What car for taxi?

[exelero]

Hey.
I would like to get into the taxi game probably around April -May. Needs to be comfortable, would prefer auto but a manual is not a deal breaker, diesel, euro 6. I narrowed my search down to 4 vehicles at the moment.
Skoda superb Estate
Hyundai i40 Estate
Insignia Estate
Mondeo
Budget 10k.
What else should I consider ? Thanks

[Deerfoot]

Isn't the Prius the car of choice for this gig?

[exelero]

Deerfoot said:

Isn't the Prius the car of choice for this gig?

Would be, but no I’m good, I’d rather not do taxi driving at all

[ZX10R NIN]

2017 1.6d SRI Manual:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212172...

2.0d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211231...

[exelero]

Do you know anything about these 1.6 diesel engines? Looking at the spec sheet it says 140bhp which exactly the same power as my 2.0tdci Mondeo has. Are they reliable? Is the gearbox still out of choco?

[Jordie Barretts sock]

You might want to check what your licensing authority permit. Quite a lot have an age limit. No £10k car (save for perhaps a Dacia) will be new enough.

You might also want to look at what expenses you will incur...

Meter cost and fitting.
Roof light if applicable.
Licence fee.
Driver’s badge fees.
And most importantly of all, insuring the vehicle for hire and reward which isn't cheap.

[turbomoggie]

exelero said:

Would be, but no I’m good, I’d rather not do taxi driving at all

Have you driven a prius before? They're perfect for taxi work. Quiet, comfortable, very smooth, great rear leg room and more reliable than any of the vehicles you've listed above.

[Tabs]

I did Private Hire for 23 years. Best option is a Prius.
During the last 10 years, I rented one from another driver, before getting my own. Did a total of nearly 400k, without breakdown or major repairs.
Don't get an estate. I had a couple. You end up doing house rental removals for scumbags who don't want to pay for loading/unloading etc, and airports that don't pay enough for all the delays, airport charges and messing about.
I didn't do them, preferring to keep in town and keeping the meter going. Short, quick journeys keep the money coming in.

[ZX10R NIN]

exelero said:

Do you know anything about these 1.6 diesel engines? Looking at the spec sheet it says 140bhp which exactly the same power as my 2.0tdci Mondeo has. Are they reliable? Is the gearbox still out of choco?

If you're talking about the Insignia then they're only 110bhp but they're pretty robust.

[georgeyboy12345]

Private hire driving is hard work, boring and long hours, are you sure you want to get into it?

Really, you need to be investing more than 10 grand into your car, and get something newer/better, but here's what I'd be looking at for 10k

Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 CDTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212162...


Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212102...


Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

[WilliamWoollard]

Tabs said:

I did Private Hire for 23 years. Best option is a Prius.
During the last 10 years, I rented one from another driver, before getting my own. Did a total of nearly 400k, without breakdown or major repairs.
Don't get an estate. I had a couple. You end up doing house rental removals for scumbags who don't want to pay for loading/unloading etc, and airports that don't pay enough for all the delays, airport charges and messing about.
I didn't do them, preferring to keep in town and keeping the meter going. Short, quick journeys keep the money coming in.

Out of interest, what's the real world MPG for a Prius in town all day?

[KTMsm]

The answer is to look at what the others drive

[ZX10R NIN]

If you're serious about doing this then a Kia Niro is a car you often see being used as a private hire car.

[Tabs]

WilliamWoollard said:

Out of interest, what's the real world MPG for a Prius in town all day?

2008/9 versions 42 mpg winter. 52 mpg summer.
Latest versions, much, much better.

In my day, used to try to get £100 fares for £10 of petrol.

[exelero]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

You might want to check what your licensing authority permit. Quite a lot have an age limit. No £10k car (save for perhaps a Dacia) will be new enough.

You might also want to look at what expenses you will incur...

Meter cost and fitting.
Roof light if applicable.
Licence fee.
Driver’s badge fees.
And most importantly of all, insuring the vehicle for hire and reward which isn't cheap.

The council I’m under requires a vehicle that’s no older than 11.5 years. Quite a lot available at that price, you’d be surprised. Even euro 6 Skodas go for 5-6k, granted some miles on. No meter fee as such, because it’s not a black cab or similar, I should’ve said private hire

[exelero]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Private hire driving is hard work, boring and long hours, are you sure you want to get into it?

Really, you need to be investing more than 10 grand into your car, and get something newer/better, but here's what I'd be looking at for 10k

Vauxhall Insignia 1.6 CDTi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212162...


Hyundai i30 1.6 CRDi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212102...


Kia Ceed 1.6 CRDi Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211071...

At the moment I’m driving a lorry for a living, so I know about all of the hours already, I’m just thinking about switching, because this way I can probably make more money

[Tabs]

exelero said:

Hey.
I would like to get into the taxi game probably around April -May. Needs to be comfortable, would prefer auto but a manual is not a deal breaker, diesel, euro 6. I narrowed my search down to 4 vehicles at the moment.
Skoda superb Estate
Hyundai i40 Estate
Insignia Estate
Mondeo
Budget 10k.
What else should I consider ? Thanks

You would be far better to approach a local company, and try to get a drive in one of their cars, or share with an owner driver.
Initially you'll only have to pay for your council authority badge.
After a while you'll be able to decide whether to buy your own. As mentioned, insurance etc is very expensive at first.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

And if all you are doing is driving around a city, the last thing you want is a diesel.

Electric or petrol electric hybrid. Nothing else makes any sense.

[Whistle]

Our taxi on NYE was a Prius, I noted it had done 265000 miles.

Although I have seen some of the taxis in Tenerife (VW caddy) with 500000km on the clock and they still look like new.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Private Hire?

So no sitting on a taxi rank then. Prebooked only. Unless you are prepared to work really long unsocial hours to the point of dangerous - I know drivers who work Friday 1400 to Saturday 0800, then back on at 1400 until Sunday midday - you're better off in the truck.

Oh, and factor in your 'radio rent'/ commission usually 20-25%.