Last chance to ride in a Ford Crown Victoria NYC Taxi

"Jordan" (jordanbelljb) 05/17/2019 at 11:57 • Filed to: New York, Taxi, Panther, Ford Crown Victoria

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Close your eyes. Think of a New York taxi. What’s the first car that pops into your head? Of course, that would be the Checker Marathon Ford Crown Victoria.

Sadly, now is your last chance to ride in a yellow Crown Victoria taxi in New York. You see, the New York Taxi Commission has one stupid rule: a car being used as a taxi cannot, under any circumstances, be used as a taxi once it is 8 years old. It doesn’t matter if its just been refurbished to as-new condition. Once its reached its 8th birthday, its out. With the Ford Crown Victoria being discontinued in August 2011, only a handful of Crown Victoria’s are still being used as cabs in NYC, and they’ll be gone in a few months. Replaced by flimsy crossovers, or a Prius.

Unfortunately, that’s all they can be replaced with. The New York Taxi commission decides what can and can’t be used as a taxi. The Dodge Charger would be a worthy replacement- with the Hemi V8, they’re very reliable, and are slightly more efficient than the Crown Victoria. The suspension in the Pursuit models are very sturdy too. But that won’t happen, because the New York Taxi commission forgot to approve it. But that’s fine, because they remembered to approve the VW Jetta.

Because clearly, the VW Jetta was made to be a taxi.

Yellow NYC taxi’s will continue to exist. But they won’t be as spacious, as comfortable, or anywhere near as reliable as the Crown Victoria. Just as importantly, they won’t be iconic. People from all over the world want to experience New York, and part of that experience is hailing a cab. They won’t care so much when they find out an NYC cab is the same crossover that their grandmother drives.

So, this is it then. Your last chance to hail a true New York Taxi. Do it while you still can.

(all images taken from google)

volcaniclastic > Jordan 11/23/2019 at 04:47

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I have one, a 2003 Grand Marquis, basically the same thing but with a nice leather interior and some other fancy bits. Got it while working at a salvage ya rd. Guy was moving and had two cars, sold us the one that weighed more, sadly he got $100 . It’s a tank. Being same as a Crown Vic I had to pay the boss $300 take it home. A bargain. To put that in context along with some other crap I threw back I took home three Devilles from 2000 to 2003 and he called it a bonus despite one being slightly grubby but a perfectly good daily driver, one nee ds brakes but it’s otherwise pristine and the third has the parts the other one nee ds, but they where just Cad ill acs . T he Ford just nee ded a rear end gasket and th ough I won’t be giving up my Co rol la or my Land Cruiser it is an awe some car.

volcaniclastic > Jordan 11/23/2019 at 05:53

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It’s been an hour, if you don’t want disccusion dont have a comment box.