# I just got my private investigator license. What kind of car should I get? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2018, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930 "2018-07-15T04:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/61 "2018-07-23T16:21:27Z")
> [@Lamoral](#): > > Yeah seriously, some of the people here need to recalibrate their private-investigator-understanding apparatus. The whole idea is to not draw attention to yourself. Then why BE one? ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/62 "2018-07-23T16:26:43Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Zoid obviously means [Spenser (with an S, like the poet) For Hire.](https://www.imcdb.org/i099937.jpg) Not Frank Bullitt. Oh, man, I had forgotten about that show. I only vaguely remember it now other than to remember thinking Robert Urich was so cool. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/63 "2018-07-23T16:30:47Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I’m not planning on moving anything bigger than a Pelican case and a few laptops. My Bolt with the seat folded down should do the trick. > > To be clear, the Firebird/Ferrari poll was intended in jest. For those not up to speed on classic TV, those were the iconic cars in _The Rockford Files_ and _Magnum PI_. If I were going to do traditional PI work (which I am in no way qualified for), I’d probably use some completely anonymous car like a Honda Civic or something. A modern Civic is probably faster than Rockford’s Firebird to boot. That’s what I thought…until I found myself with a carload of desktop computers. Yank the power cord and load 'em up. Making an image of a HDD sounds like the thing to do, but… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/64 "2018-07-23T16:31:39Z")
Wait, the OP said “computer forensics”. He’s not going to be the guy getting in car chases. He’s going to be the guy with 6 monitors in some warehouse somewhere going _clickclickclickclick_…“enhance”…_clickclickclick_…“enhance”… ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/65 "2018-07-23T16:36:41Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > That’s what I thought…until I found myself with a carload of desktop computers. Yank the power cord and load 'em up. Making an image of a HDD sounds like the thing to do, but… Do you still do forensics work? Can you send me clients in the St. Louis area? 😃 I’m doing my forensics stuff on the side, so I plan to pick and choose the cases I want. I’m going to try to focus on insider misuse and data theft cases where I should mostly be looking at the suspect’s laptop and maybe a couple other machines. I’m really hoping to avoid big cases where I have to image dozens of machines. If I need to load up more than the Bolt can handle, I can always use our Prius. 🙂 It actually has a decent amount of space in the back with the seats folded down. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/66 "2018-07-23T16:39:17Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Wait, the OP said “computer forensics”. He’s not going to be the guy getting in car chases. He’s going to be the guy with 6 monitors in some warehouse somewhere going _clickclickclickclick_…“enhance”…_clickclickclick_…“enhance”… Pretty much. Right now, my office is in the basement. Computer forensics is cool, in a “sitting at a desk and thinking hard” kind of way. Oh, and not so much enhancing. More like “what does _that_ log code mean? Google!” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/67 "2018-07-23T16:46:22Z")
Since you’re just starting out, you may want to stick [with public transportation](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj06aWu1bXcAhVStlMKHctcDx0QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scpr.org%2Fprograms%2Ftake-two%2F2016%2F12%2F29%2F54039%2Fwho-killed-la-s-streetcars-according-to-who-framed%2F&psig=AOvVaw3TK22OX6ljI4_ibj9h9Yzv&ust=1532450561854916) until you’re more established. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/68 "2018-07-23T17:02:39Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Since you’re just starting out, you may want to stick [with public transportation](https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj06aWu1bXcAhVStlMKHctcDx0QjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.scpr.org%2Fprograms%2Ftake-two%2F2016%2F12%2F29%2F54039%2Fwho-killed-la-s-streetcars-according-to-who-framed%2F&psig=AOvVaw3TK22OX6ljI4_ibj9h9Yzv&ust=1532450561854916) until you’re more established. I was so sure you were going to link to [Harry O](https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/images/reviews/190/1344217327_3.jpg). He always took the bus. Gave him time to think. It also made it really hard for someone to tail him. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/69 "2018-07-23T17:09:06Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Do you still do forensics work? Can you send me clients in the St. Louis area? 😃 > > I’m doing my forensics stuff on the side, so I plan to pick and choose the cases I want. I’m going to try to focus on insider misuse and data theft cases where I should mostly be looking at the suspect’s laptop and maybe a couple other machines. I’m really hoping to avoid big cases where I have to image dozens of machines. If I need to load up more than the Bolt can handle, I can always use our Prius. 