Buying an ex minicab - discuss

[jonathan_dyane]

Strangely attracted to this: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/221377333115?nav=SEARCH

 

Is this in any shape or form a reasonable idea or the nightmare of pain most would imagine?

[willswitchengage]

I once drunkenly found a wallet in a minicab once, thought BONUS! then got home, opened it and realised it was my own.

[hairnet]

apart from the eml and the filter he mentions

 

the taxi test is more strict than the normal mot and usually taxis if it needs it it gets it

 

as its still licenced id be asking the council has it ever been refused a badge for mech work

[Cavcraft]

The advert is incredibly annoying, all sort of glossing over bad bits and rattling on about how well it's been maintained, all taxis have to be well kept, it's shit all to (exclusively) with Preston. 've also had ex-taxis with far more miles on it than that, so it's no biggie. Would a gearbox not last longer than that? If it went early then maybe it's the way it was driven?

 

One vital thing though:

 

'REASON FOR SALE IS MY COMPANY WILL NOT TAKE CARS OVER 4 YEARS OLD'

 

'REMEMBER THE CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD'

 

And there it is with what is almost certainly an up to date picture with taxi badges on it,plus he'll leave the meter in. Has he been driving it like that for 3 years without it being a taxi?

[Micrashed]

Millers have cabs older than 4 years

PHACT.

 

So that nugget of information about the reason for sale needs to be taken with a pinch of the proverbial.

Pretty sure its photographed in Leyland, I suppose for £550 you probably wont lose out if the car lasts until its MOT in November. If its the arse end of November, even bigger bonus.

 

Plus if you come to Preston I can treat you to the MicraShed experience.

[Felly Magic]

Could it be he's only selling because he's lost his badge? Does seem strange that he's prepared to sell the meter as well.

[Doctormop]

The oldest car on Miller's Fleet I have noticed recently is a W reg Silver Avensis, I noticed it because I had to drive onto the other side of the road to get round it as the front nearside suspension seemed to have collapsed as it was turning left.

At the other end of the scale an absolutely mint K reg Toyota Camry in a gorgeous dark red has appeared plated up as a private hire, not for Millers but looks absolutely immaculate, can only assume it is lightly used and doesn't work Friday/Saturday nights.

[Junkman]

I don't really consider myself a snob, but my revulsion threshold is still too low for considering an ex-taxicab as my personal transportation, before the entire interior has been replaced. This in turn would make it financially prohibitive.

[Felly Magic]

As there are no interior shots, and now ebay lets you put up 12 photos for gratis, that's another thing that rings alarm bells with me too. I suspect its f*cked inside, especially if it's owt like some of the local minicabs I've used. It's so rare to see a Mk1 Octy minicab round here too, as most have been binned years ago, but on the Hack ranks you see cars as old as J plate still plying their trade, and looking immaculate, esp an early 940 saloon. Need to get photos of that for the Scottoshiters

[jonathan_dyane]

All food for thought. Sounds like perhaps avoid, at least this one; too suspect...

[EssDeeWon]

Does it still come with the radio equipment so you can drive around listening to someone waffling away that you can hardly understand.

 

wfhqfjpqfrpurq4urpquri3y Over. qwof2ythfr;qhojelkgq;fj1 Over. qlwefqwhqwjfdoqj;curf1h Over.

[Hendry]

Does it still come with the radio equipment so you can drive around listening to someone waffling away that you can hardly understand.

 

wfhqfjpqfrpurq4urpquri3y Over. qwof2ythfr;qhojelkgq;fj1 Over. qlwefqwhqwjfdoqj;curf1h Over.

Unfortunately these seem to be a thing of the past, I mean sure cars are still fitted with radios but all the radio talking is almost non existant these days, now most of them have these aurega things with screens to plot for jobs now, I used to love listening to the person in the office arguing with 1 of the drivers or bantering but only getting one side of the conversation in my dads taxi but since this new system seldom anything goes over the radio.

