Good car to use as a Taxi ?

[Savvi]

My Father in law has just lost his taxi driving job, he's done this for years now but fell out with the owner and resigned.

 

He's hired a mates spare car for a few weeks to see how it went, so far he's doing ok and now looking to get a car of his own

 

We have spent this afternoon looking at cars on the net and found a website that Bigdaz recommended but cant agree on what car

 

He wants to do local stuff but also airport / long distance stuff, which is what he did before, he's already got a director that he used to take to airport regually and always drove a Merc.

 

Obviously a new Merc on the book is far too much for him so i suggested a Toyota Advensis as they seem to be about 1/2 the price @ £62 per week from cabdirect which seems to include the meter etc.

 

So finally my question is what does anyone else think and does anyone have any contacts or any other idea's as to what car to get, he doesn't want a French car !!!!!

[Yeomans22]

does it need to be a new car?

 

you can pick up 03-04 plate omege estates with a 2.2 dti engine, for not very much, fit loads of people luggage in etc.

[turnover]

just get a people carrier of some sort,as you can legally carrry more passengers and good for the airport runs

[Savvi]

does it need to be a new car?

 

you can pick up 03-04 plate omege estates with a 2.2 dti engine, for not very much, fit loads of people luggage in etc.

 

 

He wasnt originally looking for a new car but @ £63 per week with only a £250 deposit is it worth buying a 2nd hand car when your trying to get higher end customers ?

 

I originally suggested a people carrier but he wants something more comfortable for bussiness type clients ?

 

I've never been involved with this type of business, even though always worked on cars, and think he's been spoilt have a nearly new merc for the last 6 years or more

[vibrating_Cake]

just get a people carrier of some sort,as you can legally carrry more passengers and good for the airport runs

 

what he said

and around town the MPG difference wont be too noticeable from a normal car

[Durham Fiesta]

a bloke i used to work with did the type of work your talking about and he used one of the new high end big skoda's (the name escapes me for now) as it looked like a big executive car but for a lot less than mercs etc

[Vista]

If he's looking for executive clients, I would go for an E60 (or E61) 520d SE. The model was little changed between 2004 and 2010 when it was replaced and the 520d returns excellent mpg, has loads of space and a cavernous boot. They also carry their mileage well and if looked after can be mistaken for cars much younger than their years. Get a 2006 one and put a cheap private plate on it and the executive client will never know he's in a 4 year old car.

 

He'll lose a lot less in depreciation than he will with a new car of any brand

 

P.S. Merc?? Owned two, both let me down constantly, not so the last two BMW's.

[GT_lenny]

been looking at merc E300 td's myself lately (about 98-02vintage) - they'll do starship milage,still look swish,a private plate can disguise the age and every country on the continent use them as taxi's there seems to be a lot to choose from for not much money too

[Grizzley Dell]

passat tdi. my mate bought 1 new for cabbing, done over 150k in 4 years & not a single problem.

[Savvi]

I offered to buy him a older car and put it on the road for him, so he can pay me back weekly, he didn't intend leaving and cant really afford to do it himself.

 

When you look at the deals they do on a new car all fitted out with meter etc. and then think of the reliabilty it seems too good to be true but for £60 odd a week for a new one he only needs £250 deposit and he can do it himself, he's not mechanically minded and i think that worries him about a used car.

[Stiggy]

My 02 Passat just passed 170K with no major problems.

 

My last 99 Passat just passed 370K still going strong.

[garyv6100e]

Skoda Superb , a lot of car for the money with lots of leg room etc. a few of my surveyors have them as company cars as the choice was either poverty spec Passat or almost top of the range superb, if he can get past the badge it may be a good choice

[turnover]

you can get some very nice people carriers with all the toys and auto diesls

[bigdaz27]

i would go for a Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDi have a look on cab direct in the used section 2006 passat estate £48.95 a week and as for a people carrier i wouldnt bother he wont make any more money

[bigdaz27]

http://www.cabdirect.com/vehicles/used_ ... 1/1378/2/1

[SAMMYBOY]

Skoda Superb.......Basically a Passat, with the floor pan lengthened 9 inches........

[killerkerry89]

this is a perfect opportunity to justify a uber cool retro barge. have you all missed the point?

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?d=5170

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... read=92008

[caprinerd]

i have a contract with a cab company here to service and repair their cabs, best advice i have is keep away from the vectras had them in more than any other car on the circuit the passat only ever comes in for its service and never for repair

[john_3.0s]

mk2 granada ghia x