So I'm going taxiing and

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

need to pick a car for it...... will be buying a full taxi used.

but am wondering what to go for.

I want it to be automagic gearbox and preferably daysul or hybrid.

I was thinking about a Toyota prius or octavia / avensis.

is there anything special about the prius when it comes to servicing etc ? batteries ?

I'm sticking for a saloon car or estate.but I think the avensis and Octy are a bit too common.

any recommendations or thoughts on cars above etc ?

thanks all

I Was VB

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

need to pick a car for it...... will be buying a full taxi used.

but am wondering what to go for.

I want it to be automagic gearbox and preferably daysul or hybrid.

I was thinking about a Toyota prius or octavia / avensis.

is there anything special about the prius when it comes to servicing etc ? batteries ?

I'm sticking for a saloon car or estate.but I think the avensis and Octy are a bit too common.

any recommendations or thoughts on cars above etc ?

thanks all

Look on the taxi ranks, theres a reason they're all full with Octys and Avensis, ya cant get a diesel/auto combo in the 03-09 Avensis.

Bpmull

Octavia 1.9 tdi economical reliable comfortable. We have a 2005 Octavia 1.9 tdi just to tell you serviced it yesterday cost 60 euro for parts oil air fuel filter and castrol oil all genuine parts. Went to service it and it was a joke how easy it is too service everything has easy access. Anyone could service them. They really are a great car.

Gumbo

I Was VB wrote: »

ya cant get a diesel/auto combo in the 03-09 Avensis.

God knows why?
If they had of put the 2.2 D4D engine into the Auto 2.4 Camry they would of sold 000's of them to taxi drivers.

Shaunie306

e39 530D High tax but bullet proof and can be bought for good money nowadays.

Terrontress

kceire wrote: »

I Was VB wrote: »

ya cant get a diesel/auto combo in the 03-09 Avensis.

God knows why?
If they had of put the 2.2 D4D engine into the Auto 2.4 Camry they would of sold 000's of them to taxi drivers.

before anyone else:

What are you doing dat for?

The Noigerians have de biz ruined.

You'll have to work 19 hours a day, 7 days a week for de same money as dole.

You won't be able to afford breakfast rolls.

You have to spend 4 hours in de kesh for a job to de airport Radisson and you're not allowed to verbally abuse your customer for asking to go dere.

166man

Terrontress wrote: »

before anyone else:

What are you doing dat for?

The Noigerians have de biz ruined.

You'll have to work 19 hours a day, 7 days a week for de same money as dole.

You won't be able to afford breakfast rolls.

You have to spend 4 hours in de kesh for a job to de airport Radisson and you're not allowed to verbally abuse your customer for asking to go dere.

The Taxi business has been ruined though. Theres just too many taxi's out there...

Del2005

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but

Not on a taxi.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

any pros and cons for the prius or civic hybrid saloon ?

Terrontress

166man wrote: »

Terrontress wrote: »

before anyone else:

What are you doing dat for?

The Noigerians have de biz ruined.

You'll have to work 19 hours a day, 7 days a week for de same money as dole.

You won't be able to afford breakfast rolls.

You have to spend 4 hours in de kesh for a job to de airport Radisson and you're not allowed to verbally abuse your customer for asking to go dere.

The Taxi business has been ruined though. Theres just too many taxi's out there...

It's all about meeting expectations. There are enough threads to let someone know how much money can be earned, how many hours must be worked.

If someone is prepared to work the hours and the income suits their outgoings then I don't see that as the business having been ruined.

It is ruined for those with four kids and servicing €400k mortgages who were previously able to do so by taxiing.

Bur if you have a low or no mortgage, want to be your own boss, enjoy meeting people, like listening to the radio, reading books then why not?

There are few secrets about taxiing any more. If you want to do it, do it and enjoy it.

Marcusm

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but bullet proof and can be bought for good money nowadays.

Single tax rate for a taxi so not an issue.

I remember being in a Lexus GS430h(?) which was very comfortable!

Gumbo

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but bullet proof and can be bought for good money nowadays.

True, €88 is quite high nowadays

Terrontress wrote: »

It's all about meeting expectations. There are enough threads to let someone know how much money can be earned, how many hours must be worked.

If someone is prepared to work the hours and the income suits their outgoings then I don't see that as the business having been ruined.

It is ruined for those with four kids and servicing €400k mortgages who were previously able to do so by taxiing.

Bur if you have a low or no mortgage, want to be your own boss, enjoy meeting people, like listening to the radio, reading books then why not?

There are few secrets about taxiing any more. If you want to do it, do it and enjoy it.

