Merc S500 - TAXI

ION08

On my way to work this morning, I noticed a 12-D Mercedes S500 LWB TAXI sitting in traffic

Who on earth and why on earth would you spend upwards of €160,000 on a brand spanking new Merc S-Class with a 5.5 Litre V8 Petrol engine??? :eek:

Just wondering how you could ever justify this and what the logic behind it is?

Unless he was a wealthy millionaire with a deep passion for taxiing?

skyhighflyer

Must be Michael O'Leary's new motor, he usually runs an S500 on a taxi plate.

kildare.17hmr

He is probably a chauffuer too. I had a ministerial driver in with me the other day who had a new s320 for chauffuer work on the side.

I also sold a brand new viano to a taxi driver at a cost of 65k this year, he does alot of runs for fancy hotels and businessmen. he was telling me he is getting alot of stick off other taxi drivers since he picked it up, feckin begrudgers:rolleyes:

keithclancy

80 euro a year tax and nice empty bus lanes to drive in.

How bad.

Fizman

I'm pretty sure there is a 2012 black S Class around Limerick too.

Edwardius

There was an M5 taxi kicking around Dublin within the last year or two as well .

String

Obviously some sort of executive taxi. Alot of big company's and multinationals would chauffeur their clients from airports in these.

Tea 1000

ION08 wrote: »

On my way to work this morning, I noticed a 12-D Mercedes S500 LWB TAXI sitting in traffic

Who on earth and why on earth would you spend upwards of €160,000 on a brand spanking new Merc S-Class with a 5.5 Litre V8 Petrol engine??? :eek:

Just wondering how you could ever justify this and what the logic behind it is?

Unless he was a wealthy millionaire with a deep passion for taxiing?

When you think about it though, most millionaire's buy an S500 and are hardly ever in it, probably only do about 8k miles per year in it, and everyone is happy that it's justified that a 160k car is idle!

Not taking a swipe at you at all, just saying that it's the way most of us initially react!
A Taxi driver is in it all day every day, he'll be relaxed and comfortable in his office, and his clients will love him collecting them in it, it's the ideal tool, yet we seem to automatically think that it's a waste of a 160k car!

ION08

Tea 1000 wrote: »

When you think about it though, most millionaire's buy an S500 and are hardly ever in it, probably only do about 8k miles per year in it, and everyone is happy that it's justified that a 160k car is idle!

Not taking a swipe at you at all, just saying that it's the way most of us initially react!
A Taxi driver is in it all day every day, he'll be relaxed and comfortable in his office, and his clients will love him collecting them in it, it's the ideal tool, yet we seem to automatically think that it's a waste of a 160k car!

Yeah, I've heard that argument before but heck, even if you wanted to go all out with a taxi becuase you practically live in it, I think an identical S320CDI would be lavish enough, an S500 V8 Petrol just seems like overkill to me!

Sure when you factor in costs such as petrol and servicing costs, your running costs per km would probably be around the same as the fare price in that! ... I wonder how long it would take to even "break even "on purchase price of €160,000 without factoring in any petrol, servicing, licencing costs etc!

I was just suprised to see it as it just didn't make any logical / rational sense to me

Gone Drinking

Tea 1000 wrote: »

When you think about it though, most millionaire's buy an S500 and are hardly ever in it, probably only do about 8k miles per year in it, and everyone is happy that it's justified that a 160k car is idle!

Not taking a swipe at you at all, just saying that it's the way most of us initially react!
A Taxi driver is in it all day every day, he'll be relaxed and comfortable in his office, and his clients will love him collecting them in it, it's the ideal tool, yet we seem to automatically think that it's a waste of a 160k car!

I'd love to taxi people around in a Ferrari all day, but that wouldn't make it economical. I can't see how a taxi man could make enough money being a taxi man, to be able to afford that car, the running costs, the maintenance costs etc

Eric Cartman

ION08 wrote: »

Yeah, I've heard that argument before but heck, even if you wanted to go all out with a taxi becuase you practically live in it, I think an identical S320CDI would be lavish enough, an S500 V8 Petrol just seems like overkill to me!

Sure when you factor in costs such as petrol and servicing costs, your running costs per km would probably be around the same as the fare price in that! ... I wonder how long it would take to even "break even "on purchase price of €160,000 without factoring in any petrol, servicing, licencing costs etc!

I was just suprised to see it as it just didn't make any logical / rational sense to me

so your issue isnt that car being an s class, its that its petrol instead. Maybe hes a chauffer for very specific clients, or it could be a millionaire.

To be fair leaving the price out of it, if I was sitting in a car all day every day and clocking up the mileage some taxi drivers do , the only way to make it dissapointing would be to do it in a diesel luxobarge.

keithclancy

Eric Cartman wrote: »

so your issue isnt that car being an s class, its that its petrol instead. Maybe hes a chauffer for very specific clients, or it could be a millionaire.

To be fair leaving the price out of it, if I was sitting in a car all day every day and clocking up the mileage some taxi drivers do , the only way to make it dissapointing would be to do it in a diesel luxobarge.

I've never in the last 5 years of living in the Netherlands seen a Petrol Taxi

Although its gone down now to 1.76 a liter

THe OP is just wondering how its financially viable, he's not appearing to be anyway against the idea. Presumably there are some lucrative repeat business contracts involved that require such a vehicle.

Tea 1000

Gone Drinking wrote: »

I'd love to taxi people around in a Ferrari all day, but that wouldn't make it economical. I can't see how a taxi man could make enough money being a taxi man, to be able to afford that car, the running costs, the maintenance costs etc

Maybe it isn't financially viable for this guy either. Maybe he wants a fancy car and is wealthy, and likes the taxi job, and couldn't give a crap if he makes a loss, cause he doesn't want to sit at home scratching all day. Sure any income at all will offset the depreciation! Which is the biggest factor of all.
Or maybe it's just a rebadged S320. Sure who knows? More power to him, if I had the means I would too!

