What will be the next great taxi? 

"radderar" (radderar) 10/01/2015 at 05:15 • Filed to: None

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Regardless of what Torchinsky thinks of the 2nd Gen xB, they were amazingly great for one purpose: driving large drunk idiots home from bars. Now that they’re leaving the market, who’s got a suggestion for the next great cab?

If you say, Prius, you’re wrong, not just because the cost of replacing battery packs negates the gas savings, but because you simply can’t fit four drunk frat bros and a driver in one. And keep in mind that these vehicles operate 24/7, averaging 130,000 miles per year. So they need to be indestructible, cheap, with okay mileage, and room to shuffle people from strip club to strip club on a Friday night. Ready? Go:

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > radderar 10/01/2015 at 05:52

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“cost of replacing battery packs negates the gas savings”

I personally know taxi drivers and operators who’ve been running Camry Hybrids and Prius’ for years and rarely have to change the batteries. and when they do they source refurbished batteries for under a grand.

I had the discussion with them what they will move to once they can’t get ex-fleet Falcons and Commodores, and all of them said ex-fleet Camry and Camry Hybrids will make up the majority of the fleet.

radderar > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/01/2015 at 07:15

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My cab company has around 75 priuses in out fleet, and I know of two that spent $3k+ on battery packs, we get them around $1,500 a piece. It’s true that most only need one battery pack before the inevitable head gasket failure, but our numbers show the Prius being the same in long term cost as the Scion xB, with a lot less room.

I did have a Camry that made it to 400k, but it wasn’t a hybrid.

Wacko > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:20

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You know someone will post a limo Miata.

But what about the Kia Soul?

I never tried one, but looks like it can replace the scion.

MultiplaOrgasms > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:27

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Too easy.

m2m, apex detective > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:39

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Unobtainium in several markets, I guess, but this made for a surprisingly good passenger ride for me: Toyota Corolla Verso 2.2 DCAT.

Alright interior space, leg room, 177 PS/400 Nm Diesel, good second row of seats and possible 7-seater config.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:44

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down here the xB/Rukus is about a third more expensive than an equivalent Camry or Prius. So I guess that plays into why we don’t have them as Taxi’s here.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:46

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Hindustan Ambassador.

X37.9XXS > radderar 10/01/2015 at 07:47

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As it was in the beginning...

OPPOsaurus WRX > radderar 10/01/2015 at 08:25

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the cabbie isn;t going to care about power loss. Yess it loses some MPG but it will still be better than a lot of other stuff, but the main reason is because people will be giving these away. They will have a nice car, put a 100k on them and then move on to something else.

Wacko > m2m, apex detective 10/01/2015 at 09:10

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that looks like an early matrix

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Wacko 10/01/2015 at 09:16

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Slightly smaller than the xB but good call.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > radderar 10/01/2015 at 09:25

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Someone else suggested the Kia Soul and I would second that. A 1.6 auto retails under $18 grand and gets 27-30 mpg. My 1.6 manual gets 30 mpg all day And I flog it without mercy.

Plus they’re one of the simplest cars around. Maintenance costs are low because there’s so much room under the hood, and it’s basically a tall Rio underneath. The second generation is a bit roomier and they’ve got plenty of space for ad placement.

The pictured one is a first gen Plus with the 2.0 but that even gets 25-27 mpg.

Wacko > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 10/01/2015 at 09:37

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if they fit huge hamsters they can fit 4 adult passengers

Urambo Tauro > radderar 10/01/2015 at 10:24

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The Crown Victoria was a great car, that happened to get recruited for police and taxi use. But just because a car is used as a taxi, does not make it great. The greatness comes first.

A taxi’s needs are comfort-oriented. It need to be spacious and easy to get in and out of. Cargo room is important too.

Patrol cars have similar needs. Ease of entry is important for wrestling people into the back seat. Cargo room is handy to have. But the Crown Vic’s tank-like qualities really stand out during official use.

I don’t see many modern cars fitting the bill for both fleets so well as the Panther did. Today’s police seem to favor Explorers and Chargers, while taxi fleets are much more varied nowadays.

radderar > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 10/01/2015 at 16:46

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Woah, that’s interesting. Here the xB is $2,000 cheaper than a Prius.

radderar > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 10/01/2015 at 16:49

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Extra bonus for Kia: they’re the only car company who will honor their warranty with a fleet vehicle.

radderar > Urambo Tauro 10/01/2015 at 16:52

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I’ve driven many crown vics and I loved them, except for the stereo and their lack of seat longevity. But they just became impractical when we had the last massive spike in gas prices.

radderar > MultiplaOrgasms 10/01/2015 at 16:54

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Ugh. No where near enough room. I look at that and I feel knees being jammed in my back.

radderar > OPPOsaurus WRX 10/01/2015 at 16:56

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Now would def be the time for us to buy up diesel wagons, but never underestimate a cabbies desire to get a drunk girl home before she pukes in your cab. #55ina25

MultiplaOrgasms > radderar 10/01/2015 at 16:59

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Only in the front seat tho.

But if you insist on something bigger:

radderar > MultiplaOrgasms 10/01/2015 at 17:15

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We’ve got a ton of those, retrofitted as wheelie vans. They’re great for that purpose, but I don’t think the added expense will make them a big winner. I think the answer lies in between those two/I think I’ll really miss the xB.