+1

Its the people that expect to make 1200 plus doing it that are hit the most in my opinion. Anybody i know that a taximen, go out for their weeks wage, if they make 500e after some costs its a good week and their bills are paid.

obviously they will work more when they need more etc

cgal093

Would you consider an Opel/Vauxhall Vectra? They can be got very cheap these days

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

cgal093 wrote: »

Would you consider an Opel/Vauxhall Vectra? They can be got very cheap these days

no.

cheap cos their shoite.

sold one a while ago myself. things was **** in all ways

colm_mcm

Ting with the Prius is the seats aren't supportive, so if you're in any way big or need a good seat you'll be in ribbons sitting in it all day,

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

colm_mcm wrote: »

Ting with the Prius is the seats aren't supportive, so if you're in any way big or need a good seat you'll be in ribbons sitting in it all day,

I'm a small lad myself driving a civic no hassle but that would be bad for a fat passenger ?

how about the back ?

and can anyone service these or Toyota only ?

colm_mcm

Anyone can service them. They're straightforward.

If getting one, get with leather as the light grey velour seats get grubby very quickly

dgt

colm_mcm wrote: »

If getting one, get with leather as the light grey velour seats get grubby very quickly

Leather seats are a must. Easier cleaning out a mess like spilt drinks or vomit than on cloth

I Was VB

The boot in the Pruis is very small. One big suitcase and that's it, I'll never forget the morning where I had to fit four people a dog, 8 small suitcases 2 big suitcases and a pair of oares into my taxi, it looked like Noah's ark arrived at the airport when we got there.

colm_mcm

Yep, you'd have to leave the false floor for the boot at home, with that in the boot is tiny, you can go high enough with luggage but VB is spot on in what he says,

BeerSteakBirds

Nissan Almera ? I see a lot of them being used as taxis. Anyone I know who has one never has any trouble from them even old ones. They also have plenty of luggage space in the back provided it's a hatchback.

Gumbo

BeerSteakBirds wrote: »

Nissan Almera ? I see a lot of them being used as taxis. Anyone I know who has one never has any trouble from them even old ones. They also have plenty of luggage space in the back provided it's a hatchback.

Dont think it meets the new regulations for newcomers, and rightly so. No taxi should be an Almera, nevermind the hatch back version.

StormGazer.11

The Advensis is a solid car, plenty of room, and cheap enough to service, maintain and run. My Dad's been at it for 30 years and after a few shaky nightmare-ish experiences with other cars he always ended up back with the Advensis. He got a Corolla a few years back, an '07, but it just wasn't cut out for it, to small and the little old 1.4 couldn't keep up especially on the hills and Cork is one big one!! Whatever you go for make sure its a 1.8 minimum!!

BeerSteakBirds

kceire wrote: »

No taxi should be an Almera, nevermind the hatch back version.

What's wrong with an Almera ? I'd be happy for a taxi driver to pick me up even in a Fiat Seicento so long as he got me from A to B if the fare was less (which wouldn't happen but maybe it should as they can charge less than standard fares if you negotiate it so).

Nissan doctor

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

I'm a small lad myself driving a civic no hassle but that would be bad for a fat passenger ?

how about the back ?

and can anyone service these or Toyota only ?

Anyone can service them mechanically once they remember the golden rule: make sure the key is out of the ignition!

GERMAN ROCKS

i am talking now as a taxi user only but i detest going in avensis cars. i try ro avoid octavias too as there just too common. like to try different cars when there available as i like to expierence the different cars. always liked anything french ie c5,407, lagunas or others such as mondeo and insignia, passat etc. avensis is just so dull and boring when paying for a spin somewhere. why not get a second hand audi a4 and have that extra bit of comfort and i bet you would get more repeat business too with it as people would remeber the man with the a4

bazz26

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

i am talking now as a taxi user only but i detest going in avensis cars. i try ro avoid octavias too as there just too common. like to try different cars when there available as i like to expierence the different cars. always liked anything french ie c5,407, lagunas or others such as mondeo and insignia, passat etc. avensis is just so dull and boring when paying for a spin somewhere. why not get a second hand audi a4 and have that extra bit of comfort and i bet you would get more repeat business too with it as people would remeber the man with the a4

How many Audi A4s do you see being used as a taxi? The reason is that they have poor rear legroom and the boot is only average, two very important things when running a taxi. Also how would an A4 be any less boring than a Mondeo, Insignia, etc?

It's all very well having pie in the sky visions of driving this make car or that make car but when your sole line of income is coming from running a taxi then you need to buy with your head not your heart.

