Doom wrote:
10 years old is too long anyway, the shelf life of a cab from 1st licensing is 2-3 years imo, I don't run mine any longer than that, it's an unefficient tax route, you end up with a shabby car that rattles and it's not fair on the paying public imo, and it allows all the cheap seats into the trade, proper rules would be nothing over 3 yrs old at 1st license and nothing over 6 as an end of life thing, LTi would be extended as the cost is prohibitive and the car is supposed to be built for purpose, Pug vans etc aren't anymore robust than a car, with car engines and doors that become unsafe after 3 years worth of being slammed.
Surely your standards might have been reasonable in the 1960's but modern vehicles are far better and your 6 year old rule way too strict. My Superb is now 5 years old and apart from the 'soft touch' rubber on some handles wearing off, it looks nearly as good as it did 4 years ago ( OK not like brand new). It also doesn't rattle, however I agree that new entrants to the trade should at least start with a decent motor.