Your priority order for upgrades should be something like the following:

1. Repair car (always, after each day)
2. Steering
3. Top Speed
4. Acceleration
5. Brakes

After these upgrades, the rest are a matter of taste.  I feel that the car
becomes very hard to control with steering and top speed at level 3, so I
leave those at 1 or 2.
S T A G E   1   -   F I N A N C I A L   D I S T R I C T                  MCP21
==============================================================================
           A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
         _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
        |                                               |
     0  |                                               |
        |                                               |
        |  +    +                                       |
     1  |         +         +  |S|                      |
        |                  +  +                         |
        |          |1|           |2|                    |
     2  |                                               |
        |        +                                      |
        |                                     |8|       |
     3  |                                         +     |
        |                                            +  |
        |       |3|            +                        |
     4  | |6|                 |7|     |4|               |
        |                                               |
        |                +       +                      |
     5  |                             |5|  +            |
        |           +            +                      |
        |                                               |
     6  |        +                                      |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     7  |                                               |
        |_______________________________________________|
=====
DAY 1
=====
Time:          2:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-2
Public Enemy:  No
=====
DAY 2
=====
Time:          3:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-3
Public Enemy:  No
In addition to the buildings from the first day, you must now also cover a
third building located at B4 (coordinates on in-game map).  The typical patrol
path should be an L-shape along the insides of the three buildings.
=====
DAY 3
=====
Time:          4:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-4
Public Enemy:  Yes
The third day is where the action really begins.  Your patrol adds a fourth
building at F4.  Your route should now be to circle the perimeter of the four
buildings.
Always make sure to go after robbers first before speeders.  While it becomes
increasingly difficult to make sure no speeders escape, you can prevent all
the robbers from escaping.
The third day will also be your first encounter with a public enemy.  The game
will cut to a warning notice showing the name and offense of the felon.  The
fugitive will then appear as a large red circle on your map.  Immediately stop
what you are doing and pursue this criminal.
=====
DAY 4
=====
Time:          5:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-5
Public Enemy:  No
The fourth day plays like a slightly longer version of the third.  The new
building to patrol at F5 does not require any additional effort than your
patrol on the previous day.  If you have several warnings, you may wish to
collect the stolen goods on this day.  Use the map above to pinpoint them and
pick them up when you are in that general area in pursuit of a criminal.  Do
not make special trips for the goods, as many of them take you far off your
patrol and leave your buildings open to criminal activity.
=====
DAY 5
=====
Time:          6:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-6
Public Enemy:  No
Day 5 adds a building at A4.  Once again, the same patrol that you used on
days 3 and 4 will work here.
=====
DAY 6
=====
Time:          7:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-7
Public Enemy:  Yes
More of the same on day 6.  Patrol the same route as the three previous days,
which should cover the new building at D4 adequately.
=====
DAY 7
=====
Time:          8:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-8
Public Enemy:  No
The seventh day of your assignment adds a final building at G3 to the patrol.
Extend your patrol by one street so that you pass by this building, but use
the same circular route as you did on the previous days.
==============================================================================
S T A G E   2   -   S U B U R B A N   P R E C I N C T                    MCP22
==============================================================================
           A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
         _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
        |                                               |
     0  |                                               |
        |         +                                     |
        |              +        ++      ++              |
     1  |      |6|          |7|   +|1|                  |
        |                                +              |
        |                                               |
     2  |                                      +        |
        |      |2|                      |8|         |S| |
        |                                               |
     3  |       +     +                                 |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     4  |        +                      |5|             |
        |       |3|                                     |
        |                                               |
     5  |                                               |
        |                                               |
        |           +              |4|   +              |
     6  |  +                 +                          |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     7  |                                               |
        |_______________________________________________|
=====
DAY 1
=====
Time:          2:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-2
Public Enemy:  No
=====
DAY 2
=====
Time:          3:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-3
Public Enemy:  No
Day 2 adds a patrol in the middle of the large park at B5.  This is well out
of the way of the other two posts.  Your patrol should be T-shaped for this
day.  Travel horizontally along the same street as the previous day (row 2)
and then drive halfway down the street on the east side of the park (column
C).  Even though the patrol target is in the middle of the park, just driving
along the park's edge will secure the site.
=====
DAY 3
=====
Time:          4:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-4
Public Enemy:  Yes
The third day adds an additional patrol target at E6.  This really stretches
you out across the map and makes it very hard to cover all locations
adequately.  Your patrol route should now be a square along the following
coordinates:  A2 -> A6 -> F6 –> F2 -> A2.
=====
DAY 4
=====
Time:          5:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-5
Public Enemy:  No
The fourth day adds a new target at F4.  Use the same route as the previous
stage and you will be able to cover this new site without any added work.  By
now, your patrol around the map will take you near almost all the stolen
goods.  If you have a couple of warnings on your record, start collecting the
loot.
