Taxi Driver Online

From your statement can we assume that the only misgivings you have in respect of other vehicles being licensed is that they don't conform to the cof turniung circle requirement and that they might inhibit your progress for a few seconds by perfroming a three point turn in front of you? Other than that can you confirm you do not have a problem with Edinburgh Council licensing other types of vehicles?

You also say, it "would" be chaos? As agaisnt, it "might" be chaos? How do you think the rest of the world copes outside the two dozen authorities in the UK that specify the PCO COF? I don't see or hear of a mass uprising of cab drivers throughout the world demanding vehicles that conform to the COF do you?

There is no doubt whatsoever that such conditions are in a minority, so are you of the opinion that the rest of the world are wrong and they should conform to the PCO conditions of fitness, or are you of the opinion that only Edinburgh has it wrong?

Regards

JD

I understand the Chassis has to be modified for ABS but here's what Wikipedia wrote about the old breaking system. Forget the reference to the Nissan engine because the prime consideration is speed and if you have a poor breaking system then speed will certainly find it out.

In February 1989 the Fairway was introduced. It was fitted with a 2.7 L Nissan diesel engine, making the FX4 a fast and reliable car. The braking system was perhaps not quite equal to the task and a number of accidents occurred as drivers were unable to stop safely from high speed.

Redesign of the braking system was not straightforward in view of the requirement of a London taxi to have a 7.6 m (25 ft) turning circle. In due course, GKN redesigned the brakes and suspension to allow disc brakes to be fitted at the front while maintaining the tight turning circle.

From my experience many basic comforts and safety features have been sacrificed for the Turning circle. Older models of the vehicle have been a complete disgrace and I'm surprised they even got a certificate of roadworthiness. The suspension, breaking system and road handling have all been substandard and each of those features is down to the Chassis. The only good feature of the vehicle is the turning circle and the partition between you and the customer but in my opinion that's all it has to recommend it. Are you reading this Mr Cheyne?

JD

State of the art, eh? They've thought of everything these guys.

But surely there's still some inefficiency involved?

What about a couple of flags bearing the Cross of St George then

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

Well JD I thought I had made it plain that it was only an opinion, my opinion at that, I realise everything has to change, I suppose I will just have to get on with it and shut my mouth.

It may well be that everywhere else has it wrong and Edinburgh has it right, a very special place is Edinburgh

Quality

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

well they may give good service but surely you should expect them to last a bit longer before you need to do any repairs and you would also hope that the trade in value is a good one when you need to replace them.
but with loads of 2nd hand TX2 sitting about and no one wanting to buy them that sugests a major problem with them which iam sure you will agree is bad news for a TAXI driver who needs to keep the cost of a new motor down.

i have been told that you get a better trade in with a TX1 than a TX2 whats all that about????

LTI will have to up there game if they are to keep there market share and not offer stupid things like a free CD player or sat nav .

just for referance my sources are from black cab drivers and owners who have been in the trade for over 20years and have seen a few cabs in there time and they are delighted that they now have the choice and some hope that this will help the newer versions of the TX be better than they are right now and the use of the word "junk" was theres not mine

Chipper the fact that taxi drivers tell you that the vehicles they drive are junk does not suprise me, they will also say that about any of the other ones , a strange breed are taxi drivers

They will complain long and loud about the vehicles being rubbish and then complain when nobody wants to buy a second hand one,or they have a poor trade in value, well who would buy "Junk" they are just vehicles after all.

I done a search on Patons website for second hand vehicles, some of the TX11's have over 200,000 miles under their belts.

http://www.patonstaxis.co.uk/index.html

They have lowered the price on the TX11 this year

http://www.patonstaxis.co.uk/news_txII_ ... rices.html

This does not mean that I think any of the alternative vehicles will be "junk" they are just vehicles as well.

The other thing about the engines used in these vehicles does not amount to much of an argument either, it's all about economies of scale, PSA Peugeot Citroën and ford have been working together for some time with the Diesel engines.

http://www.psa-peugeot-citroen.com/docu ... 516146.pdf

I was trying to pinpoint your opposition on other vehicles being licensed. It would seem I have norrowed your opposition down to the single issue of the Turning circle? Would that be right?

If there are other reasons, I and I suspect most other people would be most interested to hear them?

Regards

JD

I am not against other vehicles being Licensed, indeed I might have one of each but my personal opinion is that at times the Turning circle is an essential thing (for me at least), is it a crime to like a certain kind of vehicle? or a feature of that vehicle?

Now the thing is, if it were only one kind of vehicle that was going to be licensed as an alternative, say the E7 and any other versions of it TW200 etc that would be okay, but there are many others and of course from a business point of view one Taxi will now be able to do the work of two, indeed if eight seaters enter the picture, one will be able to do the work of two of the new vehicles, less jobs again! albeit a slightly higher price may be payable for it.

Your answer clears up any misconception people might have had on your position regarding other vehicles.

I also thought about the 8 seater equation but I don't know of that many licensed vehicles that fit that category. In Macclesfield a black cab can carry six people with a seat being positioned in the front. I would have thought some of the lads on here could expand on the 8 seats scenario as many would work in an environment where such vehicles are licensed.

However, it is good to see you are not prejudice to the "shape" of other vehicles being licensed, which is in direct contrast to the view taken by many other "turning circle" supporters.


Regards

JD

Well there is the M8 from Allied

http://www.cabdirect.com/products_services/m8/

Of course that would require two in the front beside you, never really fancied that when your picking up strangers.

Actually that raises an intresting point, will the Council license for seven using the front seat in the E7 or just six?

This will lead to the constant question of "can you take 7" awe go on we wont tell anyone as opposed to the standard can you take six, awe go on, one of us will lie on the floor, we wont tell anyone crap I get just now.

Some do, some don't.

Down here we have some Fords and VWs licensed as 8 seaters, and very popular they are too.

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IDFIMH

Better licenced for 7 than the "awe we are off to get a Ph because he can take 7" like it is just now.

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All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"