If not Indica, what else for Taxi operators?

Brabus E V12 · 13th November 2008, 21:41

I would vote for the Indigo XL.

backrub · 13th November 2008, 21:48

By looking at the responses and from the cars listed by members I think only Logan is there as a sensible replacement for Indica. But still they both are in very different segments.

Indica comes for 4 lk and logan comes for 6 lk

Ram · 14th November 2008, 08:29

Friends, don't you think this would make
for an ideal taxicab for our Indian metropolises?

Sharing parts and after-sales network with what already exists, couldn't it become extremely popular?

If not Indica, what else for Taxi operators?-loganmcv.jpg

Mahindra Logan MCV

Ram

greenhorn · 14th November 2008, 10:24

in that case the indigo marina should have filled that niche. i guess the length works against it in small and tight indian roads. the indica is wide enough. longer would make it harder to slot into traffic and small turns

rranjith_kum · 14th November 2008, 10:30

I almost completely forgot about Logan !! I agree with Ram it would be ideal cab, but when is the estate making its way into India any news ??

fx45 · 14th November 2008, 10:32

Even now, if Maruti launches a Versa 1.3L DDIS MJD version, they could still be a hit as an AIrport Taxi.

varun83 · 14th November 2008, 10:39

The only other car which will even make sense as a taxi for the owner,driver the consumer would be a IndigoCS TDI as apart from Initial investment in the long run maintainance and reliability is same as an inidca.

TheARUN · 14th November 2008, 10:46

Its got to be the LOGAN. Its tailor made for this market. It seems in Romania, they call it the Romanian HUMMER. The car is very tough and can stand any kind of abuse. The only reason I'm sceptical about the LOGAN is that the MAHINDRA-RENAULT patnership is Off. The LOGAN will be their first and last product

ac 427 · 14th November 2008, 11:41

Howcome the Renault Logan is not in this list. This is the best car after the Tata Indica as a Taxi.

Swift is too small, ditto for WagonR.

Yes the Indigo Marina is a good option, infact many operators are using the same as taxi, but acc to me it has to be the Renault Logan.

Cheers,
AC

salvation · 14th November 2008, 12:16

its really interesting to see majority of members pitching for sedans to replace a hatchback in taxi segment. Thats the benchmark indica has set . It would be really interesting if we can come up with worthy diesel hatchback at that price to be used for taxi purposes and to be very frank i cannot come up with name of any hatchback which can compete with indica.In sedan ofcourse ikon tdci/indigo are worth mentioning at the moment.

ravibhat · 14th November 2008, 13:54

Anyday its Logan Diesel, very good car for Taxy operators. I am impressed after travelling in that

Ravi.

Ram · 14th November 2008, 23:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by salvation

its really interesting to see majority of members pitching for sedans to replace a hatchback in taxi segment. Thats the benchmark indica has set .

India is developing fast to take her place among the progressive nations.

No nation in the prosperous developed world uses an economy subcompact hatchback for a taxi.

If not Indica, what else for Taxi operators?-taxisoutsiderailwaystn.jpg

Economy subcompact citycars or econoboxes (as they are sometimes called in Europe) are not for taxis ferrying executives from railway station/airport to hotel...

...rather they're typical for students, newly married couples and very young freshers at the beginning of their careers. Typical econoboxen(sic) are Peugeot 206, Citroen C2/C3, Renault Clio/Twingo, Fiat Cinquencento, Opel Agila/Corsa, Volkswagen Polo/Lupo/Fox, Skoda Fabia, Ford Festiva/Fiesta, Hyundai Getz, Mazda 121/Demio, Suzuki Alto/Fronte/Swift/WagonR, Hyundai Atos/Santro/I10, Daihatsu Mira/Cuore/Charade/Domino, Subaru Justy, Toyota Tercel/Yaris/Vitz/Starlet/Echo, Chevrolet Aveo/Kalos/Cruze...

And there have been bigger cabs, right here in Bombay, in my childhood days...

Ram

typeOnegative · 15th November 2008, 09:13

The Swift it is for me. The problem would be the acquisition cost. On an aside, almost all the taxi-wallahs (black and yellow and Cool Cabs) I spoke to in Mumbai do not seem to like the Indica/Indigo family - Maintenance bahut zyada hai saab! Also most of the city taxi drivers did not seem to want to trade in their Premier Padminis - not because of love for their cars, but because maintaining them was really cheap.

Nice pictures there Ram! I also agree with your stance on the type of taxis reflecting our state of development. It becomes a bit of a bother trying to explain why in Jakarta and most of Indonesia you will see Toyota Corollas as taxis while in Mumbai it is the humble PremPad*.

*They are used as prem-pads too!

CtrlAltDel · 15th November 2008, 10:43

Indica/Indigo maintenance more??? thats news to me! of course, it has to be more compared to the Padmini's!

IMO, marina would be the perfect cab for carrying large amount of luggage (from airport etc) and Indigo CS would be perfect for normal city runs with none to somewhat heavy luggage.

abdriver2000 · 4th December 2008, 16:15

I am surprised no one has mentioned about the Omni yet. It is already used as a taxi in Goa. With the new rules in place in Mumbai, Omni seems to be the only affordable replacement for the taxiwallah.

