The BEST & WORST Traffic Cars | Retired Police Interceptor
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- čas přidán 29. 04. 2021
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Hi, this is Ben from Police Interceptors. Welcome to my new CZcams channel where I will be sharing stories from my time in the police and from recording with Channel 5's Police Interceptors.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments, I will answer them in future videos. We have a lot more content to come.
Twitter: / bs_pearson
These videos were created and produced by Josh Gudgeon & his team at Get Your Media.
For more information visit his CZcams channel: / joshgudgeon
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"It couldn't pull t' skin off custard."
That's a fantastic phrase I've never heard before!
You do know sarcasm is the lowest form of wit
Sounds like my last STD test.
@@bettyswollocks7683 Still wit though!
Or off a rice pudding.
We have a different saying in Scotland but let's keep it clean 🤣
Never heard anyone speak so highly of a Vectra. 😂
Lol 😂
When you're a highly trained pursuit driver I guess you can get the most out of any car. And public roads are different to the track.
I had a 54 plate Vectra 3.2 GSi for a year. While it was not much to look at inside or out, it was comfortable for long periods, but importantly the suspension and overall handling was well fettled and it gripped like a limpet, and would actually do a real 160, without floating.
Cus they where cheap and easy to repair when there crashed .
Had one briefly, you can essentially straightshift from 1st to 2nd, then on into 3rd at 70mph with the wheels spinning the whole time, fighting the torquesteer. Utterly mad cars. Shite, but mad.
I had the pleasure of starting Police Interceptors way back in 2005 as the Inspector in charge of the team. It was a petrol heads dream!. A blank sheet of paper to get whatever cars I wanted. We had a fantastic relationship with ProDrive and Mitsubushi, so had all the various evos and scoobys including the Limited GB270... now GB268 as we wrote them off!. We also had an Audi RS6 and Honda NSX to play with !!...but the public never knew that....A fantastic team of dedicated officers who were the best in the business at catching criminals. Essex too had a plain Vectra and a plain 3 series....looked like battered pieces of crap but went like stink!...who would have known interceptors would be so popular...and a little known fact about the name....we called them interceptors after the black car driven by Mad Max !!!!!
Well, if you want to be pedantic they were all interceptors but the black ones were "Pursuit Special"s
Could you not justify a '73 Ford Falcon?
An NSX? Please, tell us more !
@@frazerguest2864 When Police Interceptors became quite a thing in Essex, so there was more interaction with the car cruiser scene which had become massive. Car companies were throwing cars at us. Honda offered a bright red NSX. We were never going to say no to that!. It was striped up with magnetic removable graphics and a set of blue lights so we could use it operationally. The looks we got at traffic lights were ridiculous!. Two cops in a new NSX super car. It sounded fantastic. It was only bettered by the bright yellow Lambo Diablo!. .
@@paulmoor595 : Cheers Paul.
I’ve seen the pictures in the motoring press of marked-up Lotus Esprits, Lamborghinis etc, but I just assumed they were used for PR.
Was the NSX and it’s like ever used operationally ?
@@frazerguest2864 No it was used in a full operational capacity during its time. It was always deployed with other more standard cars. Unfortunately we only had that for a few months over a summer, but a great experience and fantastic sounding car at high revs!.
I served in the Met. I loved the Ford Fiestas, small car, wasn’t a response vehicle but those little cars were like a go cart, and around the back streets there was no beating them. In a straight line they bottomed out at a pretty low speed tbh. It was Mario Carts, and I whipped the $hit out of some of the more powerful vehicles purely because they were so small and narrow, and you could whip a 180 handbrake turn in fractions of a second. I’m glad my policing days are behind me, but they were such a blast too. I have regrets in life, but my time in the Met isn’t included.
Back in the 60s they used Mini Cooper S 1275s which would only do about 95, although v few cars back then handled as well or went above 90 apart from Jags and Lotus Cortinas
you sound exactly like the kind of dickhead that we have come to expect in the traffic police. grow up.
Nice to hear the vectra being praised. As a Vauxhall employee I had a few vectra 's on the lease scheme and was always happy to drive them. We also had the signum which was a slightly stretched vectra not astra. Great video and thanks for sharing.
I think every fleet has a "Christine". 😃
That’s so true about looking after your cars (or motorbikes) and they’ll look after you (to a point).
