In Plain Sight: A Guide to New York City's Taxis, Part I

"area man" (hurrburgring)
09/11/2013 at 20:15 • Filed to: In Plain Sight, Taxi, Taxi of Tomorrow, New York

Welcome back to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , where we’re doing something a little different this week – celebrating the taxis of New York. Yesterday !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of these yellow beasts and what makes them so special to this city. Today, I present the first part of my comprehensive guide to all the models currently in service, starting with the offerings from Ford and Toyota - by and large the vast majority of the entire fleet.

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Ford Crown Victoria Stretch

The Crown Victoria. Stretch! What do I need to say, really? It’s roomy, rugged, rear-wheel drive, and decidedly Amurican. You can fit at least three bodies in the trunk and five in the backseat if you’ve got an adventurous cabbie. The V8 is kind of underpowered (but still, a V8) and the fuel economy is not great, but the drivers I’ve talked to love how easy to fix and comfortable they are. It’s hard to disagree, although if you get one with worn-out shocks you’ll definitely feel the potholes. The air conditioning rarely works, but the windows go down all the way. Also, getting in and out of the back of a large sedan makes you feel like a baller, even if it is bright yellow. Don’t deny it.

The one above, however, is NOT a taxi. At least, a taxi that will take you any place other than jail. That’s right, it’s one of the fleet of undercover taxi cop cars that New York’s Finest use to thwart all kinds of street crime ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). Sounds like a TV show waiting to happen! So, how can you tell from the picture? Normal people might point out that it’s parked in front of a police precinct next to a cop car, but the eagle-eyed Jalop will notice that this isn’t a Stretch model, which is the only trim eligible for real taxi service. You can tell by the shape of the rear door; it’s not as long. They also usually have a white guy driving with a buddy riding shotgun. There, you learned how to avoid prison.

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We’re going to miss this one, and I’ve already noticed less on the streets as the three-year retirement rule continues to take its toll on the dwindling supply. Critics say its departure is long past due, but they said the same thing about Penn Station. AND LOOK WHAT HAPPENED.

Taxi Rating: 10/10 would buy again. And yes that includes 2 nostalgia points.

Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner Hybrid

The Ford Escape Hybrid started to hit the streets about 5 years ago as part of an ill-fated attempt to create an all-hybrid taxi fleet. But a combination of good gas mileage and cargo space has kept these babies on the road, although for some reason the redesigned 2013 Escape is not eligible for service. I personally like the Escape a lot, and though I’ve noticed a slight delay in the throttle response when driving a regular Escape, the Hybrid is pretty quick off the line and when darting through traffic thanks to the torquey electric start. These are also nice because sometimes the driver partition is only a little box around his seat, making for a less claustrophobic ride (not for him). The ride is pretty decent, if a little stiff, and it’s easier for your arthritic parents to get in and out of than the Crown Vic.

Side note – I have a friend who once paid a cabbie driving one of these to take him from Grand Central to White Plains after missing the last train, and the cab hit a deer at speed on the highway just outside the city. The front was all smashed in and leaking several different fluids, but the cabbie completed the journey. Built Ford Tough.

And yes, there are still a few Mercury Mariners puttering around. They all have pieces falling off and only sad people ride in them.

Taxi Rating: 8/10

Ford Transit Connect

Continuing our Blue Oval obsession, the Ford Transit Connect was introduced to taxi service here last year. It was actually the third finalist in Bloomberg’s taxi vote, and was reportedly the choice of most of the fleet owners. It’s easy to see why – the thing is probably just as easy to maintain as the Crown Vic. The 2.0 liter 4 cylinder has no complicated hybrid bits and it’s not hard to find a Ford mechanic or parts. The interior is, shall we say, Spartan. The doors are mostly metal on the inside, and the windows are manual. With very little interior paneling to muffle the road noise, it would be hard to have a conversation with the person next to you at highway speed.

