My apologies for the blurred picture. The starex is really going very fast.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Hyundai Starex Spotted
Here it is:
My apologies for the blurred picture. The starex is really going very fast.
My apologies for the blurred picture. The starex is really going very fast.
Monday, July 28, 2008
$1 Lelong for Taxi Services...
Saw this somewhere on the internet:
"Why not allow taxis, which now cruise empty past bus stops, to pick up those waiting for feeder buses and drive them to the nearest hub for a flat charge of $1 or less? Wastage from empty cruising would be cut down. Taxi drivers would have a new revenue source. Commuters would have a shorter wait."
I think this is a good concept that might work if done property.
Let talk about some similar situations where 'empty cruising' happens. For example, when a cab has dropped off passenger at the Mount Faber or any kind of parks. It is highly likely that the journey down or out of the park is an empty one. Yet, we see people walking...
You may say that the park visitos want to be healthy and walk...fine, let's consider another situation. For instance, when a cab drops off passengers in industrial places such as Tuas, the cab is very likely to go back to a central area like Boon Lay MRT empty. Yet, we see people taking buses. If the cabs can offer $1 or $2 trip back to the MRT station, it is probaby more than enough to cover his diesel for the trip back.
Like the person who posted the quote implies, it is a win-win situation. Commuters get to their destinations faster, cabbies earn something out of nothing.
Now, unless the taxi driver goes out of the norm and stop at bus stop to make the deal, this win win sitation is not likely to happen. Even if the taxi driver is willing to do that, he will be greeted by suspicious people who may think they might appear on the following night episode of Candid Camera.
So something on the National level must be done, like LTA or cab companies announcing that cabbie can have the freedom to charge any amount they think it is appropraite as long as it is under the starting fare of $3. Or they could be special displays or signs indicating stuffs like 'To AMK Central -$2' or 'To Toa Payoh MRT - $1' on top of the normal flagdown service.
i think that it could work...
"Why not allow taxis, which now cruise empty past bus stops, to pick up those waiting for feeder buses and drive them to the nearest hub for a flat charge of $1 or less? Wastage from empty cruising would be cut down. Taxi drivers would have a new revenue source. Commuters would have a shorter wait."
I think this is a good concept that might work if done property.
Let talk about some similar situations where 'empty cruising' happens. For example, when a cab has dropped off passenger at the Mount Faber or any kind of parks. It is highly likely that the journey down or out of the park is an empty one. Yet, we see people walking...
You may say that the park visitos want to be healthy and walk...fine, let's consider another situation. For instance, when a cab drops off passengers in industrial places such as Tuas, the cab is very likely to go back to a central area like Boon Lay MRT empty. Yet, we see people taking buses. If the cabs can offer $1 or $2 trip back to the MRT station, it is probaby more than enough to cover his diesel for the trip back.
Like the person who posted the quote implies, it is a win-win situation. Commuters get to their destinations faster, cabbies earn something out of nothing.
Now, unless the taxi driver goes out of the norm and stop at bus stop to make the deal, this win win sitation is not likely to happen. Even if the taxi driver is willing to do that, he will be greeted by suspicious people who may think they might appear on the following night episode of Candid Camera.
So something on the National level must be done, like LTA or cab companies announcing that cabbie can have the freedom to charge any amount they think it is appropraite as long as it is under the starting fare of $3. Or they could be special displays or signs indicating stuffs like 'To AMK Central -$2' or 'To Toa Payoh MRT - $1' on top of the normal flagdown service.
i think that it could work...
Saturday, July 26, 2008
New Sonata
Notice some rather different looking Sonatas on the roads.
Here they are:
New Sonata:
Old Sonata:
Also there are new airwaves on the roads. Go spot the difference.
Here they are:
New Sonata:
Old Sonata:
Also there are new airwaves on the roads. Go spot the difference.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Petrol Cabs
News from a few days back...
Prime Taxis will bring in 20 Honda Freed eight-seaters in a month time. The difference with these Honda Freed is that they will be running on petrol and NOT CNG or diesel. Now, as it is not restricted by a gas tank, All 8 seats / space will be available for passenger use. Imagine a Freed carrying cargo, something that only a Vito or Rodius can do...
Aparently, Prime believes that for their cabbies, the 1.5-litre Freed is more fuel-efficient than the 2-and 3-litre diesel cabs and because its cost is cheaper for Prime, they will also rent it out cheaper to the cabbies.
They also said that cabbies here are allowd to charge a dollar extra for every passenger beyond four.
