Oldest Working Taxi

[Datsuncog]

I'm still trying to get a pic of that white 1992 Toyota Corolla E100 liftback which minicabs in the local area.

Last saw it on the other side of the Seapark roundabout a few months ago, but my dashcam angle didn't catch it.

Frustrating, but it's still apparently out there!

I could, of course, simply ring Abbey Cabs and ask them to send me their oldest taxi post-haste, then snap it from the comfort of my front door, but that feels like cheating somehow...

[egg]

15 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

I'm still trying to get a pic of that white 1992 Toyota Corolla E100 liftback which minicabs in the local area.

Do authorities in NI publish lists of their licenced taxis?

[Datsuncog]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Do authorities in NI publish lists of their licenced taxis?

Probably not, for security reasons.

Back in the early '90s, there was a bit of a vogue for paramilitaries shooting taxi drivers - published lists would make it quite an easy dial-a-murder service.

I understand that local council areas hold registration details of taxis operating in their area, while the DVA in NI does the actual licensing and inspecting, but as far as I'm aware there aren't any publicly accessible lists.

[egg]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

Probably not, for security reasons.

Of course, sorry, my question seems a bit ignorant in retrospect.

[Datsuncog]

Ah, not at all - it got me thinking whether or not there was a list, and if there was then who would compile it (and, I'll admit, slightly concerned that it might somehow be my job), and then I twigged that there's probably exemptions over here on such things which are a matter of course for public bodies elsewhere.

It'd be handy if there was one though, as I could check to see if that Corolla's the oldest cab still plying for hire over here! 30+ years old has to be pretty unusual these days.

[warren t claim]

Just to reinforce how wank LTI products are here's a case in point.

I've got a mate who owns a 2010 TX4. Nine months ago he paid out to have the leaking steering box replaced. A week ago it started going through half a litre of fluid a day. Upon investigation it became apparent that it was leaking out where the pipe meets the box. I'd have thought that there would be a crush washer at that join but apparently not. We remove the pipe to see severe cracking in the casting of the steering box rendering it scrap in less than a year. 

We scour the local taxi pages and bingo! A driver in Liverpool is breaking a 2010 TX4 with a non leaking* steering box that he'll sell for £80. Result!

I reserve some workshop space in Claim_Garage for a couple of hours to swap the boxes over. Once the cracked box is removed we compare it to its replacement and they look identical.

When we bolt the quality used box into his cab we discover a big problem. For reasons only known by LTI, the splines are different despite the donor cab being an identical age and spec. It could've been worse though. I once had to bodge a 1994 Fairway when the steering box casting failed totally detaching itself from the cab! Being 3am in the morning and therefore the roads being devoid of traffic enabled me to limp the cab home at 15mph after using a ratchet strap to hold the box roughly in place.

If you think that steering boxes have a short life spare a thought for the total compromise that is the TX4 cooling system. Due to the VM engine being thrown into the cab as an afterthought, the expansion tank is located far too close to the engine meaning that through a combination of heat and friction, the expected life of a TX4 expansion tank is about three months! As you've probably already guessed, many owners try to live with the problem and just top up the cab with water every day. This works well until the first sub zero temperature of the year when the whole block predictably freezes up.

[Datsuncog]

Another elderly Toyota seen still cabbing locally - no pic, annoyingly, but a private hire MK1 Avensis.

Must be one of the very last Mk1s sold - but nevertheless, those D-4D units seem to last alright.

[MantaGTE85]

Avensis Vermont! 204,000 miles at its last MOT last month. It's done 60,000 miles over the last two years. Very good going for a 20 year old motor.

[MantaGTE85]

As it happens, I spotted today a white '03 Citroen C8 parking up at Exeter Airport with taxi bumper-plates. It looked very clean, aside from the usual 20-year-old Citroen sparkly-stick-work on both rear sills. No photos unfortunately, as I was happily* driving the Optare Solo at the time. The reg is RE03AYU for those who want to check its six-monthly MOT mileage increments.

[Dave_Q]

Think it was this thread we were discussing Wolverhampton plates of convenience.

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/wolverhampton-private-hire-vehicle-suspended-during-enforcement-operation-in-oldham

Doesn't say why their licence was suspended, presumably normal reasons to do with the car or driver rather than anything to do with it being a Wolves plate in Oldham.

