Originally Posted By: itguy08
As others have said I don't know I'd want to drive > 80 in a pickup for a long period of time. But it could be helpful for rural departments, the park service, conservation officers, border control, animal control, etc.
I can see some use of those vehicles for the DOI/NPS/DHS etc, but they have already been using various trucks and they don't really need the "pursuit" layout for their offroad needs. The Explorer and Tahoes will be better for their "pursuits". The biggest issue with the PI Utility (Explorer) in its pursuit garb is the lack of "off-road" ability. The approach angle is terrible, the ground clearance is bad, tires for the "pursuit" make is usable in anything worse that well sorted gravel. I have towed these things out of well kept "gardens" because the officer tried to "cut off" someone on foot by taking it across a lawn and gotten stuck. Those "off-road" uses will keep to regular variants if they are smart. Otherwise they will have a fleet of LE vehicles with torn-up front cladding like mine.
I see it more for those rural departments that "want a truck" and don't want the Sedan to serve papers (self-conscious). It would be a "compromise" that you are not tying up your real HWP-like vehicles for serving but you can have something that does a little "pursuit" when needed.
That being said, my "urban" department would love a truck so it can set out cones, etc. They hate using our little Ford Transit Connect for that. So, I would expect that I am directed to purchase one of these trucks fairly soon.