It looks like it is a winning situation for the cabbies, underlyingly, it is also win-win situation for Prime. Because the car is cheaper, the charge lower rental rate, that will mean more demand. Secondly, the petrol cab road tax will be 6 times less than what a diesel cab will attract. Thirdly, as a petrol vehicle, it is easier for Prime to export to other countries after 5 years or so.
Brilliant....Looking forward to taking the Freed...
The Honda Freed
Prime Taxis will bring in 20 Honda Freed eight-seaters in a month time. The difference with these Honda Freed is that they will be running on petrol and NOT CNG or diesel. Now, as it is not restricted by a gas tank, All 8 seats / space will be available for passenger use. Imagine a Freed carrying cargo, something that only a Vito or Rodius can do...
Aparently, Prime believes that for their cabbies, the 1.5-litre Freed is more fuel-efficient than the 2-and 3-litre diesel cabs and because its cost is cheaper for Prime, they will also rent it out cheaper to the cabbies.
They also said that cabbies here are allowd to charge a dollar extra for every passenger beyond four.
It looks like it is a winning situation for the cabbies, underlyingly, it is also win-win situation for Prime. Because the car is cheaper, the charge lower rental rate, that will mean more demand. Secondly, the petrol cab road tax will be 6 times less than what a diesel cab will attract. Thirdly, as a petrol vehicle, it is easier for Prime to export to other countries after 5 years or so.
Brilliant....Looking forward to taking the Freed...
The Honda Freed
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Which colour is which???
The Crowns are the main stable of the cab companies and are easy to recognise which belongs which company. The same cannot be said to the rest of the models because there is usually little or no indication.
Here's what belong to who.
Camry
White - Comfort Delgro
Dark Blue - Prime Taxis
Green - Smartcab
London Cab
Various Colours - SMRT Taxis
Skoda Superb
Sliver - Slivercab (Sliver Arrow)
White - Smartcab
Volkswagen Touran
White - Smartcab
Toyota Estima / Honda Stepwagon
Light Blue - Prime Taxis
Then there are the Mercedes cab which are mostly white except for Slivercab which or course colour is silver.
Merc E-class (E220 CDI / E200 CNG)
Sliver - Slivercab (Sliver Star)
White - Varios breakdown as below
ComfortDelgro LimoCab - Comfort Delgro
Prestige - SMRT
Dynasty - Transcab
Green Leaf - Smartcab (E200 CNG)
Here's what belong to who.
Camry
White - Comfort Delgro
Dark Blue - Prime Taxis
Green - Smartcab
London Cab
Various Colours - SMRT Taxis
Skoda Superb
Sliver - Slivercab (Sliver Arrow)
White - Smartcab
Volkswagen Touran
White - Smartcab
Toyota Estima / Honda Stepwagon
Light Blue - Prime Taxis
Then there are the Mercedes cab which are mostly white except for Slivercab which or course colour is silver.
Merc E-class (E220 CDI / E200 CNG)
Sliver - Slivercab (Sliver Star)
White - Varios breakdown as below
ComfortDelgro LimoCab - Comfort Delgro
Prestige - SMRT
Dynasty - Transcab
Green Leaf - Smartcab (E200 CNG)
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Taxi Fares and Surcharges in Singapore
Flagdown Fare
$2.80 (1st km or less)^
Meter Fare
$0.20 for ever 385m for 1st 10km
$0.20 for every 330m for 10km onwards
$0.20 for every 45 sec of waiting time
Booking Charges
$3.50 on these timings: 7.30am to 9.30am and 5pm to 11pm
$2.50 on all other timings
$5 to $5.20 for advance booking
Peak Hour Surcharge
35% of metered fare (7am to 9.30pm and 5pm to 8pm)
Midnight Surcharge
50% of metered fare (12am to 6am)
CBD Surcharge
Additional $3.00 (5pm to 12am, Mon to Sat except PH)
Public Holidays (PH) surcharge
$1.00 (6pm on the eve to 12am of major PH*)
$1.00 (1st & 2nd Day of CNY - whole day)
Location Surcharge
Changi Airport - $5 (Fri to Sun 5pm to 12am)
Changi Airport - $3 (all other times)
Seletar Airport - $3
Singapore Expo - $2
ERP Charges
Commuters bear all ERP charges displayed on the top screen on the cab IU.
