Ask the Car People.SM


Good Taxis - READ ONLY

67 messages,  Last post on Feb 11, 2010 at 10:20 AM

You are in the Automotive News & Views-Archives Forum.

What is this discussion about? Car Comparisons

Messages Page 5 of 7

#38 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120) by hpmctorque

Dec 23, 2007 (6:26 pm)

"They strike me as too small and the cost for replacing batteries must be horrendous."
 
I don't know about the cost of replacing batteries, but the U.S. is one of the only countries where the Escape is too small for taxi service. Achieving greater energy independence will probably require small sacrifices here and there, at least until better technology is developed. I'm not saying we should use old VW Beetles as taxis, as they do in Mexico City, or that the Escape is the best choice, but those Crown Vics strike me as unnecessarily wasteful.

#39 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120) [hpmctorque] by andys120

Jan 01, 2008 (11:23 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Dec 23, 2007 6:26 pm)
The Crown Vic is extremely wasteful, I'll bet it has less passenger room than a Scion xB, or an Escape, for that matter.

#40 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120) [andys120] by gagrice

Jan 01, 2008 (1:46 pm)

Replying to: andys120 (Jan 01, 2008 11:23 am)
The Crown Vic is extremely wasteful, I'll bet it has less passenger room than a Scion xB, or an Escape, for that matter.
 
How about trunk space? A rental agency tried to stick me with an Escape when I rented an Explorer. We could not get all our luggage behind the seat. Had to stack it in the back seat.
 
What other sedan holds 6 people? Most of the Crown Vics in San Diego are CNG making them somewhat cleaner than a hybrid.

#41 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120)(gagrice) by hpmctorque

Jan 01, 2008 (2:33 pm)

"What other sedan holds 6 people?"
 
The Chevy Impala and Buick LaCrosse can be ordered with six passenger seating. I would think that the Impala, especially, would be a good substitute for the Crown Vic.
 
Surprisingly, the new Taurus doesn't offer 6 passenger seating, as far as I know. Too bad, because I believe the Taurus may offer more interior room than the Crown Vic. Maybe Ford wants to discourage using the Taurus for taxi service, since it would hurt its image. Yet, Mercedes are used as taxis in many countries, perhaps even helping that brand's image as a well built, sturdy car that can take a lot of abuse.

#42 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120)(gagrice) [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Jan 01, 2008 (5:09 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 01, 2008 2:33 pm)
Maybe Ford wants to discourage using the Taurus for taxi service, since it would hurt its image.
 
That's a shame, because the 500...er, Taurus, would actually make an excellent taxi. Its trunk is actually larger than the Crown Vic's! As far as back seat comfort goes, the new Taurus seems almost limousine-like with regards to legroom. Much better than the Crown Vic, IMO. Plus, you have larger door openings, less of a center hump, etc. Now shoulder room is a couple inches tighter than the Crown Vic, so I guess it's a tossup. Two big people would be more comfortable in the back of the Taurus, but three short people would be a bit better off in the Crown Vic.
 
The only area I thought the 500/Taurus came up short in was legroom up front. Seemed a bit tight for my tastes, but then I am kind of tall. Probably more than adequate for most people.
 
I'd imagine that a Crown Vic could still take a harder pounding than a Taurus could, though. So when pressed into abusive taxi service, it might hold up longer, and be cheaper to operate in the long run. Still, as big, beefy cars of that type become more and more scarce, I see all sorts of other cars being pressed into taxi service, so maybe they can take it, too?

#43 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120)(gagrice) [andre1969] by gagrice

Jan 01, 2008 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 01, 2008 5:09 pm)
One place the Crown Vic will shine over many other cars is cost to repair after a collision. Insurance should be cheaper than a lot of smaller cars. Crumple zones are a major expense in a minor collision.

#44 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120) [gagrice] by writer

Jan 01, 2008 (9:02 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Jan 01, 2008 1:46 pm)
Would a driver let a passenger in the front seat of a cab in New York? I would not expect that. Cab drivers get attacked some times. If not, then the Crown Vic is only a 3 seater in normal cab use.

#45 of 67 Re: New York City Green Yellow Cabs (andys120) [writer] by gagrice

Jan 01, 2008 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: writer (Jan 01, 2008 9:02 pm)
Most of my cab riding was in Anchorage. I always jumped in the front seat. I guess it is not as uncivilized in Alaska as in NY. I do think it would be hard to get more than one in the front seat with all the stuff a cabby has laying up there.
 
It will be interesting to see how people take to smaller taxi cabs like the Prius. They were very popular in Victoria BC.

#46 of 67 Taxi Drivers by hpmctorque

Jan 03, 2008 (11:55 pm)

I observed on numerous occasions that taxi drivers in Europe, and also Asia, are not as rough on their cars as U.S. drivers are. There's a notable difference, on average. They may drive faster, but they have more respect for their cars. I don't know whether this is largely due to the difference in the price of fuel or to cultural reasons, but it occurred to me that driving style may be a key factor in the vehicles that are used as taxis, and a key component to increasing the fuel efficiency of our taxi fleet.
 
Would gas guzzling Crown Vics be so popular - indeed, could they be justified - if drivers abused their cars less, by driving more gently? Not slower, necessarily; just more gently.

#47 of 67 Re: Taxi Drivers [hpmctorque] by andre1969

Jan 04, 2008 (7:31 am)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jan 03, 2008 11:55 pm)
Would gas guzzling Crown Vics be so popular - indeed, could they be justified - if drivers abused their cars less, by driving more gently? Not slower, necessarily; just more gently.
 
I dunno...that's an interesting thought. Do the taxi drivers in Europe own their own cars, or do they tend to be owned by the company? In the United States, there actually seems to be a mix. I had a friend in college whose father moonlighted as a Cabbie, for Yellow Cabs I think it was (black cars with yellow doors). He always used his own cars, which would be painted company colors. I remember him having an '83 or so Electra, and then trying to work on a Versailles, of all cars, to get it ready for service, but soon after buying an '86 or so Town Car that he was getting ready to put into service. Last time I saw my friend's Dad about 3 years ago, there was a late 90's Town Car taxi in his driveway, so I'm guessing he's still doing it.
 
Seems to me that if you're using your own car, you'd be more gentle on it. But then, maybe that's one reason why these guys would get these cheap, sturdy, durable battlecruisers...so that they COULD abuse them, and could just get by as cheaply as possible. In those days, when gas was cheap, I doubt if a more economical taxi would have paid for itself simply in fuel savings, but today, with higher gas prices, it just might.
 
Aren't cars typically more expensive in Europe, when compared to a typical person's salary? If so, that could be one reason the cabbies treat them better. If they're using their own cars, they want them to last, or if they're company cars, maybe the company gives them a lot of grief if they abuse them?

Messages Page 5 of 7

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement