Taxi Driver Online

Hi, I am new to PH Driving and about to select my own vehicle for the job and have a shortlist but was looking for opinions or warnings from you experienced guys n girls.

First of all in the Diesel bracket - looking a lot at space, economy, reliability and something that I find comfortable to be in - shortlist is Cars are 2 - 4 yrs old with under 20k on the clock

Vauxhall Insignia or Zafira between 45 and 50mpg
Mazda 3 saloon 1.6d 53mpg
Citroen Berlingo Multispace 53mpg - a little worried about reliability being French
Chevrolet Cruze - getting a good deal but same reliability worries
Toyota Avensis / Volkswagon Passat - both at the very top of my price range so not a lot of choice for me
Ford Focus - seen a few of these plated and seem to fit the bill

Or there is the argument for Petrol - achieving decent MPG at small engine sizes - cheaper to repair/buy/service etc
Again similar ages and mileage as above

Mitsubishi Lancer 1.6 Saloon
Vauxhall Meriva 1.4

Had alot of japanese cars over the years and love them for reliability etc - not really looking for the usual trend of Skoda Octavia or Superb etc - although I think they are great in this game again they are a little out of my price range for a good one and I do like to be a little different lol

By the way it will be York where I am going to drive as I am moving down from Scotland so I know the Euro emmissions will come into play later this year as well -

Any help/guidance/opinion or experiences gratefully welcome.

Thanks

Dont touch the Insignia with a barge pole
The Octavia and Superb are the way to go both with the 1.9 tdi engines the 130bhp being the best in the Superb and both will return from 45 to 65 MPG depending on your running
Go on auto trader http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars fill in the boxes and you should find one in your price bracket, how much have you got??
You could even get a brand new one delivered to your door from the taxi centre http://www.thetaxicentre.com/

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

Thanks for the advice - I can spend up to £10k if I really need to but was hoping to put a car on the road and insure my first year for that budget.

A decent mileage 08 or 09 Octavia 1.9D will hit my top end - struggling to fins any Superbs in my price range which isnt surprising.
I dont have a problem with putting a less commonly used PH vehicle on the road as long as I can turn the key every morning and get going.

Taxicentre is a great shout - just not in the position to buy new.

Cheers

Just saw the other link you put for the used Octavia for under £5k - I am struggling to get a straight answer out of York council at the minute but I am pretty sure to first plate a vehicel it has to be under 5 yrs old....I know this didnt used to be the case but they seem all confused due to the introduction of this Euro Emission rating that is looming...its like they dont want to commit - even their licensing PDF I was sent doesnt confirm....

In York, until 31/10/2012, you can licence a PH vehicle of any age, there is no age/emmision barriers, and keep it as a
PH vehicle for as long as you want.

From 1/11/2012 any new vehicle licence, or replaceing an existing PH vehicle,
it has to be first registered AFTER 1/01/2006 for petrol engines, and 1/09/2010 for diesel.

thats until someone appeals to the magistrates again

Why penalise the more fuel efficient Diesel, shouldnt it be the same age for either fuel type?

If this is to do with the emissions being euro4 all vehicles made from 2004 have had to be

So 2004 would have been fine..

Thanks all for the contribution and clarity - good to know.

I just need to make the decision between petrol or diesel.....will post up an outcome when I get my head out my backside

Cheers

Even though diesel is slightly more at the pumps a petrol will never beet it for economy

Found this for you
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia ... 33742d4c69 parts can be bought from most salvage yards

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-SKODA-OC ... 256f82b286

Or there is this one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAXI-SKODA-OC ... 56489a9c2b

Some great finds and local to the area to.

I agree that no matter how I slice and dice it I keep coming back to the oil burners.....

Appreciate all of the help - thanks again

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TAXI-SKODA-OC ... 56489a9c2b
Why not save your money and get this one, its only 39 a week with no deposit delivered to your door and with the meter set if you have to have one
Then if it goes tits up you can hand it back once you have made half the payments

The new rules due to start 1/11/12 have now been postponed , pending consultation with the trade.

dont buy anything with a DMF or a EGR, unless its just had one fitted

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