The seat is quite possibly a piece of vinyl-wrapped plywood, probably so it’s easier to rip out at port to circumvent the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . It doesn’t help that the suspension is pretty horrible; I was riding in one on the FDR last week and it was alternatively painful and terrifying. The legroom is so-so, but obviously the headroom and cargo space are pretty ridiculous. My other observation is that using these as the Taxi of Tomorrow would’ve led to a lot of Accidents of Tomorrow, because when you’re sitting in the front seat that nose is damn near invisible. Cabbies, as a rule, are not going to let a little spatial uncertainty stop a lane change.

Taxi Rating: 6/10

Ford C-Max Hybrid

Rounding out the offerings from Ford is the C-Max Hybrid, which gets more MPG than Prius V! Fuck me, I hate that commercial. Anyway, the C-Max was introduced to taxi service here late last year, and despite the Alien-esque double grill up front, I think these little guys make very attractive and capable cabs. The rounded Kinetic styling, thin-spoked wheels, and yellow livery all come together to form a Euro-American update of the classic London Taxi. The legroom is slightly better than the Escape, and the seats are more comfortable.

I have to say, I’m a fan, which is why its exclusion from future taxi service makes no sense to me. I get that city officials have a hard-on for the Nissan NV and its anti-jizz interior surfaces, but why not at least use the C-Max, a very nice car from a company with an established relationship with the taxi industry, as one of the hybrid alternatives? Money talks, boys, that’s why. The upside is that with only the 2013 model year approved for service, these will be on the road for a while as more of those bread boxes come to town.

Taxi Rating: 8/10

Note: The Ford Fusion is also approved for use, and I could've sworn I've seen one before, but it's not on the official list of !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Toyota Camry/Camry Hybrid

It’s kind of ironic that the blandest of sedans has been entered into service en masse over the past couple years, as some of the more, shall we say, spirited taxi trips I’ve experienced have been in Camrys (Camries?). It’s inexplicable. The back seat is nothing special, although the addition of an A/C vent is welcome, if not always functional. The leg room is a little restricted with the partition installed, but it’s not as bad as the Prius or Jetta. But I have to admit, the torquey start you get with the hybrid motor (just like with the Escape) is great for beating another taxi off the stop line. You feel a surprising amount of pull from the backseat, although the driver is likely flooring it. The TLC website says that there are regular Camrys in service, but I’ve only seen hybrids.

Another feature is that like the Crown Vic the back windows go all the way down, which is always a nice touch in the middle of summer. There are so many on the road now, though, that you can’t throw a rock without hitting one, which you definitely shouldn’t do. I bet if you took someone who knew nothing about New York and plopped them in the middle of midtown and asked them to name the city’s main taxi, they’d say Camry. That’s almost as scary a thought as our mandated minivan future, although I suppose it would fit in with the corporatized, Disneyfied New York that has risen over the past decade.

Taxi Rating: 7/10

Toyota Highlander/Highlander Hybrid

The Highlander, sadly, will not be the one and only taxi. It will, however, be one of the two Hybrid alternatives when the Nissan van is finally introduced, since city law requires a hybrid alternative, and Nissan’s all like “You didn’t tell us that, so check back in three years.” BUT ON TO THE MINIREVIEW TM . The Highlander actually makes a great taxicab, and I have to wonder why Toyota didn’t lobby harder to be a part of the taxi contest. Its 28mpg city/highway is very close to the Nissan NV, the ride is quite comfortable, there’s legroom and cargo space aplenty, and its model bloat (it’s grown almost three inches longer and five inches wider since being introduced in 2007) pays a fitting tribute to the massive taxis of yesteryear ( !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ).

I was in one a couple weeks ago that had the unlikely combination of working air conditioning, overhead reading lights, and soft classical music being piped through the cabin. It was an exceedingly nice ride, and being the only passenger in the back of a relatively large SUV is a cool VIP-like experience for the common man, even if it feels a little wasteful to the more progressive-minded.

