World's Most Popular/Loved Taxi Cars :-

mithun · 26th October 2006, 05:25

Since I'm not a globetrotter, can someone point out the cars which are mostly used as Taxis in different part of our globe. For example, In India we've Ambassador, Tata Indica, Tata Sumo, Toyota Qualis, Chevrolet Tavera, Premier Padmini as the most popular Taxi vehicles.

Mpower · 26th October 2006, 06:30

USA -> usually Ford Crown Vic but NYC has some Toyota Sienna Minivans now
Germany -> Mercedes E-class
UK -> London Cab (specially made vehicle for taxi purposes)
Singapore -> Toyta Crown and Merc E-class (delux taxi)
Malaysia -> Proton Saga (this was back in '96)
UAE -> Toyota Camry
Australia -> Holden Commodore
Bankok -> Toyota Corolla (the cab we rode in had a freeflow exhuast !!)

sajo · 26th October 2006, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

USA -> usually Ford Crown Vic but NYC has some Toyota Sienna Minivans now...

Dont the taxi companies (most of them) have a "buy domestic" agreement with their employee unions?
Crown Victoria and the older Caprice are shown as cabs in most of the TV progs/movies. (I have never been there either

).

Mpower · 26th October 2006, 09:06

Union? Most cabbies in NYC and Chicago are immigrants...fresh off the boat. Russians, Africans, South Americans....I am yet to see one white american. The taxi companies are privately held.

Now on the other hand, the cops....they'll never buy Toyotas.

NikN · 26th October 2006, 09:45

This ones my all time favourite !

Germany ---- The good old E Class.

ajitkommini · 26th October 2006, 10:28

Almost all taxis in HongKong are Toyota Crown Comfort 4-door sedans (painted red)

khanak · 26th October 2006, 10:50

even in india different parts use different taxis

Mumbai uses Premier Padminis

Delhi,Chennai nd Kolkata use Ambassadors

Steeroid · 26th October 2006, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Malaysia -> Proton Saga (this was back in '96)

They still use Proton Sagas there !!!! Though one does see more Wiras these days. Some other countries have been covered:

Netherlands - Merc E Class diesels of various ages.

Germany - used to be E Class, but we're seeing increasing number of other cars these days. Mostly Opels and some Audis (A4).

Nigeria and South Africa - you dont want to travel in cabs, but they're usually old (VERY OLD) 2nd hand Japanese imports of dubious parenthood (Front Grill = Nissan, Rear = Toyota). Okay South Africa is better than that but you still dont want to travel in a Taxi!

UAE - Toyota Camry (previous gen), Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 405 and now Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata. Vans - Chryslers and Hyundai Trajets.

Somebody mentioned Toyota Corolla in Thailand - what about the Tuk-Tuk??? Nice little Daihatsu 4-wheeled autos!

Most other countries I've ended up using Hotel taxis and not the regular cabs.

PS: You will soon be able to use Rent-A-Segway in the UAE for about Dhs.200/250 for a 3 hour session.

Rtech · 26th October 2006, 11:32

Peru and other countries in South America use the VW Beetle as taxi's. Atleast they did 10 years ago when I was there. They are not painted any one colour, so you have a hard time spotting which one is a taxi and which is not. The Taxi's have a small sticker on the windscreen giving them away.

Stratos · 26th October 2006, 11:38

Some of the local taxis I have seen here, California are Ford Crown Victorias / Mercury Grand Marquis, Chevrolet Caprice, Toyota Priyus, Chrysler Town and Country even some old generation Lincoln Continentals

klrd77 · 26th October 2006, 11:50

what about the lincoln towncar and the chevorlet impala in the states. the reason most cabbies use the crown vic is because its rugged and really comfortable and most of them i have sat in had around 150000 miles on them and they were the newer generation models too

jesal · 26th October 2006, 11:59

thailand has toyota comry, corolla, some nissans too... tuk tuk is more like auto we have here.

Steeroid · 26th October 2006, 11:59

Kuwait loves Crown Victorias and Caprices.