Del2005

GERMAN ROCKS wrote: »

i am talking now as a taxi user only but i detest going in avensis cars. i try ro avoid octavias too as there just too common. like to try different cars when there available as i like to expierence the different cars. always liked anything french ie c5,407, lagunas or others such as mondeo and insignia, passat etc. avensis is just so dull and boring when paying for a spin somewhere. why not get a second hand audi a4 and have that extra bit of comfort and i bet you would get more repeat business too with it as people would remeber the man with the a4

Unless the OP is in a smallish town the only taxi people remember are the cheapest. If in Dublin its quicker to just stick your hand out and take your pick than call a taxi, you must still be living in the taxi person happy days these are the punters happy days.

There's a reason why most taxis are boring POS, they are reliable and that's all that counts if you want to make money or in the current climate make enough to feed your family.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

seat covers ftw btw.....

so i agree with what most people say here (apart from those saying dont be a taxi driver, its all shoite and blacks etc... dont care, not listening to crap)

i do want my car to be some what different from a avensis or octy and have all the same great pros of reliability, space etc.

as i say im buying a used taxi in full, so maybe some of ye can browse around and find something interesting.

tax is all the same and just has to be daysul or hybrid.

kirving

BeerSteakBirds wrote: »

What's wrong with an Almera ? I'd be happy for a taxi driver to pick me up even in a Fiat Seicento so long as he got me from A to B if the fare was less (which wouldn't happen but maybe it should as they can charge less than standard fares if you negotiate it so).

There has got to be a minimum standard, and Almera's aren't up to the job.

Until taxi drivers start undercutting one another and plastering their cars with '25% off' or 'Town to Tallaght for €15' or whatever, I'll wait a minute or so for a decent car to come along. I'm paying the same no matter what, so I may as well take the chance to go in something nice.

Not sure of the OP's budget but I'd honestly expect him to do better business in a BMW or a Merc than an Avensis. Got to differentiate yourself these days!

GavMan

Whats you're budget, OP? I would consider picking up an S Class or 7-er. Hailed a S Class the other week and honestly, if I saw on coming down the road behind an Octy or Avensis, I'd wait for the S Class.

Totally different level of comfort for the passenger (and obviously the driver if you're at it all day)

Bearcat

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but bullet proof and can be bought for good money nowadays.

Disagree 1000%. I had two 530d s and they gave no end of trouble....egr's, maf's, flunked up inlet manifolds, shuddering in mid range.....put me off them for life.

Taxing....I'd be looking at avensis, passat, Octavia or if your bold those e220cdi mercs are very reliable

Just my 2c

Shaunie306

Bearcat wrote: »

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but bullet proof and can be bought for good money nowadays.

Disagree 1000%. I had two 530d s and they gave no end of trouble....egr's, maf's, flunked up inlet manifolds, shuddering in mid range.....put me off them for life.

Taxing....I'd be looking at avensis, passat, Octavia or if your bold those e220cdi mercs are very reliable

Just my 2c

I guess both were autos so! They gave troubles with the swirl flaps in the intake and egr, the manual has no swirl flaps and is unaffected by the egr's. I love my manual, shuddering mid range was probably down to the egr and Maf, both massive issues with all German marques these days

bridgepeople

I don't know how practical a prius is for a taxi in terms of size but the hybrid engines are designed for city driving whereas diesel prefers the motorway generally. You will get better fuel economy in a prius than probably any alternative option I would have thought - although diesel is cheaper at the pump.

Also, hybrid engines generally have low maintenance costs as they do not (quoting Toyota) "have an alternator, a starter, a timing belt, a power steering belt, a power steering pump, and it has regenerative brake pads that should never need replacing".

Still, there's a reason most taxis on the road in Dublin are Avensis although you do see a handful of prius.

There's a new 7 seater prius coming out in the next few months (already launched in the UK) that might trickle down to the taxi market in a few years.

166man

Many taxis in Dublin these days seem to be knackered old Toyota Avensis's and sh1t Almeras. Being a car enthusiast I would far prefer to be in a nice Mercedes or Volvo or something but in general as can be seen by what cars Irish people buy they couldn't give a toss what the Taxi is as long as it gets them there relatively comfortably.

Still hate 80% of Taxi's in Dublin as most are just simply sh1t.

Spook_ie

GavMan wrote: »

Whats you're budget, OP? I would consider picking up an S Class or 7-er. Hailed a S Class the other week and honestly, if I saw on coming down the road behind an Octy or Avensis, I'd wait for the S Class.

Totally different level of comfort for the passenger (and obviously the driver if you're at it all day)

Thats the biggy, you have to consider the number of years you can taxi it for, pay too much and you won't/are unlikely to recoup the investment.

