I have an ex-cop car, it is a VT2 V6, we bought it from a dealer, did not buy it at auction, we went to a several car auctions (Vic) and they where taking bids from imaginary bidders, it all seemed too dodgy to me
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We purchased the car with 40K on the clock (in Vic they usually sell them at 40 - 60 K), it now has 90K. The only trouble we have had, is that we had to get "kits" put in the rear suspension to correct a tyre wear (poor holden design) problem. And had some good quality synthetic oil put in to the LSD to make it work properly, as holden only put cheap mineral oil in.
The cars come loaded with options, such as cruise, ABS, 2 airbags, LSD, FE2, 225 x15 Bridgestone performance tyres, plus some options from Berlina, Calais etc: like map reading lights, lumbar adjustment on the passenger seat, two horns. The car is a blue colour, so it may have been a Detective or a speed camera car. It had some screw holes in the back of the fold down rear seat centre arm rest (repaired by dealer), where a camera or computer was once affixed, also some screw holes in the floor under the passenger seat (probably where undercover radio was fitted).
In regards to whether to buy an ex-cop vehicle:
I know a guy who bought a 5L VR cop car from the auctions years ago, and has recently purchased a VX SS to replace it, if he thought they where crap he would not have gone back for seconds.
Another friend bought a V6 white car after a drive of ours, and is also pleased with it.
My sister has a AU (Phew) Falcon (country cop car) they purchased it at QLD Auctions, it has the holes/marks (mentioned in previous posts) where the barrier was, apart from a minor problem fixed by Ford under warranty, it has also been a good car.
A guy I work with has a ex-cop (Vic) Jackeroo, he purchased it loaded with extra's including, ARB bull bar, warn winch, cargo barier with approx 90K on the clock from a dealer for under $30K, he is also happy with his purchase, his touring mates have landcruisers (admittedly a more desirable vehicle) that cost $10 - 20K more.
The only complaint we have is that the FE2 sport suspension rides a bit rough on poorly maintained rural roads, but give it some good road, and its like a big fat go-kart, you need to drive these things through corners with positive throttle, if you coast around corners it feels a bit of a barge, but with a bit of throttle, its a different car!
As mentioned by other posts, the cars are often run continuously by back to back shifts, this has to be a good thing (also mentioned previously) as short runs are not good for cars. If you read the cars manual, they advise extra servicing in such cases as the oil gets contaminated by unburnt fuels & sludge.
When we bought the car we thought we would either keep it for a couple of years and then trade it, while it was still worth something!, or keep it, till it dies. It has been such a good car, that we will probably run the car out, to about 160 - 190K and then pass it on to our son who will have a license by then (he really likes the car).
Since I purchased the car, I have had it serviced (not by holden, but by Repco-Auto care) every 5K, it is now out of GM warranty so I get the 10K service by done by Repco, and do the 5K intermediate service myself, Repco use Castrol FMX, an oil that is supplied to the trade, so I rang Castrol and they advised that the retail pack, of Magnatec is made from the same base oil and is a suitable alternative/replacement.
We are so happy with the car, our next car will be a cop or ex govt car also.
