NYIAS: Ford Transit Connect Taxi

[MCGARRETT]

Quote:
Originally Posted by escapen
And when you think about it, Manhattan is only 13 miles long, so thse cabs go roughly 20-35 miles a day?

What do you mean? NYC cabs usually drive 400+ miles a day.

I was going to say the same thing, who thinks an NYC taxi goes from one end of the island and back 2 times in one day! Ha ha ha ha!

Even in Miami, I see taxis in the junkyard with 350,000 to 450,00 miles, and usually, at least the ones down here are usually ex-police cars that then bacame taxis, but the maintiance on Miami taxis is terrible, I have seen some 305's and 350's in the junkyard with valve covers off, sludge city.

The reason that hack companies like the Crown Vic is for the same reason that others pointed out here, easy to repair, tons of parts, built like a tank, torquey V8, this little van might be tough, but is it tough enough for NYC taxi service? I dunno...


Funny thing is that back when Ed Cole joined Checker after he retired from GM, he was working on a small plastic bodied (like a Saturn) mini-van type vehicle that was going to replace the ancient Checker, the car was going to be based on the FWD X-car platform that was still under development, but the project lost steam after Ed Cole died in 1977, and Checker ended folding in 1982. They made a couple of prototypes, but I have never seen one.

[johnriley]

Originally Posted by CrunkedRL

These lil' Transit Connects are really begining to grow on me. They are very cavernous for their size. I'm thinking about going into business for myself over the next couple years and this would be ideal for what I want to do. It's been mentioned before but does anyone know when these will be available stateside and/or what powertrains will be offered? I would imagine a 4 cylinder engine will be the norm but a diesel would be nice.

Mid 2009, 19/24 mpg, 2 liter. More info here:

http://jalopnik.com/353122/ford-tran...-for-us-market

[BrickTamland]

Originally Posted by atomicshark

I totally agree. This looks to be the perfect cab for NYC.

I expect to see this guy driving it:

Separated at birth?

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

It is a two liter inline 4 engine, gets great milage as is, if they need better milage they should bring the diesel versions here

Diesels or a 4-banger don't get them into the taxi mecca of NYC.

[ChevroletRevived]

If Ford makes this a hybrid, they could have a real winner here. I could totally see NYC going for it!

[AMcA]

I for one love this idea.

I live in Chicago, which is awash in Crown Vic cabs. Big, long Crown Vics that are constantly blocking traffic when their drivers manuver wildly through traffic and get blocked at odd angles with that mile-long trunk hanging out into traffic.

I've always thought a shorter vehicle would lead to far less cab-caused congestion.

Also, it looks way roomier than a Crown Vic. Despite their huge size, Crown Vics really don't have much room for passengers. Lots of elbow room, but that's about it.

Bring on the Transit, I say.

[AndrewGS]

Make a few changes to accommodate reality (a more realistic separator), fit it with the Escape's hybrid system and you have the perfect cab. More and more minivans are becoming cabs and there's no need for BOF construction or RWD in a city people mover, just lots of space, great economy and long service life.

[nimrod]

needs an auto transmission and a A/C for the rear...

[Bravada]

I am not sold on the idea of using leisure activity vehicles for taxis. Even if they look much nicer today than the LCVs from the past, they are still pretty crude. I once rode in a Renault Kangoo taxi (there are no strict regulations here, so anything goes) and hated it. At the end of the day, I expect a little bit of comfort in a taxi, it can be old, it might not be luxurious, but I like decent seating with a rleaxing position and not travelling on plastic barstool inside a plastic-and-steel lunchbox.

I'd much rather recommend C-Max or S-Max as NYC Taxis. As spacious as the Escape but run on much less fuel without the "SUV" gear and stance.

...now wait a moment!