Taxi Driver Online

But you agree that 10 years is fine don't you?

SO, what have the LTDA said about the 10 year age limit......is there a mission statement or something from them I can read somewhere?

I personally think either a 10 or 12 year age limit is good for the trade IMO.

The LTDA are going for 15, whatever happens, an age limit will be coming. The majority of taxis around the country, who have far less earning potential than London, already have to adhere to limits as low as 5 years even for purpose built taxis such as the E7 or TX series.

The big Minicab fleets now operate vehicles under 3 years old, and I'm not talking about back street Minicab companies, I'm talking about the likes of Addison Lee, after all, they are the ones that are taking all the radio work from DAC and the other taxi circuits.
Have you ever thought about the quality of vehicle that turns up (and the drivers dress) has an impact for future bookings? Ask the Merc Vito lads, they seem to do just fine from repeat custom.

Every night I despair when I see yet another 17 year old rental shed, dented body, smashed wheel trims, ripped seats, vinyl roof held on with tape, and he or she is charging the same as me in a clean, air con throughout, mint condition cab.

Time to up the standard, the age limit is a start.

The LTDA response is available to all members, as is the membership figures (and much more) at Taxi House.

I'm also betting the COF will be relaxed when this age limit, whatever it is, is announced.

The E7, M8 and others will be in line for licensing.

So the Ltda are going for a 15 year old maximum limit ? perhaps you can explain to me why Com cab (still part owned by LTDA) recently set up a venture that will allow Nissan engines (ie Fairways & Tx1's) to operate at euro 5 levels (via an LPG conversion cost £4K)
I am confused here, as the mayoral 'clean air strategy' talks about newer taxis & cleaner emission levels.....Do we really need both?, is one more important than the other?
Is newer always better? - for example the fuel economy on TX4 is drastically reduced as compared to a Fairway or TX1, on the one hand we have cleaner air but on the vother hand we are now responsible for using an inreased amount of finite resources.

The mayorals report goes on to say that all new taxis built in 2012 must be Euro 5 em standards, yet all p/h cars will only be requied to still be Euro 4 level in the same time frame.

Personally, I see no benefits to a new(er) taxi, bar the emissions & the air conditioning. Ride quality in all Lti vehicles is very similar....but hey......those road surfaces are pretty rough out there.
How would you feel if TFL said that we want euro 4+ taxis on the road by 2012 (just in time for the Olympics?)....regarless of the age of the vehicle?

eze

I agree in essence, but come & drive my taxi.......it is not one that you have described above even though it be 22 years old.
IF the 10 year rule does come into play in London then I think we should bear in mind re-sale values as they would be seriously affect as things stand.
For sure, new vehicles MAY be permitted to enter the maket for us, but the turning circle is there for good reason imo - ie (f - poland st, l - oxford st, U- turn to head east oxford st)

I never said all old taxis are sheds, some are to be admired and are clearly the owners pride and joy, but there are many more fleet rentals which are a disgrace.

TFL have stated an age limit is coming in, it's down to just what age limit the trade associations, fleet owners and individuals can convince them to accept.

If TFL were to bring in Euro 4 in less than 2 years, I'd be surprised, there would be no taxis on the road.

The Euro 5, I believe, applies to all new vehicles from 2012.

Re sale values will be affected, but as you pointed out on the RMT forum some months ago, how much is a TX2 worth second hand (at the moment)?

Not a lot.

So I see me buying a new taxi every 10/12 years, 5 years credit, 5/7 years freehold, unless you work one day a week, you'll still be doing ok.

I would describe myself as a part time driver with the nights I work, if I and a lot of semi retired drivers can make it pay, I'm sure my 'full time' colleagues can.

Quote LCDC

Further to this report the LCDC have been informed that TfL will not be reviewing the “CoF” (Conditions of Fitness) and the requirement for a turning circle will remain unchanged.

Pray tell - are we due another CoF review anytime soon?

If you want to 'up the standard' then perhaps you should consider purchasing a Vito. Lti vehicles are a poor standard & I know for a fact that you will not be purchasing another one.

Quote GBC on the LCDC site - I’ll never buy another LTI product again.

Trade it in now buddy, the prices are only going to fall, unless you convert to E5 LPG.

I fully intend to buy a KPM Vito or whatever alternative Mercedes is licensed, but my current cab is barely 5 years old, so I'll wait.

If LTI revert back to a Japanese / Far East set up, then they too will be in with a shout, but not with the VM.

As for the refusal to review the COF, well that’s exactly what Liverpool did in some form or another, the company simply took them to court. I'm sure they will do the same down here.

Just think, if this latest bill going through the various stages in the hot air factory comes to fruition, your Metro may just get a new home as well.

If Lti moves production over to China then I foresee major quality problem issues but that is just a personal opinion the proof being the quality of motorcycle build quality I have seen from China.

Personally I love the turning circle on a taxi & feel it's worth is as most relevant, obviously the associated costs are not so welcome.

Indeed my taxi may find a new home, I was going to consider keeping it, fitting some rough terrain tyres & using it to plough the fields.

What I really need to kow is this;

1 - is the 10/15 year limit about the age of the vehicle only?

2 - Or is it purely about emissions?

If it is about the age of the vehicle only then I would like to know the justification for this. Are we really needing to purchase new every 10 years just in order to keep LTI in business?