So I'm going taxiing and

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 12-08-2012 02:49PM #1

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 · 12-08-2012 03:23PM

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 · 12-08-2012 03:59PM

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 · 12-08-2012 04:04PM

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 · 12-08-2012 04:11PM

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

Terrontress · 12-08-2012 04:11PM

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 · 12-08-2012 04:17PM

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 · 12-08-2012 04:21PM

Shaunie306 wrote: »

e39 530D High tax but

Not on a taxi.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 12-08-2012 05:15PM

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

Terrontress · 12-08-2012 05:17PM

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 · 12-08-2012 05:38PM

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 · 12-08-2012 05:38PM

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 · 12-08-2012 06:48PM

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

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 12-08-2012 06:54PM

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 · 12-08-2012 06:58PM

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 · 12-08-2012 07:10PM

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 · 12-08-2012 07:14PM

Anyone can service them. They're straightforward.

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

dgt · 12-08-2012 08:31PM

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 · 12-08-2012 10:34PM

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 · 12-08-2012 10:38PM

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 · 12-08-2012 10:43PM

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 · 12-08-2012 11:01PM

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 · 12-08-2012 11:28PM

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 · 12-08-2012 11:57PM

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 · 13-08-2012 12:02AM

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 · 13-08-2012 12:06AM

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 · 13-08-2012 12:27AM

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 · 13-08-2012 12:44AM

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 · 13-08-2012 01:25AM

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 · 13-08-2012 02:49AM

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 · 13-08-2012 09:26AM

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)

So I'm going taxiing and

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