[Marc M.]

I have noticed quite a few surplused cop cars on the road, and it seems like all of them are driven by 20- to 40-year-old black males. The majority of the vehicles are in the poorer neighborhoods. Why are these cars predominantly driven by blacks?

User Detail :  

Name : Marc M., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 33, City : Jacksonville, State : FL, Country : United States, Occupation : Manager, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Torrey]

Much like white males like to put huge tires on pickup trucks or turn a Mustang into a hotrod, young black males, particularly in the South, prefer the ’70s and ’80s full-size American cars. They are easily affordable, and easy to work on and customize. So you can look at it as a cultural thing, not a racial or economic issue. There are many young white kids and middle-to-upper-class blacks customizing these cars, too. I must say I have seen some very nice ones.

User Detail :  

Name : Torrey, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 28, City : Columbia, State : MS, Country : United States, Occupation : Military, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dave25992]

Police cars are usually very cheap when they sell them around here, usually with 200,000+ miles on them. How many white, middle class suburbanites want a car like that when they can finance one? Besides, statistically it’s easier for whites to get financing than blacks, so that probably sums it up, too.

User Detail :  

Name : Dave25992, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 23, City : San Diego, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Computer Tech, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Tasha]

If you think they’re trying to imitate a cop, they’re not. Generally, the men of this age happen to like the body style of those cars. I can’t speak of it as a fact, because I’m not a black man nor a driver of one of those cars.

User Detail :  

Name : Tasha, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 23, City : Houston, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Cheron]

Here it is: These ‘cop cars’ (Caprice Classics, Lincolns and the like) are used automobiles that the police forces put on sale at a very reduced rate, due to the great deal of wear and tear on them because of the demands of police officers. I used to be an auto mechanic, and the transmissions of these vehicles are usually stretched to be breaking point. These cars can be dirt cheap, and law enforcement can write them off, so young people, not black people, can purchase them as first cars. (There is some irony to it, which I won’t go into.) This isn’t a race thing. I am from the Detroit area, and you can see old cop cars everywhere

User Detail :  

Name : Cheron, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 30, City : Twin Lake, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Data Entry, Education level : 2 Years of College, 

[Frumpy-anus]

Because black people are poor they buy these cars, because they can’t afford an SUV like you, a**hole. I am white and drive one, too, because I am poor. I live on Twinkies for the same reason.

User Detail :  

Name : Frumpy-anus, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : hate religion, Age : 29, City : Belmar, State : NJ, Country : United States, Occupation : unemployed, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[C19201]

Government property is auctioned off at the highest bid. A cop car with a powerful engine, 100,000-plus miles on it and in good shape that goes for $3,000 definitely beats paying $20 K or more for new car For a low-income person, you have to take what you can get.

User Detail :  

Name : C19201, City : Pontaic, State : MI, Country : United States, 

[John-C]

Because it looks intimidating to other black folks.

User Detail :  

Name : John-C, Gender : M, City : Washington, State : DC, Country : United States, 

[Taz]

A lot of old cop cars are used as taxi’s and pizza delivery cars too. It’s got to do with these cars being cheap and readily available.

User Detail :  

Name : Taz, Gender : M, Age : 33, City : Detroit, State : MI, Country : United States, Social class : Middle class, 

[paul]

I live in a predominately older black neighborhood in Atlanta and I’ve noticed a few, not a lot, of blacks driving around in old police cars. I’ve not noticed any other people of different colors driving around in these types of vehicles in my neighborhood. The reason for this is obvious: I live in a black neighborhood! However, I do think that in some way some of the owners of these vehicles are trying to emulate a cop for whatever reason. This view is fortified by the fact that many of these vehicles have one of those types of lamps you would see on cop cars or taxis attached to the driver’s side. I think that they may try on occasion to scare people with these in order to have a little fun (although, admittedly, I’ve never seen this happen). Also, I’m sure that if they drive these types of vehicles on the interstate, then unknowing drivers in front of them will get out of their way because they believe it’s a cop riding fast upon them. Who amongst us wouldn’t like that? My 2 cents.

User Detail :  

Name : paul, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 36, City : atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[D19491]

They’re cheap, powerful and big. I’ve owned two. They look sweet too with the push-bar, spotlights, and plain steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps. Speaking as a car afficianado, car guys LOVE cop cars. They’re just bad ass.

User Detail :  

Name : D19491, City : Chicago, State : IL, Country : United States, 

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