You never fail to cheer me up, no matter how bad my day has been. Thankyou Ben 💛
Ben.... I can't express how grateful I am that you are willing to share the stories and feeling that you have, the emotions and feelings you share, it's great to see someone opening up. I have always wanted to be a police officer but never taken the plunge and not really sure how to go about it. The human face you put on your "character " I hope changes the opinion of the Police to some people. Which makes them a bit more thoughtful when interacting with Officer's. We are all people. Anyway take care and keep up the content. If you're ever near Cardiff and we are allowed to meet people I'll be happy to get you a drink of your choice. Thank you Ben
Good to hear your stories and see you smiling Ben 👍
You always cheer me up. Just read your book. You have been through so much but great to see you laughing. Thank you Ben.
Among the cars we had in the late 80s/early 90s in the Traffic Department in Tayside Police, were Vauxhall Senators, firstly the 12 valve and latterly the 24 valve ones. They were great cars, very quick and responsive and comfortable to drive. Least favourite one was a Sierra Cosworth, too low to the ground and you felt every little bump. Most noticeable change for me nowadays is the sheer volume of traffic on the road now, compared to then. I don’t know what the figures are, but I think people of my age will particularly notice it.
The Senators were beasts and I remember the fear they instilled in motorists when I was a kid. After the Omega no more Australian/American type cheap and cheerful police cars for us in the UK. Just pathetic lease deal special Panda cars or expensive luxo barges.
Another great video Ben. The V70 might be a slow car on the road but can't beat it for practicality!!!! Very useful for musicians who have huge musical instruments to lug about!!
You can always spot someone who knows nothing about engines because their cars spotless 😊
Another brilliant video n lovely to hear the 1.4 astra mark 3 mentioned, can't wait for next one ❤️
1.7 turbo diesel Astra that had been to the moon and back, it was my car and I looked after it. It was then replaced with a new 306 d turbo that handled like a roller skate. I did my advanced but none of them cars brought a smile to my face like those two. Love the stories and I can relate to it all. Thanks for showing the human side of bobbying.
Loving your videos Ben and i wish there were more Police like you, down to earth and genuine is a rare quality these days, great Stories.
Great to see your latest tale! Sinergy between man and Christine! Bless you, 💕
I remember the good ol VXR days, you are completely right it had a certain kudos about it with that beast of a V6. P.S always scrum for the keys.
Came upon this 39 seconds after uploading, with 1 other view ! Really enjoy your candid and very interesting uploads. This one no different so far , a car called Christine 😂 Best wishes in all you do. Thanks for ... being you!
You know what, how much of sound guy is Ben seriously! Id buy this guy a pint in a heart beat! Keep telling your stories mate🤙
👍🏻👊🏻
Have a good weekend Ben and people!
Awesome Ben thanks for another great vid! Idea for next video, can you talk us through the internals of the car, what all the tech does, buttons, what are the rules around lights and sirens? Much love x
After watching Interceptors my 7 year old daughter loved meeting you Ben at the Supercar meet Baildon a couple of years ago, she was so impressed sitting in the 330D Touring sounding the siren and trying a hat on,what a good day that was. I'm not sure if any of the film crew footage was used that day though.
Another video that i loved your such a great story teller, and sound effects . I laugh too . Thanks Ben you made my week . X
I know what you mean about that engine, I have drive a few of the 2.8T Saab that uses the same engine as the VXR Vectra, has so much torque, actually only a single twin scroll turbo.
Love your videos, and feel very greatful for all the Police out there that put there life's on the line. I think I speak for everyone here, that we are all eternally greatful!
From the outside looking in, the X5 looks like a right beast. Another brilliant video also :)
When I started we had Ford escorts, truly a hateful car, rotating blue light and no siren (only traffic cars had sirens), last car i drove was a Volvo S60R response car, it was rapid machine and drank fuel like a rabid alcoholic. Definitely right about the V6 Vauxhall’s they were epic.
I had a Vectra VXR as an allocated car whilst at Heckmondwike, I agree with you Ben, a great traffic car. I also thought that the MK 1 Skoda Octavia VRS was a brilliant traffic car whilst I was at Toller Lane but they were a little bit fragile and were destroyed by all the speed bumps in the area.
