Police spec XF goes on duty

Taxes

Now i know where all that money i pay in taxes is going. It pleases me to know that at least the bottoms of the Midlands police force will be cushioned on our pothole riddled roads.

Might i suggest that this is a slight misappropriation of taxpayers money?

By oliver144 on 1 May, 2010, 8:49pm

Oliver, I think that your comments are a bit shortsighted.

*The police will have obtained these cars at a greatly discounted price.

*Jaguar will receive increased sales as a result of this business link (just as volvo did with the T5), thus maintaining jobs within the UK and helping our struggling economy

*What alternative manufacturer would you suggest ?

By falconmick on 2 May, 2010, 1:49pm

Mick,

Firstly i fail to see how the Jaguar brand will obtain an increase in prestige and hence sales by a link with the police force. Maybe you would aspire to drive a car because it is driven by the police force but you would be in the minority. Personally i would think that the opposite would be the case.

As for alternatives, why not the fantastic Skoda Superb or maybe even the Vauxhall Insignia. Both of which are equally as practical, reliable, and economical but at a significantly lower cost to the taxpayer.

By oliver144 on 2 May, 2010, 7:56pm

Taxes

Perhaps the cost is a fair question ot ask under the Freedom of Information Act?

By markiesla on 4 May, 2010, 7:12am

I just hope they are more reliable than my S-Type 2.7D.

By dilbert1969 on 4 May, 2010, 8:35am

As always, people with opinions on a subject they know little about.
Midland police will have been offered these at a greatly discounted rate. Residual's should be good to, meaning they well be sold close to what they were bought for.
Manufacturers are keen to offer cars to the police as, they will only use cars with proven reliability, safety etc etc. This is why it is good for a companies image and Sales.
Put a freedom of information request in, you'll see for yourself. But of course someone has to be employed to reply to these requests. That person will cost the police more than than any car year on year...

By Doris on 4 May, 2010, 11:11am

What an honour to be stopped by a British cop in a Jag. What an insult to be stopped by a British cop in a beeeeeema. Well done the Midlands Police, for spending our money in our country.

By Rulebrit on 4 May, 2010, 6:43pm

Doris

Doris,

Is Jaguar the only manufacturer that offers discounts to the Police force? Your statement suggests that this is the case as it would seem your justification is based upon the cost of a discounted Jaguar against the full retail cost of any other vehicle.
Apologies for disagreeing with the only person qualified to comment, but Doris, I fail to see how a £33000+ car with a discount of approximately 55% shall be more economically viable to the taxpayer than a car that retails at half that amount with the same rate of discount applied.

I have used the discount rate of 55% based upon Glasses residual value of an XF 3.0 Diesel with no more than 60,000 miles retaining 45% of its original value, therefore they shall be sold close to what they were bought for. As these cars are designated for use by the traffic police, I think it's fair to say that they shall cover far more than 60,000 miles; the dash shall be the mounting surface for additional police equipment such as the secondary calibrated speedometer; the paintwork shall be in less than perfect condition after the removal of the transfers that have been attached for three years; they will have been driven in the same manner as the people they chase - there is a reason why police vehicles sell for approximately 50% of their residual value after three years.

Proven reliability? How long has this 3.0l diesel been on the market for?

Reputation & image: How many fatalities are caused directly as the result of a police chase per year? How many accidents are caused directly by police driving a vehicle?
Jaguar has a reputation built upon on class, quality and motoring heritage, attributes that cannot be affiliated with the police.

I think the police, their 'civilian' employees and supporters should use their limited intelligence and finance at addressing the reduction of crime rather than splashing out taxpayers money on lavish vehicles.

Rulebrit: Nick Griffin eagerly awaits your vote and TATA of India would like to thank you for supporting their overseas car manufacturing business.

By MrWhat101 on 4 May, 2010, 9:02pm

MrWhat101

It is very very offensive to be accused of beeing a BNP voter, and if only your immense, 'unlimited inteligence' could spot a supporter of the British car worker, even if they are in the pay of the Indians, then you would be a little less uptight. Just chill out a bit and if you ever need the cops in a rush, I hope they drive very carefully to be at your side. TATA for now.