Taxi Rating: 9/10

Toyota Prius/Prius V (pictured)

Speaking of the progressive-minded, they are just ALL ABOUT this next contender. It loves to have fun, guys! The Prius and the Prius V have also been a growing presence on city streets over the past few years, and their proliferation makes complete sense in a boring managerial way – it’s the most economic taxi in the approved fleet in a city with few convenient gas stations and sky-high fuel prices, and Toyotas still have a reputation for reliability, recent quality problems notwithstanding.

However, as the Prius is slated to be the other interim-hybrid option, I must argue against this unfortunate trend. The Prius is meant to haul large bags of granola or boxes of whatever petition you’re intent on delivering to city hall – not four friends on the way to the bar. Legroom is non-existent with the partition (though admittedly a little better in the most recent generation) and the backseat overall is laughably small. It’s also a terrible way to see the city, as the back windows are relatively tiny. The ventilation is OK if you don’t like to breathe. Despite a beefed-up suspension, the tiny overcooked donuts that Toyota keeps trying to pass off as wheels are just not designed for this city’s abusive roads. The cargo space is OK thanks to the hatchback, and the V variant offers even more room, but honestly, how many trips to the organic food co-op and hatchery do you need to make? Not enough to justify this being used as a cab, so you can put away your bespoke reclaimed-wood abacus right now. It just doesn’t fit New York.

Taxi Rating: 3/10, 4/10 (V)

Toyota Sienna

The Interlocking Ovals continue their offerings with the Toyota Sienna, which comes in regular and handicap-accessible flavors. The regular Sienna has the normal captain’s chairs setup with convenient and adjustable armrests and a bench seat in the back, meaning it can technically fit 6 passengers (including the front seat), but good luck finding a cabbie who will allow that. But the Sienna would’ve been another solid contender – it has gobs and gobs of legroom and cargo space, a comfortable ride, minimal rattles from the trunk area, and massive power windows in the sliding doors that really open up the cabin. It also has overhead reading lights and AC vents and controls in the back, but the little knobs are usually missing or jammed, which is unimpressive considering they should be designed to be manhandled by your grubby children. I’ve also been in one where the seats reclined, but I think they usually remove that option.

The handicap version is marked with a little wheelchair logo and is usually riding with its ass in the air, thanks to the customized suspension and wheelchair ramp built into the back. It is slightly more comfortable than the regular Sienna, but much louder inside thanks to all the extra straps and bits in the back. Note – you should never accept a ride from a handicap one if you don’t actually need it, because the number of handicap-accessible taxis is downright laughable (I was late for a flight and it was during the dreaded afternoon shift change – EXCUSES, EXCUSES). Overall, the Sienna does a decent job. Some people will turn their noses up at these guys simply because they’re minivans, and I know I’ve mocked the new Nissan for that, but this one has been prowling the streets since the mid-90s so it gets a pass. Plus, this isn’t your hot milf neighbor’s van. Deez vans are HARD.

Taxi Rating: 8/10

Check back tomorrow for the some of the more... unusual cabs!

DISCUSSION (100)

Brian, The Life of > area man
09/11/2013 at 20:21

This was really great ... thanks for reposting!

J. Walter Weatherman > area man
09/11/2013 at 20:32

I am shocked this didn't get front-paged...

area man > J. Walter Weatherman
09/11/2013 at 20:49

Thanks! The Jalopnik gods are not pleased for some reason. Oh well!

J. Walter Weatherman > area man
09/11/2013 at 20:54

Perhaps they are saving it for tomorrow. I have seen that happen before.

area man > Brian, The Life of
09/11/2013 at 20:55

Thank you, my pleasure!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > J. Walter Weatherman
09/11/2013 at 22:11

That's what happened to me on my school bus review I posted a few weeks back. They usually wait a day.

