01-04-2012, 02:29 PM
|
#1 (permalink)
|
|
Absent without leave.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Englishman living in Scotland
Posts: 3,365
Thanks: 168
Thanked 250 Times in 187 Posts
|
Classic London Taxi - Last Chance
It looks like this could be the last year that anyone gets to ride in the "traditional" London taxi, the FX4.
Production stopped about 15 years ago and because of a new rule, any taxi over 15 years old will have to be retired - as a taxi - when it reaches that age. Now as an "ecomodder" this seems to me to be a stupid rule - there are quite a few out there giving reliable service, many with millions of miles on them. The numbers of them aren't enough to make a serious impact on air quality so why should they be retired ?
Seems like such a waste.
A few people have seen sense and adopted them as personal transport. (clickable pics)
The new one is the TX4, which Stephen Fry took round the USA a few years ago - it has a Nissan diesel engine.
__________________
No longer here. Bye, and good luck to all. 
|
|
|
|
|
01-04-2012, 04:41 PM
|
#2 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Posts: 897
Thanks: 259
Thanked 130 Times in 107 Posts
|
I have a feeling it would get higher mpg and be more reliable than a Checker Marathon. But will it seat nine friendly people?
.jpg)
__________________
 2004.0 7,360-lb DODGE Ram QC/LB 2500 2WD/6-speed Cummins 305/555 ISB. Stock, except LEER bed topper and twin muffler exhaust. 180,000 miles at 4,625-hrs @ 39 mph. 15-cpm solo, 25-cpm towing. (22-mpg avg past 37k)
Fuel Log
|
|
|
|
|
01-04-2012, 05:07 PM
|
#3 (permalink)
|
|
...beats walking...
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 3,352
Thanks: 56
Thanked 330 Times in 249 Posts
|
...how long ago did Checker cease production?
__________________
2011 Chevrolet Cruze LTZ 1.4LT 6A
2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/SFI 4A
2004 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L/MFI 4A
2003 Ford Focus ZX5 2.0L/Zetec 4A
1971 Dodge Charger 318 3A
1970½ Plymouth AAR 'Cuda 340/6BBL 4M
1968 Dodge Charger 383 3A
1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 383 4M
1965 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 273 4M
|
|
|
|
|
01-04-2012, 08:33 PM
|
#4 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
Posts: 897
Thanks: 259
Thanked 130 Times in 107 Posts
|
1981 or so.
__________________
2004.0 7,360-lb DODGE Ram QC/LB 2500 2WD/6-speed Cummins 305/555 ISB. Stock, except LEER bed topper and twin muffler exhaust. 180,000 miles at 4,625-hrs @ 39 mph. 15-cpm solo, 25-cpm towing. (22-mpg avg past 37k)
Fuel Log
|
|
|
|
|
01-04-2012, 09:13 PM
|
#5 (permalink)
|
|
Master EcoModder
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: williamsburg, virginia
Posts: 2,061
Thanks: 108
Thanked 309 Times in 228 Posts
|
Pop has a picture from the Stars and Stripes of a London Cab, full of soldiers, driving up on the beach at Normandy during the D-Day landings.
It's a cartoon  .
regards
Mech |
|
|
|
|
01-04-2012, 09:44 PM
|
#6 (permalink)
|
|
Pishtaco
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,278
Thanks: 39
Thanked 193 Times in 127 Posts
|
There goes another glorious part of London history, along with red phone booths. I was greatly impressed with the classic London cab's roominess and utility. IIRC, they could seat 7. The driver, 3 forward facing rear seat passengers, 1 front seat passenger, and 2 rear-facing jump seat passengers.
__________________
Darrell
Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.4 mpg avg over 30,375 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
Clean Green Toaster Machine
45.8 mpg over 2235 miles, 164% of '08 EPA
|
|
|
|
|
01-05-2012, 01:48 AM
|
#7 (permalink)
|
|
NightKnight
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Placerville, CA
Posts: 810
Thanks: 113
Thanked 82 Times in 48 Posts
|
The FX4 is a good looking car... not necessarily 'sexy', but it has a solidly built look, with pleasant curves so it doesn't look too utilitarian... Well designed and quite unique... very unfortunate that they are forcing them out of service.
|
|
|
|
|
01-05-2012, 06:12 AM
|
#8 (permalink)
|
|
Absent without leave.
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Englishman living in Scotland
Posts: 3,365
Thanks: 168
Thanked 250 Times in 187 Posts
|
Development story of the FX4 is here for thos interested.
The older FX4's are rare now, but like anything gradually disappearing I hadn't noticed just how rare they had become.
__________________
No longer here. Bye, and good luck to all.
|
|
|
|
|