=====
DAY 5
=====
Time:          6:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-6
Public Enemy:  No
A new location is now added at B1, but this should not change your route.  Use
the same patrols as described on day 3.  You need to patrol for six minutes,
and damage to your patrol car will really start to take its toll.  Get in the
habit of pumping the B button instead of holding to accelerate it if you find
yourself losing control and crashing often.
=====
DAY 6
=====
Time:          7:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-7
Public Enemy:  No
A new target appears at D1, but there is no need to change your route.  This
stage plays the same as the last two.  You should also have ample time to
collect all the stolen items.
=====
DAY 7
=====
Time:          8:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-8
Public Enemy:  Yes
The new target  at F2 fits conveniently into your existing route from the last few days.
==============================================================================
S T A G E   3   -   P A R K S   P R E C I N C T                          MCP23
==============================================================================
           A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
         _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
        |                                               |
     0  |                                               |
        |                                         +     |
        |                                               |
     1  |                                      +        |
        |            +   +                              |
        |             |1|    + +   +                    |
     2  |                                               |
        |                                         +     |
        |             |4|           |2|                 |
     3  |                                    |3|        |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     4  |                                    |5|        |
        |       |7|                                     |
        |                                               |
     5  |   +                 |8| |6|            +      |
        |   + +                                         |
        |                                               |
     6  |   +                 |S|     +       +     +   |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     7  |                                               |
        |_______________________________________________|
=====
DAY 1
=====
Time:          2:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-2
Public Enemy:  No
=====
DAY 2
=====
Time:          3:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-3
Public Enemy:  No
The second day is not much more involved than the first.  Your patrol route is
still just the street along row 2.  The only difference on this day is that
the third building is slightly farther out.  Simply drive back and forth
between C2 and G2.
=====
DAY 3
=====
Time:          4:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-4
Public Enemy:  Yes
You get another break on day 3.  The new building on your patrol is at C3,
directly below on the existing buildings.  This allows you to maintain exactly
the same route as on the previous day.
=====
DAY 4
=====
Time:          5:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-5
Public Enemy:  No
The fourth day regrettably adds a patrol target that is not on the same street
as all the others.  Thankfully, this does not require too much additional time
to cover.  Your route for this stage should be L-shaped and cover the
following spots: C2 -> G2 -> G4.  Trace and retrace this area and you should
be well covered.
=====
DAY 5
=====
Time:          6:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-6
Public Enemy:  No
The new target is uncomfortably out
of the way at E5.  Your patrol route should now be U-shaped.  Travel between
the following: C2 -> G2 -> G5 -> E5.  Turn around at one end and make the
patrol in reverse.  You will be stretched a little thin when at either end of
the U, but no area should remain exposed for long.
=====
DAY 6
=====
Time:          7:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-7
Public Enemy:  No
The new target added at B4 opens your route up considerably.  You should
patrol in a square area now: C2 -> G2 -> G5 -> C5 -> C2.
Also, if you have any warnings, you may want to spend
some time collecting stolen goods.  The goods are a lot harder to collect in
this area than in previous ones given how scattered they are, but try to pick
them up when on your patrol route or if arrests take you nearby.
=====
DAY 7
=====
Time:          8:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-8
Public Enemy:  Yes
Your last day in the Parks adds a final target directly across the street from
the police station.  Odd that you need to patrol this building, but it does
not involve changing your route from the previous stage.  Use the same square
patrol pattern and the day should play out about the same.
==============================================================================
S T A G E   4   -   D O W N T O W N   P R E C I N C T                    MCP24
==============================================================================
Chalk it up to laziness or the programmers not expecting anyone to make it
this far, the Downtown precinct map is exactly the same as the suburbs.
EXACTLY the same!
           A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
         _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
        |                                               |
     0  |                                               |
        |                                +  +           |
        |                                 +             |
     1  |     |5|           |6|                |4|      |
        |                                               |
        |                                   +           |
     2  |                                |7|            |
        |                                           |S| |
        |                                               |
     3  |     +                   |2|    +              |
        |         +                                     |
        |                   |3|                         |
     4  |           +                   |1|             |
        |        +                         +            |
        |                                               |
     5  |                                               |
        |        +                                      |
        |           +       |8|                         |
     6  |                                    +  ++     +|
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     7  |                                               |
        |_______________________________________________|
=====
DAY 1
=====
Time:          2:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-2
Public Enemy:  No
Day 1 of the Downtown shift is probably the easiest patrol in the game.  You
can cover both targets without moving the car.  This will prevent any robbers
from emerging, although speeders will still appear elsewhere in the precinct.
Simply remain nearby the two buildings and you should be fine.
=====
DAY 2
=====
Time:          3:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-3
Public Enemy:  No
The second day adds an additional target nearby the first.  Your patrol route
is pretty short and should take you between G4 and E4 (roughly).
=====
DAY 3
=====
Time:          4:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-4
Public Enemy:  Yes
Your shift becomes a lot more difficult on the third day.  A target is added
at G1 that takes you out of range of the other three targets.  Your patrol
route should be L-shaped and take you along the following: E4 -> G4 -> G1.
