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Post by Beemer on Feb 9, 2012 17:35:58 GMT 1
Vauxhall have been dumped by Cheshire police as their car of choice in favour of a Korean manufacturer.
Astras made at Ellesmere Port plant have long been used by Cheshire Constabulary as squad cars.
But in a bid to save costs in the wake of Government cuts, all forces in the North West have opted to replace the Vauxhalls with cheaper Hyundais.
The Vauxhall Astra has been used as the force’s main patrol car since being introduced to the police line-up in 1991 when it replaced the Opel Kadett.
At the last count there were 3,500 police liveried Astras on UK roads.
But in 2010 Hyundai was given preferred supplier status alongside Vauxhall for British forces by the National Association of Police Fleet Managers.
A Cheshire police spokeswoman said “ Cheshire Constabulary took part in the mini-tender competition along with the other members of the North West region of forces as guided by the National Policing improvement Agency for the selection of the new beat vehicle.
“The new vehicles are being added to the fleet now in a rolling program and in the next three to four months, Cheshire will have 40 marked Hyundais operational.
The selection of the Hyundai I30 will bring savings of more than £150.000”
From The Runcorn/Widnes Weekly News.
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Post by davel on Feb 9, 2012 17:57:24 GMT 1
Unfortuately this is a trend which has been going on for some time, just look at the ambulances now, the're nearly all Renault or Mercedes. They all trot out the message that it's cheaper than home grown but nobody takes into account the unemployment which may result, just look at Bombardier. They are all government departments and instead of looking in isolation at the individual service the government should realise that it is not good practice to put people on the dole. You wouldn't get French governments buying anything but French equipment would you!! We need to take a leaf out of their book and look after our own.
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Post by jake3 on Feb 9, 2012 18:31:06 GMT 1
French police have Renault, Citoren & Pegeout to pick from, German's have Audi, BMW & Volkswagen. The Italians have Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Lancia. What do we have to choose from Morgan, Bristol, Mclaren & Noble. I can just see the motorway cops in a Bristol Beaufighter or a morgan 4+4. As for Hyundai and Kia I think not, they will be belching blue smoke as they get to 80.000 miles. Don't get taken in with the 7yr warranty either, I remember the airport replaced their Colarado's with Hyundai Santa Fe's and what a heap of junk they turned out to be. They could have had Disco's if spent a little extra.
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Post by davel on Feb 9, 2012 18:44:48 GMT 1
Yes the French and Germans have all them to pick from but so would we had we supported our manufacturers as they do. Ford vans are still made in Southampton and what's wrong with the police using Jaguars or Aston Martins
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Post by jake3 on Feb 9, 2012 19:22:47 GMT 1
davel
I only refered to British makes, jag are indian and Aston were Ford (not sure who owns them now) I think the Transit operation at Southampton is only a screw together job using KD units from elswhere.
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Post by G-PHIL on Feb 9, 2012 20:40:59 GMT 1
It's a joke, no Merseyside Police Helicopter and now Hyundai Cop Cars.
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Post by Biggles on Feb 9, 2012 22:48:52 GMT 1
During my service in the Police Force (not service) I had the unfortunate privilege to use such British Icons as the Morris Minor marked and unmarked  Austin Westminster Rolls Royce 4 litre, Austin 1800, Austin Allegro Sport (the less said about a car that could change lanes whilst changing gear the better) Ford Zodiac and Zephyr, Ford Cortina Mk2 GT and Mk3.4 and 5, Hillman Hunter GT. Morris Marina 1750sport, Vauxhall Viva, Mini 850 and Mini Cooper. Ford Capri 2.8, Rover SDI 3.5. That lost omits all the various Vans and larger vehicles from early Bedfords. BMC Vans, Transits, The only foreign vehicles tended those days to be undercover ones that no body would suspect to be a police one. Now police vehicles tend to be Foriegn, Deisel Powered, Sponsored, and advertising everything connected to the latest Mission Statement or Diversity Aim. They also appear in coats of many colours as ones other than white sell better on second hand market  Things like "Making Merseyside Safe" Hmmmm yeh right ? or similar. Even the Fantastic Air Support Units have been screwed along with the service they give due to cut backs. |
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Post by liverpoolman1 on Feb 10, 2012 9:01:01 GMT 1
This Coalition is forcing every organisation into short term thinking to meet their obsessive short term financial targets. I always thought that governments had a plan to meet the long term needs of the population. Seemingly not. Yes, Germany and France would NEVER countenance such stupid short term thinking. And don't mention the rape of the NHS...............................!!!!
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Hunter
Junior Member
Posts: 88
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Post by Hunter on Feb 15, 2012 16:00:01 GMT 1
without meaning to, I have spotted quite a few i30's around the local area. I didn't think that they would be introduced quite so quickly
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Post by Beemer on Feb 15, 2012 16:57:52 GMT 1
The local plod came to see me the other day about a theft from my home and I asked about the I30. They said they had one delivered and the brakes seized on the first day. Some one also threw a brick through the back window but that can't be blamed on the car, maybe a disgruntled Vauxhall employee. ;D Regards Beemer.
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Post by Biggles on Feb 15, 2012 22:50:41 GMT 1
The fleet is probably on Lease Hire so the returns will vary month by month maybe and will drift in to replace the ones departing. Must be well advanced though as all the signs and radio gear etc needs fitting prior to deployment.
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Post by ronturner on Feb 17, 2012 9:40:13 GMT 1
We should always support home industries. This does not mean blinded jingoism:simply that home made goods should get an extra point in the evaluation process. One of the reasons why Germany is relatively more successful than the rest of us at the moment is because they have maintained traditions of Science, Engineering and Manufacturing. (Sorry about the three dirty words I have used there.)
I do not agree with the police buying imported cars. Its a mistake which will have a long term effect. However, Vauxhaul is no more British than Honda, Toyota or Nissan, all of whom make fantastic cars in Britain and should be supported too.
Only last night I saw on TV that UK motor manufacturers are enjoying increasing production levels which are export led. Right across the board from Honda to Bentley
I remember in the days when the steel industry was about to be privatised, the newly appointed Chief Exec, American, ( McGreggor I think) , suddenly banned the use of company car parks to any worker driving an imported car. The car parks were more than half empty and it caused a bit of a storm. The message was not lost however, when people began to realise that all these steel workers, worried about their jobs, were driving around in a ton of foreign made steel.
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Post by paravion on Feb 22, 2012 20:53:13 GMT 1
Koreans doing well , just read on the net the MOD latest contract for tankers(ships) has gone to Dawoo shiping 452million...
Brian.....
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Post by speedbird1960 on Mar 4, 2012 0:43:02 GMT 1
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2012 9:37:07 GMT 1
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Austin Westminster Rolls Royce 4 litre, Austin 1800, Austin Allegro Sport (the less said about a car that could change lanes whilst changing gear the better) Ford Zodiac and Zephyr, Ford Cortina Mk2 GT and Mk3.4 and 5, Hillman Hunter GT.