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This article is definatley worthy

Suuuubaru > area man
09/11/2013 at 22:12

Thanks for posting, I've always been curious about this sort of thing. Basically all 5 of the taxis where I live look like this:

Kinja'd!!!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > area man
09/11/2013 at 22:12

That was a great article. I loved it.

I've been to NYC four times. Two times I was the Vic, which is just iconic. I then got to ride in the Camry.. and it just wasn't as cool. I love the power the Vic possess. The Camry just lacks it

Should be on FP

area man > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
09/11/2013 at 22:38

Thank you! It's true, there's a gravitas to the Crown Vic that can't be matched. Getting into one is an experience - the heavy door, the solid click, and the expansive back seat - that future generations will never know.

area man > Suuuubaru
09/11/2013 at 22:39

Jesus, was that thing an extra in a Michael Bay movie or what?

area man > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
09/11/2013 at 23:20

Much appreciated! I enjoyed yours a lot too.

thebigbossyboss > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:00

Cool article dude. Here in the capital of America`s hat, a lot of the Taxis are Impalas and Buicks. Almost no crown vics anymore, although there used to be a lot just a few years ago. When I lived in Ghana, the average taxi was an Opel Astra.

area man > thebigbossyboss
09/12/2013 at 09:02

Thanks! Sad how it happens so quickly, isn't it?

adamcccmanhattan > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:07

I've seen two TDI taxis in the city, they're the unicorn of taxis, next time I will flag him just for a test ride regardless of my destination

Kinja'd!!!

Ltd783 > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:07

Very interesting article. I was looking forward to hearing about that Mercedes ML cab explained, I guess I'll have to wait till tomorrow.... This series needs to continue. It's interesting how different cabs are in different cities. Taxi's of Las Vegas, etc...

I noticed when I went to British Columbia a few years back they really beat us to it on the nearly all hybrid fleet. I think every cab in Vancouver and Victoria is either a Camry Hybrid or Prius, with a couple Altima Hybrids thrown in for good measure. Seems like a much more logical choice than a Crown Victoria for city duty, even more so in Canada with their increased costs.

It's also strange theres no Chrysler products in NYC. Las Vegas seems to be about half 300's and Chargers. I think there's more Grand Caravan cabs in Vegas than there are Crown Victoria's. Plus Vegas is big on the "Wheel Ad"

Kinja'd!!!

Slave2anMG > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:09

Excellent piece but I'm afraid you're way too forgiving of the Transit. They're detestable. My basic question is why did they take out all the suspension when they were converted to taxis? They're the worst riding vehicle I've ever been in...and I drive an MG Midget with a stiffened suspension so that's saying something...

Long live the stretched Crown Vic.

area man > Slave2anMG
09/12/2013 at 09:13

Haha, you're right. I should have been harsher. There is just zero thought given to passenger comfort.

Thanks for the kind words!

mitsuk0 > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:15

There was a period around 2008 where I saw a few Lexus LX350 Hybrid taxi's. Any info on those?

area man > Ltd783
09/12/2013 at 09:18

Thank you! I hope the ML minireview is worth the wait, although I kind of doubt it ;)

Yeah, I've always wondered why cities go with certain cars for their taxis. There are a lot of 300s running around as part of limo/black car fleets here, but city law says official yellow taxis (except the Crown Vic and NV) have to have a hybrid or clean diesel option. They'd probably be pretty awesome though; they certainly look the part.

area man > adamcccmanhattan
09/12/2013 at 09:18

Ah, stay tuned for that one, and for the true unicorns!

area man > mitsuk0
09/12/2013 at 09:19

Stay tuned!

Tristan > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:20

Couldn't they drop a 4-cylinder in the crown vic with a hybrid system?

That'd be cool right?

area man > Tristan
09/12/2013 at 09:23

You have no idea how many times I've had this thought. I think the car is a little too heavy for that, but the main thing is that its likely all taxis here will have to be handicap-accessible in ten years, so any sedan's days are numbered.

yishmeister > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:26

Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifa called......this is a real undercover taxi!!

area man > yishmeister
09/12/2013 at 09:29

I bet neither of them can believe they made that movie.

