How Ford can get back into the NYC Taxi scene. 

"jkm7680" (jkm7680) 03/04/2015 at 22:06 • Filed to: None

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The Nissan Nv200 is to be the sole vehicle approved for use as an NYC Taxi. And I think that the Nv200 is a colossal lump of shit.

Oh, but wait. You can use a hybrid that doesn't have to be the Nissan Nv-Whatever whatever.

Ford pretty much gave up the taxi market after the Crown Vic, and I'm fairly sure that the Nv200 isn't exactly going to be a fan favorite for drivers. It's not like Ford needs to prove their reliability, take a look at all the Escape Hybirds and Crown Vics with over 400k on them. That's going to be hard to live up to.

So, here's the idea. Take a Fusion SE Energi, set up charging stations systematically in the areas of the city that receive the most driver traffic, fit a partition, heavy duty suspension components, vinyl flooring and a column shifter because why not?

It's not a V8 Crown Vic, and it never will be. But at least it looks more iconic than that shitty van thing.

Here's my mock up.

Garrett Davis > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:14

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They should have gone with the Transit instead of the Turkish made Nissan.

PS9 > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:15

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The actual way to do it would be to do what Nissan did and bribe the appropriate key officials.

jkm7680 > PS9 03/04/2015 at 22:16

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I really wouldn't doubt that being true. An American company with a huge reputation Vs. a Japanese company with little reputation making cabs.

Vimto > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:19

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As a Fusion owner, they have really small backseats for midsizers. I'm only 5'7 and kinda uncomfortable sitting behind myself.

PS9 > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:20

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It's pretty late in the game to be doing that anyway. The Uber model is probably the future of hired transportation, and you can't make independant drivers buy a specific model of car. Regs can keep competitors out until new politicians are bribed get voted in to change them, so it'll only work for so long.

Aaron Brown > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:20

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As long as it has USB ports and climate control for the rear passenger area, I'm happy.

jkm7680 > PS9 03/04/2015 at 22:21

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Have you seen the list of New York's corrupt politicians? There's shitloads of them.

jkm7680 > Aaron Brown 03/04/2015 at 22:21

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How about a heated rear seat?

cuts_off_prius > Garrett Davis 03/04/2015 at 22:23

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Isn't that also Turkish made?

cuts_off_prius > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:25

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Would love to see these. I think fleets get an NHTSA exemption?

Coty > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:26

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The part that above the fold there was a beautiful hook.

Alex B > Vimto 03/04/2015 at 22:27

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Yeah, it really can't compare to the Nissan's interior space/amenities.

jkm7680 > Coty 03/04/2015 at 22:27

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Which fold, haha?

Coty > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:28

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I meant the portion that showed up on the Oppo mainpage before you clicked over to the actual article.

cuts_off_prius > Garrett Davis 03/04/2015 at 22:28

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Newer version

jkm7680 > Coty 03/04/2015 at 22:30

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The thumbnail? It gets a bit rough up close, I do admit that. It took only about 30 minutes, I could do better for sure.

Coty > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:31

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No I mean:

The Nissan Nv200 is to be the sole vehicle approved for use as an NYC Taxi. And I think that the Nv200 is a colossal lump of shit.

jkm7680 > Coty 03/04/2015 at 22:32

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Whoooooopsies, haha. My bad.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vimto 03/04/2015 at 22:34

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I does?

- 6'4", sit back there comfortably all the time

TheHondaBro > cuts_off_prius 03/04/2015 at 22:35

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Yeah I see straight-from-Japan Daihatsus all the time as fleet cars.

ranwhenparked > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 22:36

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I think NYC taxis have to be handicap accessible going forward, or at least a good portion of the fleet does, hence the switch to vans. The Transit Connect was in contention for the Taxi of Tomorrow, but the city wanted one manufacturer to have a monopoly on all taxi sales, and they picked Nissan.

jkm7680 > ranwhenparked 03/04/2015 at 22:38

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The Nissan thing isn't even handicap accessible though! Only some of them are apparently. And that's stupid because if you're street hailing a cab and they're all vans, how are you supposed to know which one is handicap accessible and which one isn't?

Garrett Davis > cuts_off_prius 03/04/2015 at 23:04

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As far as I know, the US market version is built in Missouri

boxrocket > jkm7680 03/04/2015 at 23:39

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C-Max or S-Max (would have to be imported obviously), rather than the Fusion. Easier ingress/egress.

pip bip - choose Corrour > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 01:55

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Chevy Caprice?

Steve in Manhattan > Garrett Davis 03/05/2015 at 02:16

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The Transit is shit - I've been in more than a few of them. The suspensions and the seats are usually collapsed.

Steve in Manhattan > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 02:19

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The NV200 isn't bad, I've been in more than a few of them. Nice legroom, you can charge your phone. It's got one glaring error - no wheelchair accessibility. A buddy of mine in a chair can't get a taxi without lots of calls and tsuris.

The best taxi here is the Highlander - comfy seats, great ride.

Otherwise - Camry OK. Prius, surprisingly not cramped. A Fusion? Yeah baby, bring it.

spanfucker retire bitch > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 07:30

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Sorry, but sedans really are the shittiest taxi vehicles from an objective standpoint. the NV-200 and vehicles like it are are just so much better at the act of people moving. More room for both people and for ingress/egress. More room for luggage too. Better sight lines. The list goes on.

Ford needs a hybrid version of their Transit van, turned into a people mover/taxi.

jkm7680 > spanfucker retire bitch 03/05/2015 at 08:09

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They have the center of gravity as a shipping container, look like shit, feel like shit, they are shit. The Crown Vic was a much, much more comfortable car to be in and I'm pretty sure that the cavernous trunk of the Crown Vic is better than that of the Nissan. It's not like people are moving using a taxi.

spanfucker retire bitch > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 08:11

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They have the center of gravity as a shipping container, look like shit, feel like shit, they are shit.

None of those opinions of yours matter, because they're just that; opinions. Vans are just objectively better at being people movers.

And really? The center of gravity? Are we taking turns at 80mph?

jkm7680 > spanfucker retire bitch 03/05/2015 at 08:16

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Not to even mention the CVT, do you really think that's going to last? And the suspension, along the wheels that are what? 15 inches.

They are horrible vans and are unstable feeling at highway speeds.

spanfucker retire bitch > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 08:29

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Yes? Why the hell wouldn't it last?

jkm7680 > spanfucker retire bitch 03/05/2015 at 08:30

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Have you seen the condition of the streets and how they are driven? I'd estimate they'll make it to 100k before eating shit.

spanfucker retire bitch > jkm7680 03/05/2015 at 09:39

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You realize the smaller diameter wheels are better for the shit streets, right? More rubber sidewall. And there's no evidence that the CVT will simply implode.

You have a lot of supposition based on fuck-all.

jkm7680 > spanfucker retire bitch 03/05/2015 at 09:41

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Yeah, the tires are kinda tiny. The CVT will shit the bed after 50k, it's pretty inevitable. No idea who's dick they had to suck to get the contract.