Warren Works... TWO TIER KIA.... IS NOW FOR SALE!

[Lord Sterling]

@warren t claim - Spotted this and thought of this thread:

Generally around this area private cabs are either Kia Cee'd estates, Skoda Rapids (which I really like) I.e;

But occasionally you see smaller ones:

I can kind of understand the point of smaller cabs, cheaper to run but generally you're customers are single-fugure customers who don't have much more than a couple of bags of shopping to haul around, plus most are probably going local.

Here is another I spotted out in the wilds of the black countraaay:

More MG madness:

This Insignia was properly billowing out white smoke:

I think it's days are numbered....

[warren t claim]

On 09/04/2024 at 22:10, warren t claim said:

MG6 is due its six monthly inspection and will need quite a few jobs sorting. I have this as a loan(?) car for a week or so.

265,000 miles and judging by the Cab Direct number plates, been working as a taxi all of its life.

I suppose I should let you all know what my first impressions are.

I should start by saying that my opinion so far is based on about thirty miles of gentle shuttling about on my Tradex policy. No combat miles as yet until I can swap my hire and reward insurance over tomorrow morning.

I'll start by saying that the seating position is VERY low. I'm sure that there must be the facility to raise the driver's seat but as yet I can't find it. This can be an issue as because I have long legs and therefore in Focus sized cars I like to raise my seat to allow a little more rear legroom. The seat also seems to lack any lumbar support either which means that I've had to position the backrest a little more upright than I'd like. 

It's not as fast as the MG but has plenty enough power for the job, whilst driving unladen I'm changing up the box at the same speed as in the MG. I've yet to try it with a full compliment of people and luggage. 

I can't yet gather any MPG figures as it came with a quarter of a tank.

The power steering has three assistance levels.

1. Very light.

2. Mk2 Punto with the "girly button" pressed.

3. 1977 XJ6.

The turning circle is a hell of a lot better than the MG6. In fact, the MG needs Costa Concordia levels of space to spin around so that's no surprise.

Ride quality is leagues ahead of the MG. The Kia rides as well as a modern Focus which is in stark contrast to the MG which absorbs bumps in a way that has me feeling nostalgic for my old XR3is.

Internal storage is miles better than the MG. Instead of having one flimsy pop out cupholder that eats into the leg room of a front seat punter the Kia has two sensible centrally mounted holders to not just house a coffee, but also another to accommodate a packet of Hob Nobs to dunk into the aforementioned hot beverage. The Kia also has storage under the armrest that's at least triple the size of that of the MG. It also has a large central cubby, a feature absent on the MG6.

The Kia lacks the automatic lights and wipers of the MG6.

The leather seat trim of the MG6 is more "punter proof" than the cloth seats of the Kia.

The Kia has a DAB radio. The MG6 has an AM/FM unit that doesn't work anyway. This isn't as bad as it sounds as I used a Bluetooth speaker to stream audio because the MGs Bluetooth isn't A2DP and only works for phone calls, not audio streaming. I've yet to check if the Kia is A2DP.

The MG has built in sat nav, a feature missing on the Kia. As the MG navigation unit is so awkward to input a destination into as you can't search by postcode, this isn't too much of a loss. Anyway, I'm a taxi driver who should know where he's going anyway! The only useful feature of the MG sat nav was the display automatically told me what road I was currently on.

So I suppose it's a case of swings and roundabouts. The next few days will decide which car makes the better taxi.

Insignia due its inspection and as there's no way it'll pass as it stands with the ABS sensor fucked I dropped it off to my friendly mechanic to get a replacement fitted along with an investigation as to why it is going through half a litre of brake fluid a week. This means that I'm back in the Kia with its non functioning aircon. I'd be tempted to get the AC gassed up if it wasn't for the fact that a full regas only lasted six weeks in my Ioniq.

Kia has decided to piss me off by throwing its EML light on. Even plugging it into an Autel machine fails to find the fault. I consulted the handbook and it said that I should contact my dealer ASAP. I've done that and he's sending a lad around to my gaff on an electric mountain bike to drop a £20 bag off to me. 

 

 

[warren t claim]

As a Mk4 Mondeo veteran, I'm all too familiar with the issue of the Mondeo "self reclining seat". This is a problem where every hour or so the driver has to wind his backrest forward a notch or two. The Two Tier Kia has a similar issue, not with the backrest but with the base of the seat lowering itself. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but in this C'eed the handle to raise the seat has snapped off.

[Urko]

On 05/08/2024 at 20:56, warren t claim said:

it said that I should contact my dealer ASAP. I've done that and he's sending a lad around to my gaff on an electric mountain bike to drop a £20 bag off to me. 

Doh! it took me a moment to get that straight in my head in relation to a KIA dealer.....

[warren t claim]

1 hour ago, Urko said:

Doh! it took me a moment to get that straight in my head in relation to a KIA dealer.....

Do try to keep up!

[wuvvum]

On 14/07/2024 at 07:09, Lord Sterling said:

@warren t claim - Spotted this and thought of this thread:

Generally around this area private cabs are either Kia Cee'd estates, Skoda Rapids (which I really like) I.e;

Didn't realise there were still places that have 5-digit phone numbers.

[High Jetter]

9 minutes ago, warren t claim said:

Do try to keep up!

🥰So, how long are you out for?.

[warren t claim]

4 pm phone call from my mechanic in full Sherlock fucking Holmes mode.

Mechanic. "Hi Warren, I've replaced the ABS sensor in your Insignia".

WTC. "Thanks".

Mechanic. "Yeah, but when I drove it around the industrial estate the brake pedal hit the floor!"