Pcleez > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:33

Is it sad that I am really, really excited about your unicorn cab article? I remember seeing a lincoln yellow taxi when I was about 7 or 8 and I, no joke, had a dream about riding in it that night.

area man > Pcleez
09/12/2013 at 09:40

It's not weird. Welcome home!

FCV-8311 > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:51

Fantastic article - though I'm sure that if this list is tried with livery cabs it will never quite end. :D

Also, a shame all of the Crown Victorias will be retired by the end of next year as per TLC regulations. The streets of Manhattan [and occasionally the outer boroughs, hell, my neighbor has his Crown Vic taxi parked in his driveway right now] will never be the same.

The Biebster's got a P71 (Formerly not Justin Bieber) > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:53

This was a great article. I loved watching the cabs when I went to NYC. I only rode in a Crown Vic, but that's because it was my car. lol

area man > FCV-8311
09/12/2013 at 09:56

Thank you! I love how it seems every day I see a new kind of car serving as a bootleg cab.

Maybe it's because I know the end is coming, but recently I've noticed how many print and TV ads depicting New York for whatever reason use the Crown Vic taxi. It's truly an icon. The NV will just look stupid in its place.

Beamin-W > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:58

Man I never knew they were a "stretched" version. I always assumed they were retired police interceptors

FCV-8311 > area man
09/12/2013 at 09:59

Agreed. Taxis in this city have long been V8 sedans; it will be ridiculously odd to see a large, bumbling minivan taking up the streets. Now if only we could get a company like Grumman to start making an updated Checker or resume production of the panther platform - that would make my day!

area man > The Biebster's got a P71 (Formerly not Justin Bieber)
09/12/2013 at 10:00

Well if that's the case, you got the ultimate experience. Glad you enjoyed it!

area man > Beamin-W
09/12/2013 at 10:04

Ah, well if that were the case they wouldn't last very long. They only bring new cars into service - one time I was in a Crown Vic that still had plastic on the steering wheel and some of the interior paneling. The back seat was astoundingly clean and firm. I'm pretty sure I was its first passenger ever.

Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:04

These all, and I repeat all look tens of tons times better than the upcoming scheduled Nissan taxi.

whyyy...

area man > FCV-8311
09/12/2013 at 10:05

Hear, hear

area man > Mustang 'DontHitTheCrowd' GT
09/12/2013 at 10:07

Because our mayor is a boring manager in EVERY sense of the word.

The Biebster's got a P71 (Formerly not Justin Bieber) > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:16

I thought driving in New York was great. Parking? Not so much. But driving? Awesome.

rosslitman > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:18

It would appear our Mayor is Gary Cole from Office Space then.

woopwoopwoopwoop1 > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:19

Don't forget the elusive RX cab.

Kinja'd!!!

the7thearlofgrey > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:25

you forgot the cash cab

Ulfern > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:25

Love the Crown Vic. Was in NYC this summer and when I needed a taxi I made sure I got a Crown Vic. Gotta enjoy them before they disappear altogether. Also I would love a box Caprice wrapped in yellow-cab vinyl as a DD.

Maxxuman > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:26

I never realised there were stretch versions of the Crown Vic. It's a subtle difference.

Great article though, as others have said. So will you follow up with something about alternatives to the Lincoln Town Car (also available with a longer rear door) for livery cabs?

mitsuk0 > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:29

i got the model all wrong: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/nyr…

area man > The Biebster's got a P71 (Formerly not Justin Bieber)
09/12/2013 at 10:31

It's kind of like a video game.

the7thearlofgrey > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:31

and now the drivers view

area man > the7thearlofgrey
09/12/2013 at 10:32

Fuck that noise, I searched for it for four years and never saw it.

area man > Maxxuman
09/12/2013 at 10:32

Thank you! It's subtle until you look at the two directly next to each other. And I hadn't considered a follow up, but based on the reaction so far I think I have to!

