The only thing I find amazing in this story was the fact that a Mondeo cost 14 grand in 1996. I do not doubt the author, but, by today's prices, that would appear very expensive.

thats a lot of miles but sounds like he hasn't made that much money then if he can't afford to retire. Cut price fares Jonny methinks

'I’ve not had many problems with it, just wear and tear. Third gear used to go in the gearbox, so I did get a reconditioned Ford gear box.'

Skippy of Blackpool

Million mile Mondeo man: Taxi driver [sic] reaches incredible milestone in his 16-year-old Ford

PUBLISHED: 08:23, 14 June 2012

A taxi driver reached an incredible milestone today - clocking one million miles in one car.

Brian Holmes, better known as Bernie of Bernie’s Airport Service, has been taking holidaymakers to and from Manchester Airport in his red Ford Mondeo since he bought the vehicle for £14,000 on December 16, 1996.

Now, 16 years later, he has completed the 120-mile return journey from his home in Preesall around 8,330 times.

Brian has been taking holidaymakers to and from Manchester Airport in his red Ford Mondeo since he bought the vehicle in 1996

And when the Aspen Estate’s odometer struck one million, its original 1.8 turbo diesel engine had travelled enough miles to have gone around the earth 40 times.

Speaking yesterday, Mr Holmes, 67, said: 'When you buy a vehicle you don’t think too much about how long it will last. It’s a bit of a landmark.

'It currently reads 999,694. I’m picking up a couple on their way back from holiday, and I think that should do it.

'I’ve not had many problems with it, just wear and tear. Third gear used to go in the gearbox, so I did get a reconditioned Ford gear box. I would buy a Ford again because it’s been a reliable car.

'Sadly, at the moment, there is just not much work, because a lot of people aren’t going abroad this year, or else I’d have been over that million mark before now.

'When it reaches a million the reading will go to 000,000, and then only I will know!'

Mr Holmes has been driving cabs for 22 years, after 23 years behind the wheel of tankers.

He said: 'I’ve been driving all my life. I’ve always enjoyed it. I get people from all the villages around here, and a few over in Poulton and Garstang.'

Mr Holmes said it costs around £80 to fill the car with fuel from empty, something he has done thousands of times to make a journey that takes between an hour and 10 minutes and an hour-and-a-half.

But in all that time he has never driven to the airport when taking a holiday himself.

He said: 'I don’t care for flying in tin cans. I’ve never flown from Manchester Airport. It doesn’t interest me.

'I was hoping to retire when I got to a million miles, but I think I will work a bit longer now.

'I’ll have to do something to mark the occasion - I think I’ll have a drink with friends.

'When I retire I don’t think I’ll need it any more. I’m hoping to buy a motorhome and go around Scotland.'

Steve Humbles, product marketing manager for Ford of Britain, said: 'Since Mondeo was first launched in 1993, it has proven a popular choice for retail and fleet customers alike, predominantly due to its reliability, fuel economy and smart driver assistance technologies.

'We are delighted to hear that Bernie has enjoyed one million miles of happy motoring in his.'

Source; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -Ford.html

Maths says he does 10 jobs a week on average over 16 years vs the estimated total jobs, so not really that busy at all, and not worth splashing out on, so I've removed my original post, looks like he does this for pocket money and someone to talk to tbh.

The only thing I find amazing in this story was the fact that a Mondeo cost 14 grand in 1996. I do not doubt the author, but, by today's prices, that would appear very expensive.

So that's 600 paying miles per week, even if he's only getting £1 a mile after fuel then that's £600 and if the car's been as reliable as claimed then he's probably making over £500 per week profit and his private transport is paid, so doesn't seem that bad from where I'm standing. In fact if he's doing so many then he must get a few double runs, so he'll be doing a lot more than 600 paying miles.