R.I.P. Black beauty :-(

[teamster1975]

Jesus Christ!
Like the others I'm glad you're ok but I know that's the last thing on your mind right now

[Nicodemus]

We had a 407sw 136 as a personal car. Looks good, handles very well (hard ride compared to 406), good gearchange, loved the glass roof , bit tight with 2 Terv's and a Flatcoat in the back even with the rear seat down not much extra room for anything else, great fuel economy unless I gave it a bit of, erm, welly

Wouldn't have one as a Taxi unless someone else owned it. You can't afford to taxi a car that does less than 20k - 30k per clutch. The thing most non cabby types forget is that 95% give or take of driving is stop start, up and down through the gears driving, averaging 18 to 22 mph on a good day (at between 35 to 42 mpg in the 406 depending on day of the week, day shift or night shift etc). On a busy shift the driver will depress the clutch pedal many, many hundreds of times as my knee, back and sundry other bits can testify...

All the 407's that were cabbying around Lincoln except one are gone, and remember there're about 400 private hire cars (excluding minibuses) and outside city LA saloon HC's (city is a limited plate black cab only HC area) for a city and surrounding satellite villages of no more than 90,000 peeps. There are no 607's.

If I could get a 607 with all the trimmings, without that engine/clutch/gearbox that's gone in the 407 and without a FAP. I'd go for it. But it's getting the right engine (and clutch) that will present the problem Soops not the bod and trimmings.

I'm no fan of the Superb, Octavia or 307sw/308sw but they the Passat and Avensis (this because Cab Direct were doing a special deal a while back I think) are gradually displacing all other cars.

Wish I could be more upbeat but total cost of ownership must be a factor as well as driver comfort and esteem.

[Captain Jack]

Ouch!

I certainly don't want my black beauty to look like that! What about a Honda Accord diesel? I had nightmares with mine but it's a nice drive and a superb engine.

[steve_earwig]

That's some recommendation! Was that a Toyota Avensis there TG? Next to be recalled when it's discovered the headrests explode on contact with human hair

[mjb]

Bloody hell soops!

Glad you're intact at least!

[STALLED]

Whoah - thats a pretty nasty hit! Glad to hear that you are ok though!

[Doggy]

Really sorry to hear about your accident Supa - as the rest have said the important thing is you're OK, everything else is secondary.

Understand how you feel about the 406, but you may find an alternative you like.

Don't suppose you can buy another 'plated' one & swap all the good bitz, after buying it back? Or legally swap the reg. to another 406?

[supafrisk]

Been looking at a 607 fully loaded up on autotrader but I have to bear in mind what I get back off the insurers, I don't want one on the never never

[Harshan]

sorry to hear that. However one thing is for sure, if this accident took place here in SL chances are higher that you could get it repaired. See what happened to me on 03rd December 2008.



http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/3416/05012009.jpg


and managed to repair her..

I'm sure you would be able to find a good replacement and your insurance will pay the bill. Am I too optimistic here?

[Welly]

It pains me to suggest this but what about a 407 with a slushmatic or gaytronic gearbox? plenty of scheduled fluid changes should keep it working fine and dandy.

I would have thought an automatic would be great for taxi work?

[steve_earwig]

Possibly not reliable enough?

I know the cabbies use 407s here (as well as 307s and various Mercs) But I don't think the driving's the same, more running people from the villages to airports and hospitals and back on motorways.

[Doggy]

Been looking at a 607 fully loaded up on autotrader but I have to bear in mind what I get back off the insurers, I don't want one on the never never

DPF territory that! I've reached an understanding with mine.

If you find one with issues, (ANTIPOLLUTION FAULT / DPF warning light / DIESEL ADDITIVE LOW / difficulty starting and a burst of smoke as it fires up), tell them it's the thick end of a grand to sort out, so if they knock £1,200 off you'll think about it. Then 'improve' it as in the link.

I can't promise this will work, but mine's been fine for 2.5k now.

[Welly]

mine's been fine for 2.5k now.

[lofty]

Sorry to hear about the shunt 'Soops'. Id say buy it back of the insurance and break it yourself if you have the time/room/inclination.

As for the Skoda Superbs, dont rule them out totally, the earlier 1.9TD (pd100 & pd130) didnt use DPF filters, only when they went to the shitty 2.0 TD Pd140 did they do that.

I ran a few as company cars when i worked for skoda UK and they drive as well as a 406 IMO, firmer ride but miles bigger in the back for the punters.


*edited by Welly to correct the sexing of our users

[Welly]

Can't you run a Mercedes soops and put your fares up. A lot.