Taxi Driver Online

eh?

Que?

I think anything that puts LTI out of business is good.

Harsh maybe, but the only losers should LTI be no-more are the arse-licking trade press.

_________________
IDFIMH

I think he means the cover story from this weeks 'Taxi'

http://www.taxinewspaper.co.uk/issues/1 ... s01-12.pdf

It's looks a tad large in my opinion for some of the streets we use.

got told that it costs 25p per mile in fuel to run.

might look good but at the rate fuel is going up right now how can you run something like a merc

I've had discussions with a few buddies about this and 3 things spring to mind.

1. As far as I'm aware, LPH cannot use the same vehicle as the Licensed Taxi Trade. So any LPH using a Vito or Vaneo derivative might well have to be compensated.

2. According to the stats, the Vito is 6-7 inches longer than a TX. Not much, but it would probably mean many, if not all of London's cab ranks would have to be re-marked.

3. And this is the most important as it's a safety issue.

A rear wheel steering set-up by definition , moves the back end of the vehicle the opposite way you are steering. Manouevering in tight spaces and against kerbs might cause problems. It's a bit like driving a truck with overhang. And if the rear steering were to fail at speed......

Don't hold yer breath on this one.

I'm not sure how much wider it is to a TX4, but defo a tad longer.

The most surprising thing to me is that some of the big vehicle makers are interested in such a niche market.

Usually they talk in 100s of 1000s, not just a few 1000.

_________________
IDFIMH

Just guessing here:

If they can seriously damage LTI's monopoly, they could theoretically open up a larger market. How many other places demand "London style" cabs? They could punt them out at cost price or even take a loss. If LTI went bust and this lot then stopped making the merc, where would that leave the PCO or the 25 foot turning circle rule...........?
Merc have much deeper pockets than LTI.

As I said just guessing

_________________

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

There is the possibility, that they are thinking of there home market as well, and possibly America, you only have to fly to any airport outside the UK and the cabs are mainly Merc's.
It would be a lot simpler to remove the turning circle restriction though

"The first of many surprises is that the new
taxi has been developed by a company called
Eco City Vehicles in conjunction with Mercedes,
and that Eco City Vehicles is the new
parent company of KPM!" it's a conversion !!!!!!!!! (like the cab-direct M8)
mercedes supply the base vehicle and somebody else fit's it out cab -style

A TXII automatic runs at 25p - 27p,

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