Saw an Audi Q7 this morning...

Robertr

On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me. As It went past I noticed, to my horror, that it was a TAXI!!!! Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

plissken

Robertr wrote: »

On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me. As It went past I noticed, to my horror, that it was a TAXI!!!! Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

Typical irish begrudgery, "how dare a taxi man be able to afford a nicer car than me" You have no idea how many hours that guy had to work to afford such a nice car, why were you horrified he was using it as a a taxi?

robtri

Robertr wrote: »

On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me. As It went past I noticed, to my horror, that it was a TAXI!!!! Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

So what if it was a taxi.... they guy has to spend many many hours every day in his place of work, why shouldn't he choose a nice car to drive in......
you don't complain abou the taxi drivers in the merc. vito vans converted for taxi's they would be nearly as much new as a second hand Q7....

Sleipnir

Well it is a bit odd to get such a nice car and then put a plate on it. It must go through an awful amount of fuel for a start, not to mention have lads throwing up in the back.

Maybe he is not a taxi and just bought the plate for using bus lanes etc.

Drummerboy08

Did it have a bar on the roof or just the stickers in the window? I often see S Class Mercs and 7 series BMW's being used as some kind of "high class" taxi.......or a limo.

Anan1

Robertr wrote: »

On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me. As It went past I noticed, to my horror, that it was a TAXI!!!! Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

Nobody wants Q7s any more, their values are going through the floor. Pretty soon they'll all be taxis.

Matt Simis

Id like one!

However yeah, values dropping a lot, especially on commercials which I assume a Taxi'ed version would be similar to in price. OP is a pretty stereotypical example of the Irish disease all the same. :eek:

Anan1

Matt Simis wrote: »

OP is a pretty stereotypical example of the Irish disease all the same. :eek:

As in resenting taxi drivers or aspiring to a Q7? Or both?:)

daRobot

Q7's are going for 40k ish for a 2007 with 40-50k so not unaffordable by any means.

Not a great choice for a taxi though, they're so heavy that even the diesel engine only returns 24-26 mpg.

I'd certainly rather be picked up by that than a battered 96 carina.

Matt Simis

Anan1 wrote: »

As in resenting taxi drivers or aspiring to a Q7? Or both?:)

Lol, only both if the aspiration is an '09 model (or whatever year it is).

crocro

limos can't use bus lanes, so some limo companies are getting taxi licences. Plenty of s-class, 7-series & a8 taxis at the airport

Par72

If the OP had of just said -

"On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me and noticed it was a taxi. I thought this was really unusual. I'm surprised to see such an expensive car used as a taxi! Surely the running costs and price of the car would be prohibitive for use as a taxi. What do you think?"

- then I doubt there would have been as much hassle. It's not what you say, it's the way that you say it!

Robertr

Just to clarify, it had a Bar on the roof so was not a limo.

When I said "to my horror" I meant that such a nice car was being used as a taxi. Not referring to the taxi driver.

But I still think its facinitating that a Taxi driver can afford to buy and run an Q7 (it was a 2008).

plissken

Robertr wrote: »

But I still think its facinitating that a Taxi driver can afford to buy and run an Q7 (it was a 2008).

Again, how the hell do you know how much this guy earns, he could work an insane amount of hours, run a second business anything. he could have won a few hundred grand in the lotto for all you know, why are you getting hung about a taxi driver being able to afford a q7

Robertr

plissken wrote: »

Again, how the hell do you know how much this guy earns, he could work an insane amount of hours, run a second business anything. he could have won a few hundred grand in the lotto for all you know, why are you getting hung about a taxi driver being able to afford a q7

Your right, he could.

What ever way you want to spin it, you can't deny that its a bit odd and I thought it was interesting.

I never said that I knew how much he earned, he obviously earns enought to afford that car anyway!

Robertr

plissken wrote: »

Typical irish begrudgery, "how dare a taxi man be able to afford a nicer car than me" You have no idea how many hours that guy had to work to afford such a nice car, why were you horrified he was using it as a a taxi?

Oh yeah, please don't make up quotes about what I am saying.

plissken

Robertr wrote: »

Oh yeah, please don't make up quotes about what I am saying.

Can you point out where i made up quotes about what you are saying ?

It was obvious in your first post that you were shocked at how a taxi driver could afford a Q7. I replied looking for some insight into how your thought process works, i see a nice car i admire it and its driver for being able to afford it. Whereas you seem to need to find out how the driver can afford it and begrudge the fact that a mere taxi driver has the cheek to be in a position to afford a nicer car than yourself

Robertr

plissken wrote: »

Can you point out where i made up quotes about what you are saying ?

