What would you drive if you were a taxi driver?

VolvoMan

Mine would be this: http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/S70/2.5D-AUT/200939195280254/advert?channel=CARS

It is a 2.5 litre diesel with an auto gearbox, full heated leather, climate control, loads of space and a big boot for luggage on airport runs. I think this is the most foolproof taxi you can get!

Saab Ed

Fcuk all....I'd be too busy protesting on O' Connel street to be driving anything :D

Dartz

If I was lucky enough to be able to afford one, I'd love to use a Rolls Royce Phantom as a taxi.

What's the point in having a Rolls-Royce, if you can't share it?

VolvoMan

Dartz wrote: »

If I was lucky enough to be able to afford one, I'd love to use a Rolls Royce Phantom as a taxi.

What's the point in having a Rolls-Royce, if you can't share it?

Ah now, I'm expecting a bit of realism on this thread.

FruitLover

Surely a taxi would be most suitable.

Saab Ed

VolvoMan wrote: »

Ah now, I'm expecting a bit of realism on this thread.

Got ya....

Absurdum

everyone mad

VolvoMan

What influenced me to start this thread was more the car than anything, but it must be one of my poorer ones judging from the reactions so far.:o

Voodoomelon

If I was to start taxi-ing tomorrow with a limited budget, i'd pop for a 530d E39. Comfort, power, autobox, relatively decent economy and looks to boot.

drunkmonkey

why would you drive anything else

starbelgrade

With public opinion on taxi drivers as it is these days... an armoured car or a tank.

bazz26

This would be my choice:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=200822188957320

Probably have to stick a Nissan diesel engine in her though. :eek:

Dartz

VolvoMan wrote: »

Ah now, I'm expecting a bit of realism on this thread.

Realistically

If I ever had a Rolls Royce, that's exactly what I'd do with it.

Volvoboy

C'mon everybody knew i was going to post it. :pac:

flazio

As far as I'm aware the most popular cabs are the ones from the Volkswagen group. Passats and more so Skoda Octavias seem to be everywhere.

Mr Benevolent

Volvoboy wrote: »

C'mon everybody knew i was going to post it. :pac:

A real stunner (there's no crying smiley)

Volvoboy, you'd love Australia. Half of them drive sh!theaps here. In fact most of them make the Carina E look positively futuristic. Me, I'd drive a TDI Superb auto. As a taxi that is. Not as a Carina E.

alias no.9

It depends on what hours and account business I could pick up. If I could get regular corporate clients for airport runs, business meeting drop offs, etc... I'd reward them with aomething like this...



because it has reasonably decent economy (I know a guy running a limo service and his S320cdi's are more fuel efficient than his Lexus Hybrid), comfy seats and plenty of room for everybody.

but if I was providing a weekend vomit commet service



because you can fit a security barrier between you and the drunken revellers and have a convenient hose down interior to get you started again in the event of the inevitable mess.

WIZE

Any of theses

hobochris

Id buy one of these from the ex-army vehicle sales.



imagine the novelty business you would get alone, never mind the attention it would get at ranks.

trad

You can't put a taxi licence on a car older than 9 years old ( transfer or buy a new plate) so the question should be what sub 9 year old car could you afford if you were driving a taxi.

event

a tuk-tuk

biko

Automatic is a must but then I'd want something economical with a big boot for luggage so:


Although this would be sweet:


And as alias said above, you have a barrier between you the eejits fare. It also locks the doors until you release it.

VolvoMan

trad wrote: »

You can't put a taxi licence on a car older than 9 years old ( transfer or buy a new plate) so the question should be what sub 9 year old car could you afford if you were driving a taxi.

Yeah but that is not coming into action for another two or three years, is it not?

donvito99

I'd say about 25% of Taxi drivers drive an Avensis, which I wouldn't drive.

cadaliac

A skoda superb tdi with the 5 speed box (not the 6) or an auto.
Upgrade the shocks with Koni shocks and away you go.

BostonB

Saw a A8 taxi today in dublin at a rank. Dunno if was diesel or not.

CharlieCroker

There's a taxi driver in Cork who looks like Elvis, even has the blue suede shoes!!!!!

Anyway, back OT, i'd take a Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDi DSG (Auto) Estate.
MAssive car, and comfy with it.

hick

New legislation from January means they can't drive a car over 7 years old

spree

When I was looking a getting my first car I was looking at what taxi drivers were using, more the make than the model not sure if I was right or wrong.
But I would pick an avensis.

EPM

CharlieCroker wrote: »

There's a taxi driver in Cork who looks like Elvis, even has the blue suede shoes!!!!!

Now that you mention it I always thoought that dude had one of the nicest cabs around for a while. Think this is the car too. He replaced it with an Antara then

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Omega/2.2-ELEG/200921192886701/advert?channel=CARS

CharlieCroker

EPM wrote: »

CharlieCroker wrote: »

There's a taxi driver in Cork who looks like Elvis, even has the blue suede shoes!!!!!

Now that you mention it I always thoought that dude had one of the nicest cabs around for a while. Think this is the car too. He replaced it with an Antara then

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Omega/2.2-ELEG/200921192886701/advert?channel=CARS

I dunno is that the actual car but I reckon he had something done to the rear suspension. Always looked very jacked up at the back

EDIT: Think that is actually his car. Saw the Antara a few months ago by the gate cinema, someone was after driving into the front of him.