TheLateApx > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:33

Why do I need to know this? I'm just going uptown…

area man > woopwoopwoopwoop1
09/12/2013 at 10:33

Stay tuned for part 2!

area man > Ulfern
09/12/2013 at 10:33

As would I, friend.

Mr. Horsepower > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:34

Great article!

Thing is, you missed these guys:

Kinja'd!!!

I've actually had the pleasure of riding in one of these rare RX beasts. And I must say, it is the way-to-go.

Also, this is a little outdated, but still interesting info:

Kinja'd!!!

area man > the7thearlofgrey
09/12/2013 at 10:34

Love it.

area man > TheLateApx
09/12/2013 at 10:35

You don't, but apparently you read some anyway, which means I'm the winner.

area man > Mr. Horsepower
09/12/2013 at 10:36

Thank you! There is a part II coming tonight or tomorrow that will feature the upper-crust cabs, don't worry.

tpirocz > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:37

i always try to get a crown vic...closest thing on the road to a caprice

Mr. Horsepower > area man
09/12/2013 at 10:42

No—thank you! Look forward to reading.

Fivepointohpwr > area man
09/12/2013 at 11:01

Great article! Not only good information, but good humor as well! Really enjoyed it, and as previously stated, the Crown Vic will be forever missed. I was in Miami last week, and rode in one with 226,000, another with 340,000 and the last one the guy didn't know because he said the odometer stopped working years ago.

area man > Fivepointohpwr
09/12/2013 at 11:07

Your kind words are much appreciated. When they stopped making the Checker cabs, they allowed some of the last ones to remain on the road well past the official retirement date - I think the last one went out of service in 1999 or 2000. Hopefully they grant the Crown Vic the same honor.

i am kllot duh!! > area man
09/12/2013 at 11:15

the v8 crown is my fav!!!..black on black..slightly lowered...ahhh

dr861 > area man
09/12/2013 at 11:23

You forgot about the Nissan Altima which is also run in very high volume in nyc. Downside is the headroom is horrible in the back. Also, the cmax sucks and has no room whatsoever. Most uncomfortable cab I've been in since I was born.

-New Yorker since birth. 27 years old.

area man > dr861
09/12/2013 at 11:50

The Altima is coming in Part II - the numbers are about half that of the Camry. The legroom in the C-Max is nothing compared to the Crown Vic, but it's better than it could be.

Zzzzzzzzzz > area man
09/12/2013 at 11:56

Had a Ford Escape rearend my WRX at less than 10 mph. I told the lady to quickly turn off her engine cause I saw black liquids pouring out. I think the oil filter is too close to the bumper area. I drove off to go minigolfing my friends on my birthday while the ford escape had to be towed.

Nugget_Oz > area man
09/12/2013 at 11:58

To blackmark the Prius on legroom and not mention it all on the Escape shows the quality of this piece. The Escape has to be the worst and avoided at all costs. Legroom is basically non-existent.

FYI - both the stretch and regular Crown Vic are eligible New York taxis.

jsinger1085 > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:13

Working for a company who deals with these cabs on a daily basis, I just want to mention that you basically hit the nail on the head with these reviews. Soon though, all these cars will be phased out for Taxi of Tomorrow.

We do have a few Lexus RX330s rolling around town as well. That's about it though as far as what has been approved.

i am kllot duh!! > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:22

anyone know how big is the crown?where i lived crown is a rare cars..never seen one in real life.how big it is compare to e class or say s class?

ezeolla > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:25

And if you get in one of the Siennas, you might end up on Cash Cab!

(is that show even still on?)

404 - User No Longer Available > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:34

Anyone got a review on this?

