AFP now using X5s

[Dusty1]

Saw the AFP follow car behind the PMs armored Caprice is now a white X5.

They used to use Terry Turbos (?), but they must have reached the end of their life, so it is now X5s. Was the petrol Territory not up to it? I've seen a few diesel Territory's outside Police command here in Melbourne and driving around, but they mustn't be suitable for the AFP.

Couldn't they use a Captiva? (I joke.)

[Wretched]

I've seen the AFP using Territories in Melbourne, especially outside the US Embassy on St Kilda Road.

[GQ_Smooth]

If its a V8 X5, I understand, however if it's a turbo diesel, no excuse, Terri can do the job.

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

If its a V8 X5, I understand, however if it's a turbo diesel, no excuse, Terri can do the job.

Do you think Terri TDCI matches this one ?

http://www.caradvice.com.au/211468/bmw-x5-m50d-review/

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Do you think Terri TDCI matches this one ?

http://www.caradvice.com.au/211468/bmw-x5-m50d-review/

Or do you think BMW can build and sell a rwd, $39,000 drive away tdi that's better then the Territory?

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Or do you think BMW can build and sell a rwd, $39,000 drive away tdi that's better then the Territory?

BMW does motorbikes for that sort of money :-) but they are premium/prestige car manufacturer. For AFP performance would be balanced by cost - at that level X5 can be seen as good value for money in relative terms.

[Road_Warrior]

The X5 comes with an armoured/VIP protection package which may have been a factor in the purchase.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

The X5 comes with an armoured/VIP protection package which may have been a factor in the purchase.

So Australians got screwed twice.
Missing out on the sale of local vehicles, and also missing out on the vehicles being armored/VIP'd by a local company.

Awesome.

[block58]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

The X5 comes with an armoured/VIP protection package which may have been a factor in the purchase.

Yep, it seems that's the case

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257B9B001BF901

[Dusty1]

Interesting article. Seems as though the Turbos reached the end of their lifespan.

Apparently the Caprice that the PM drives in was armored locally by Tenix, but they don't do it anymore.

Which leads to the question, what will the PM drive around if Holden close up, an Aurion?

And where are the Territory's? Crushed?

[Road_Warrior]

The Territory's I think were on-sold through Pickles auctions. I saw a few of the WA-based AFP cars come up for auction.

I guess when there is no more Statesman, they will simply use the BMW 7 series special protection variant.

[turbodewd]

Do we really think the PM will get blown up in a car?! He doesnt wander around the streets in a bulletproof vest. Why would the PM's minders need a bulletproof BMW??? Ridiculous.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Do we really think the PM will get blown up in a car?! He doesnt wander around the streets in a bulletproof vest. Why would the PM's minders need a bulletproof BMW??? Ridiculous.

Easiest way to capture/harm/kill a high value target apart from a direct attack is to neutralise or kill the dudes protecting him.

You can't predict what will happen next week or next month in politics and with every 'joke' death threat the PM gets weekly (daily?) there are also a number that have to be taken seriously because, at the end of the day, you just don't know what can happen until it does.

[nstg8a]

And as long as the aus foreign policy is dictated to by the Yankee arm shoved up its cloister then Australia is a legitimate target for Americas many and varied enemies.

Some would say more of a target, or a softer target.

[zilo]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Do we really think the PM will get blown up in a car?! He doesnt wander around the streets in a bulletproof vest. Why would the PM's minders need a bulletproof BMW??? Ridiculous.

yep...

the Prime Minister of the United States of Australia is def a terror target.

I remember seeing a druggie on Q&A throw a shoe bomb at John Howard.

I couldn't get the kids to sleep that night cause we were so "alert but not alarmed" like the fridge magnet said.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by turbodewd

Do we really think the PM will get blown up in a car?! He doesnt wander around the streets in a bulletproof vest. Why would the PM's minders need a bulletproof BMW??? Ridiculous.

J.F.K


It's not ridiculous, there have been assassinations on Australian PM's and other figures, including a commissioner shot dead in a car...

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Nikked

J.F.K


It's not ridiculous, there have been assassinations on Australian PM's and other figures, including a commissioner shot dead in a car...

Which Australian PM was assasinated?

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by zilo

Which Australian PM was assasinated?

John Newman

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by Nikked

John Newman

What???..............I'll miss him on the Footy Show from now on......

In all seriousness,
He wasn't a Prime Minister.....he was a NSW state member

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Nikked

John Newman

Hmmm....he was the state member for Cabramatta in 1994.

The PM stands for Prime Minister of Australia.

Which he was not.

[turbodewd]

As long as the PM's security guards dont have visible automatic weapons. A waste-of-money X5 BMW I can stomach.

[Franco Cozzo]

A company in Shepparton does the whole bullet proof process to vehicles and I've worked on a few bullet proof prison transporters through work.

[MITCHAY]

I see no issue if Ford can not match the capability of the BMW on a value for money point.

[Booger]

The X5's are armoured from the BMW factory and were cheaper than getting new Statesman's and sending them for aftermarket armour.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Booger

The X5's are armoured from the BMW factory and were cheaper than getting new Statesman's and sending them for aftermarket armour.

Only cheaper for a Government with extremely short sight...

[Booger]

Cheaper no the less, and with full factory backing.

[jimmyxr6t04]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

The X5 comes with an armoured/VIP protection package which may have been a factor in the purchase.

Correct. They also require a car that is capable of keeping up with the PM's vehicle in the event of an incident.

Unfortunately, many here make silly comments without knowing the ins and outs of why the change was made. Also a lot of comments when people probably don't have the foggiest idea what close personal protection is all about.

This isn't new... They've been using them for nearly 3 years.

Edit: it's not just armour. The whole suspension needs revising too.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/n...ion-fleet.aspx

http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring...afp-bmw-x5.htm