While on the subject, why not talk about Airline and Hotel pickup cabs? It gets very interesting here with Volvo S80s and E220s used by the Airlines (Biz Class - I dont use First but I'm sure they get some very exotic vehicles), and as for Hotels, the sky is the limit - I've seen S Classes, 7 Series, Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes, Jaguar XJs and Bentleys being used by the hotels here. Of course the BIG one uses only Phantoms!

heelntoe · 26th October 2006, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Kuwait loves Crown Victorias and Caprices.

these are not the american versions are they. are they rebadged holdens like your lumina?

Steeroid · 26th October 2006, 12:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by heelntoe

these are not the american versions are they. are they rebadged holdens like your lumina?

Absolutely American. Kuwait is in love with all things American, though I'm not sure if this has abated recently.

26th October 2006, 05:25	#1
mithun BANNED Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin Posts: 2,195 Thanked: 268 Times	World's Most Popular/Loved Taxi Cars :- Since I'm not a globetrotter, can someone point out the cars which are mostly used as Taxis in different part of our globe. For example, In India we've Ambassador, Tata Indica, Tata Sumo, Toyota Qualis, Chevrolet Tavera, Premier Padmini as the most popular Taxi vehicles.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 06:30	#2
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	From my Travels USA -> usually Ford Crown Vic but NYC has some Toyota Sienna Minivans now Germany -> Mercedes E-class UK -> London Cab (specially made vehicle for taxi purposes) Singapore -> Toyta Crown and Merc E-class (delux taxi) Malaysia -> Proton Saga (this was back in '96) UAE -> Toyota Camry Australia -> Holden Commodore Bankok -> Toyota Corolla (the cab we rode in had a freeflow exhuast !!) Last edited by Mpower : 26th October 2006 at 09:06.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 09:06	#4
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	Union? Most cabbies in NYC and Chicago are immigrants...fresh off the boat. Russians, Africans, South Americans....I am yet to see one white american. The taxi companies are privately held. Now on the other hand, the cops....they'll never buy Toyotas.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 09:45	#5
NikN BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 65 Thanked: Once View My Garage	This ones my all time favourite ! Germany ---- The good old E Class.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 10:28	#6
ajitkommini BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 490 Thanked: 124 Times	Almost all taxis in HongKong are Toyota Crown Comfort 4-door sedans (painted red)
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 10:50	#7
khanak Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai/Toronto Posts: 2,799 Thanked: 268 Times View My Garage	even in india different parts use different taxis Mumbai uses Premier Padminis Delhi,Chennai nd Kolkata use Ambassadors Last edited by khanak : 26th October 2006 at 10:53.
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26th October 2006, 11:32	#9
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Peru and other countries in South America use the VW Beetle as taxi's. Atleast they did 10 years ago when I was there. They are not painted any one colour, so you have a hard time spotting which one is a taxi and which is not. The Taxi's have a small sticker on the windscreen giving them away.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 11:38	#10
Stratos Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 2,609 Thanked: 1,449 Times View My Garage	Some of the local taxis I have seen here, California are Ford Crown Victorias / Mercury Grand Marquis, Chevrolet Caprice, Toyota Priyus, Chrysler Town and Country even some old generation Lincoln Continentals
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 11:50	#11
klrd77 Newbie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: birmingham Posts: 3 Thanked: 0 Times	what about the lincoln towncar and the chevorlet impala in the states. the reason most cabbies use the crown vic is because its rugged and really comfortable and most of them i have sat in had around 150000 miles on them and they were the newer generation models too
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 11:59	#12
jesal BANNED Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	thailand has toyota comry, corolla, some nissans too... tuk tuk is more like auto we have here.
	() Thanks

26th October 2006, 11:59	#13
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	Kuwait loves Crown Victorias and Caprices. While on the subject, why not talk about Airline and Hotel pickup cabs? It gets very interesting here with Volvo S80s and E220s used by the Airlines (Biz Class - I dont use First but I'm sure they get some very exotic vehicles), and as for Hotels, the sky is the limit - I've seen S Classes, 7 Series, Range Rovers, Porsche Cayennes, Jaguar XJs and Bentleys being used by the hotels here. Of course the BIG one uses only Phantoms!
	() Thanks