Team-BHP > The Indian Car Scene


Reply
  Search this Thread
9,234 views
Old 8th April 2005, 16:23   #1
Team-BHP Support
 
Rtech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bombay
Posts: 5,770
Thanked: 359 Times
Mumbai Taxi's - Part of our landscape!



They get on your nerves, almost kill you 10 times a day if you are on a bike, block bus stops, park anywhere they want and basically create havocfor the Mumbai motorist.



But, these black and yellow Premier Padmini's, or simply Fiat's as they are commonly called, have become synonymous with Mumbai. A Mumbai taxi is like a snowflake - no two are ever the same!

Yes you can get a Maybach custom made to suit your requirements, but then so do these Taxiwallah's. The exteriors are ornately decorated with all kinds of symbols and stickers. The interior of each taxi will be different. Some have shelves made from wood to accomodate their "Pionear" stereo. Some have remote switches that operate a FM receiver placed in their glove box. Some have a 2ft. tubelight in them while others have all sorts of coloured and flashing lights with smelly curtains on the rear windscreen.



The seats are never the same either. Some have more legroom in the rear while others leave you with your head between your knees (I have actually sat on a seat where, if you lean back, you can feel the CNG cylinder in the boot!). The more adventurous cabby has a floor shift and front bucket seats.

All of them have a free flow exhaust though, and all the drivers think they are Narain karthikeyan's uncle. They will take 90 degree turns on their bald or retreaded tyres without braking. Not their fault as most of them don't have brakes anyway.



Yes Taxi's today are the single largest cause for the large scale chaos that we call rush hour, but that is the price for keeping a city mobile. It's only when a person from Mumbai travels to other cities in India do we realise how lucky we are to be able to step out of your house or office and hop in a cab, any time of the day or night.
Rtech is offline   (2) Thanks
Old 8th April 2005, 16:56   #2
Senior - BHPian
 
typeOnegative's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Vikhroli, Mumbai, India
Posts: 1,503
Thanked: 26 Times

Nice post RT. Regarding the chaos, yes there is a lot of chaos because of the cabbies. But just imagine if the auto guys were allowed in the city.
typeOnegative is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 17:01   #3
vtec
 
Posts: n/a

Nice post there RT. Very well written and nice pics as well.. or rather

Quote:
Originally Posted by typeOnegative
. But just imagine if the auto guys were allowed in the city.
Well thats something i would not even like to see in my worst nightmare. The taxi drivers have some discipline wheras the Ricks fly across like Flying Saucers. If Taxi Drivers are narains uncle then after watching the Bahrain GP i can say that Rik drivers are Pedro De La Rosas..

Last edited by Revvmaster : 12th April 2005 at 14:18.
 
Old 8th April 2005, 17:12   #4
Distinguished - BHPian
 
lamborghini's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 6,108
Thanked: 5,753 Times

Lol Vtec.
Hey Rt good write up.
But seriously, taxi drivers really need to be taught how to drive.
Its like they woke up one day, borrowed a cab and started driving and are still figuring how to drive.
lamborghini is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 17:14   #5
BHPian
 
vinsanity's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Patna
Posts: 609
Thanked: 2 Times

Very nice write-up rt.. Really kool.. Here we dont have any problems with cabs.. But the city buses and the ricks, really killer man..
Seeing a city bus on a rerview will give any motorist goose pimples.. He'l $#!t his load because of the honkin of these buswalas when they are right behind u..
vinsanity is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 17:15   #6
vtec
 
Posts: n/a

Quote:
Originally Posted by lamborghini
Its like they woke up one day, borrowed a cab and started driving and are still figuring how to drive.
Lambo you mean borrowed or stole

Last edited by Rtech : 8th April 2005 at 17:59.
 
Old 8th April 2005, 17:41   #7
Senior - BHPian
 
Shan2nu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Hubli - Karnata
Posts: 5,533
Thanked: 125 Times

Rtech, would you still be complaining if our taxi stands looked like this?



If these were our taxis, Dippy would have been a taxi driver. And, he'd have used Mercs and BMWs just to get to the taxi stand every morning. Hehe

Shan2nu
Shan2nu is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 17:44   #8
vtec
 
Posts: n/a

Makes me wonder what if this really happened. Then will have to set up more hospitals. Or rather the taxi drivers need a super license to drive that

Last edited by Rtech : 8th April 2005 at 17:58.
 
Old 8th April 2005, 17:56   #9
Distinguished - BHPian
 
lamborghini's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 6,108
Thanked: 5,753 Times

Hey Vtec,
I wanted to say stole but i dont want to be banned.
Most of the young drivers who are learning have borrowed the car.
And if the taxi stands were like the ones in shan2nus post, i would be one real real proud taxi driver and in true taxi style i would replace the bumpers with tye PAL FIAT ones so no one could come close without getting their bumper ripped.... just joking
lamborghini is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 18:00   #10
vtec
 
Posts: n/a

Quote:
Originally Posted by lamborghini
Hey Vtec,
And if the taxi stands were like the ones in shan2nus post, i would be one real real proud taxi driver and in true taxi style i would replace the bumpers with tye PAL FIAT ones so no one could come close without getting their bumper ripped.... just joking
But they wont fit in the first place and if the do then they will ruin the aerodynamics of the car.

If those were the Taxis then i am sure no member from team-bhp would refrain from being one taxi driver..

Last edited by Rtech : 8th April 2005 at 18:12.
 
Old 8th April 2005, 18:01   #11
Team-BHP Support
 
Rtech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Bombay
Posts: 5,770
Thanked: 359 Times

Whoa Shan! With a taxi like that, who need's passengers. What you need to do is add a little PS magic and get those F40's in the traditional yellow/black cabbie paint! Now that would be cool.
Rtech is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 18:03   #12
vtec
 
Posts: n/a

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rtech
Now that would be cool.
and expensive as well
 
Old 8th April 2005, 18:16   #13
Distinguished - BHPian
 
lamborghini's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Mumbai
Posts: 6,108
Thanked: 5,753 Times

And shan2nu,
If you PS the image dont forget to add the roof carrier.
The interiors will have lights all around, the seats would be torn and the sides covered with spit
lamborghini is offline  
Old 8th April 2005, 20:06   #14
Senior - BHPian
 
Dippy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Mumbai, India
Posts: 7,554
Thanked: 2,437 Times

Quote:
If these were our taxis, Dippy would have been a taxi driver. And, he'd have used Mercs and BMWs just to get to the taxi stand every morning. Hehe
I dont mind . That would be the best job ever

Is someone up there listening ?? Pleaseee

Dippy
Dippy is offline  
Old 9th April 2005, 02:40   #15
Senior - BHPian
 
revtech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Bombay
Posts: 1,992
Thanked: 38 Times

hahhaa nice write up Rtech and amazing pics shan.was wondering what it would be like if something like that did happen ....
revtech is offline  
Reply

Most Viewed
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Team-BHP.com
Proudly powered by E2E Networks