DETROIT -- At a Detroit city council meeting Friday, outgoing council members Martha Reeves and Barbara-Rose Collins asked the city if they could keep their city-issued vehicles after their term expires.

Their cars are 2008 Crown Victorias, valued at $15,500.

Reeves and Collins argued that other outgoing members had also been allowed to keep their cars in the past.

They said they would be be willing to pay a fair price for their vehicles.

Reeves and Collins asked fellow council members to back their purchase with a resolution.

The mayor's chief administrative officer, Charles Beckham, put the brakes on that request.

"We don't have that in the capital budget," Beckham said. "It's not in there this year to do that."

Beckham said the problem is that current council vehicles are only one year old and could be used for another three years.

"It offends me. It's enough to make me want to run for council again," Collins said.

Later in the meeting, she said she was kidding.

Reeves said the city should allow the sale as a courtesy. "It's just a car," Reeves said.

That comment drew a strong reaction from Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel, who is also leaving city council after this year.

"We have a really serious financial problem. This is not 'just a car'. This is a public resource," Cockrel said.

As the debate heated up, City Council President Ken Cockrel, Jr. cautioned Collins not to interrupt Beckham.

"He has the floor," Ken Cockrel, Jr. said.

"I'm going to do like Monica, act a complete fool today," Collins said, referring to outbursts made by former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers.

Collins and Reeves agreed to withdraw the resolution when they realized the votes were not there to pass it.

"If the sale of it is impossible or something that can't be considered, then I withdraw mine. I wasn't asking for charity," Reeves said.

The cars will eventually be handed over to new council members when their terms begin in 2010.