Other things to watch... theres a 3 year age rule on package and not all licenses are transferable, also talk is of no transfers after October

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

I do agree with what you guys saying about waiting for a better car.... have done it myself where I walked up to a rank and skipped the first few cars and picked the best one there (fairly new volvo s80 with the heated leather seats and all that jazz.

I know the new rules are coming in ok but not sure if they apply to buying a full taxi (car and plate etc.)

I really do want to stand out from the standard octy and avensis and it sounds like the prius isint very practical so I'll give it a miss.

so full taxis for sale. let's find an interesting one with pics.

and I'm glad we can do a thread like this cos we all want value for money etc as driver and passenger comfort etc.

mgbgt1978

If you are buying/transferring a licence the car associated with it cannot be more than 3 years old.
This means that either you find a package ('09-on car c/w plate) or else buy '09-on car and licence seperately (probably the better option if you want to get something slightly different).
Also it seems that you will no longer be able to buy (or sell) a Taxi licence privately from Oct 1st next.

positron

How about one of those Honda Accord 2.2 Diesel (03-07 model) cars? Very reliable, good mpg, plenty of used models with full leather and all sorts of toys like GPS and heated seats etc, and they look fairly decent too. On the downside, they are probably not as spacious as the Octavia or Passat, but not sure how it compares to Avensys.

Gumbo

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

If you are buying/transferring a licence the car associated with it cannot be more than 3 years old.
This means that either you find a package ('09-on car c/w plate) or else buy '09-on car and licence seperately (probably the better option if you want to get something slightly different).
Also it seems that you will no longer be able to buy (or sell) a Taxi licence privately from Jan 1st next.

this is what i was trying to get accros in an earlier post, thanks.

Panzer Paddy

2.0 deisel skoda superb! more room than the octavia and better engine.

Idbatterim

the below seems to be fairly good value...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/730d-SE-/26113424683079050/advert?channel=CARS

I Was VB

What ever car the OP buys it has to be under 3 years of age in order for him to buy a taxi plate and transfer it into his name.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3619886

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

kceire wrote: »

this is what i was trying to get accros in an earlier post, thanks.

So its not possible to buy a full used taxi as in car, plate and everything all in one pre 2009 ?

sorry if already answered , just transfer the whole taxi ?

the 7'er is some car ! :eek:

I Was VB

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

kceire wrote: »

this is what i was trying to get accros in an earlier post, thanks.

So its not possible to buy a full used taxi as in car, plate and everything all in one pre 2009 ?

sorry if already answered , just transfer the whole taxi ?

the 7'er is some car ! :eek:

Yep what ever car you buy must be registered under three years of age. So I you buy a January reged car it will be too old (3 years old and 8 months)

So really ya would have to be going for a 2010 car or a late regd 2009 car.

mgbgt1978

By the way the 3 year rule does not apply to wheelchair accessible Taxis........so if you want to you could start checking out Mercedes Vito's on AutoTrader.co.uk.

Wicklowandy

Spook_ie wrote: »

Thats the biggy, you have to consider the number of years you can taxi it for, pay too much and you won't/are unlikely to recoup the investment.

Other things to watch... theres a 3 year age rule on package and not all licenses are transferable, also talk is of no transfers after October

Do some heavy research, plates only have one transfer and has to be transferred onto a less than 3 yr old car, no transfers at all after october, full package eg car and plate same rules apply. You need a car less than 3 years old, and can drive it until its ninth birthday if you want, but any replacement must be less than 3 years. Check out www.irishtaxi.org/forum. Beware chancers trying to sell full packages, plates are worth nothing, and any package you buy will only be usable until nct expires. By that stage you may not be able to transfer plate. Only new Wheelchair Accessible Taxi/Hackney plates now being issued.

Wicklowandy

And beware any non irish wheelchair access taxi, standards are changing and still unclear eg no van conversions only factory minibuses can be converted. Be careful out there.

Wicklowandy

If you have a psv go rent a taxi for a month or two and see if you like it before you invest any serious money, because you wont get it back

Spook_ie

positron wrote: »

How about one of those Honda Accord 2.2 Diesel (03-07 model) cars? Very reliable, good mpg, plenty of used models with full leather and all sorts of toys like GPS and heated seats etc, and they look fairly decent too. On the downside, they are probably not as spacious as the Octavia or Passat, but not sure how it compares to Avensys.

Too old

Spook_ie

Idbatterim wrote: »

the below seems to be fairly good value...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/730d-SE-/26113424683079050/advert?channel=CARS

Too old
Even if you buy a license from a driver before Oct 1st it still has to be put onto a 3 year old car

Vehicle Requirements

When a licence is transferred, it must be associated with a vehicle that is less than three years old at the date of transfer.