ION08

Eric Cartman wrote: »

so your issue isnt that car being an s class, its that its petrol instead. Maybe hes a chauffer for very specific clients, or it could be a millionaire.

To be fair leaving the price out of it, if I was sitting in a car all day every day and clocking up the mileage some taxi drivers do , the only way to make it dissapointing would be to do it in a diesel luxobarge.

What is this some sort of spanish inquisition?

Ive no issue with the car and no issue with the fuelt type, I just don't understand the reasoning behind it.

I don't see it as a logical choice of car for the given job.

Its like being a painter and wearing an Armani suit to work to paint in - bit of an extreme example but you get my point

BailMeOut

on day of one of the 6 nation games we flagged down S600 V12 taxi on Baggot Street. Nicest taxi I as every in. Driver was not afraid to put the foot down and we were home in record time!

Atlantic Dawn

When you earn a 6 or 7 figure salary or you work for a massive company paying €160,000 as a business expense makes far more sense than paying €160,000 in tax . I think the one in question is O'Leary's I know there was recently a thread on here with his previous car for sale, was a S500 or S600 with 170k odd miles on it, was a 5.5 litre petrol

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=74304878

Gumbo

i know of one S500 Taxi thats actually a CDi 320
Did you get the reg OP, could be just a badge queen!

ION08

kceire wrote: »

i know of one S500 Taxi thats actually a CDi 320
Did you get the reg OP, could be just a badge queen!

https://www.cartell.ie/ssl/servlet/beginStarLookup?registration=12d5099

mickdw

Yes michael O learys 07 S500 was for sale. It was recently on donedeal at a significantly reduced price too. Asking around 15k, which considering it should have a proper service history might make it a good buy for someone in a business that might use it such as chauffeur or even undertaker.

skyhighflyer

That S600 V12 taxi someone is talking about is definitely a fake, it has pea shooter quad exhausts tacked on the back and S600 badging.

Inbox

Dead Ed wrote: »

There was an M5 taxi kicking around Dublin within the last year or two as well .

Was it silver? Tis a 530d if it was.

BailMeOut

skyhighflyer wrote: »

That S600 V12 taxi someone is talking about is definitely a fake, it has pea shooter quad exhausts tacked on the back and S600 badging.

not the one I was in. Was definitely a S600 V12. I am 100% sure of that.

unkel

How are you 100% sure? Did you look under the hood?

Any taxi driver with a decent car must be a criminal using it to launder money through a legit business. Discuss.

skyhighflyer

BailMeOut wrote: »

not the one I was in. Was definitely a S600 V12. I am 100% sure of that.

Was it a black W221 with an 07-G reg? I'm open to correction although I agree that anyone who knows their cars would probably be able to tell the difference from the inside.

Gumbo

Deleted User wrote: »

Any taxi driver with a decent car must be a criminal using it to launder money through a legit business. Discuss.

Why should we discuss your ignorant, narrow minded opinion, off with ya!

skyhighflyer wrote: »

Was it a black W221 with an 07-G reg? I'm open to correction although I agree that anyone who knows their cars would probably be able to tell the difference from the inside.

that 07 G is an S320 CDi

I Was VB

Licence Number:T14365
Licence Type:Taxi
Licence Status:Active
Licence Expiry Date:25/01/2013
Vehicle Registration No.:12D5099
Name of Licence Holder:TILLINGDALE LIMITED

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillingdale

What ya seen was MOL, although im not against anyone driving a nice car as a taxi, i'm more of a subscriber to minimum standards maximum profits.

db330

I actually saw this car last week too just going into the city. It looked very real to me, huge brakes on it, not something you'd see on a diesel. Certainty didn't sound like a diesel either

BailMeOut

kceire wrote: »

Why should we discuss your ignorant, narrow minded opinion, off with ya!

that 07 G is an S320 CDi

This was no 320D!!! It was a D reg, 09 I think. Driver was finishing up after picking up "vip's" from Aviva statium. The interior was about a luxurious a car I have been in (and I used to own an S series). When he dropped us off he took the taxi sign off the roof and headed off. He was a proper driver too driving very quickly with a lot of confidence. I chatted to him about the car and he just said that his clients liked their comforts and left it at that. I did not however ask him to open the bonnet so that I could count the cylinders!

Gumbo

BailMeOut wrote: »

This was no 320D!!! It was a D reg, 09 I think. Driver was finishing up after picking up "vip's" from Aviva statium. The interior was about a luxurious a car I have been in (and I used to own an S series). When he dropped us off he took the taxi sign off the roof and headed off. He was a proper driver too driving very quickly with a lot of confidence. I chatted to him about the car and he just said that his clients liked their comforts and left it at that. I did not however ask him to open the bonnet so that I could count the cylinders!

Why quote me?
Im not dissagreeing with you

The Black 07G Merc is an S320 CDi, S320 CDi is the 3.2 litre Merc diesel engine not a 2.0 litre engine as in the BMW 320d!

Sobanek

Considering the government spends about €25k on taxis every month, I'm not surprised, maybe it's for government officials...

Dartz

If I ever won the lottery:

I'd buy a Rolls Royce Phantom II.
Register it as a Taxi. Buy a really nice suit.
Then pull up and use it to make people's day.

"I just got dropped home in a Rolls-****ing-Royce. Now it's, what does a dead baby having in common with a Roller"

Because **** me if that wouldn't be fun for everyone. And hopefully the fares would just about keep it running. Maybe this is just some fine fellow who thought it'd be fun to share.