[CrashTestDummy]

I gotta stop doing this, but I couldn't resist. I've kind of had my eye on the latest version of the Caprice 9C1 since they first announced them. After talking a bit with one of the driving instructors at the Houston Police Academy, and hearing a friend rave about the ride he got in one to the speed limiter, well that sealed the deal.

I was kind of also looking at the new Chevrolet SS, but the $40K+ price tag was putting me off. Then, this example showed up:

(IMG:http://images57.fotki.com/v139/photos/5/1331095/10081187/frontdrcorner-vi.jpg)

It's a 2012 9C1. It's a retired car, so it has some mileage and scrapes and scratches, but it runs great, handles well, and should, for a while at least, get better mileage then my current 96 Impala SS DD. I was specifically looking for a 2011 or 2012, because GM went with some odd shifter stalk that grew out of the dash in 2013. Not sure what the big idea was there, but they wanted to get the shifter off the console, and there's stalks coming out both sides of the column.

The current plan is to fix what's broken/missing, do some mild upgrades in the engine compartment and suspension, and just enjoy. I'll add long tubes, and a better-breathing exhaust, maybe an intake, CAI, but I'm also thinking of a bit more cam. I'd also like to install a converter so this thing comes off the line a bit better. It really woke up the 96, and there are some nice converter choices out there that still lock up. I'd then add coil-overs to get the car a bit lower, maybe some '13 Camaro RS 19" wheels, and swaybars. It handles well now, I think taking a little out of the suspension, and adding some bigger sway bars will only help.

Since the shop is now full, we're thinking about selling our 95 9C1 Impala SS clone, and/or our 95 Z28 LT4/M6 convertible. So if you know anyone who's looking.....

[CrashTestDummy]

They come with 235-50X18s, which while kind of narrow, fill the wheel wells. At least the fronts do. Hopefully some different struts will help the space issue. The diff is a 2.96, or some such ratio. Luckily, the Gen V Camaro diff is a bolt-in update. Not sure I'd do that, though, I kind of like the long legs of that highway gear.

Surprisingly, our 95 9C1 really hasn't done that well mileage-wise. I probably got a best of about 18 MPG out of it. It's nothing like our 95 SS, which is an upper-20's MPG car on the highway. I'm hoping for at least that well. The few times I've actually gotten out to drive the car, and I haven't been easy, already has the car posting ~20 MPG, so that's nice. It runs very well, although I haven't timed any 0-60, or 1/4 mile times. We may do that if I get time to hit the drag strip, but the plan is to have this as a fun street car, and have it take over the foul-weather autocross tasks, so I'll be updating the suspension to help there.

Someone's already brought a '12 9C1 to a local event, but we definitely plan to autocross it, just for fun. Maybe the other guy will be there too, and we can have a little friendly competition with ex-cop cars. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/2thumbs.gif)