WTC. "Oh dear! I wonder what the trouble is?"

Mechanic. "Don't you fucking play dumb with me Warren! I had a look at the brakes and the OSR caliper is pissing out brake fluid!"

WTC. "Really?"

Mechanic. "The rear pads are no more than 500 miles old! Let me guess that as you dropped the car off on Monday they started scraping on Friday and to keep working over the weekend you changed them yourself and you MUST have noticed the leaking rear caliper! Also did you not think that I'd notice the half full bottle of brake fluid in the boot?"

WTC. OK Miss fucking Marple, you win!"

 

[High Jetter]

A man's gotta do what a man's...

[warren t claim]

33 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

A man's gotta do what a man's...

A couple of times over the last 24 years I've got through a weekend by using a hose clamp.

[warren t claim]

Earler today I had a phone conversation with the lad I'm renting the Kia from. He phoned me to give me a heads up that he's quitting working in my taxi office in four weeks and will be chancing his arm working Uber up in the Ribble Valley where he owns a few static caravans that he rents out. I was wondering how he'll be able to keep his rental fleet of managed and administered before it dawned on me that I'll probably end up doing it for him. 

There are a few reasons why I came to this conclusion. The main reason is that I'm a people pleasing prick who's always been keen to go above and beyond to help people. This has been a personality flaw that has run through my entire working life. Although there have been occasions in my past when it has secured me to rise up the greasy pole of corporate whores, in every case it has ended up with people taking advantage of my good nature. 

In this instance, it started with me being the only driver he has who never brings him problems when things go wrong. Due to having many connections in the local garage trade if a car I'm using fucks up I don't phone him with a complaint and demanding the car is fixed within the hour, instead, I phone him to inform him of the problem and explain that I've sourced both the parts required and ramp time the same day to keep the car on the road. I could put a mark up on the parts and labour if I wanted to as I get charged mates rates but I honestly don't do that.

Me having a recovery truck and Tradex policy has got him out of a few sticky situations this year as well. Under no fucking circumstances would I dare chancing driving any great distance with something like an Insignia or MG6 on the back of my 3.5t Transit recovery truck as it'll be well overweight but I've taken a couple of chances at night when it has only been a two or three mile recovery. Rather like the fact that when I get a text from Claim_Intended starting with the word "Babes" flash up on my mobile I know that whatever the message says I know it's going to cost me money, a message from him that starts "Any chance" will usually involve me having to collect, deliver or take a car for testing. He's very much aware that as I used to rent out taxis myself I've got a pretty good idea how things work when dealing with other drivers.

I know this sounds like I'm whinging. In all fairness, I must confess to this not being a one sided deal. I never get chased for money and can pretty much pay whatever and whenever I want for my car. I never get chased for money and as a bonus, I can have whatever car on the fleet I fancy and no questions are asked if I get bored with it and feel like a change.

[2flags]

As long as he is prepared to pay you for your services, then if it appeals to you, go for it. You could probably wangle a free car, or at least a very reduced rate car, out of it. 

[warren t claim]

Last night was interesting to say the least. 

I get a call to pick up from a somewhat notorious Birkenhead boozer that I frequent for the odd pint with some friends. I can tell by the name on the job that the job has been phoned in by the barmaid who I know. I turn up outside and hit the callback button prompting her to come outside. "Hi Warren, it's not for me, I phoned it for some lad who's had a few too many" she says. Great! The lad, someone I've never seen before in there, staggers to the car and gets in the back. I ask him where he wants to go and he replies telling me to take him to Tranmere Rovers. Rather a strange request at nearly midnight on a Monday. Normally I'd ask for money up front but as I drink in that pub I know that if he does a runner I can get him barred from there faster than a moderator on an old car forum can ban a member from posting. I set off to Prenton Park with him slumped across the back seat.

I take him to Prenton Park and tell him to pay me the £5.80 fare. He sits up and looks around before opening the NSR door and then promptly starts sprinting down the road in the direction we came in. Now, Prenton Park is located on Borough Road which is a very wide street and deserted at that time of night which gives me the golden opportunity to do a U Turn and chase after him. 

Before setting off in pursuit I look over my left shoulder as he's left the NSR door open and I need to check that there are no bollards or lamp post near that would hit the open door. I then notice something on my back seat. A clear plastic money bag that looks like it has cash inside that has obviously fallen out of his pocket when he slumped across the rear seat. I grab it only to find it contains five £10 notes, 4 Pound coins and his bank card.

[beko1987]

That sounds like a fun chat for him when he's sobered up and need his bank card back 😂

[Supernaut]

1 hour ago, beko1987 said:

That sounds like a fun chat for him when he's sobered up and need his bank card back 😂

"Oh aye, found your bank card in the car! No, nothing else!"

[JJ0063]

https://www.facebook.com/share/kA8yGWtZZmHnyvJd/?mibextid=79PoIi
 

another LPG one going cheap 

[JJ0063]

And a Fairway 10 mins from me has just appeared 

 

https://www.facebook.com/share/zjS3HoFzw9EUed4v/?mibextid=79PoIi

[warren t claim]

As per the title change. Two Tier Kia is now for sale at a bargain price. I'll post an advert in the For Sale section shortly. One things for certain, it'll be super cheap for a 66 plate Euro 6 diesel.

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, warren t claim said:

 super shagged for a 66 plate Euro 6 diesel.

Roffle?

[warren t claim]

8 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Roffle?

I'd rather not go down that route.

[High Jetter]

Just now, warren t claim said:

I'd rather not go down that route.

Thought you knew the roads