Taxi Driver Online :: View topic - Mercedes challenge in London

The LTDA scribe Steve McNamara, has been dropping a lot of hints recently that other vehicles look set to join the London market.

Trouble is if they work out as expensive as the current choice (with rear wheel steer etc) then they're not going to make much of a dent. If they have better fuel economy, then that's a start.

The E7 has cetainly taken off in Edinburgh as I saw with my own eyes the other week, but I only saw a couple of these Mercedes M8 types.

Without the turning circle requirement they have no chance of success unless they go to court. I'm sure they realise that but once refused they can appeal so perhaps this is a means to an end, who knows?

Don't think costs will be that much of an issue. :roll:

I agree that if anyone were to have the funding to challenge TFL, then it would be Mercedes. But . . . . will they really bother for the sake of say 800 vehicle sales a year?

Sussex wrote:

Don't think costs will be that much of an issue. :roll:

I agree that if anyone were to have the funding to challenge TFL, then it would be Mercedes. But . . . . will they really bother for the sake of say 800 vehicle sales a year?

That's probably half of what one dealer in Cardiff would sell throughout the course of a normal year.

Perhaps if they mount a challenge in the last few remaining outposts Liverpool springs to mind as one of them, at the same time we may get ride of the turning circle once and for all leaving freedom of choice

Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side!

jimbo wrote:

Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side!

Well doing u-turns in the road is one of the most un-safe manoeuvres you can do, so infact by buying a van he is acting in a far more responsible manner. :wink:

Sussex wrote:

jimbo wrote:

Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side!

Well doing u-turns in the road is one of the most un-safe manoeuvres you can do, so infact by buying a van he is acting in a far more responsible manner. :wink:

He did a u-turn, in a converted van, bounced up the kerb, and onto the pavement, and you say he is a responsible driver? Irresponsible more like.

You're SO van, I bet you think this thread is about you, you're so van...

Author:	JD [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Mercedes challenge in London
Unless this vehicle complies with the conditions of fitness then it doesn't stand much of a chance of becoming a London cab. Unless of course it goes to court? ___________________________ Birmingham Post June 2, 2008, Monday Mercedes challenge Midland-based taxi manufacturer LTI could be about to have its dominance of the black cab market challenged by Germany's Mercedes. Reports yesterday said the German company was close to winning a certificate that would allow it to sell a new model in London. Prototypes of the new cab are being tested by the Public Carriage Office, the branch of Transport for London that approves which cabs are used in the capital. LTI parent Manganese Bronze holds it AGM tomorrow. ___________________________

Author:	GBC [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:
The LTDA scribe Steve McNamara, has been dropping a lot of hints recently that other vehicles look set to join the London market. Trouble is if they work out as expensive as the current choice (with rear wheel steer etc) then they're not going to make much of a dent. If they have better fuel economy, then that's a start. The E7 has cetainly taken off in Edinburgh as I saw with my own eyes the other week, but I only saw a couple of these Mercedes M8 types.

Author:	JD [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:
GBC wrote: The LTDA scribe Steve McNamara, has been dropping a lot of hints recently that other vehicles look set to join the London market. Trouble is if they work out as expensive as the current choice (with rear wheel steer etc) then they're not going to make much of a dent. If they have better fuel economy, then that's a start. The E7 has cetainly taken off in Edinburgh as I saw with my own eyes the other week, but I only saw a couple of these Mercedes M8 types. Without the turning circle requirement they have no chance of success unless they go to court. I'm sure they realise that but once refused they can appeal so perhaps this is a means to an end, who knows? Regards JD

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:
JD wrote: Without the turning circle requirement they have no chance of success unless they go to court. I'm sure they realise that but once refused they can appeal so perhaps this is a means to an end, who knows? Well let's hope they do get turned down and then go to appeal. Don't think costs will be that much of an issue.

Author:	GBC [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:06 pm ]
Post subject:
Sussex wrote: Don't think costs will be that much of an issue. I agree that if anyone were to have the funding to challenge TFL, then it would be Mercedes. But . . . . will they really bother for the sake of say 800 vehicle sales a year? That's probably half of what one dealer in Cardiff would sell throughout the course of a normal year.

Taxi Driver Online http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/

Mercedes challenge in London http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8706	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:08 pm ]
Post subject:
GBC wrote: I agree that if anyone were to have the funding to challenge TFL, then it would be Mercedes. But . . . . will they really bother for the sake of say 800 vehicle sales a year? Agreed, but if London goes then so will the other brain-dead councils that deny drivers a choice.

Author:	JD [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:10 pm ]
Post subject:
GBC wrote: Sussex wrote: Don't think costs will be that much of an issue. I agree that if anyone were to have the funding to challenge TFL, then it would be Mercedes. But . . . . will they really bother for the sake of say 800 vehicle sales a year? That's probably half of what one dealer in Cardiff would sell throughout the course of a normal year. I think they would only make such a challenge if they thought they would win, in which case costs might not be an issue considering the assumption that costs follow the victor? Regards JD

Author:	skippy41 [ Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:42 pm ]
Post subject:
Perhaps if they mount a challenge in the last few remaining outposts Liverpool springs to mind as one of them, at the same time we may get ride of the turning circle once and for all leaving freedom of choice

Author:	jimbo [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:09 am ]
Post subject:
skippy41 wrote: Perhaps if they mount a challenge in the last few remaining outposts Liverpool springs to mind as one of them, at the same time we may get ride of the turning circle once and for all leaving freedom of choice Why do you see the "turning circle" as you call it, as a bad thing? Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side! Instead of "getting ride" of the "turning circle," (something that every vehicle has) why not build a vehicle that meets the London criteria? Or is that beyond the wit of every other manufacturer in the World?

Author:	Sussex [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:
jimbo wrote: Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side! Well doing u-turns in the road is one of the most un-safe manoeuvres you can do, so infact by buying a van he is acting in a far more responsible manner.

Author:	gusmac [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:
Isn't it strange how thousands of cabbies up and down this country seem to manage fine without this tiny turning circle?

Author:	jimbo [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:
Sussex wrote: jimbo wrote: Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side! Well doing u-turns in the road is one of the most un-safe manoeuvres you can do, so infact by buying a van he is acting in a far more responsible manner. He did a u-turn, in a converted van, bounced up the kerb, and onto the pavement, and you say he is a responsible driver? Irresponsible more like. You're SO van, I bet you think this thread is about you, you're so van...

Author:	JD [ Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:
jimbo wrote: Sussex wrote: jimbo wrote: Tell that to the driver in Lincoln who yesterday replaced his Metrocab with a converted van. He did a U-turn onto the rank, mounted the pavement, and very nearly hit the railings on the other side! Well doing u-turns in the road is one of the most un-safe manoeuvres you can do, so infact by buying a van he is acting in a far more responsible manner. He did a u-turn, in a converted van, bounced up the kerb, and onto the pavement, and you say he is a responsible driver? Irresponsible more like. You're SO van, I bet you think this thread is about you, you're so van... You see Manchester cab drivers in LTI vehicles mounting kerbs on a regular basis. I don't think that practice is unique to only E7 drivers. Regards JD

Page 1 of 1	All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/