finding one that's 4x4 and the ONE I found had over 150,000 miles and looked it! The best driving car is the latest Charger that had a Hemi with AWD. I'm waiting for the right one! With lowish mileage, under 70,k if possible, not worrying about looks/color as I plan on painting whatever I get a nice Pearl White/Gold, so to take away the Police looks. The local dealer has a Caprice PPV, with only 76,000 miles, that was a detective LT car, that's a light gold/tan color, with tan interior, but it's a V6 and he's asking almost 18k!! For it. He also has a very nice Taurus Interceptor AWD Turbo, but that has just over 110,000miles with a price of 12,000! But that's a really nice white over grey car. But I'm still looking! Number 1 would be a Caprice PPV V8, with under 100,000 miles for under 10,000. Number 2 an AWD Hemi Charger, number 3 an RWD Tahoe PPV. Unless I find the 4x4AWD Tahoe.
Hey there and thanks for the comment on my Caprice PPV and I appreciate you watching too. The tire sticker info you shared is good to know. I just thought the info on the tire and sticker would be coordinated and consistent since these cars were only sold to law enforcement and with only one type of tire. Weird for sure though. Appreciate it and I hope you find some other vid's on my channel that you might like. -Chris
So what is a decent price to find these? Auction vs private
Awesome video, I want one!
Thanks man and thanks for checking out my Caprice video. I had sold that black Caprice last year but bought a silver 2012 Caprice earlier this year. That silver Caprice is currently for sale on Cars and Bids . com so jump over that and check out the auction.
If you have to lift off the gas on a ramp you need to have the suspension checked. That car should be as solid as a rock. With those miles you likely have a great car. Nice video.
Thanks for checking out my Caprice vid and for your comment! -Chris
have you checked with your local GM dealer about the Media center? because I'm pretty sure they can fix that
You scared me with the green handle at the gas station. Where I'm at, that's for diesel lol
Hey loved your video. I own a ‘12 9C1. Other than the small error in what PPV stands for (not your fault, the internet is FULL of your designation and frankly, I like yours better). I about freaked out when I saw you put a green hose in your car while fueling up. Here in Washington State where I live, that is a diesel fuel only nozzle. Must be different out your way...
And yes, I am still looking for that auxilliary battery too!
Hey man, thanks so much for the kind words. You know, I've had a few folks already correct me on the PPV thing. Funny thing though, like you, I think I like Police Pursuit Vehicle better than Police Patrol Vehicle. On the green fuel pump, I'm a little embarrassed to say this, but in the past I've actually picked up the diesel pump by mistake. Obviously not watching what I was doing and I was really stumped why the fatter nozzle wouldn't go into the filler tube. Took a minute to figure it out. Thanks again. -Chris
I'm bidding on one now. Hope to get it tomorrow
What fuel does it require? Premium? Midgrade?
The organizer in the truck looks like the ones you could get for the 07-14 Suburban/Denali/Escalade.
Oh wow, yeah, that makes sense. I could never figure out how that trunk organizer fit so I'm really glad you shared that. Also, thanks for checking out my Caprice PPV vid too. -Chris
How do you locate an auction that deals with retired police cars in your area like Denver or near there?
I had made this video recently on finding these government surplus auctions and how they work. Check it out when you get a moment. ua-cam.com/video/q09PUtJPIxs/v-deo.html
Good video, so here in Australia we actually get a car called the Holden Caprice (which looks similar to the PPV) except it's considered the luxury version of the commodore (which is nearly identical to the Chevy SS)
Thanks for your comment and for watching my Caprice PPV video. I've been learning more about Holden, the Commodore and Caprice and it's really amazing. It's also amazing how many iterations of this car and the number of countries that have a version of it. -Chris
Cheers Chris, yeah it's a shame we couldnt give you guys more Holden, I don't think Chevy did a good enough job advertising the SS and there wasn't enough variety, I think the Holden Statesman/Caprice would have sold like hotcakes in the US, it's basically an Aussie Cadillac haha
Kade, I think you're right in that if the Holden brand came to the US it would have been a BIG seller. These cars are really that good. And yeah, advertising was poor on the Chevy SS, but a Holden Caprice would have embarrassed a Cadillac here. Maybe that's the real reason it never was brought over. On another note, I am working on a new Caprice video showing the evolution of the Caprice and how it was a luxury Chevrolet brand here in the US from 1966 through 1996. The name was resurrected here from 2011 - 2017 but the PPV should not have been named Caprice as the PPV is a police car and far from being a luxury car. I'm struggling with the video trying that last piece together. Hopefully in a few days I can pull it all together to make a cohesive video. Right now though I'm not sure. -Chris
I look forward to that video Chris :)
Chris, could you help / assist me in getting / obtaining one of these ? You seem to know more about these than just about anyone around....you're the "Go-To-Guy" for these. The Maryland State Police Caprices do not have cage partitions in them. When a MSP Trooper arrest someone, they place them in the front passenger seat (handcuffed, of course). Therefore, the headliners & front seatbacks shouldn't be fubarbed from a partition installation.