By Rulebrit on 5 May, 2010, 12:44am

MrWhat101

It is very very offensive to be accused of beeing a BNP voter, and if only your immense, 'unlimited inteligence' could spot a supporter of the British car worker, even if they are in the pay of the Indians, then you would be a little less uptight. Just chill out a bit and if you ever need the cops in a rush, I hope they drive very carefully to be at your side. TATA for now.

By Rulebrit on 5 May, 2010, 12:47am

Sir Sidney Ruff-Diamond

@oliver144 ... Would you rather have the Midlands Police spend their pre-agreed budget on a German executive car than on a Jaguar that whilst not now British-owned is in all other ways entirely British?
@MrWhat101 ... Ditto, and don't accuse people of being bigots for simply wishing their own people would once more stick up for their own country, just like the Germans do, ie, they buy their own vehicles in droves, including their police forces. Pratt !

By sirsidneyruffdiamond on 5 May, 2010, 2:53am

British?

Sidney,

You are being ridiculous. How much are your personal everyday purchasing decisions affected by the country of manufacture of a particular product? Not very much i would suggest! We now live in a global market with global products. Even the French have started to buy cars other than their own because they have realised that they can get a better product for their cash elsewhere.

No- the key here is to achieve the best value possible for the British taxpayer. This will not be achieved through the purchase of these Jaguars as there are some far better value alternatives that i have suggested in my previous post.

By oliver144 on 5 May, 2010, 12:35pm

Why Jag

If you read the article it mentions the residual value of the XF is high, TRUE if they were to put a fleet of Vauxhalls Insignias on then yes they are less to buy but drop value like a brick in water. The Skoda is a fantastic value for money car granted but it’s not British...... It’s about time that the UK forces replaced their 5 series and Volvo's for a British alternative. I think you need to look at the statement the Police are making by choosing the Jag when times are hard..... You don't see German Police driving Jags or Swedish Police driving Skoda's...... At the end of the day by the time you way up the residual value and the deal they got on the Jags it would probably make financial sense and let’s face it do you think they didn't way up the cost of getting new Volvo's and BMW's? Yep so the Jag obviously replicates a good buy for the Midland Police..... Good on them I say and let’s hope other forces follow suite......

By JonnyB on 6 May, 2010, 10:15am

Ruff Sydney

Sydney,

Justifying the lavish purchase of an executive car based upon it's agreeable source of origin is just plain ridiculous - you have completely missed the point.
You state to Oliver144: Would you rather have the Midlands Police spend their pre-agreed budget on a German executive car than on a Jaguar..? - this whole debate is based upon the police forces decision to spend taxpayers money on an executive vehicle, not the origin of the executive vehicle, which so far is your justification for its purchase.
There are plenty of other alternative vehicles, manufactured in the UK at a far more agreeable price if economics and country of origin is your concern. If it's economics and who built the car or where it came from is not your over-ruling concern, then as Oliver144 stated, there are far more options available.
My concern is that this excess money that is being wasted on executive luxuries could be chanelled to perhaps preventing crime?
The residual arguament is a poor justification that the police has used to convince the easily persuaded.
The residuals were based upon a standard car, 3 years old with less than 60k on the clock. Figures that will be surpassed by any police vehicle.
If the police had to apply to an independant governement department for the funds to purchase these executive vehicles, I doubt very much that we'd see any Jaguars or other execuctive toys with flashing blue lights again.
Channelling savings made towards further training of officers may be perhaps a start at decreasing their attrocious safety records and prevent families having to mourn relatives who have been killed at the wheel of a public servants vehicle.

By MrWhat101 on 6 May, 2010, 8:15pm

JOKE

Is this a joke or what?

In the magazine it states that the police could buy a fleet of vauxhall insignias for the price of that jag, then do it! The police might not be as botherd about hooded youths or erratic cars scratching the paint work then.

Honestly the police in my area are already a joke, news like this just means they will continue to be a joke. I once got stopped by a police man who said i had no break lights (0/3), I got out and checked.... there was only one light out. He wrote me a ticket, great work! Another time two police cars (4 officers) watched a large (15+) gang of youths run over the bonnets and roofs of at least 6 cars and the police did nothing, those kids caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.I would have gone over an confronted the police but then they would just pick on me another time.

This new jag should have a big "£" on the bonnet because all its going to be doing is waiting a few miles out of a traffic jam and pulling over those motor way users doing 80mph.

By JamesA on 26 May, 2010, 10:32pm