 

Taxis are a strange one, because although well maintained for taxi tests even in terms of bodywork the nature of the job means that as well as mechanically the cars get damaged cosmetically in ways private cars seldom do, although they get fixed, if its been fixed by a rubbish/dodgy/backstreet garage whose done a crap repair it can spoil an otherwise bargain car, my old mans old Vectra for example was although 5 times the mileage of most other Vectras was far superior mechanically and had far less dings, dents and scrapes than most private cars it had a couple of bits that had been repaired poorly meaning bad panel fit, fading paint, and rust beginning from behind but the council didn't care because it looked ok with no obvious unsightly bashes or scuffs.

 

They can be bargains though if you find a looked after one with an OCD cabbie owner who takes pride on a clean taxi

[Junkman]

Another point.

Is it only me that has this profound mistrust of anything VAG?

Might be genetic, but I'd rather risk Kettle Rover ownership, before I shell out a Penny on a car designed by a company,

that has a proven track record of delivering utter tosh for 75 years, then £bumrape its customers by obscenely overcharging for spares and service.

[warren t claim]

Speaking as someone who drives a private hire car a few things need to be remembered. Firstly you need to find out how many different drivers it's had because owner driven cars tend to be maintained better and driven with mechanical sympathy. Secondly what hours and area it's worked in will affect its general condition because city centre night shifts are the hardest on interiors and bodywork.

[jonathan_dyane]

Another point.

Is it only me that has this profound mistrust of anything VAG?

Every VAG product I have owned I have ended up detesting and decided was an overrated stinking turd.

 

This does beg the question as to why the fuck I am even considering an Octavia and it is an idea based upon the attractive proposition of almost 50 OMGMPG together with above average legroom for my ridiculously lanky legs.

 

Other suggestions welcome...

[cort16]

I see loads of them come through my mates little bodyshop they're always getting crashed and crashed into.

 

I bet that ones about 8 different colours. I wouldn't touch one personally

[philsford]

I am a private hire driver and my first thought after the "my company will not accept cars over 4 years old" is if thats been a taxi from new he has only been doing roughly 40k a year which tells me he ain't been making much money when you consider he has been paying the finance on his pride and joy too. Clearly only 1 driver at a time on this milage (I doubt it has worked day and night). So if he ain't making much money has it been repaired and maintained to any kind of standard? Or driven till it breaks then the bare minimum done to get it back on the rank.

[Cavcraft]

Every VAG product I have owned I have ended up detesting and decided was an overrated stinking turd.

 

This does beg the question as to why the fuck I am even considering an Octavia and it is an idea based upon the attractive proposition of almost 50 OMGMPG together with above average legroom for my ridiculously lanky legs.

 

Other suggestions welcome...

 

3A) Everyone's favourite little car. 8, 5, 9.

 

V_ _ x_ a_ l     _o_sa      a_ _ _ mat_c 

[Rocket88]

Another point.

Is it only me that has this profound mistrust of anything VAG?

Might be genetic, but I'd rather risk Kettle Rover ownership, before I shell out a Penny on a car designed by a company,

that has a proven track record of delivering utter tosh for 75 years, then £bumrape its customers by obscenely overcharging for spares and service.

 

I beg to differ...other opinions are also available. I've had a string of VAG sheds over the years, and they'll all proved, [especially Octavias] to be pretty good. 

[Volksy]

I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole. If the minicabs round here are anything to go by. Whiny diffs, rattling DMF's, stinky interiors, worn out springs etc etc.

 

I think that with the price of used cars these days, buying something which essentially has been used as a workhorse/tool as opposed to the same type of vehicle which has been used and cared for by a family would be madness.

[richardthestag]

 

[garethj]

Every VAG product I have owned I have ended up detesting and decided was an overrated stinking turd.

