SG Traffic police's 12 new WRX this Year 2005
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By Christopher Tan
March 22, 2005
The Straits Times
Subarus with sirens on the way
COMING soon to a highway near you: the fast and powerful Subaru Impreza WRX, decked out in orange-on-white livery and adorned with flashing blue lights.
The cars will be the latest additions to the Traffic Police's fleet.
After a public tender in December, which also drew bids from BMW, Volvo and Skoda, the decision to go for the WRX was made yesterday.
The model, known for its powerful 225-horsepower engine, quick acceleration and stable all-wheel-drive technology, will be the first Japanese car to join the fleet, which currently comprises BMWs and Volvos.
Subaru distributor Motor Image will supply 12 to the Traffic Police, with the first due late next month.
According to tender award details on the government eBusiness website, they cost $618,000 - nearly half the cost of a similar order from BMW or Volvo.
Motor Image chief executive Glenn Tan told The Straits Times: 'Being quick, the cars will also improve their response time, so they can avoid long car chases.'
The WRX was the fastest and least expensive of the contenders in the tender, which included Volvo's S60, Skoda's Octavia RS and BMW's newly launched 320i - all sporty models.
But Mr Tan, 27, said competitive pricing - the Subarus were 20 per cent cheaper than the Skodas, the next lowest bid - would not have been enough to clinch the deal with the police.
'They have conducted extensive tests on the cars. The WRX is also used by the police in other countries, such as Italy and Australia.'
Mr Tan said that the police purchase would go some way towards his efforts 'to reposition the brand', a reference to the view held by some that the WRX is for 'boy-racers'.
Asked why they picked the car, and if the model's current image was a concern, the police said: 'We do not favour a particular model or make, and we choose our vehicles based on our needs and prices.'
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suddenly, open pod becomes insignificant... ignition cables seems a little expensive... Suddenly anything below 225bhp is meaningless for those who has a NEED FOR SPEED .... -
Oh well, bad boy or copper - what's the difference?
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Now there is another choice of decals for Rex. White base with a orange from far will look very much like TP...
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but italians have lambo for thier police mobile...
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Looks like my neighbour's getting a new paint job.
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We only have the PIE, the CTE, BKE, TPE, SLE, AYE, etc, etc..... What do the Italians have?
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wat if got ppl think tt they were very fast and think tt they even faster then TP how??? now those TP are changing into WRX which mean those streets racer will go and "challenge" them if they r stupid enough... then can those TP catch up???
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Then they have to qie each other with midnight tune and idas cards liao.
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anyway... can anyone tell me will those TP modify their WRX??? to at least 300~400hp??? if not then how are they goin to catch those car tt had modify and speed on the road during midnight???Originally posted by ditzy:Then they have to qie each other with midnight tune and idas cards liao. -
simple...just radio their fellow colleague lor.Originally posted by ~WRX sti~:anyway... can anyone tell me will those TP modify their WRX??? to at least 300~400hp??? if not then how are they goin to catch those car tt had modify and speed on the road during midnight???
Dun need to chase one... -
just need to be able to stay behind those car for a few second can liao.Originally posted by ~WRX sti~:anyway... can anyone tell me will those TP modify their WRX??? to at least 300~400hp??? if not then how are they goin to catch those car tt had modify and speed on the road during midnight???
chase for what? new speed camera gaget, photo, license plate all fake one meh? -
Now, i tink only Class 2A and class 2 motorbike can siam them liao...
Really must try one day beside a police wrx, rev see how...lol...but i move off slowely..haha..
they catch me , i say, my car wan to stall, dun rev den how..Dun believe i cannot talk my way out...but provided they dun see my pipe lah..if not jia lat..hahaha -
so will it be a manual or auto rex?
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you rev only, i dun think they will find trouble with u lah.Originally posted by bo liao:Now, i tink only Class 2A and class 2 motorbike can siam them liao...
Really must try one day beside a police wrx, rev see how...lol...but i move off slowely..haha..
they catch me , i say, my car wan to stall, dun rev den how..Dun believe i cannot talk my way out...but provided they dun see my pipe lah..if not jia lat..hahaha
best is you rev, they also rev with u. hahaha -
It'll be auto, so accelerating from stop will always be smooth.Originally posted by ak0:so will it be a manual or auto rex? -
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Oh gosh man, hope tt if we all convoy dwn town we dun mit a bunch of white subarus which r convoying ard aso l0lx 
So cheap sia at da price they r gettin, makes 1 angry <( 'o,' )> -
The next time you see your neighbour's white wrx parked under the block. Point at it and go:"police car, hur hur hur."
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Originally posted by ditzy:The next time you see your neighbour's white wrx parked under the block. Point at it and go:"police car, hur hur hur."
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don't be daft.Originally posted by ~WRX sti~:wat if got ppl think tt they were very fast and think tt they even faster then TP how??? now those TP are changing into WRX which mean those streets racer will go and "challenge" them if they r stupid enough... then can those TP catch up???
police cars dun need to be fast enuf to catch up. u let them see your numberplate just ONCE, thats it for you. -
i the neighbour i sure dulan.Originally posted by ditzy:The next time you see your neighbour's white wrx parked under the block. Point at it and go:"police car, hur hur hur." -
Originally posted by ditzy:The next time you see your neighbour's white wrx parked under the block. Point at it and go:"police car, hur hur hur."
Give them a free decal makeover while you're at it
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Woot .. beng car with TP decals ....
Wah liew ... now worst ... even more difficult to spot too ..
have to spot BMW, volvo and JAP Subaru !!!!
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dun luff so fast. sekali ur neighbour walk down with his partner in tp uniformOriginally posted by ditzy:The next time you see your neighbour's white wrx parked under the block. Point at it and go:"police car, hur hur hur." 
now i know NEVER to race a white rex when challenged.
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motor image so eager to make money outta this, i wonder if they'll suffer negative repercussions in their consumer market... as a potential rex buyer, will you be disturbed by the fact that you'll be driving the same model as the police? haha...
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Poor choice by motor image. Who would want to own a car thats the same model as the TP? Just to sell 12 cars they forgo future sales... Poor judgement man...
