What's it like driving an PIU for daily driver? | Page 3 | Ford Explorer Forums

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What's it like driving an PIU for daily driver?

Well, it's been almost a year since I purchased this PIU and I still haven't finished rewiring it BUT I have removed all the red and blue lights and the wig-wag system that was still attached.
I purchased 5 Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires. Yes, I know they are expensive but I think they will be well worth while. When I sell the other 5 tires it will bring down the price I paid for these a little bit.
As far as get up and go with this car it is really great when I need it. The gas mileage is awesome and I can't complain at an average of 20MPG. This is the first vehicle with this good mileage we have owned.
As far as comfort goes, yes, the tires are a little hard and the suspension is like my F150 so I don't mind it. The little things (bugs) I had to learn and get used to has been easy to deal with.
I was in EMS for many years and driving an emergency vehicle through traffic is something I am glad I really don't have to do any more. However, I am still a first responder and if I do see something I do stop and help before the professionals come.
I have the same problem as many of you do with traffic. Nothing in front of me and stacked up in back of me because I am old and do the speed limit UNLESS I am in a hurry to get somewhere then it's the guy who thinks he needs to go 2 MPH under the speed limit because he thinks I'm a LEO. I look at it this way I am helping to save lives and prevent people from getting tickets.
The PIU came with twin spotlights, Setina and I have ham & other radios being mounted in my vehicle like I always have had before. I get a lot of looks along with police departments and citizens that say hello. Never had a bad experience and we both feel more protected in this vehicle the way it is built and the extra protection with the 75 mph rear crash protection, the ballistic panels on both doors and stab protection on the front seats from the grandkids! LOL
From what I have been reading there are 2 options for ballistic door panels, one is expensive and the other is a more expensive option, it is an option and not a standard. Also it was written that those options must be de-commissioned so as to prevent bad guys from using it to ply their trade in gangster land and let them shoot each other without one having an advantage. My base optioned PIU has no armor, the rear doors do not work from inside (latches or windows) and I'm looking for rear seats as it came with a plastic prisoner tub. I thought it would be cool to have wig wag lights but it would only get me in trouble, my wiring is working fine except for steering wheel issues, cruise is maybe and others are not working at all. Dennis, if you were an EMS for many years you are still a professional. In the Marine Corps my best friend was my Navy Corpsman
 






From what I have been reading there are 2 options for ballistic door panels, one is expensive and the other is a more expensive option, it is an option and not a standard. Also it was written that those options must be de-commissioned so as to prevent bad guys from using it to ply their trade in gangster land and let them shoot each other without one having an advantage. My base optioned PIU has no armor, the rear doors do not work from inside (latches or windows) and I'm looking for rear seats as it came with a plastic prisoner tub. I thought it would be cool to have wig wag lights but it would only get me in trouble, my wiring is working fine except for steering wheel issues, cruise is maybe and others are not working at all. Dennis, if you were an EMS for many years you are still a professional. In the Marine Corps my best friend was my Navy Corpsman
I have yet to take any doors apart; so I don't know YET. That will be for next good weather as I don't have an empty garage! (Don't ask! LOL)
My rear doors do not work from the inside and the windows don't work either. I understand they are both an easy fix and like I said this is next years project.
I have no interest in running "hot" any more (the wig wags)! I disabled the wigwags and removed what I think is the unit. Those days are well over with. When I retired in 1990 I moved to WI and about 2000 or so I was a volunteer fire and incident photographer. If I happen to stop for an accident before rescue gets there I would, and still will, perform first aid / life saving support until they got there to takeover. Anyone who has even had first aid training is covered by the Good Samaritan laws.
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FROM GOOGLE:
Specifically, Wisconsin law grants civil immunity to any person rendering emergency care to another at the scene of an emergency or accident.
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I too have problems with the cruise control suddenly kicking off and all the switches needing contact spray to clean them up so that they work when pressed the first time. Sometimes it gets to be a PITA. when they don't work.
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As far as me still being a professional registered/licensed in EMS no! Many reasons; it has been many years since I have done that professionally and many things have drastically improved and way beyond my training. Also physically I am unable to lift a patient with a compressed disc and 2 fractured vertebra even though this year I just had the spinal cord stimulator permanently installed to ease the pain. That is another reason much of my Interceptor project has taken so long to get completed.
Gabby ain't I ? LOL
 






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