It's not the crooks getting away that was a problem. (They still can't outrun the radio.)
The problem was that the chase would go on for miles with a line of cop cars behind the perp car, simply because the CV never had enough HP to get out in front of it. And because the pursuit took forever and day, there could be a string of collateral damage behind it. (Turn on any COPS episode from 10 or more years ago.)
I think the LE argument for the Chargers was the same as the argument for better firearms some 20 years before: we need at least as much as the bad guys have.
“I think the LE argument for the Chargers was the same as the argument for better firearms some 20 years before: we need at least as much as the bad guys have.”
Nope. Full size four door sedan. Not much choice in that category. Most are now going SUV.
The police spec car is only 370 hp, slightly more than a four cylinder Mustang.
Ford stopped building the Crown Vic in 2011 due to govt fleet fuel economy mandates. So the Dodge was the one remaining rwd sedan. Experience has shown that a unibody chassis is not robust for police usage and the suspension does not hold up well. Ford pushed a Taurus fwd unibody police offering that did not do well either.
So due to poor reliability/durability a lot of buys now (at least here in the midwest) are Tahoes and Explorers. Which the cops like because of the room inside, although there’s a penalty in purchase cost, fuel economy, and handling due to the higher center of gravity.