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Good Taxis
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Comments
In high school I knew a kid who was one of 10. his folks would get either Checkers or Ford airport wagons.
I don't know of anyone else I know other than you who picks a cab and says, "Dang, I'm glad this cab has 45 inches of legroom !!"
I have taken cabs maybe 60-70 times in my life. In various countries. And NEVER EVER have I given a darn about how much room was in the seat. I'm 5'9" and medium build.
I don't pick a taxi for the luxury and comfort level. I have usually picked cabs only as a last resort and WHATEVER can get me there, I'm happy to have.
Funny thing is, I don't think the Crown Vic is all that great, given its big external dimensions. I'm 6'3", and find legroom kinda tight in the back. Definitely tighter than the Caprice or the old Mopar R-body. Heck, even the old M-body Gran Fury/Diplomat weren't any smaller, IMO.
I think the current Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable would make a great taxi. Roomy back seat with almost limo-like legroom, and a trunk that's actually bigger than the Crown Vic's!
The Crown Vic probably wins out as a cab because they're rugged and durable, and can take a beating.
I can't even remember the last time I was even in a taxi cab. It was long enough ago though, that I remember it being a '91-96 Caprice.
Of course, the armored partition found in most NYC cabs doesn't do a thing for leg room but I once rode back-to-back in a CV with no partition and then an Impala.
The Chevy was way more roomy in back.
Supposedly the Taxi Fleets preferred less roomy RWDs for reasons of lower maintainence and longevity but now I see FWD vans, particularly Siennas catching on as cabs everywhere.
If Mayor Bloomberg has his way the entire fleet will go hybrid in a few years. I wonder how owners will feel about replacing those battery packs. :sick:
2001 BMW 330ci/E46, 2008 BMW 335i conv/E93
The RWD Impala may indeed have had more rear seat legroom than the Crown Vic, as you observed, but without knowing how the respective drivers' front seats were adjusted your single experience doesn't prove that the Impalas were roomier.
And the rest of the company may not be around much longer:
Checker Motors Seeks Bankruptcy Protection
I see they mention the Checker Taxi in the same sentence as the London Taxis. I wonder what ever happened to the plan that would have brought the London cabs to the US? Like Checkers they are roomy as all get out.
With the Crown Vic scheduled to go out of production soon, the Transit could make an excellent replacement as a taxi.
More pics.