PSNI wagon in the thumbnail. Class
Hi Ben, I received you book the other and just started reading it looking forward to reading the rest xx
Ben all the best for the future, as a fellow vectra 2.8 v6 special driver i can concer they were awesome and thank God I didn't need to pay for the fuel.
*concur
People like you really make me feel more comfortable with police keep up the great content!
I remember going to R.T.C. when I was in the fire service and the traffic officer turning up in his BMW saying he'd felt the back end twitching in the wet just as you said.
Another quality video lads 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Vxr veccy were spot on, I was Impressed with the torque more than anything' after that I moved on to a Golf r32' a m3 and now my most sensible a A class Amg line oh and my overlander D2 landy.
Must be gutting for you not in the pursuit game anymore. I always used to think that Traffic Bobby's had the best Job in the world' that is without the visuals they had to see.
Best wishes and thanks for that interview.
As a trucker it is the same scenario as yours Ben as a new driver you always get the bag of spanners...makes you appreciate the better ones later on in your career.
It sometimes works in our favor though, the bag of spanners I was given was an Actros with close to 1 million miles on it obviously it crapped out within a matter of months and I ended up with a brand new rental truck. The rental truck I got given was a Volvo FH16 with almost all the options ticked that was a lovely couple of weeks.
@@armchairgeneralissimo Nice One
Those vectra VXR's sound fantastic. I had an astra vxr and my friend had the vectra vxr. Great fun
Your looking happier in every video. Good to see. Best wishes mate.
*You're
More great vids, hope there’s a lot more to come 😊
Hope Ben's getting better, keep telling your stories mate and having a laugh you will get through things wish him well.
Just love all your videos so happy when i see a new one is up keep it up your amazing!!!!
*you're
Keep these coming Ben!
The Vectra!!! Big yes, we had a proper 'stealth bomber' that everyone fought over. 2.8 twin turbo auto estate. It was the dogs doo dahs. No, I'm not or ever could have been a traffic officer. We used to supply training cars to Northumbria up at Ponteland. Happy days indeed. I've had all kinds over the years, Porsche, Ferrari, Merc, BMW and Mustang but I still need a Vectra twin turbo for the collection.
Thank you for the recollection
I'm a simple man I see a new video, I watch.
Anybody that has worked within a company that has a 'fleet' knows what Ben means about the jalopy 😆 Absolutely spot on description mate 👍 If you are a 'driver' you know your vehicles, you know which one(s) feel(s) right, and you KNOW which ones to try and avoid like the plague! I have been into work an hour earlier before, just to get the better vehicle! Another fantastic video Ben. Nice to see you pushing forward with this 👌👊💙
Still reading your book and it reads well, but I have to read it in small doses, as the journey you are on has the same travel agent as mine 😉 In these videos you seem to becoming more relaxed, its nice to see.
Really interesting,thanks for that
Another great video Ben
Love these stories. Watched you on TV for years and always wanted to see a more behind the scenes type thing. This is perfect! Notifications on looking forward to future episodes!
You need nowadays faster cars to keep up with all the fast fleeing cars. You see sometimes they going into the field, and the police cars can not always follow them, witch car is the best to chassing in the field? Good story again Ben and Josh, thanks, have a great weekend. looking forward to another video of you when you looking at old episodes, with your own comments.
This reminded of when my husband got stopped for speeding in my Mums Lada ! The policeman's words were are we in a rush sir ? Well yes Woolworths have just got some Tracey islands in , wonder how many times all that was retold:) keep them coming best thing about fridays .
Tracy Islands.😂😂😂
Awesome Ben
Fascinating insight into the traffic cops life..... Christine makes me smile 👍
Once again, you look and sound like you're having fun. Enjoy the weekend.
Wow…. I even pre-empted the rotating beacon noise as well before you done it 🤣, that brought back some memories and yes it was a Jam Sandwich as well🙌🏼.
Respect this incredible job 🚓 just thanks for doing it love driving but know so much more 👮🏻♂️
Rolling!!! Have probably driven all the same cars more or less. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It’s great to see all forces have the same ‘issues’.
My memories are built around the sunny streets of London mostly with a sprinkling of Gwent.
Talking of fun....pursuit in an X5, middle of winter, going through roundabouts....very interesting....by that I mean arse twitching! Lol!!!
Thanks again Ben.
