Indianapolis police detectives get Toyota Camry Hybrids to drive
Police detectives in Indianapolis will soon be tooling around to crime scenes using considerably less fuel. The city has purchased 85 Toyota Camry Hybrids for use by the department. The cars won't be used for pursuit purposes since, frankly, any Camry would be wildly inappropriate for that task. The primary reason for choosing the Camry was its 33 mpg EPA city fuel economy rating which is expected to save the city a significant amount in operating costs.
The choice of the Camry is not without controversy however. The city also considered the Chevrolet Malibu hybrid which was offered at a price $1,700 less than the $25,770 being paid for the Toyotas. Penske Chevrolet is protesting the choice but city officials have said the decision is based primarily on the mileage advantage of the Camry over the Malibu, which is rated at 26 mpg city.
[Source: Indianapolis Star]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ev0sonic 10:55AM (12/12/2008)
i think it's great that they're doing that. Also, kudos to Ford for getting 40+ MPG out of their new Fusion design. Awesome.
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andrichrose 10:59AM (12/12/2008)
It could also be due to the fact that the Toyotas
will not fall to bits in the first five years !
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Mitch 11:21AM (12/12/2008)
They should buy 40mpg Ford Fusions instead of 33mpg Toyota Camry. Indianapolis better not ask for any bailouts when things get worse it they are not going to buy American made.
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Richard in FL 12:20PM (12/12/2008)
Mitch, if I understand your logic correctly, Indianapolis shouldn't ask for bailout money UNLESS they waste their budget on less fuel efficient cars? Or is this a Mafioso pay-to- play comment? If the Camry saves money by consuming less fuel, why would they spend money on a less efficient car? I'm assuming you'll file for bankruptcy yourself if this comment reflects how you handle your finances. On the other hand, I assume that you were talking about patriotism and that Indianapolis should support the American way. But isn't the Camry built in America? Then Indianapolis would still be patriotic since many Americans are hired at the plant where the Camry is built.
Mitch 12:59PM (12/12/2008)
Richard in FL, Ford Fusion gets about 6mpg better than the Camry and should be out in a few more months and can go 47mph on electric only. Ford Escape hybrid is out now and is relatively close to the Camry in price and MPG.
We have only our selves to blame for the current/coming US economic collapse. It will cost them more for those Camrys in the long run as it will all of us for not supporting our local economies.
rob 2:38PM (12/12/2008)
Mitch,
I think the reason Indy went with Camrys is that Camrys are made about 50 miles away in Lafayette Indiana (or Georgetown Kentucky or soon in Princeton Indiana). I believe the American Ford Fusion is made in Hermosillo Mexico.
Chris M 3:20AM (12/13/2008)
They might have gone with the Ford Fusion hybrid, except it wasn't available when they made the purchase plan.
The Camry hybrid is available now and has been on the market for some time, with an excellent reliability rating.
Dan 11:25AM (12/12/2008)
They probably should have waited the couple months until the Fusion does come out... better mpg and American Co.
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eliot 5:54PM (12/12/2008)
The Fusion hybrid is not for sale, yet. If they were picking between the hybrid Camry and Malibu, they made a good choice. They'll save that extra $1500 the Camry costs in fuel and repair bills within a very short period based on how much police departments use vehicles.
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Eric 12:49AM (12/14/2008)
>The cars won't be used for pursuit purposes since, frankly, any Camry would be wildly inappropriate for that task.
Um, ever driven in a Crown Vic?
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CarbonBlack 12:56AM (12/15/2008)
To those saying "Should have bought American" there is something to consider.
Your standard Camry has FAR more American parts than a Mustang. (Camry=80% American, Mustang=65%)
Here is just one example of an article on the subject.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/12/american.cars/index.html
I completely understand/support buying American!
It is just a little more complex nowadays.
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CarbonBlack 12:59AM (12/15/2008)
NOTE: I was using the mustang as an example.
I realize it isn't mentioned in the article/comments.
thanks,
Nick