Kinja'd!!!

area man > Nugget_Oz
09/12/2013 at 12:36

There is more legroom in the Escape, and like I said, sometimes the partition is just a little box around the driver. It's a better cab.

And FYI, only the stretch is eligible.

area man > jsinger1085
09/12/2013 at 12:37

Thank you! The Lexus and a few more surprises will be featured in Part II. I hope you enjoy it!

area man > i am kllot duh!!
09/12/2013 at 12:41

The Crown Vic is about 6 inches longer and four inches wider than the long wheelbase version of the S Class.

area man > ezeolla
09/12/2013 at 12:42

I've dreamed about it many times. I think there are knockoffs elsewhere now, but it's not filmed here anymore.

area man > Zzzzzzzzzz
09/12/2013 at 12:45

I really wish I could've seen the damage. Even though the cab made it to White Plains, it died dramatically on Main Street and my friend had to walk the last half mile.

Nugget_Oz > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:46

This might be just semantics. The majority are stretch but non-stretch are "eligible".

http://r.duckduckgo.com/l/?kh=-1&uddg=…

Nugget_Oz > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:48

That is there are some out there that are the 2006 non-stretch. Not new but still being used. They are also crapped out with probably a worse interior than a transit.

Nugget_Oz > Mr. Horsepower
09/12/2013 at 12:48

A new list would include a Mercedes Benz E-class and M-class.

TheSergeMeister > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:51

"Deez vans are HARD" im dying

area man > Nugget_Oz
09/12/2013 at 12:52

I see. Well, they should be avoided at all costs.

area man > TheSergeMeister
09/12/2013 at 12:53

They are, though.

area man > 404 - User No Longer Available
09/12/2013 at 12:53

See above?

jsinger1085 > area man
09/12/2013 at 12:53

Just as an FYI, the Altima Hybrid was also approved for a short time, mostly we find these as beat up fleet cars. Handicapped vehicles aren't limited to Toyota either. We've seen Honda Odysseys (older, phased out now) and Ford Freestars (Id rather ride in a dynamite truck down a mountain with no seatbelt) We just saw a brand new Sentra roll in as well, but it was painted green.

Not sure if you are aware but as part of Bloomberg's plan to bend over NY he has introduced 6000 green taxis (for year one, 12000 more over next 3 yrs), or "outerboro cabs" as an effort to ease the difficulty of hailing a cab outside of Manhattan. They are only able to pick up in Queens, Staten, Bronx, or BK, or North of 175th st ( I think, don't quote me ).

So now, the once strict rules of taxis being 5 years old or newer and having strict safety regs are out the window. We just installed our C/C device and GPS into a 2001 Lincoln Towncar...

area man > jsinger1085
09/12/2013 at 12:58

Yeah, the Altima and a few other handicap options will also be covered in part II.

I'm familiar with the outer borough taxi plan, but I've yet to see one on the street. I used to live on 150th and Amsterdam in northern Harlem, so I see the benefit, but honestly the black cars have been illegally picking up those street hails for years and years, so there isn't a huge need. That said, I'm sure the situation is different out in the far reaches of Queens and the Bronx.

jsinger1085 > area man
09/12/2013 at 13:06

Soon you won't be able to miss them. I've seen black cars LINED UP at body shops in Woodside and Astoria, and I can only assume they are there for a complete respray to gerber baby green, not a simple black touch up job.

It seems like this is their chance at becoming legal. They just don't like being tracked with the GPS. Much like Yellow Cabs though theyll get over it once they realize how much they make in tips on cards.

Looking forward to Part II

404 - User No Longer Available > area man
09/12/2013 at 13:24

I guess you didn't catch it. This isn't your regular Crown Vic but an NYPD undercover CVPI (note the plate, it isn't the medallion number). Hoping nobody here actually need to review it. ;)

iliketoeat > area man
09/12/2013 at 13:28

Trunk space in the Ford Escape? You've got to be joking. That trunk is TINY compared to the Crown Vic. If I'm going to the airport and I have a bunch of bags, I'll always wait for a Crown Vic cab because the Escape cab simply doesn't have as much room. The Crown Vic and the minivan cabs are the only ones with decent cargo space and legroom.

