Taxi Driver Online

JD started this thread.
LTDA have posed the question in the latest issue of their Taxi magazine, "what price should cab drivers pay to preserve the monopoly as they see it, of the TX2".

http://www.ltda.co.uk/taxi/issue_83/pg19.htm

I don't know the answer to that one but I suspect we shall know soon enough.

Best wishes

JD
Nidge replied;


At least it's a proper taxi and not a plumbers van.

Edited by Alex, due to software fault 14/01/05.

I'm not so sure the VW or the Merc's are plumbers vans.

But even if they are, they will certainly do for me.

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IDFIMH

Everyone has got an opinion of them.

The key thing here is surely freedom of choice?

regards

Captain cab

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

at what point Nigel was brainwashed I dont know, probably when a company MD had a spat with him.

but Nige you are boring weve heard all of it from LTI, A GOOD UNION man is still of free spirit to support alternatives also built by union men, and often better ones at that.

I say chaps what's all the fuss about?
Why not take an alternative view and give everybody a chance? I should't think LTI would mind or would they?

yes they certainly would

There needs to be a choice.

I have not the foggiest as to how the alternatives perform, although the E7 outselling LTI last year must say something.

The review is due out in the next few weeks, personaly speaking i drive a nissan engined fairway which has performed brilliantly over many years of service.

Now i guess this will be its last year of service before it goes of to the taxi heaven above (wonder if M&O are up there or down below) but at present will rent in light of the stories i've heard about the 'ford'.

It will be intresting to see the nissan's return if an alternative is licensed.

And what about TfL's Euro111 Greenbadgecabby? not to mention the CoF review, which incidentally is going to be referred again ooops! Oh, and have you got your receipt printer yet? I must say we've all got to keep those busmen happy down at City Hall. Really it's outrageous!

The alternative vehicles are good, and I do hope London licence them, in fact they will have to eventually I'm sure. However, for alternatives to be licensed as taxis in the capital the sliding doors need to be electronically operated by the driver and there needs to be a one-piece window at the rear rather than double doors. How much will it cost then? The turning circle, well who knows, but it would be a bit of a struggle trying to swing around the back of Kings Cross without it sir? And what about auto-transmission old chap - aren't they all manual gearbox at the moment? You could always ask dear old Roy Ellis to ellaborate, but he does play his cards close to his chest I believe:wink:

In addition, the drivers who want alternative taxis in the provinces will not be that bothered about auto-transmission If London licence them. because sure as damn it licensing authorities who mirror the CoF will certainly follow suit! Remember, If London sneezes the rest of the country catch a cold! I know

In any event, competition is needed in London and elswhere for that matter to abate the cock-sure attitude from those with a monopoly and that goes for LTF(London Taxi Finance) as well, because they're a bunch of arrogant upstarts!

Yes euro3 will soon be upon us, hence i think my old Fairway, which i may add has little wrong with it, is in its final year of service.

No printer yet as it was plated at the end of last year, but next time. .

As for the auto, not a great barrier i hold a manual license, although i don't cherish the idea of a clutch again, the rest of London copes.

This one piece rear the PCO keeps rabbiting on about, Why? the rest of country that uses the E7 or alternative seem to have no problems with it, i suspect that would be laughed out of court, when, and if the euro consortium take them to court, which i sincerley hope they do.

The PCO is an antiquated dinosaur that makes its own rules and listens to no one except LTI.

The power doors, again I can't see why? people cope just fine with shutting normal doors, then why not sliding doors?

The access to the ranks, even euston was assesed by the LTDA with no great problems encountered, i believe the PCO are now doing these manouvres for themselves.

Anyway like yourself snooty, i await with great interest.

Ironic that - many in the provincial trade love the busmen

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Presumably the cynical view is that the sliding doors and the one-piece window are effectively a smokescreen to retain the LTI monopoly?

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Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk

Indeed. I've read bad stories in the trade press about the alternatives as I have about the LTI product.

But at least give me a choice, If LTI's 'icon' (FX3? FX4? TX?) is as good as their adverts tell us, they will continue to dominate, if the adverts are ever so slightly overstated (cynical?) then let the best man win.

They say by moving most of the operation to China, manufacturing costs can be slashed by up to 35%, wonder if the saving will be passed down the line??

Dont be silly of course it wont be, unless competition makes it necesary

Are you avin a laugh Guv'nor? The only fing LTI would drop is their undies for TfL . . . .Know what I mean!!