The VCPD Cheetah is a law enforcement sports car in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (simply named as Cheetah) and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.
Design
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City & Vice City Stories
The VCPD Cheetah is an undercover police version of the Cheetah used by the Vice City Police Department division, the Vice Squad. The vehicle is near exactly the same as a regular Cheetah (with only one side mirror in a different position in the Vice City rendition), albeit with the addition of a flashing red strobe light and siren. Similar to the normal Cheetah, the GTA Vice City rendition appears to have a much more detailed interior compared to the GTA Vice City Stories rendition. In Vice City Definitive Edition, the car only features three of the four possible mirror wing configurations from the original version.
Like most law enforcement vehicles, entry into the car allows the player to activate the Vigilante side mission.
Version History Gallery
Performance
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City & Vice City Stories
The VCPD Cheetah performs the same as the civilian Cheetah. The Cheetah's acceleration is slightly inferior to other sports cars in the game, but handling, speed and braking are far superior to all others. Due to its low suspension, it hugs the road and is not prone to rolling over or spinning out of control when cornering at high speeds. This, combined with the ability of a police car, makes the police Cheetah a very useful vehicle in Vigilante side missions.
The VCPD Cheetah in GTA Vice City is able to be repaired/resprayed through a Pay 'n' Spray, an ability shared with the FBI Washington and the FBI Car in Grand Theft Auto III. In GTA Vice City Stories, however, it cannot be resprayed.
3D Universe Overview
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 143 / 230 | 5 | Petrol | RWD | 1200 / 2646 |
| N/A | N/A | 5 | N/A | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Image Gallery
Locations
The police Cheetah is normally driven by two undercover agents equipped with Uzi submachine guns who chase the player upon attaining a three-star wanted level. Caution should be taken, as they can cause severe damage to the player if they are not taken out quickly.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
- Little Havana, Vice City Mainland - In the left passage of the Little Havana Police Station (not available in the original PS2 version). This is the easiest way to obtain the car.
- Obtainable at a three-star wanted level.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
- Obtainable at a three-star wanted level.
- At the end of The Mugshot Longshot, the VCPD Cheetah that was transporting a DEA officer and Martinez is parked right next to the player. The player can take it and park it in the garage of his choice (the Compound Safehouse is recommended because it lasts longer and will not disappear). Alternatively, the player can snipe the DEA officer at the Washington Beach Police Station at the beginning of the mission. This will obviously fail the mission, but it leaves the car free for the taking.
Trivia
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City & Vice City Stories
- The two undercover officers that pursue the player in GTA Vice City and GTA Vice City Stories are named Officer Cracker and Officer Butts. They are named after, and strongly resemble, Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, the primary characters from the landmark 1980s TV series Miami Vice. Furthermore, the Cheetah itself is styled after the 1986 Ferrari Testarossa, Crockett and Tubbs' vehicle of choice in the latter three seasons of the show.
- If the siren is turned on and the player views the vehicle from the rear, the strobe light will not flash.
- Unlike other law enforcement vehicles, the VCPD Cheetah in GTA Vice City Stories features a normal radio.
- The VCPD Cheetah can be sold at Sunshine Autos Import Garage in lieu of a regular Cheetah.