Mr. Horsepower > Nugget_Oz
09/12/2013 at 13:38

I haven't seen an E-class yet, seen an ML, but here is a list of all vehicles eligible for use as NYC taxi cabs.

area man > 404 - User No Longer Available
09/12/2013 at 13:40

Yeah, I mentioned their existence. Tricky!

area man > iliketoeat
09/12/2013 at 13:42

Nothing beats the 5-body trunk in the Crown Vic, but they're often really dirty. The Escape isn't too bad, especially if you can stack whatever you're toting.

Scrape > area man
09/12/2013 at 14:21

Hopefully the next Mayor will wise the place up and dump the "taxi of tomorrow" requirement crap and let the cab companies decide whats best for them from field trials. I personally like the Ford C-Max option as they seem to be the perfect size and offer pretty much what the passenger and drivers want. They ain't a huge minivan and they get killer mileage in hybrid form which the drivers would love. It also might convince Ford to bring over the non-hybrid version. The only thing Ford could do to improve them would be to stretch the rear legroom a few inches. And they aren't UGLY AS SIN. Plus, the Fords are reliable whereas the NV200's likely will not be given Nissan's track record. They will be scrapped in 2 years because they fell apart. Add in that the NV200 is NOT universally handicap accessible, which was one of the TOT requirements while others were make the whole thing suspicious.

Add in that I think there are still pending lawsuits regarding the regulations from drivers/owners, and the TOT requirements might just go away and NYC can get a REAL taxi...not some tarted up grocery getter.

Zzzzzzzzzz > area man
09/12/2013 at 14:30

Kinja'd!!!

Here you go. My bumper was flattened and her bumper was just pushed in a little bit. But she hit it at bad angle and probably broke the oil filter located near the bumper.

NYTechie > area man
09/12/2013 at 14:42

Also the Toyota Avalon!

area man > Scrape
09/12/2013 at 14:57

Good points all around! I'm also a big fan of the C-Max, and I think sliding the backseat back a couple inches would make it pretty much perfect. There's too much machinery moving already for the next mayor to stop the NV's implementation entirely, but I would not be surprised if the legislation banning all other kinds of cabs gets tinkered with and the "exclusive" contract Nissan has gets a little less exclusive.

area man > Zzzzzzzzzz
09/12/2013 at 14:58

Ha yeah, I can see the pool of liquid forming under the Escape. Nice WRX!

area man > NYTechie
09/12/2013 at 15:00

You're right, I spaced on that! I'll include it in Part II.

dr861 > area man
09/12/2013 at 15:04

Well I mean you could compare the cmax to a toaster and say it was quite roomy. I'm just saying for a New York cab, tiny.

Suuuubaru > area man
09/12/2013 at 16:58

Well, that's not exactly a picture of what we have. Although yes, I'd say most of them do resemble something bought off the Transformers film set and then repaired with duct tape. (They've all got to have at least 400k on the clock)

meatnpotatoz > area man
09/12/2013 at 18:58

Kinja'd!!!

area man > meatnpotatoz
09/12/2013 at 20:52

You're gonna like part II!

Spasoje > thebigbossyboss
09/12/2013 at 22:49

Here in the biggest city of Canada's Cascadia, there haven't been Crown Vics since the early 2000's! They started replacing them with Lumina sedans, Buicks, and Safari vans being themselves displaced by Corollas and Siennas a handfull of years later.

Now in the seas of Prii, Camry hybrids, Siennas, and Corollas, there is one single Mercury Grand Marquis making the rounds. Probably the last this city will ever see.

i am kllot duh!! > area man
09/13/2013 at 01:18

damm!!!that's huge!!!!