Do you want to drive a Mercedes for only 10 Bucks (driver inclusive) ?

Technically you wouldn't be *driving* the Mercedes would you? If you want to drive a Mercedes for free go to a dealers and ask for a test drive. You get a nice new one to drive not some shitty old diesel that's been around the clock 3 times :o) Mike

Both statements are simply false.

In former years Mercedes had a nation-wide share of up to 70+ per cent in the taxi market, this is down to 50+ per cent.

This has two reasons:

- Cost MB taxis are expensive compared to the competition Times are rough for taxi companies so the tendency for cheaper cars.

- Low quality MB taxis have many more breakdowns than they once had, the situation changed in 1995 with the then-new E-Class W210, since then the breakdown-rate went up. With the current W-Class W211 the situation is even worse, there are loads of - mostly electronically related - problems of all kind.

The other half of the taxi market is _not_ BMW 530D, but a great variety of marques and models, like Japanese or Korean minivans and middle class cars from Opel, Ford, Audi etc. pp. (and of course some BMW).

Juergen

why then buying a Mercedes? Who in heaven buys such a car?

GH

"Juergen ." schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@bigfoot.com...

A lot of taxi customers prefers to be driven in a Mercedes.

Also a Mercedes has a real high resale value plus the customer care of Mercedes for taxi owners is excellent, like 24/7 emergency repair service, rent taxis whilst accident repair etc. pp.

And there is a lot of non-Mercedes owned service stations and parts dealers with very attractive prices for older MB taxis.

Plus in former times there was the big advantage of excellent car quality and durability - every hour not on the road costs money with a taxi so MB had a clear advantage here over the competition.

All the above valid for Germany, the situation might be - and is - different in other countries.

Juergen

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Go read the Maybach thread...

:~)

Marty

Nobody.

In heaven we will get wings so we will be able to fly without going through an airport queue.

My impression exactly, i.e. whilst most taxis are Mercs there are many that are not. I venture to suggest that there are very few BMW taxis.

Merc taxis are also relatively popular in the Netherlands and Switzerland, to name two examples.

DAS

The figures I mentioned are real figures, not only impressions (although my impressions do reflect these, too).

I wondered when I lately saw the newest figure - to my shame I have to admit I forgot the exact figure and what the source was, but it was a reliable source and the figure began with a 5 - because they mean a sharp decrease; not that the decrease would have any significant impact on Mercedes sales figures - German-wide there is only ca. 60.000 taxis if I recall correctly - but it is the loss of prestige for the brand.

It surely depends on - not so many in the North (hot tip since a couple of years is/was the old BMW 7-series as diesels), but more in the south.

What one can see is that nowadays there is more vans (or minivans) amongst the taxis - and here MB has a relatively weak position as there is only two vans, (the Vaneo - rare as a taxi as it is relatively expensive, small and of doubtful quality as a taxi) and now the Viano (old V-class was a disaster in terms of quality), but this a bit too big and a bit too much commercial van to many so the Japanese (and Korean) do have their market share in this segment.

In former years the standard 180D/190D/200D (ponton, fintail, /8, W123, W124) were THE choice in terms of reliability and also total cost of ownership, but currently this is not the case anymore.

I wonder how MB will react - and if.

In e.g. Denmark, too.

Juergen

Since i'm not in Germany, i won't say about the situation in Germany. But in Singapore, where i'm presently based, i have to say the best taxis in Singapore are the Mercedes-Benz taxis, whether the W 124,W 210 & just few days ago, the W 211 E 220 became available in Singapore ! In sharp comparison, all the Japanese taxis in Singapore are simply a big pile of junk & the few London Cabs here aren't much better !!

I've been a regular Mercedes-Benz taxi user & in fact have been keeping track of some of the taxis i have used over the years noting details like total mileage covered, major parts changed & any other problem areas etc. I have to say that, in comparison to all the other taxis i've used so far, the Mercedes ones, whether E-Class, Vito or Sprinter are the overall better ones !

I personally know of Mercedes taxi drivers here who drive 700 Km a day & their taxis cover 300000 Km per year & still in virtually excellent condition ! In contrast, i hear of (other types) of taxi drivers (mostly Japanese) who only manage 350 Km a day so that even if their taxi costs less, they still find it harder to survive compared to the Mercedes taxi driver, who although having a more expensive taxi, actually covers a further distance & via more innovative levels of services offered still manage to survive.

Therefore while i agree that the higher cost of acquiring a Mercedes-Benz taxi or otherwise is (& would remain !) a disadvantage i have to disagree on the issue of 'low' quality ! The quality remains superior when compared to almost any other around, even from outside Germany !

Juergen . wrote:

My impression backed up by your figures...

Or your figures confirmed by my impression....

:-) DAS

"GH" wrote in news:cl5mv2$gdm$ snipped-for-privacy@news.mch.sbs.de:

In France it is very simple : MB does big rebate for taxi drivers, as well as Peugeot does.

That is why 90% of taxis are even MB or Peugeot.

Sprinter taxis?

That must be roomy.