[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]

While I haven't completely matted it from a stopsign, I've mashed pretty hard on it, then realized I was only about 3/4 throttle when it upshifted. It launches pretty hard, considering the gearing, and gets moving in a hurry. The 1-2 shift, IIRC, though, was north of 40 MPH.

A friend went for a ride along in a 2013 model, and was amazed at how stiff the chassis seemed to be for a 'standard GM' car. He's a die-hard GM owner, driving a 3rd Gen Camaro, so he knows about 'flexible flyers'. He said they hit the speed limiter (154 MPH) in about 1-1/4 mile.

We picked it up from a company in Florida called 'Cop Cars Online'. It's the second car we bought from them, getting a '10 Tahoe PPV last year (I REALLY have to stop visiting that web site). We got it for ~$16K, plus $650 to have it shipped from Florida to Texas. All pretty painless, with the exception of the hit to the bank account.