[warren t claim]

On 7/15/2023 at 4:09 AM, Dave_Q said:

Think it was this thread we were discussing Wolverhampton plates of convenience.

https://www.taxi-point.co.uk/post/wolverhampton-private-hire-vehicle-suspended-during-enforcement-operation-in-oldham

Doesn't say why their licence was suspended, presumably normal reasons to do with the car or driver rather than anything to do with it being a Wolves plate in Oldham.

If it was for something juicy they'd say what it was for.

I've known drivers get suspended for not displaying a no smoking sign.

[warren t claim]

On 4/6/2023 at 10:54 AM, NorfolkNWeigh said:

I saw this last week at Kings Cross, must be the last Metrocab in London. 

This Metrocab retired today.

No tears shed here.

[mk2_craig]

I’m in Madeira for a week, and this old Merc is still passing taxi inspections. Seen it twice so far - unless it’s not the only one

[Conan]

Time for me to contribute to this thread.

This here is our current most common taxi. The legally "taxi meter". Colourful Corollas with the most well known one being yellow/green, that signifies it being a private taxi and not other hue which is corporate taxi. They all have strict age limit of 9 years and was recently (during pandemic) raised to 12 years with extra yearly inspection required. Most of them ended up completely shagged by about year 8. There are also other rules such as body dimensions and engine capacity of 1,500cc or over (or recently introduced kilowatt level for EVs). etc.etc.

Something interesting that spurred me to make this post appeared on FB Marketplace recently for £1,700.

These are "non metered taxi". As the name implied they're not equipped with meter and you have to haggle the fare with it's driver. They have absolutely no age limit and can be in service as long as you can keep it maintained and pass inspection. Not only that, the engine displacement and dimensions rule doesn't apply to this either.

This is actually how taxis used to be in the good old days. "Taxi meter" only appeared in vast quantity in the early 1990's. The continued existence of such vehicle is only because the licence has been grandfathered from long ago.

It used to be that licence for these also can be transferred to newer car, which means they're not all old tats, but that loophole has been closed for a few years now. Although the licence for these cannot be transferred to another car anymore, it still can be transfer to a new owner. Anyone can go out and buy this late 80's Corolla and if they have commercial permit they can drive it as a taxi.

Even then the reality is they're endangered species and they won't breed (even in captivity). The number on the road is lessen with every passing year. Not only because the regulation have changed, but many people don't even realise that these are legal taxis so not many people hail them.

If I had fuckton of money, time and resource it is my dream to buy one, get commercial permit, and occasionally picking up fares of those who are curious. But there are many other things I'd rather do before anyway...

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, mk2_craig said:

I’m in Madeira for a week, and this old Merc is still passing taxi inspections. Seen it twice so far - unless it’s not the only one

Do they still push them along the rank when the one in front moves off?

[bunglebus]

There's a 52 and 03 plate yellow Metrocab trundling around Derby. I'd love to know the mileage on both but I only photographed the 03; 490,240 as of May

[Matty]

5 hours ago, mk2_craig said:

I’m in Madeira for a week, and this old Merc is still passing taxi inspections. Seen it twice so far - unless it’s not the only one

Exactly the same in Arricefe this week. Only I'm shit, don't carry a phone so have no proof 😄

[purplebargeken]

Maybe not the oldest 'working' taxi but have helped fettle and sat in a Panhard Levassor (soz if spelled wrongly)  taxi from 1902 IIRC...

The passenger seating area contained a device that gave the driver directions and when to stop. It was ace.

[bunglebus]

On 04/08/2023 at 19:38, bunglebus said:

There's a 52 and 03 plate yellow Metrocab trundling around Derby. I'd love to know the mileage on both but I only photographed the 03; 490,240 as of May

Spotted it - MK52 VYS

Just 368,023 as of Nov last year

[Dave_Q]

Just spotted a Wolverhampton plated Uber stickered hybrid Corolla on the E40 near the Eurotunnel, decent fare that

[wheel nut]

On 8/4/2023 at 5:22 PM, mk2_craig said:

I’m in Madeira for a week, and this old Merc is still passing taxi inspections. Seen it twice so far - unless it’s not the only one

I was on holiday in Madeira about 25 years ago and that style of merc was very common then. I managed to spot a couple of older models back then which I'm sure must be long gone now.

