I want a London Taxi

rev_henry

As some of you know I am looking for a new car, and had ideas of veg oil. I have now changed course slightly and decided to fuel my obsession with taxis by buying an LTI Fairway.

I know very little about them, as I imagine most do, and wonder if anyone else does?!
Seen a couple of dealers down South, who I have emailed. Their prices vary wildly - £800 - £10000, and I don't really understand the difference. I will be at the lower end of that price range - £1500 absolute max I'd say.

Went to see one reasonably nearby yesterday and, managed to drive it round briefly. I loved it and want one, but not that one - it was, well, dodgy to say the least!

I think I want a recently ex London one as the PCO test is most stringent.
There are a few for sale Manchester way, but they're all TX1s coming to their age limit (the newer kind which I don't want) and for some reason the Manc ones are all manual which I also don't want!

Another large hurdle is insurance. Everywhere I've spoken to thus far has said no, though I am waiting to hear back from a couple of local brokers. The fact I'm only 20 doesn't help - one broker said I'd need to be 21 to even consider it as its a 2.7 litre - my protestations that it is VERY downtuned for a 2.7 (83bhp !!!!!!!) amused her but didn't change the fact...
Just tried tesco who several places online said would cover but they just basically said 'does not compute, so no'.

Any advice please?

forgotmyname

Handy with the spanners? Quite likely to be on its last legs.

TrickyWicky

In your price range you're probably looking at 500k on the clock so be prepared to do some TLC with the car you find.

Having said that, they're spacious and pretty comfy and well made to last a long time so you might be better off buying one and just keeping it off road for a while until you can get insured on it.

Trebor16

You say you don't want the TX1 so is it the classic FX4 model that you are after?

This blog might be useful to you as well:-

http://www.myblacktaxi.blogspot.co.uk/

rev_henry

Trebor16 wrote: »

You say you don't want the TX1 so is it the classic FX4 model that you are after?

This blog might be useful to you as well:-

http://www.myblacktaxi.blogspot.co.uk/

Yeah, basically. The fairway is the last incarnation of the FX4, actual FX4s are seriously ancient and non existent now.

Yes been reading that, might give the chap an email. Also gleaning info from the various cabbies I follow on twitter (I told you I had a taxi obsession...).

Owain_Moneysaver

Here's another two
http://ourlondontaxi.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/londontaxi.html

NBLondon

rev_henry wrote: »

Yes been reading that, might give the chap an email. Also gleaning info from the various cabbies I follow on twitter (I told you I had a taxi obsession...).

You could tweet Stephen Fry and ask where he got his

I'm inclined to think that insurance will be tough simply because it's a non-standard vehicle and on top of that you're young (strange - I had a mental image of you as a wacky cycling vicar). You might get a better deal from a classic car insurer - like Footman James - though they might impose a mileage per annum limit.

GoPD

You could also try a quote from Peter Best who also specialise in 'classic insurance.'

Are there not 'Taxi entusiast forums' out there? They may be able to advise.

One thing about buying such a vehicle if you maintain it well and keep it sometime I would think its value wouldn't drop much and may in fact rise over time.

Best of luck.

Foxy-Stoat_3

Look on ebay, theres loads of them for under £2500.

As for insurance, doesn't matter how much BHP it hasn't got, its all about risk and previous claims. Just try and call a few specialist brokers but as you are 20, I doubt you will get a "cheap" policy for anything let alone a london taxi!

Limey

Keep the doors locked when you do get one or you'll have folks jumping in the back when you pull over and park, or even when stopped at the lights.

After owning a Nissan Bluebird in Birmingham I had a few experiences of !!!!ed up students jumping in my car asking to be taken home. :rotfl:

pinkteapot

Limey wrote: »

Keep the doors locked when you do get one or you'll have folks jumping in the back when you pull over and park, or even when stopped at the lights.

Tell them the Council wouldn't give you your license because of some technicality to do with some offender's register.

They'll soon jump out again.