"how dare a taxi man be able to afford a nicer car than me" ????? Who are you referring to here?

plissken wrote: »

It was obvious in your first post that you were shocked at how a taxi driver could afford a Q7. I replied looking for some insight into how your thought process works, i see a nice car i admire it and its driver for being able to afford it. Whereas you seem to need to find out how the driver can afford it and begrudge the fact that a mere taxi driver has the cheek to be in a position to afford a nicer car than yourself

Firstly, you have no idea what cars I drive.

Secondly, you seem to be the one with the chip on the shoulder. I don't think anyone could honestly say that its not a bit odd to see a taxi driver in an Audi Q7. Thats just reality.

I couldn't care less about how that relates to my life. Just thought it was interesting and worth a post.

plissken

Robertr wrote: »

"how dare a taxi man be able to afford a nicer car than me" ????? Who are you referring to here?.

I never attributed a quote to you anywhere on this thread, so your comment about me making up quotes about what you are saying is incorrect.

Robertr wrote: »

Secondly, you seem to be the one with the chip on the shoulder

You are absolutely right i do have an enourmous chip on my shoulder when it comes to begrudgers questioning the means to which someone they know nothing about can afford a nice car, but im well balanced ive a chip on both shoulders.


This thread is going nowhere im going to bow out gracefully now before this descends into the same tone as that which permeated the last few pages of the hwist thread

L-M

I don't know what ye're all fighting about, if i saw a Q7 as a taxi i'd be shocked too. It's called something happening out of the norm.

Jaysus ladies, handbags.

TheBazman

It really amazes me how quickly so many threads go from being on topic to being a too-ing and fro-ing tit for tat mud throwing match. Would it not be better at times for people to bite their tongue a bit before jumping in attacking the Op (not necessarily this Op but any one)? Maybe I am the only one with this opinion as most of the time I live in dial up land and it takes about 3 mins to load up each page - its so disappointing when I do open it up and there is little to nothing about the original subject in the thread

Guy:Incognito

I'd be more worried about practicality of the likes of a Q7, especially for the older members of society that might not be as mobile as others . Havign to climg up into it might be an issue.

I've seen a Landcruiser and a Hilux lately with Taxi plates which I'd have similar reservations about.

Matt Simis

Limerick man wrote: »

I don't know what ye're all fighting about, if i saw a Q7 as a taxi i'd be shocked too. It's called something happening out of the norm.
Jaysus ladies, handbags.

Maybe you missed the fact that unlike your shock of it being out of the ordinary, the OPs shock was purely cost vs assumed salary of some innocent bystander:

Robertr wrote:

Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

There is a tone there than implies taxi drivers are somehow undeserving of nice cars.

Robertr, you arent the only one to be affected by begrudgery, its the society we live in (combined with hard times for most). I remember a couple of years ago driving down the N4 with my mother as a passenger. My brother and I were admiring a new model 7 Series BMW in the next lane, on UK regs, something like "CEO xxxx". We were impressed, but her (verbal) reaction was "look at him, wonder how much he embezzled to get that car". :rolleyes: You really arent alone!

TheBazman wrote: »

It really amazes me how quickly so many threads go from being on topic to being a too-ing and fro-ing tit for tat mud throwing match.

Yeah, threads go back and forth and devolve into mud slinging alot. But what can you do.. but on this one, come on, the OPs frame of mind isnt open to misinterpetion, its written up there to critque. If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

groupb

I'm just shocked that someone would buy a Q7. Horrible looking things!:P

Mailman

Robertr wrote: »

On the way to work and saw a nice Audi Q7 beside me. As It went past I noticed, to my horror, that it was a TAXI!!!! Can someone please explain how taxi drivers can afford these cars???

Cheapish to buy these days, the punter on the back seat is paying for the jungle juice it consumes, taxi insurance doesn't vary much depending on car, it's expensive either way and Motor Tax for a PSV/TAXI is much lower than for private vehicles.
If you happen to hire him and he doesn't give you a printed receipt at the end of the trip then get annoyed.

Esel

Also, the taxi driver can depreciate the car against their income tax (if they are paying any, that is).

Leprechaun77

I'd hardly say its begrudgery by the OP. Whilst I wouldn't be shocked, it is very odd to see these high end vehicles being used as normal everyday taxi's. Sure only recently, didn't that bloke in the taxi union call for a moritorium on the issue of taxi licenses as the drivers were only earning about *15k a year? By this logic, the Q.7 is depreciating more than the chap is earning in the year (* up for correction as this is from memory)

bladebrew

i was in an s-class merc taxi before (might have been an e-class but im sure it was bigger than that) ,i wasnt concerned where he got the money from,just thought it was strange to use a car that nice as a taxi,i commented on using such an expensive car as a taxi and he just said "yeah":)
good point that someone made, he could spend 8 hours a day driving in it so wanted something comfortable, and it mite only be used on a day shift so he wont have drunks eating abrakebabra in the back!

MagicMarker

I saw a pizza delivery driver in a Q7 the other day.

Obviously a drug dealer.

