Fake Taxi on Dawson Street

Sizzler

Anybody see the pics in todays paper of the Fiat Punto pictured on Dawson Street during the week posing as a taxi? Bad enough trying to pull this stunt off with a PUNTO but the lad doing it had used a cardboard Taxi sign LOL

Unbelievably the guy wasnt charged :eek:

mikemac

It's hard to read the plate. Is it a G reg?

crosstownk

Apparently it was a bit of a joke/prank. The Herald reported that the Gardaí and the owner of the Punto were laughing at the whole thing.

Also reported was news that from 2010 taxis must be less than 9 years old (2008 for new taxi licences). About time too.

colm_mcm

But what about the Carinas! Did anyone think how they'd be affected?

crosstownk

colm_mcm wrote:

But what about the Carinas! Did anyone think how they'd be affected?

It'll be traumatic, colm. Mr. Usher will probably have something to say on the matter

And then there's all those Mercs with the Nissan diesel engines..................

ballooba

Mercs with Nissan engines? Pray tell more.

I had a genuine sounding ex-chauffeur drive me home one night in an impecably maintained car. He was complaining about some drivers buying cheap cars in the UK and hiring them out with plates to other drivers. he was talking cars worth sub €2000. Any truth in this?

Wishbone Ash

ballooba wrote:

Mercs with Nissan engines? Pray tell more

A lot of the older MB S500/560s used to have Nissan Patrol 2.8 diesel engines fitted .

Wishbone Ash

The Punto taxi pics seem to be on every other motoring thread today so why not here also!

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote:

A lot of the older MB S500/560s used to have Nissan Patrol 2.8 diesel engines fitted .

Yep - it was a favourite conversion quite a few years ago and it worked quite well.

Wishbone Ash

Should we read anything into the fact that the Punto taxi is parked outside a whiskey shop?

crosstownk wrote:

Yep - it was a favourite conversion quite a few years ago and it worked quite well.

There used to be an absolutely immaculate 560SEL taxi near me. I thought it really looked the business until I heard the clatter it made starting on a cold morning with black smoke everywhere! I used to think a Ford Dexta engine was installed by mistake :eek:.

unkel

Was reported in the HWIST thread already!

crosstownk wrote:

And then there's all those Mercs with the Nissan diesel engines..................

They're long gone by now, surely?

Back in the mid 90s when I had to do a lot of travel for work, more often than not did I find myself in one of those on 5AM on a Monday. Rattling like bejaysis, but I felt a lot safer than in a similarly old Japanese tin box!

crosstownk

unkel wrote:

They're long gone by now, surely?

In fairness I reckon they are all gone...................all that's left is me showing my age

Wishbone Ash

crosstownk wrote:

In fairness I reckon they are all gone...................all that's left is me showing my age

I still a light blue 560 up at the airport now and again but I'm not sure if it's a converted one. I think it's a 1990 (but I won't attempt the model code as I always get them mixed up).

crosstownk

Wishbone Ash wrote:

I still a light blue 560 up at the airport now and again but I'm not sure if it's a converted one. I think it's a 1990

Well, his days are numbered now............but at this stage the car isn't costing him a penny - it's served it's purpose!

Volvoboy

colm_mcm wrote:

But what about the Carinas! Did anyone think how they'd be affected?

they'll find a home!



There is still a 420SE doing the rounds in East Wall, got a lift in it one night not one dash light was on! Also the famous white Merc W123 In Clontarf.



-VB-

E@gle.

lol the punto even has an L plate

Wishbone Ash

Back on topic - there used to be a genuine Fiat Punto taxi operating around North Dublin, especially around the Omni SC. Imagine him getting an airport run! :eek:


Years ago, there used to be a Renault 4 taxi operating in Dublin. It had the required 4 doors!

colm_mcm

lots of Punto taxis in Italy.

Wishbone Ash

I was queing for a taxi in an African capital city a few years ago with herself and the baby and buggy etc. and what pulls up but a Fiat Cinquecento! :eek: A Punto would have been heaven.

unkel

Wishbone Ash wrote:

I was queing for a taxi in an African capital city a few years ago with herself and the baby and buggy etc. and what pulls up but a Fiat Cinquecento! :eek: A Punto would have been heaven.

LOL! With a Cinquecento, you win this taxi competition hands down, Wishbone Ash

nialler

you'd know if you were in a modern S, not a sound, diesels sound like tractors when they first start up but once they're warmed up they're fine, still not as smooth as the petrol though.

Wishbone Ash

nialler wrote:

you'd know if you were in a modern S, not a sound, diesels sound like tractors when they first start up but once they're warmed up they're fine, still not as smooth as the petrol though.

We were referring to the petrol MB S-classes that used to have diesel engines (usually Nissan patrol 2.8s) retro fitted, not the normal factory fitted diesel versions!

bazz26

unkel wrote:

LOL! With a Cinquecento, you win this taxi competition hands down, Wishbone Ash

I think that award goes to the Tuc Tuc over in Malaysia, etc:



Though probably more practical than a Fiat C*nt-to-get-into (parden my French)

Volvoboy

bazz26 wrote:

I
Though probably more practical than a Fiat C*nt-to-get-into (parden my French)

LOL!!!!!:D


I'm keeping that one!



-VB-

pa daly

This thread make me laugh. The funniest I seen yet on here..:)

Tony255

Talking about fiat punto's i passed a fiat punto garda car in youghal, Cork not so long back it was checking for speeding at the side of the road i thought it was a piss take.

Wishbone Ash

Tony255 wrote:

Talking about fiat punto's i passed a fiat punto garda car in youghal, Cork not so long back it was checking for speeding at the side of the road i thought it was a piss take.

There's a few Punto patrol cars around Dublin.

Type 17

Wishbone Ash wrote:

There's a few Punto patrol cars around Dublin.

There's a Yaris patrol car in Enniskerry (might be changed now, 'twas a while ago that I last saw it) - try chasing someone around the 21 bends in that...

Wishbone Ash

Type 17 wrote:

There's a Yaris patrol car in Enniskerry (might be changed now, 'twas a while ago that I last saw it) - try chasing someone around the 21 bends in that...

The small cars are generally used for "community policing" and not for pursuits etc.

Type 17

Wishbone Ash wrote:

The small cars are generally used for "community policing" and not for pursuits etc.

Of course, but sometimes you see something, and there just isn't time to call for backup - ok, not every Garda car can be a 3-litre V6 or similar, but Yaris/Punto are a step too far in the other direction...1.6 Corolla/Astra should be the minimum sized vehicle for policing work...

colm_mcm wrote:

lots of Punto taxis in Italy.

Back on topic, at least the Punto taxis in Italy have real signs

galwaytt

Mazda 121's - the egg-shaped one - were popular as taxi's in Switzerland a few years ago..........most taxi trips are only carrying the driver + 1 passenger, anyhoo..........