Barr

It would have to be a Jap and auto - I rekon the Camry diesel was born to be a taxi .

Cosmo K

Errrrhh Guys....have a look a the Taxi Regualators list of cars, that are actually approved:

http://www.taxiregulator.ie/files/Model_Report_Database_02-09-09_PDF.pdf

They don't mention armoured personal carriers:D

Barr

Cosmo K wrote: »

Errrrhh Guys....have a look a the Taxi Regualators list of cars, that are actually approved:

http://www.taxiregulator.ie/files/Model_Report_Database_02-09-09_PDF.pdf

They don't mention armoured personal carriers:D

According to that you cant use a SAAB 9-3 Estate sportswagon but the saloon is ok

robbie_998

i would like to be very serious about this topic and my dream car for taxi would be this

Land Rover Discovery 4

unkel

Cosmo K wrote: »

Errrrhh Guys....have a look a the Taxi Regualators list of cars, that are actually approved:

http://www.taxiregulator.ie/files/Model_Report_Database_02-09-09_PDF.pdf

Never saw that before, thanks. Since when is that active? So no more Toyota Corollas as taxi then - hurray

P.S. they seem to be strict on the luggage capacity - the boot of a Jaguar S-type is too small, so it can't be a taxi :eek:

junkyard

As some others said the BMW 530d auto would be my first choice too and very cheap now as a result of the rip-off road tax here and the Fiat Scudo would be my second choice other than that the Carina E would be hard to beat too. Wouldn't recommend any modern Toyota unless it was a Jap import.

Cosmo K

unkel wrote: »

Never saw that before, thanks. Since when is that active? So no more Toyota Corollas as taxi then - hurray

P.S. they seem to be strict on the luggage capacity - the boot of a Jaguar S-type is too small, so it can't be a taxi :eek:

Found the list in work a couple of weeks ago (still with the NCT:D), had a look through it.....and didn't know what to say.

Jaguar S type is the perfect example, why is that car not suitable? Same story with estates and MPV's, whats wrong with a Seat Altea or a Saab 9-5??

VolvoMan

Cosmo K wrote: »

Jaguar S type is the perfect example, why is that car not suitable? Same story with estates and MPV's, whats wrong with a Seat Altea or a Saab 9-5??

Headroom isn't great in the back of those S-type's, and the boot is also very shallow.

The only thing the SAAB 9-5 has against it is reliability.

CharlieCroker

The Alfa 156 isn't allowed in saloon or estate and the 159 isn't allowed in estate

Cosmo K

[QUOTE=VolvoMan;62456371
The only thing the SAAB 9-5 has against it is reliability.[/QUOTE]

You are joking, right?

Volvoboy

junkyard wrote: »

other than that the Carina E would be hard to beat too. Wouldn't recommend any modern Toyota unless it was a Jap import.

VolvoMan

Cosmo K wrote: »

You are joking, right?

No I'm not. The petrol engines in the 9-5 have been notorious for giving trouble and need oil changes regularly.

unkel

VolvoMan wrote: »

No I'm not. The petrol engines in the 9-5 have been notorious for giving trouble and need oil changes regularly.

Indeed. I think there's more info on honestjohn.co.uk. I wouldn't touch a (recent-ish) Saab with a petrol engine unless it had a full service history.

jayj224

CharlieCroker wrote: »

The Alfa 156 isn't allowed in saloon or estate and the 159 isn't allowed in estate

Cars Like the Alfa and the Seat leon new model are not allowed be Taxi's due to the door handles on the back doors. They are hard for customers to see due to they way the car is designed.

VolvoMan

unkel wrote: »

Indeed. I think there's more info on honestjohn.co.uk. I wouldn't touch a (recent-ish) Saab with a petrol engine unless it had a full service history.

It's just the 9-5's that should be avoided though. The engines in the 9-3 are GM units as far as I know, unlike the Triumph derived units in the 9-5.

joey54

A volvo S60, a good old barge for driving around in all day!

unkel

VolvoMan wrote: »

It's just the 9-5's that should be avoided though. The engines in the 9-3 are GM units as far as I know, unlike the Triumph derived units in the 9-5.

Ah! Never knew Saab started to use GM 2l petrol engines.

bbability

Merc E220 CDI Avantgarde or Skoda Superb 2.5TDI

VolvoMan

joey54 wrote: »

A volvo S60, a good old barge for driving around in all day!

Granted, it's a great car, but soon it will no longer be eligible for taxi use. The bigger S80 is though and that makes a fine taxi, especially in D5 form.

cianclarke

BVB wrote: »

Any of theses

Puts taxis to shame in this country. It really irritates me that it costs me the same to get from A to B in a brand new Mercedes S Class as it does in a 1990 Toyota Camry.
In a whole pile of destinations on the continent - Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Malaga, most German cities all the taxis are very modern, generally luxury grade saloons - the random mish mash of taxis seen on the streets of Dublin really is unacceptable for the high price we're paying to get from A to B.
Glad a step in the right direction has been taken, only allowing cars from the last 7 years..