Going slightly off topic I also spotted the following which as a teenager I thought was the coolest taxi ever because of the 3-spokes...🤨

 

[TheOtherStu]

On 8/9/2023 at 4:11 PM, Dave_Q said:

Just spotted a Wolverhampton plated Uber stickered hybrid Corolla on the E40 near the Eurotunnel, decent fare that

In fairness, as above, they get everywhere.
So Uber aren't (or weren't) allowed in Coventry. So all the Uber drivers get their plates from Wolverhampton.

Apparently, the black cab drivers hate them, so they do childish things like block them in, shout expletives and toot them. All whilst customers are in the car.

Certainly, this was the case back in 2019....

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/uber-black-cabs-coventry-16793740

[reb]

On 7/17/2023 at 1:14 AM, warren t claim said:

I've known drivers get suspended for not displaying a no smoking sign.

Once due to train companies being shit I ended up on a rail replacement bus all the way from somewhere 45 minutes north of london to Glasgow. Which is all well and good but I live on the other side of the country from there! They said they'd pay for a taxi for me, and that it'd be ready as soon as possible after reaching glasgow at about 1am. I disembarked the bus and tried to light a fag, the first since london, only to be told my taxi was ready and I had to go right now. The taxi driver saw this unfold and just as the door was closed he said "don't worry, you can smoke as much as you like once we're on the motorway!" That was about the only good thing that had happened all fucking day that day. I haven't been to london since because I haven't got over the memory of sitting on a coach watching my phone battery die with hours left to go.

[warren t claim]

17 hours ago, reb said:

Once due to train companies being shit I ended up on a rail replacement bus all the way from somewhere 45 minutes north of london to Glasgow. Which is all well and good but I live on the other side of the country from there! They said they'd pay for a taxi for me, and that it'd be ready as soon as possible after reaching glasgow at about 1am. I disembarked the bus and tried to light a fag, the first since london, only to be told my taxi was ready and I had to go right now. The taxi driver saw this unfold and just as the door was closed he said "don't worry, you can smoke as much as you like once we're on the motorway!" That was about the only good thing that had happened all fucking day that day. I haven't been to london since because I haven't got over the memory of sitting on a coach watching my phone battery die with hours left to go.

I have only three rules in my cab.

1. Pay the fare.

2. Don't make a mess.

3. Don't break anything.

Want to dip your front door key into a bag of coke? No problem. I'm not your dad. Drink a bottle of Bud during your journey? Sure, just don't break the bottle. 

 

[reb]

1 minute ago, warren t claim said:

I have only three rules in my cab.

1. Pay the fare.

2. Don't make a mess.

3. Don't break anything.

Want to dip your front door key into a bag of coke? No problem. I'm not your dad. Drink a bottle of Bud during your journey? Sure, just don't break the bottle. 

 

When I did pedicabbing I had basically the same rules. With the added one of "please don't touch my arse" which hen parties needed reminding of.

Oh and "don't steal the blanket" which was maybe a bit hypocritical because I think I actually stole the decent blanket I had from another rider. It's still on my sofa.

I miss that job. There's a lot to be said for a job that provides large quantities of banknotes to take to the casino at 3am on a Thursday. 

[twosmoke300]

14 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

I have only three rules in my cab.

1. Pay the fare.

2. Don't make a mess.

3. Don't break anything.

Want to dip your front door key into a bag of coke? No problem. I'm not your dad. Drink a bottle of Bud during your journey? Sure, just don't break the bottle. 

 

That reminds me of getting a taxi with a few rugby mates . 
The taxi driver made one of them finish his bottle of drink before we got in . 
Once underway my brother told the driver that it would be much less dangerous to leave the drink outside that particular guy than inside him . 

[warren t claim]

The thing is that in a hack a spillage isn't a real issue as they're wipe clean.

[reb]

I got a taxi back from an appointment yesterday. The driver was inexplicably posh and was using most of the power available from the 1.9TDI. I glanced at the speedo coming up through the village, the community group on Facebook would go mental if they'd clocked him 😂

[warren t claim]

12 hours ago, reb said:

I got a taxi back from an appointment yesterday. The driver was inexplicably posh and was using most of the power available from the 1.9TDI. I glanced at the speedo coming up through the village, the community group on Facebook would go mental if they'd clocked him 😂

What car was it?

[somewhatfoolish]

24 minutes ago, reb said:

When I did pedicabbing

Where did you do that? Did you have a fixed area or was it down to how enthusiastic/energetic you felt?