Ben much respect mate I find your vids inspirational your so right getting bad times off your chest by talking about it. Im with you on that...
*you're.
Loving the content Ben!
I really do like the Vectra VXRs as well especially the look of them great video also!
Volvo V/XC70s were my favourite, absolutely the best seats for being sat in for extended periods, and I didn't find them particularly slow as a regular V, the XC was a little more sluggish. The only car I would have preferred over them would have been my personal Saab 95 HOT Aero which was even more comfortable, and felt much quicker. Although I didn't have quite the same weight in regularly as a duty vehicle.
Brilliant Ben absolutely brilliant. I love traffic cars within the police. I think my favourite is the BMW X5. Ik most of the X5s are ARVs but some are used as Traffic cars. Brilliant machines. Fantastic vid Ben absolutely loving your stories of your experiences serving in the police 🇬🇧💪👍
I love Bens descriptions, “couldn’t pull the skin off custard”, classic😂.
I had a Saab 93 V6, basically the Vectra VXR but in a party frock. Can definitely confirm, they drive so much better than you’d think.
Ben you are such a nice guy and that's coming from a fellow yorkshireman.
The force is lost without you so genuine and funny
Hooray Ben!
Brilliant, thank you :)
Bought an ex police xdrive 30d about 18 months ago….minus the little bumps and knicks inside it’s an absolute machine, I can see why you lads used them 🥵🥵 👍👍👍
What mileage?
Love the stories Ben, watched an episode of traffic cops with you on it lastnight mate... what’s your thought of when Essex police had the Subaru’s and evos they were sick cars
Great content bro💪💪
Great insight as always Ben.
It's true, that certain vehicles seem to have something within them.
I had 3 brand new cars of the same type in a row the second was literally leathal, it was invisible on the road, I kid you not, I had so many pull outs, 3 maybe 4 side glances on dual carriageways motorways and a woman pulled out right into the side of it taking out the whole near side...I was certain it would be written off, but the insurance repaired it I'd had it just over a year and traded it in for a new one.
On the good side, I've had 3 cars that really looked after me, one skidded through a multicar motorway crash in Germany weaving between all the other vehicles whilst locked up, driving it was like having a sixth sense.
In Bosnia, it was a V8 Landrover 127. I just knew we'd be alright in that wagon.
Iraq it was bizarrely an open top land-rover, no armour, completely exposed and my belt strapped to the rollover bar as I'd be standing in the back providing top cover.
I just knew I'd be safe in that wagon, I hated the Snatch, it was a bullet magnet mine felt like it had an invisible shield around it.
Loving the vid Ben, I hope your keeping well PTSD is a difficult thing to live with.
Winston Churhill suffered from his time in WW1, he referred to it as his "black dog".
I have a black dog, it follows me around"
Peace
Charlie 🇬🇧
Ive watched a lot of your programs on tv over the years and as much as I enjoyed some of the series I didn`t like them all and was amazed sometimes when officers would chase after a car, eventually stop the car with a TPAC and while an officer was pulling the driver out the drivers door other officers would be smashing the rear windscreen with batons and shouting " GET OUT THE CAR " did make laugh.
You're mentioning cars from an era when I did traffic policing. Our Highway Patrol units in most of Australia were either the 6.0L V8 SS Commodore (Holden) or a V8 5.0L or turbo 6 Ford Falcon. I couldn't imagine driving something as small as a Vectra.
Ayy up Ben have a good bank holiday weekend,see you next time
Great vids! Great insight into what actually happens, plus can you tell me what shoes they are 😂
My dad is a former traffic cop.
He also loved the 2.8 vectra.
Personally I never really saw the attraction of them but I'd love to have a go of one, see what the attraction is.
Out on instructors course passed a North York’s marked Proton which was static in our unmarked T5
Proton gave chase ( for about 20seconds)
Addios proton
Keep up the stories Ben
Excellent stuff
sort out your grammar
In my time in the Irish police you never got to choose your car - you were detailed for a specific car. In Limerick we only had two in our station - think it was tango 51 (T51) or T52. Usually (1980's) it was a 1.6L Cortina and later a Sierra or Montego with the odd Toyota Carina. They used to get new cars every year back then. We also had some dogs of cars - I recall tourists laughing at us (5 gardai) in a Renault 4 rushing to a row or the time I was chasing a car in a fucking Yaris - the biggest POS cars ever. The Vectra's were my favourite Garda cars too. I was so impressed with those I bought a new one as my own private car. We also had a plethora of smaller cars - corollas, Mazda 323's, a few Maestro's and Fiesta's. The traffic corps usually had the nicest cars. 2.0GL Cortinas and high spec vectra's while the plain cloths special task force had unmarked blue Ford Granada's which were as obvious as hell they were garda cars with all the aerials and the Dublin reg numbers. Probably the best garda car I had in my career was the 2012 Ford Focus estate we had. Glad I am not around now with all the Hyundies they are using - I know I would have hated those.
