Taxi Driver Online

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?
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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.
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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

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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.

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IDFIMH

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.

Agreed, but if London goes then so will the other brain-dead councils that deny drivers a choice.

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IDFIMH

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

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.

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?

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Former taxi driver

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.

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IDFIMH

Isn't it strange how thousands of cabbies up and down this country seem to manage fine without this tiny turning circle?

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

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...

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Former taxi driver

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

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Copyright notice © The contents of this post are copyright of JD and are not to be reproduced outside of TDO without written permission.