=====
DAY 4
=====
Time:          5:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-5
Public Enemy:  No
This stage becomes incredibly difficult starting on the fourth day.  The
newest target is at B1, and there now becomes no easy way to patrol all the
targets efficiently.  One route that covers all the buildings is the
following: G1 -> B1 -> C1 -> C4 -> G4 (slights turns involved) -> G1.
 On the bright side, the stolen goods are
fairly accessible in this level, being concentrated in the southwest park and
near other targets on your route.  You should probably pick them up (or at
least familiarize yourself with their location) as warnings will become more
common.
=====
DAY 5
=====
Time:          6:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-6
Public Enemy:  No
Day 4 adds a new location to patrol at D1, but the stage can be handled using
the same route as on the previous day.  Once again, try to collect the stolen
goods if you have two or more warnings.
=====
DAY 6
=====
Time:          7:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-7
Public Enemy:  No
The sixth day adds a new location at F2, but your route from the last two days
will cover this area.
=====
DAY 7
=====
Time:          8:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-8
Public Enemy:  Yes
You will need a new
route to effectively reach the target at D6.  This path works well and avoids
the side streets: G1 -> B1 -> C1 -> C6 -> F6 -> F1 -> G1.  A couple of U-turns
are involved with this route, but it should not be too difficult to drive.
==============================================================================
S T A G E   5   -   W A T E R F R O N T   P R E C I N C T                MCP25
==============================================================================
           A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H
         _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____
        |                                               |
     0  |                                               |
        |       +  +         |1|             +          |
        |             |S|                               |
     1  |                 +                             |
        |                                        |2|    |
        |                     +                         |
     2  |              +         |4|                    |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     3  | |3|            |5|                            |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     4  |                                +              |
        |                                    +   |6|    |
        |                        +                      |
     5  |              +        +      |7|              |
        |                   +                           |
        |                |8|   +            +     +    +|
     6  |                                               |
        |                                               |
        |                                               |
     7  |                                               |
        |_______________________________________________|
=====
DAY 1
=====
Time:          2:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-2
Public Enemy:  No
Simply
drive between D1 and G1 and your route should be covered.
=====
DAY 2
=====
Time:          3:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-3
Public Enemy:  No
The second day adds an additional target at A3.  You are somewhat stretched
out now, but your patrol route remains simple.  Use the following:
G1 -> A1 -> A3, then reverse.
=====
DAY 3
=====
Time:          4:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-4
Public Enemy:  Yes
Day 3 shakes things up a bit more.  The new target at E2 necessitates a new
route, this one circular.  The following should work: H1 -> A1 -> A2 -> H2 ->
H1.  In general, do not pursue any criminals below row 3.
=====
DAY 4
=====
Time:          5:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-5
Public Enemy:  No
A new location at C3 is added to your list, but you can use the same route as
on the previous day.  This day should play out almost exactly the same.  If
you have a few warnings, you can collect the stolen goods at this point.  They
are fairly well concentrated in two clusters (one in the north and one in the
south).  See the map above for locations.
=====
DAY 5
=====
Time:          6:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-6
Public Enemy:  No
The difficulty of this stage explodes on day 5.  The new target at H4 is well
out of the way and becomes impossible to add to any efficient route.  Keep in
mind that even though the crosshair is in the center of the building, you just
need to the touch the border to cover the area.  You may wish to stick roughly
with the route from days 2 and 3, only add in a slight detour at G2 that
brings you down a street, near the large building.  Regardless, there is no
easy way to handle this patrol.
=====
DAY 6
=====
Time:          7:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-7
Public Enemy:  No
The sixth day adds a target at F5 and makes a patrol strategy even more
difficult.  One route that covers all areas is the following:
H1 -> A1 -> A2 -> E2 -> E5 -> G5 -> G2 -> H2 -> H1.  Hardly an easy or
straight forward path.  If you find the northern buildings too exposed, you
may wish to forsake the southern ones and instead pursue the criminals they
produce.  This is a very dangerous tactic, but it is more manageable than poor
coverage in all areas.  Finally, collecting the stolen goods will probably be
a necessity at this point.  The next day is even harder, so eliminate any
warnings now.
=====
DAY 7
=====
Time:          8:00
Buildings:     Buildings 1-8
Public Enemy:  Yes
The programmers definitely saved the hardest for last.  The last day of the
game adds a final target at C5.  This makes it flat out impossible to cover
all the buildings effectively.  You may wish to break the patrol into two
distinct parts rather than one that takes you near all the buildings.  For
example, first cover the following route in the north: H1 -> A1 -> A2 -> H2,
which was your one from day 3.  Then, head over and patrol the southern part
of the stage: G2 -> G5 -> C5 -> C2 – G2.  This is not a great strategy, but it
is probably the most effective option you have.  Ignore speeders and focus
solely on robbers.