Do you like a Metrocab?

[YugoLada]

I think a Metrocab doesn't look like a taxi but I do like them. Do you like them? Metrocab has used some of Fords parts I think.

[willswitchengage]

The early ones had Transit running gear and Granda lamps.

 

Personally I love them (and Fairways too), absolutely indestructible and with GFRP body panels so no rust.

[YugoLada]

I also love them. Fairways are really nice too - I don't like the new LTI taxis!

[trigger]

Wuvvum on here is trying to sell one at the moment.

[YugoLada]

Apparently LTI taxis aren't very reliable!

[willswitchengage]

Oh dear God no, it's a shame as TfL now says that a cab can't be more than 15 years old. It won't be long before we just see plasticy TXiis and Vitos with irky rear-steering everywhere, glad I live in Birmingham which is MCW central

[maxpower]

The early ones had Transit running gear and Granda lamps.

 

and escort estate rear lamps

 

Personally I love them (and Fairways too), absolutely indestructible and with GFRP body panels so no rust.

[YugoLada]

I saw a H reg Fairway in London the other day and a G reg.

[vulgalour]

I imagine a Metrocab turned into a small van would be excellent for a small business, they look a good shape for it.

[KruJoe]

Stupid question: They're all saloons aren't they? (I don't go to London very often!) They'd need a hatchback conversion to be a useful van.

[Negative Creep]

Also looks like the p38 Range Rover

[YugoLada]

Yes it does actually.

[Split_Pin]

I saw an N-reg one in Dalry Road in Edinburgh on Friday.

 

It was absolutely mint with its number signwritten in the usual place under the passenger door window.

 

Edinbugh only has TX series cabs and the aforementioned Vito's, plus a few later Metrocabs with non-Granada lights so I was surprised to see it.

 

It had a Glasgow reg so it might have just come from that direction as there are a lot more older Cabs in that City. Pretty sure there are still a few Fairways on P and R plates kicking about there.

[Wilko220]

Am I correct in thinking that they were built by Reliant latterly, after MCW went out of business?

[vulgalour]

Stupid question: They're all saloons aren't they? (I don't go to London very often!) They'd need a hatchback conversion to be a useful van.

 

I did not know this, I had assumed they had a hatch. Side loading van?

[Timewaster]

[mk2_craig]

I saw an N-reg one in Dalry Road in Edinburgh on Friday.

 

It was absolutely mint with its number signwritten in the usual place under the passenger door window.

 

Edinbugh only has TX series cabs and the aforementioned Vito's, plus a few later Metrocabs with non-Granada lights so I was surprised to see it.

 

It had a Glasgow reg so it might have just come from that direction as there are a lot more older Cabs in that City. Pretty sure there are still a few Fairways on P and R plates kicking about there.

 

Not sure when they facelifted the Metrocab, but N reg sounds late for the original style. I'm sure there was an E reg example in the old Glasgow museum of transport. If I remember correctly most of the Metrocabs new to Edinburgh owners had come through a Glasgow dealer (Allied Vehicles?) and therefore featured Weegie reg marks, unfortunately.

 

The newest one I remember seeing was an 05 plate. I suppose whoever was making them by that time went belly-up shortly afterwards.

[Timewaster]

Mk2 Granada:

 

P38 Range Rover

[YugoLada]

I saw an MCW Metrocab at a scrapyard

[Justin Case]

I saw an MCW Metrocab at a scrapyard

 

I saw an MCW Metrocab at a Museum

 

Metrocab E681 NHX 10-12-09 by MCW Plug Doors, on Flickr

[trigger]

TAXIS - GR12 4 CORNERING SKILLZ.

 

Fairway 2.7 Silver Black Cab Road Test 1989 3 by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[YugoLada]

Bramm 77 has spotted a B reg Fairway!

[MK5 Escort]

Didn't someone here buy a Metrocab…?

 

I've always been fond of Metrocabs – especially for the mk4 Escort estate rear lights and the other Ford bits and pieces! Good, solid body shape and personally found them less claustrophobic to sit in the back of than the older Fairways.

 

When I was little and went to town with mum (who doesn’t drive) and she wanted a taxi back, I did succeed a few times in making her wait for a Metrocab to pull up into the taxi rank!

 

There are a few Metrocabs left around here (I know of a blue T reg that comes up and down our road a couple of times a week) from what I've seen but they're looking very tired now. Where I used to live some fourteen years ago, a few streets away when I used to walk to school, someone had a H reg Metrocab. I've had a few lifts in it (always stunk of furniture polish) and it used to knock around here regularly. I know the bloke who drove it kept it (obviously not registered to carry passengers any more) when he bought an LTI in around 2002-ish. The LTI has since gone and hasn’t been replaced. The Metrocab, certainly the last time I went around those parts a few months back, was still there! However, it's now sitting at the top of his driveway, partly covered under a tarpaulin. Still looked in okay condition too from what I could see but clearly one of those 'no longer on the road' looks about it judging from the debris under it...

 

I don't think there are many Fairway's left where I am now. There was a P and two R reg ones (one classic black and the other in a fetching maroon) which were still hanging on certainly until at least September(ish) last year. Don't think I've seen either since about Christmas though so I don't know if they're still knocking about or not… It would be a shame if they've now gone because both were in really nice condition too.

[AnthonyG]

The last time I saw Metrocabs in cabbing was Birmingham two years ago.

 

Bristol is hilarious, they seem to allow anything that you can get a wheelchair in, from brand new Fiat/PSA Eurotaxis to shagged out looking Kia Sedonas and amusingly chavved up Previas.

[catsinthewelder]

Living in the sticks, I hadn't really noticed that Metrocabs were dwinding but I was suprised to see an immaculate white mk1 example drive through town last week

[YugoLada]

I spotted an 02 Metrocab the other day!

[Negative Creep]

Still have loads of them around these parts, along with the older Fairways

[willswitchengage]

I'm surprised there are so few outside the Midlands, they're just as common as Fairways here. Occasionally you'll see a decrepit mk1 cluttering around.

 

AROnline Metrocab article here.

[warren t claim]

Metrocabs really are a load of wank, one literally bankrupted me and was the only vehicle I've ever had less reliable than a Vectra B. Avoid at all costs!

[wuvvum]

Mine has been pretty good reliability-wise actually. My first one was an auto and that had shitloads of gearbox hassles, but the two manual ones I've had have been GR9.