Taxi Driver Online

UK: "Tragedy" if London black cab made abroad: Taxi Association



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiwDHHcHPh0

Britain's Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA) says it would be a "tragedy" to see the world-known TX4 black cab manufactured outside the UK.

A high-profile campaign is currently under way involving the UK's largest labour body, Unite and London Mayor, Boris Johnson, to keep assembly of the taxi in Britain, with the Union also asking Prime Minster, David Cameron and Business Secretary, Vince Cable, for their support.

The drive to mobilise top politicians follows manufacturer, Manganese Bronze's move into administration after it was hit by a recall following problems with steering boxes supplied with China.

Some 400 cabs were forced off the road following the steering issues, with administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers eventually finding a supplier solution to allow the taxis back into service.

"Obviously, we would rather it was kept in the UK," LTDA general secretary, Steve Mcnamara, told just-auto.

"We see it as an iconic vehicle - overused word but it is true - it is recognised as an English brand. It would be a tragedy to see it being made abroad."

Mcnamara revealed Magal Engineering was the British supplier behind the rescue of the 400 cabs.

The Taxi Drivers Association chief described the London black cab as traditional as "policemen with pointed hats and red [phone] boxes."

The LTDA represents 9,500 London taxi drivers out of a total of 22,000.

Unite said the administrators are reaching "a crucial stage" in short-listing potential buyers and is asking stakeholders to apply as much pressure as possible to ensure any purchaser commits to building the black cabs in the UK.

"Unite is urging PWC and any potential buyer to keep manufacturing in Coventry and the black cab on the road," said the union.

"PWC could make the final decision on the company's future towards the end of this month or early January."

http://www.just-auto.com/news/taxi-asso ... 29897.aspx

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

Here's a better plan.

It's dead, bury the fekking corpse.

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

It was only nailed together in Coventry, I bet almost all the parts came from overseas....except the steering boxes.....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

It was a piece of hand built sh!t just like it's predecessors, rust-buckets to the core that shook themselves to bits,
As Gus says let it die

Its had its day last time i was at the Taxi show in the NEC there was lots of people milling round VW,Mercedes,E7 vehicles

All the LTI stand had was a number of confused looking salesmen

Actually it will probably be BETTER if built in China or India....

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I hope it survives, Mercedes needs some competition, and if you work in central London, it's certainly a better design than the merc for that purpose.

Can it really survive if the only drivers who can afford to run it are the central London guys?.Did new york vote for it? No!.Anwhere else apart from Azerbergan? No!.
Fixtures and fittings,Great!.Fuel efficiency, Crap!.Nowadays with fuel prices as they are you have got to go for the more Fuel efficient,its a Major part of your costs.

Why just London?

Commercially the company couldnt survive just selling into London, and its a dinosaur as far as design goes, its not even got rack and pinion steering yet has it (or HAD it)?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I would really like to know the overall cost of making that pile of sh!t, because to my way of thinking GREED caused their downfall ! It was over priced, with inferior metal (thin skins), a crap engine and crap parts in general. It looked the part..............and in later years that is all that it was, along with - "it is Iconic" .

Let us be honest, even if it came back.................who the f c u k is going to buy one.

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if you cannot be yourself, then who can you be.

The majority of LTC's sales were in London, so they've 'survived' with basicaly the London market for a long time.

Who would buy one? With a new engine and gearbox setup, I'd consider one. Don't confuse my wish for choice as some death wish for LTC.

Until they went under, they still outsold the Vito.

No ones asking anyone to buy one, and some on here are probably correct in that out in the counties you couldn't afford the £36K tag, but if drivers can then it'll be up to them to make that decision.
It still has a massive share of the capitals 22000 strong fleet, and from what I've heard this weekend, theres been so many bidders for the company that PWC has had to start eliminating some.

A strong name behind the company is what is needed.

How long do you think we'll be paying £42K for the Vito if they did go under permanently?

Da Costa would be retired by next year.

GBC, can you explain why its SO good for London though?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Its not just the cab(which is prone to rust prematurely),its also the monopoly situation of taxi garages which has caused the downfall of the TX. With my pug eurocab I can take it to any Garage and they can source parts of the shelf. There's no mystery in which parts from which company as the TX was made up of many parts from diverse companies.As my Local Mechanic said ' flipping hell, this is a kit car!'.