The last of the v8 interceptors haha. Would be a fun to covert to a Manuel if possible..
Very good commentary!
Hey man, thanks for checking out my Caprice video and for your comment. -Chris
Just out of curiosity, is there a way to fix it so you can sync your phone to the radio, or do you just have to do without that?
I'm told there is a wire that will plug into the radio box on the Caprice and that wire plugs into the smart phone. Otherwise, radio's can be bought from salvaged Holden's in AUS and shipped to the USA for around $275. Both options are lousy.
a lot of what you think are extras only for the police cars are standard on factory cars here, like full size spare, sports shift , muti directional electric seat positioning etc but the yours are lacking a hell of a lot of luxury items that come standard on an aussie caprice
nice car. congrats. need to upgrade the exhaust to let that ls sing
Would a Chevy dealership work on this if you brought it in? Are the parts the same as other Chevy cars?
Yes they work on them. I've taken mine in to a GM dealer for a few recalls. The guys there love it!!! They typically have never even seen one. But parts are definately available and plentiful. I've ordered plenty of parts from the dealer with no issues.
Are you still seeing 9C3 for sale at that auction? If so which auction? I'm looking for one at the right price.
www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?fa=Main.Item&itemid=13&acctid=7448
I bid on that exact one lol! Great find that’s a rare car
Dude, that's crazy that you were bidding on the same car. There were two that day at the auction and the other sold for $7,900, I think. Both were really nice cars that were owned by the Dept of Justice. Getting this Caprice was a great buy and I haven't seen any others in as nice condition or sell for such a nice price either. -Chris
East Coast Classics I actually bought a 07 Charger in September 2014 from the auction and drove it till February 2018 and sold it and was trying to get a Caprice but the prices got out of budget. I miss that car but I don’t miss the 17 MPG and it was only a 3.5! Keep up the videos I’m binge watching them all, great to see a UA-camr in Delaware.
Hey man, thanks for watching my stuff and thanks for subscribing too. Those Chargers are pretty cool and I'd like to get one soon. There's another State auction this Thurs so I'm hoping to score something there. -Chris
How would you compare this against the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor ? I'm leaning towards the Chevy.
Im sure if you looked around, you could find the Caprice body kit. That way you get a more classier vehicle. And as an Australian, to me this Caprice just looks like a base model, if Holden had ever decided that their luxury sedan would offer a trim level like that here.
Thanks man for checking out my vid and for your comment about the Caprice PPV. And yeah, I agree. This Chevy Caprice is a stripped down version. I even made a video on why it was called a Caprice in the US when the Caprice always stood for the most luxurious Chevy model. Strange they kept the name when either the Biscayne or BelAir would have been more fitting. -Chris
Wait you live in Delaware too??? I am looking into these as well. Good to see someone else found one lol.
Hey man, thanks! I'm in North Wilmington and only really discovered this cars about a year and a half ago. Since then I've been studying auction prices and finally got a good car at a good price this past February. I'm thrilled with my PPV and these cars are the best kept secret out there! -Chris
Just fyi. The pressure stated on the tire is a maximum pressure for that specific tire. The sticker on the door is always 90% close to what you should set the pressure to.
How much these run for at an auction?
Any chance you could get your hands on another caprice ppv for a good deal?
Thanks for checking out my Caprice vid. I'm always looking for good cars at the right price. Jump over to Facebook and search for a group called Chevy Caprice PPV - Owners and Fans. There's always someone selling their Caprice and many times the prices are really good too. Good luck. -Chris
Hi Chris. I've been watching your videos to learn about buying either a Chevy Caprice PPV or a Crown Vic . I reside in the P.G. County, Maryland area. Do you have any advice or can you help me to find the proper vehicle ?