Esel

MagicMarker wrote: »

I saw a pizza delivery driver in a Q7 the other day.

Obviously a drug dealer.

Yeah, you just ask for 'extra anchovies' when you order.

daRobot

MagicMarker wrote: »

I saw a pizza delivery driver in a Q7 the other day.

Obviously a drug dealer.

Maybe he was using one of his parents car???

MagicMarker

daRobot wrote: »

Maybe he was using one of his parents car???

How dare you assume he can't afford a Q7, for all you know he works 28 hours a DAY!!

*insert other shíte talk here*

T-Maxx

I don't care how many hours the taxi guy works a day - he should never IMO be able to afford a Q7.

s14driftking

T-Maxx wrote: »

I don't care how many hours the taxi guy works a day - he should never IMO be able to afford a Q7.

and why in your opionon do u think he shouldn be able to afford it

high class and high cars and jeeps have gotten cheap lately
ive recently seen a range rover sport with all extra mods going and being sold for 23000euro on a irish plate and nct,d 06

tat is very reach able for most people in soceity where there working;)

Mailman

s14driftking wrote: »

and why in your opionon do u think he shouldn be able to afford it

high class and high cars and jeeps have gotten cheap lately
ive recently seen a range rover sport with all extra mods going and being sold for 23000euro on a irish plate and nct,d 06

tat is very reach able for most people in soceity where there working;)

an '06 range rover with an NCT?

ArphaRima

For all the reasons mentioned above, the taxi driver might have been able to justify affording a Q7.

Personally I believe it to be a VIP taxi. I dont think I'll be getting into it at 3.30am anytime soon..

However. As taxi drivers are working a public service, with government set rates, I too would be shocked and YES appalled to see a taxi driver driving a 90k car from new. I feel the taxi union wouldnt want to see him driving it either. Gives the wrong impression. ie. that he is overpaid. At our expense.

T-Maxx

Audi Q7 2008 ex Carzone

Anybody that says these are affordable cars and wouldn't find it strange to see a Q7 taxi are talking trash.

BlackWizard

Taxi drivers are obviously making too much money. We need stricter regulation for them and more compeition.

Cionád

T-Maxx wrote: »

Audi Q7 2008 ex Carzone

Anybody that says these are affordable cars and wouldn't find it strange to see a Q7 taxi are talking trash.

I'll even go as far as saying that is impossible to even afford the installments on a Q7 (at regulated taxi fares), let alone anything else.

You don't know his circumstances though. He could have a contract with a 5-star hotel down the country and is ferrying people to-and-from airports for them.

Or he won the lotto.

None of us here know.

oleras

Stekelly wrote: »

I'd be more worried about practicality of the likes of a Q7, especially for the older members of society that might not be as mobile as others . Havign to climg up into it might be an issue.

I've seen a Landcruiser and a Hilux lately with Taxi plates which I'd have similar reservations about.

What about the drunk members ? I got a mini bus taxi home one night, by the time he got outside my house i had forgotton i had to take a step up to get in..paid him, opened the door, went to step out and landed on my ar$e..didnt drop the food though !! :pac:

Matt Simis

T-Maxx wrote: »

Audi Q7 2008 ex Carzone

Anybody that says these are affordable cars and wouldn't find it strange to see a Q7 taxi are talking trash.

They were launched in '07, not need to restrict to '08?
Also, remember to take the VAT off it as effectively he doesnt pay it. Then there is the fact he would get a great deal on a car that expensive today. So he is looking at under EUR50k OTR.. mid to high '40s doesnt sound expensive at all for both the primary core of his business as well as his personal transport.

He could also have a small business going with several cars on the road. Its just not that shocking.


Im sure at least one taxi driver has read this.. care to give us a guideline average annual salary for a 40hr working week on average?
Perhaps the reason Im a bit vested against this stereotyping is people have said mighty stupid things to me, driving a phat big car with a 5litre engine "at my age". It was worth more than the Q7 in question both new (by far) and when I got it am Im about half the age of the average taxi driver. I didnt embezzle money or rob anyone either.

pburns

This thread is funny!

Taxi drivers with Audi Q7s...
Peoples' moral outrage at the mere suggestion that this is a little unusual...

Ah yes, the last, dying gasps of the Celtic Tiger...:D

Taxi drivers should know their place and consider themselves lucky with with one of those luverly Skoda Octavias. Massive boot - I hear you can fit 2 Q7s in the back without letting down the rear seats;)!

nialler

He:

A: sold and bought house during the up swing (so made money)

and

B: sold an 03 S Class

So although I nearly fell out of my standing when I seen it, let people do what they want to do if they have the money.

Heard a story yesterday of a guy who burnt out his brand new S500 taxi, insurance company stated that the car could not be stolen (he then said that his keys were stolen), insurance company told him to sue them.

Could all be hear say but who knows.