🙂 It actually has a decent amount of space in the back with the seats folded down. I wish I could. I stopped doing computer forensics in 2008 to concentrate on video forensics. I’ve been deposed way too many times to let a subject computer out of my control after I start work on it. They get bagged, sealed, and stored. After all, they are evidence and you’re frequently talking about the potential for significant legal action (civil or criminal). I could tell you tales of internal HDDs that the subject would connect and disconnect as needed, modem cards (in the 90s) that had been installed so the subject could surf child porn sites, and so forth. We would warn our clients in advance that we were going to seize the subject computer and they would invariably grant consent. We suggested that they just “upgrade” the subject’s computer and let us seize the old one…with no advance notice. I know you’ll develop your own procedures and SOPs, but a bit of advice: never boot a computer that’s been shut down or shut down a computer that’s running. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/70 "2018-07-23T17:58:51Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > I wish I could. I stopped doing computer forensics in 2008 to concentrate on video forensics. I’ve been deposed way too many times to let a subject computer out of my control after I start work on it. They get bagged, sealed, and stored. After all, they are evidence and you’re frequently talking about the potential for significant legal action (civil or criminal). > > I could tell you tales of internal HDDs that the subject would connect and disconnect as needed, modem cards (in the 90s) that had been installed so the subject could surf child porn sites, and so forth. We would warn our clients in advance that we were going to seize the subject computer and they would invariably grant consent. We suggested that they just “upgrade” the subject’s computer and let us seize the old one…with no advance notice. > > I know you’ll develop your own procedures and SOPs, but a bit of advice: never boot a computer that’s been shut down or shut down a computer that’s running. Yeah, I’ve been doing forensics in the corporate world for a number of years, so I have a good handle on collection, chain of custody, and all that fun stuff. I do still need to get a locking cabinet before I land my first client. Right now I’m trying to get my name out, marketing to attorneys, trying to build up some referral sources, etc. I just launched last week. Hope to get that first client soon… ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/71 "2018-07-23T18:04:53Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Pretty much. Right now, my office is in the basement. Computer forensics is cool, in a “sitting at a desk and thinking hard” kind of way. > > Oh, and not so much enhancing. More like “what does _that_ log code mean? Google!” 🙂 I’m thinking you’ll need network access more often than you’ll need to pick up a computer, but I’m paranoid like that. ETA: Ferrari, of course. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/72 "2018-07-23T18:50:57Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Yeah, I’ve been doing forensics in the corporate world for a number of years, so I have a good handle on collection, chain of custody, and all that fun stuff. I do still need to get a locking cabinet before I land my first client. Right now I’m trying to get my name out, marketing to attorneys, trying to build up some referral sources, etc. I just launched last week. Hope to get that first client soon… I’ve had a few child porn cases where we turned over everything to an LEO and one of their questions is going to be, “Will we find your fingerprints on the computer or its HDD?” In a couple cases, we found HDDs added or replaced and it helped to be able to ascertain that the only fingerprints on the HDDs themselves belonged to the subject(s). If not, they’ll claim, “Those pictures must have been on the computer when the IT guys brought it to me!” Good luck with your business!! I’m quite sure that the word will get out quickly after your first few cases. Virtually everything I do right now comes to me by word of mouth between attorneys and forensic engineers. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/73 "2018-07-23T19:02:35Z")
Actually, you should get the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 include 6.2L V-8 755hp intercooled supercharger engine, 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive - BLACK, of course. [**[SIZE=“7”]Here it is. [/SIZE]**](https://img.autobytel.com//2019/chevrolet/corvette/2-376-oemexteriorfront1300-86647.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/74 "2018-07-23T19:10:20Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > I know! No respect for the culture. You make a good point about the Firebird getting me female attention, but as a married 45 year old, that’s not my highest priority. I’ll have to tweak the suspension like they did on the show so I can do the Rockford turn. A guy at the metal building company where I worked tried the reverse turn when he was in his cups. He said he left the differential lying in the street. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/75 "2018-07-23T19:20:17Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Actually, you should get the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 include 6.2L V-8 755hp intercooled supercharger engine, 7-speed manual transmission with overdrive - BLACK, of course. > > [**[SIZE=“7”]Here it is. [/SIZE]**](https://img.autobytel.com//2019/chevrolet/corvette/2-376-oemexteriorfront1300-86647.jpg) Hmmm. Looks like they start at around $118K. Maybe after I snag my third or fourth case, I’ll be able to cover the cost of one. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930/76 "2018-07-23T19:25:01Z")
> [@Defensive\_Indifference](#): > > Hmmm. Looks like they start at around $118K. Maybe after I snag my third or fourth case, I’ll be able to cover the cost of one. I have high expectations for you! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-my-private-investigator-license-what-kind-of-car-should-i-get/817930.md?page=3)