DOTS - Taiwan & Hong Kong Editions

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7) 04/23/2018 at 01:34 • Filed to: Taiwan, Hong Kong

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Back from another trip to Asia.

Starting in Taipei, I’m impressed how long this B5 Passat has survived in a humid subtropical climate.

A very common model of taxi in Taiwan is the Toyota Wish. I suspect the Prius V was a hybrid drive adaptation of this car as the sizes are suspiciously similar.

T

In the Toyota line-up, the Vios sits a size class below the Corolla.

In recent years, the Hyundai H1 (marketed in Taiwan as the Starex) has become a popular passenger van. Despite looking brand spanking new, I noted that this car has exactly zero airbags in Taiwan spec.

A nice B6.5 facelift Passat. The US did not get this model as the NMS Passat was introduced in 2012.

Visiting my in-laws in Taichung. Street scene from our hotel on Taiwan Boulevard, formerly Taichung Harbor Boulevard.

Because OEM pickup-style work trucks are not widely sold in Asia, most pickups are light trucks with wooden beds added on. Common models are the Isuzu NPR, Toyota Dyna and Mitsubishi Canter.

Last-second capture. Last generation Saab 9-5!

Smart ForFour

Immaculate E30 BMW

The RoW Corolla front end. Again, much classier than the US model.

E46 M3

Taichung will soon get a medium-capacity metro network. Construction is wrapping up and the 2-car trainsets are under test.

Moving on to Hong Kong. I’m a big fan of the new red bus livery, a huge improvement over the boring bronze introduced in 2002.

Nice Toyota Crown hanging out at a local stereo shop.

Teslas were a huge hit when EV tax breaks were in effect. Sales dropped off to nearly zero when the tax breaks expired, but a lighter credit has been re-introduced due to public pressure. Surprisingly, with similar green vehicle incentives Tesla has not caught on in Taiwan at all.

RS Q5?! Correction: Q3

Amanda.........is drunk.

For the past 20 years, the Crown Comfort has been the dominant taxi in Hong Kong.

Current generation Toyota Alphards, the default boss ride.

Teh Penguin of Doom > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/23/2018 at 03:02

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That HK Crown Comfort is diesel, not CNG, right? My favorite thing about HK taxi drivers is how freely they use chou hou when they think their passenger doesn’t understand.

I’ve always dreamed of road-tripping from Taipei down to Kaohsiung. Does the Highway Patrol still rock the 5-series?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/23/2018 at 03:31

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not RSQ5 but RSQ3

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > Teh Penguin of Doom 04/23/2018 at 05:04

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All Hong Kong taxis are LPG powered now. The diesel taxi has long since been phased out.

Teh Penguin of Doom > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 04/23/2018 at 05:20

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You are correct. I had no idea. Sometime around 2000 I asked my driver whether it was LPG or diesel, and he said all HK taxis are diesel, and I didn’t bother to update that bit of knowledge for nearly two decades.

Wikipedia:

from 1 January 2006, driving a diesel taxi on the streets of Hong Kong became illegal

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > pip bip - choose Corrour 04/23/2018 at 18:15

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You caught me lying!

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Teh Penguin of Doom 04/23/2018 at 18:22

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I honestly know very little about police in Taiwan, as that’s in-law territory and not mine.

What’s been said about diesel Crown taxis is mostly correct—HK stopped buying them long ago. But one or two dinosaurs remain; this OG Crown Royal Saloon diesel MANUAL!! ran until 2014.

There’s also an early Crown Comfort diesel still running in the New Territories (green taxi).

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/23/2018 at 18:24

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As of 2016, this diesel Crown Comfort was still running.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Teh Penguin of Doom 04/23/2018 at 20:59

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Also, I hate HK cabbies too. Lax customer service standards in the taxi licensing area—you deserve to lose your license if you get too many complaints.

Teh Penguin of Doom > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/23/2018 at 21:36

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Mm ho sik yeen is the only complaint I’ve ever lodged, and the cigarette is always grudgingly discarded. Do you know if they are getting mainlanders to drive now?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Teh Penguin of Doom 04/24/2018 at 00:47

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Not anyone that isn’t an actual legal HK resident, per my understanding. But I’ve learnt to never underestimate the bitterness and negativity of HK locals!