View Poll Results: Alternative to Indica taxi?
Swift DDiS	33	15.71%
Getz CRDi	24	11.43%
WagonR LPG/CNG	46	21.90%
Santro LPG/CNG	19	9.05%
Other (please specify)	88	41.90%
Voters: 210. You may not vote on this poll

13th November 2008, 21:41	#46
Brabus E V12 BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: London/NewDelhi Posts: 392 Thanked: 56 Times	I would vote for the Indigo XL.
	() Thanks

13th November 2008, 21:48	#47
backrub BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 196 Thanked: 2 Times	By looking at the responses and from the cars listed by members I think only Logan is there as a sensible replacement for Indica. But still they both are in very different segments. Indica comes for 4 lk and logan comes for 6 lk
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 08:29	#48
Ram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Nagpur Posts: 2,166 Thanked: 219 Times View My Garage	Enough room for Indian luggage? Friends, don't you think this would make for an ideal taxicab for our Indian metropolises? Sharing parts and after-sales network with what already exists, couldn't it become extremely popular? Mahindra Logan MCV Ram
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 10:24	#49
greenhorn Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KL-01 Posts: 7,745 Thanked: 4,399 Times View My Garage	in that case the indigo marina should have filled that niche. i guess the length works against it in small and tight indian roads. the indica is wide enough. longer would make it harder to slot into traffic and small turns
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 10:30	#50
rranjith_kum BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Coimbatore/ Aachen Posts: 693 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	I almost completely forgot about Logan !! I agree with Ram it would be ideal cab, but when is the estate making its way into India any news ??
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 10:32	#51
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	Even now, if Maruti launches a Versa 1.3L DDIS MJD version, they could still be a hit as an AIrport Taxi.
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 10:39	#52
varun83 Newbie Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: hyderabad Posts: 17 Thanked: 5 Times	The only other car which will even make sense as a taxi for the owner,driver the consumer would be a IndigoCS TDI as apart from Initial investment in the long run maintainance and reliability is same as an inidca.
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 10:46	#53
TheARUN Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,373 Thanked: 958 Times View My Garage	Its got to be the LOGAN. Its tailor made for this market. It seems in Romania, they call it the Romanian HUMMER. The car is very tough and can stand any kind of abuse. The only reason I'm sceptical about the LOGAN is that the MAHINDRA-RENAULT patnership is Off. The LOGAN will be their first and last product
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 11:41	#54
ac 427 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,393 Thanked: 244 Times View My Garage	Howcome the Renault Logan is not in this list. This is the best car after the Tata Indica as a Taxi. Swift is too small, ditto for WagonR. Yes the Indigo Marina is a good option, infact many operators are using the same as taxi, but acc to me it has to be the Renault Logan. Cheers, AC
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 12:16	#55
salvation BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: chandigarh Posts: 117 Thanked: 11 Times	its really interesting to see majority of members pitching for sedans to replace a hatchback in taxi segment. Thats the benchmark indica has set . It would be really interesting if we can come up with worthy diesel hatchback at that price to be used for taxi purposes and to be very frank i cannot come up with name of any hatchback which can compete with indica.In sedan ofcourse ikon tdci/indigo are worth mentioning at the moment.
	() Thanks

14th November 2008, 13:54	#56
ravibhat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,256 Thanked: 37 Times View My Garage	Anyday its Logan Diesel, very good car for Taxy operators. I am impressed after travelling in that Ravi.
	() Thanks

15th November 2008, 09:13	#58
typeOnegative Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India Posts: 1,503 Thanked: 27 Times	The Swift it is for me. The problem would be the acquisition cost. On an aside, almost all the taxi-wallahs (black and yellow and Cool Cabs) I spoke to in Mumbai do not seem to like the Indica/Indigo family - Maintenance bahut zyada hai saab! Also most of the city taxi drivers did not seem to want to trade in their Premier Padminis - not because of love for their cars, but because maintaining them was really cheap. Nice pictures there Ram! I also agree with your stance on the type of taxis reflecting our state of development. It becomes a bit of a bother trying to explain why in Jakarta and most of Indonesia you will see Toyota Corollas as taxis while in Mumbai it is the humble PremPad. They are used as prem-pads too! Last edited by typeOnegative : 15th November 2008 at 09:21. Reason: Adding more stuff.
	() Thanks

15th November 2008, 10:43	#59
CtrlAltDel BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: HyderaGr8 Posts: 500 Thanked: 24 Times	Indica/Indigo maintenance more??? thats news to me! of course, it has to be more compared to the Padmini's! IMO, marina would be the perfect cab for carrying large amount of luggage (from airport etc) and Indigo CS would be perfect for normal city runs with none to somewhat heavy luggage.
	() Thanks

4th December 2008, 16:15	#60
abdriver2000 BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 331 Thanked: 30 Times View My Garage	I am surprised no one has mentioned about the Omni yet. It is already used as a taxi in Goa. With the new rules in place in Mumbai, Omni seems to be the only affordable replacement for the taxiwallah.
	() Thanks