Ford Taxi's - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Tim_EF_5.0 · 06-30-2001, 19:33

I have allways wondered why Ford have dominated the Taxi Market? At least 95% of Taxi's would be Falcon's. When I was younger I remember asking my dad why (Back in the EA / EB days) and he could only come up with "Because they are bigger", Which isnt neccesarily the case anymore.

Is the Ford a Proven package to last longer than the Commodore or something? Or does Ford offer better prices for taxis than Holden?

I have wondered for years why Taxi Drivers keep going Falcon! It must be a good product eh?

Cheers
Tim

AlbertM · 06-30-2001, 20:21

I was reading the NRMA mag and it said that 99% of taxi drivers prefer Falcon. They have proven to be reliable for the task. Plus I think Ford are the only ones that produce a purpose built taxi.

I would love to see anyother car with over 700,000km and still run like a dream.

FPRXR-6 · 06-30-2001, 21:10

The reason that they use Fords is because the Inline-6 runs alot better than the V6 and would last longer as well.
Thats why there is'nt many LPG V6 Commodores on the road.

HSE2 · 06-30-2001, 21:23

Was in Launceston a couple of days ago and saw an AU xr6 as a taxi:D Not bad eh. Camry seems to be growing as an alternative to the Falcon down here in the Taxi ranks :(

FTEfan · 06-30-2001, 23:41

Holden does a factory Taxi pack, can't remember the option code, which amounted to maplights, Air con, quick release battery terminals and a few other bits and pieces. LPG is listed as an option. One cabbie I talked to said the only reason guys use the Commodore as a Taxi is because they are stupid, his thoughts. Every cabbie I know says that the Falcon is the best cab around, even the ones who own Commodores!

XR_Strider_GuY · 07-01-2001, 00:21

Yeah the falcons are legendary in the Taxi business. I was at a Shell servo near Kensington (sort of a taxi hangout, about 25 cabs were there) just before the massive roundabout, and seeing all those cabbies whith their falcons gave me reassurance.

Yeah been in an EB2 Cabbie with over 700k on the clock and still goin, heard they can clock 1.5m :eek: :eek: :eek:

Makes my EF at 192k look like just after a run in :p :p
Which raises me to another point will the falcon with a V6 stand to the solid reputation of the IL6.
My hunch says no, Ford are you reading this

The Mighty XE · 07-01-2001, 03:01

See a Hyundai (Grandeur??) taxi in Camperdown,Vic quite regularly!

I would think that the dedicated LPG option would be very attractive to taxis, which leads me to this question - is there anyway of telling a dedicated LPG Falcon from dual fuel model from the outside?

JEM · 07-01-2001, 03:18

I once asked that very question to a cabbie, and this cab driver was an elderly bloke that was previously a mechanical engineer. His reply was simple...the ford is more reliable, especially when the K's start to clock over. He reckons, once the holden has more than 200,000's, say goodbye to the Buick V6.

Aussie Pete · 07-01-2001, 03:41

Another reason is that once you have a fleet of one type of car that you are set up for, like with parts etc, it makes sense to stay with what you know. The add ons that Taxis use can be easily swapped from car to car on changeover.

Hobbes · 07-01-2001, 03:53

I don't think that the Falcon has any huge inherant advantage over any other car when acting as a Taxi. The main reason that it is a taxi drivers favourite is that they can go to any specialist taxi service joint, and they'll have a mountain of ready to go engines/gearboxes/diff's/whatever to drop straight into the Falcon. It's all about market penetration ...