 

This does beg the question as to why the fuck I am even considering an Octavia and it is an idea based upon the attractive proposition of almost 50 OMGMPG together with above average legroom for my ridiculously lanky legs.

 

Other suggestions welcome...

 

Have you tried sitting in one?  I'm 6'1" tall with legs that reach the floor and it's not especially roomy.  My Octavia is 1999, not sure if the Mk2s like the blue taxi are different.  It's alright, but no more than that for my 1 hour commute.

[Pete-M]

Another point.

Is it only me that has this profound mistrust of anything VAG?

Possibly. I've racked up around 250k miles over the last for years or so driving mainly VAG, Vauxhall and Toyota stuff.

 

Number of VAG breakdowns : 0.

Number of Toyota breakdowns : 4.

Number of Vauxhall breakdowns : 15.

 

Number of VAG recalls : 2 (one for scabby badges, one for water pump on early 2.0 TDI 140 Superb Mk2)

Number of Toyota recalls : 3. (All Brake related)

Each Vauxhall had £3k of warranty work before 20k miles. None were recalled as they were normally either at the Vauxhall dealer or on recovery trucks heading there.

 

None of the Å koda Superbs I've driven have ever let me down. That's a couple of hundred Superbs that get driven hard by a variety of people who don't own them or care about them. They get serviced when the service indicator says they need it. On average every 18-20k. Nothing has fallen off or broken while I've been driving them and I've never had one that has failed to start. In four years the only real failure was a wiper spindle failed when the driver tried to clear about 8" of frozen snow from the screen with the wipers alone. Oh and a sticky heater flap on a Superb - which fixed itself after a few days.

 

We flog them when they're approaching 60k miles or two years old but they have been very very reliable. Perfect cabs.

[Rocket88]

We've got a 2001 tdi Octy estate dizzler auto [ex taxi] 246k miles, still on original gearbox. Engine is still pretty much spot on.Brilliant bit of kit.

[Junkman]

Last December I drove a two Months old Polo with the 1.4 non turbo and the experience was in line with all other VAG products I ever drove.

Negotiating turns at the same speed I'm used to when driving real cars is frightening, the steering feels like my Thrustmaster when I switch off the force-feedback,

the brakes are reminiscent of the ones my '60 Buick LeSabre had, and the gear change is like stirring custard with walnuts in it.

 

Good is different.

[DeeJay]

Does it still come with the radio equipment so you can drive around listening to someone waffling away that you can hardly understand.

 

wfhqfjpqfrpurq4urpquri3y Over. qwof2ythfr;qhojelkgq;fj1 Over. qlwefqwhqwjfdoqj;curf1h Over.

TOO-SAVVY could you repeat that please?

[Pete-M]

I've not driven a newish Polo - but they're normally a bit crap.

 

Superb feels very slightly dozy in comparison to a Mondeo, and like a visitor from planet ride quality sent to shit up an insignia. It's painless to drive and comfy to be in, plenty of space, huge mpg, big boot, decent spec and a proper handbrake. Ideal for taxi work - something involving would be bloody irritating for a cabbie. Superb is about as stressful as a cup of horlicks.

[Micrashed]

I've not driven a newish Polo - but they're normally a bit crap.

 

Mother MicraShed has a 2006 plate dizzler which isnt bad - typical hard germanic seats and plastics feel a bit cheap, but otherwise car drives well enough and has been very reliable. I have my eyes firmly fixed upon it should she decide to change, which given its only done 15K miles is unlikely.

[Vince70]

I don't know much about the Octavia but I think its based on the VAG B5 platform which isnt a bad thing...

 

I've got an old 95 A4 which I think is basically the same car with a different badge and can honestly say its the best old car I've owned...

 

The only criticism is rear leg room for passengers but the boot is like a Tardis.

 

Also if you do buy the car make sure you bin the rubber drains underneath the battery and servo as these can get blocked with crud and cause leaks into the footwells.

[Felly Magic]

The Octy was on the A3/Golf platform