Hey man, thanks for checking out my videos on the Caprice. If you're looking for one I would suggest you check out Capital Auto Auction as they have a location new Wash. D.C. Also, USGovBid also has some auctions in that area too and will occasionally have a Caprice or two show up for sale. Otherwise, GovDeals is the big-dog in the government auction business and is definitely one to look into as well. Either way, good luck with your search.
I’ve been wanting one for so long I seen one on the track with 880 whp but he wrecked it it was getting down and the sound was so American
How did you find the auction?
Hey man, thanks for checking out my video. I've been buying things like cars, TV's and lawn mowers from my State surplus auctions for a few years now. Over the past year or so is when I started videoing it though. Each State, county or town here however handles the sale of their surplus stuff differently so I would recommend you do a Google search to see what comes up in your area. Good luck with it! -Chris
I just saw a Caprice today that had the SLP performance package. It’s supercharged and makes 505hp.
I have been watching your videos recently and they are pretty informative but in most videos you don't mention about milage or fuel consumption
I want to get one of these and swap the top end for Stage 2 862 or Stage 2 243 casting heads, LS6 or Fast intake with a cam or swap in a LS3 or LSA short block with a LSA supercharger. I've never been impressed by LS3 heads on a 4" bore. Too much of the valve is shrouded. The only way I would use a LS3 on a 4" bore was if they were small bore heads. With some small bore LS3 heads and cam I bet it would be a screamer but given the weight it could use more low end torque that with a cathedral port top end would be hard to beat.
Didn’t mention non availability of parts. Are any of the common wear parts available locally or online? Do any of our models in the US have common parts? This is called a Commodore in Australia. Cost of maintenance. Will a dealership work on it?
Hey man, thanks for checking out my Caprice video. Appreciate you watching too. As for parts for the Caprice, I'm finding mechanical parts are easy to get and are affordable too. Everyplace has them from Rockauto to Autozone. No big deal at all. The real problem is with body parts. Trying to find replacement headlights or bumper covers is nearly impossible. And when you do find them they're crazy expensive. Like $1k for new headlights or $800 for a front bumper cover.
hello Sir this car was Built for Australia the caprice is our lux model yes its Australian Holden
Hi thank u for your video very interesting, let me ask u a question, if I need to get parts for this car is true that is expensive? Is easy to find the parts?? I want to get one, I luv this car but all about the imported parts from Australia scare me, the highest prices for fix or changing parts, thank u for your time!!
I worked on too many of these to count lol. That’s NOT an LS2 6.0, it’s an L77 6.0 Flex Fuel. ( looks the same but internally they’re nothing alike)
A little FYI for you.... Never put E85 in it for two reasons 1 awful fuel mileage 2 severely shortens the life of those engines. 3 power loss.
It’s normal for tire pressures on the sidewall to not match the chassis sticker , always refer to the chassis sticker because that’s been calculated for that specific load rate and the tire has just got the ball park or middle range of its load rating.
Those are great cars.... stop using the E85 and it will go 300-400k miles without much of an issue at all, if you take good care of it.
I am generally run them on 98 in Australia. The octane levels available here are 91, 95, 97 and 98.
I agree with Randy, My Holden Berlina V6 can take E85 and only once did I ever fill up with it. The gas mileage was terrible! I run mainly 91 octane with the odd occasion on 98.
THANK YOU! This is not an LS! I'm glad someone said it!
How do you find auctions with police cars like you are buying? Are they open to the public?
Check out the latest video on my channel and I think you'll find it helpful in finding government surplus auctions and buying cars there too. -Chris
Damn you got the caprice I actually want with the g8 center console not the ppv center console with shifter on side
Hey man, thanks for the comment and for checking out my Caprice video. I appreciate that. As for the center console, that's what makes this car pretty special. The 9C3 package also adds carpet and full wheel hubcaps too. Makes for a really classy and nice interior especially for a retired cop car. -Chris
How much cost difference is it for normal ware and tare getting replaced/fixed
Parts are affordable. I do all my own work on mine, so as far as price for labor and whatnot, I can't speak on that, but I've done quite a few things to mine, including buying parts from the dealer. Not bad imo. I hear alot of people say that parts are too expensive, and hard to get, which is complete B.S! Rockauto has all the parts for it too.
I bought a 2012 Caprice PPV and it sounds like crap when idling , runs and drives fine , new mufflers because I was told that was the issue , it's quiter but still sounds like its spitting out the tail pipes , no warning lights on either
L. May
Did you ever find out what was wrong with it?