I remember in the early 80,s some detectives in Dublin had Renault 18 turbos, very rare though.
Another great insight into the interceptor life. Mk2 escorts, Talbot avengers, mk4 escorts, mk 3 fiestas, the ubiquitous astra and the god awful Peugeot diesels were my relatives vehicles. I still think the political parties should unite and bring a law in that says the manufacturers of high performance stuff should supply a percentage to the police. Obvs not a mclaren etc, but the obvious high performance ford's, bms, vauxs and the vag stuff which you used to spend alot of the time chasing. Look forward to seeing the next one. Best wishes, be careful. Ben 🚍🚌🚓🚔🚓🇬🇧👍
The Vectra B 2.5 was my christine I absolutely loved that car it looked like something out of robocop and sounded like thunder, everything just moved out of your way when you were behind them whether you were on a call or not
Awesome car.
Ben. The funniest thing when you said. Well i am a nut job, i have issues. Is so relateable, i say it a lot 😂😂 your not alone mate. You had some great fun before it took over. Love the vids!!
I've got a mk3 astra van, it's a 3.2 v6 conversion out the vectra c, I think you might approve listening to this.... he's called brutus x
When he claimed people were looking at a shitty slabby sided Vectra and thinking “that’s a mean car” I was confident enough to disregard the rest of the video and bail out. Numpty. 😂
Come on the Mr expert! Give me more 😂😂😂 what should it have been? What’s mean?
Please everyone watching, buy Ben's absolutely amazing book. I've just finished it and it's truly a work of art. Incredibly gripping but also the most honest account possible. For the price it's an absolute must read.
What's it called?
Great video as per👍 I think you need to go buy a christine and go to Santa pod. Can see how much you miss your job and the awesome driving. Keep these videos coming there fantastic 😎😎👍
Brillant have a great weekend big hugs ❤️
Wonderful!
There is always one officer at a station that will come in 20 minutes early to get the best car😂
Senator 24v was fast apparently. My grandad was in a shop and overheard a copper saying he had pulled 150mph in it hahah. 204bhp 3.0l brand new at the time
Thanks for the effort in making the video Ben, greatly appreciate the stories, have watched interceptors since the start, and I don't actually think I have missed an episode! Keep up the great work 🙂
Them vrx vectras was insane, like a big road sleeper blowing stones as you fly past
As a Vectra fan boy 👋... to hear that the VXR was your favourite, was great!
Shame he called it a Twin Turbo though.
I had an ex traffic car,was an E39 3.0 turbo diesel manual and it was a beast
Excellent video
Man, I remember the old Vectras. I loved them, even if I did gripe about the horrible indicator stalk!
Such great cars.
A Ford Capri 2.8 Injection....used in my force area (Greater Manchester Police) back in the day or a Rover 3500 SD1, largely used by the Metropolitan Police in London but West Yorkshire Police also had them (I believe) - you’d get motorists willing to enforce the rules of the road no problem! 😉
Another good one buddy!, You made it through some crap! Lol
It was mk2 Escorts with the pale blue and white paint job that I remember as a young lad. Supposedly, some police cars were delivered in the blue and some in white so to make them stand out, they swapped doors and bonnets etc and came up with the mixed colour schemes. Traffic units didn’t really exist back then but my first recollection of a traffic car was the Rover SD1 which we also called jam sandwiches - our local ambulance service used the same Buick derived V8 3.5 engine in its Range Rovers and they sounded great! TVR bored them out to five litres and got 340 BHP from them in their sports cars. Can’t remember what came after those but I do recall Vauxhall Senators not long after that. I remember seeing Essex police using Escort Cossies (very apt!) then it spiralled into Subarus and Evos and the true interceptor cars.