^ For normal taxi. Higher charges applies for certain models
*New Year's Day, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, Christmas Day,
$2.80 (1st km or less)^
Meter Fare
$0.20 for ever 385m for 1st 10km
$0.20 for every 330m for 10km onwards
$0.20 for every 45 sec of waiting time
Booking Charges
$3.50 on these timings: 7.30am to 9.30am and 5pm to 11pm
$2.50 on all other timings
$5 to $5.20 for advance booking
Peak Hour Surcharge
35% of metered fare (7am to 9.30pm and 5pm to 8pm)
Midnight Surcharge
50% of metered fare (12am to 6am)
CBD Surcharge
Additional $3.00 (5pm to 12am, Mon to Sat except PH)
Public Holidays (PH) surcharge
$1.00 (6pm on the eve to 12am of major PH*)
$1.00 (1st & 2nd Day of CNY - whole day)
Location Surcharge
Changi Airport - $5 (Fri to Sun 5pm to 12am)
Changi Airport - $3 (all other times)
Seletar Airport - $3
Singapore Expo - $2
ERP Charges
Commuters bear all ERP charges displayed on the top screen on the cab IU.
^ For normal taxi. Higher charges applies for certain models
*New Year's Day, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali, Christmas Day,
Friday, July 18, 2008
Fuel Savings Tips
To All Crown and Manual Taxi Driver:
By the laws of physics, shifting to higher gear earier does not equate to saving fuel. There is such things as engine optimal range and by not driving within the engine optimium range means that the engine is not efficient = consume more fuel.
Put it this way, when you shift to a higher gear too early, your engine got no power to pick up speed, therefore it will accelerate slowly and when you find that your vehicle is not moving, you press more on the accelerator. More fuel goes through causing in increase in FC.
And if you have not noticed, passengers do feel uncomfortable with the vibration and shaking caused by the lack of power.
Also, please also eliminate the mentality that when you put to neutral before the traffic light, you save fuel. Some automatic cabs drivers are also guilty of this too.
Again by the law of physics, when you are in gear and braking, the engine uses the movement energy from the wheels to power the engine and therefore a modern engine like that one found in all cabs now consume absolutely no fuel at all. On the other hand, if you put neutral miles before the traffic light, the engine actually uses a bit of fuel to keep itself from stalling. Not a lot but it all adds up,
By the laws of physics, shifting to higher gear earier does not equate to saving fuel. There is such things as engine optimal range and by not driving within the engine optimium range means that the engine is not efficient = consume more fuel.
Put it this way, when you shift to a higher gear too early, your engine got no power to pick up speed, therefore it will accelerate slowly and when you find that your vehicle is not moving, you press more on the accelerator. More fuel goes through causing in increase in FC.
And if you have not noticed, passengers do feel uncomfortable with the vibration and shaking caused by the lack of power.
Also, please also eliminate the mentality that when you put to neutral before the traffic light, you save fuel. Some automatic cabs drivers are also guilty of this too.
Again by the law of physics, when you are in gear and braking, the engine uses the movement energy from the wheels to power the engine and therefore a modern engine like that one found in all cabs now consume absolutely no fuel at all. On the other hand, if you put neutral miles before the traffic light, the engine actually uses a bit of fuel to keep itself from stalling. Not a lot but it all adds up,
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Common Taxi Booking Hotline 6-DIAL-CAB
Heard over the radio news that LTA has launched a common taxi booking hotline for commuters to call cabs.
The benefit of this move is commuters will only need to call this number 6-DIAL-CAB (6-3425-222) and the system will automatically link up to 3 taxi companies for the request.
Therefore, if the first company does not have cab, the system will auto link up to the 2nd company and then to the 3rd company. This increase the chance of one getting a cab with just one telephone call.
As the normal taxi hotline for individual companies are still in operation, the taxi operators will see it as an additional source of call bookings
For people who have preference for any taxi companies, they can still book a taxi from the company directly by calling the respective hotline.
The benefit of this move is commuters will only need to call this number 6-DIAL-CAB (6-3425-222) and the system will automatically link up to 3 taxi companies for the request.
Therefore, if the first company does not have cab, the system will auto link up to the 2nd company and then to the 3rd company. This increase the chance of one getting a cab with just one telephone call.
As the normal taxi hotline for individual companies are still in operation, the taxi operators will see it as an additional source of call bookings
For people who have preference for any taxi companies, they can still book a taxi from the company directly by calling the respective hotline.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Slow lah, Uncle.
Have you noticed nowadays how taxi drivers are driving slowly on the roads. Last time, they will just overtake effortlessly, rev unnecesaary and speed readily, be it when the cabs are hired or empty. Not anymore. Now they seems to be taking their own leisurely time to cruise and sightsee the roads of Singapore.
If you have no idea of what I am talking about, let's put it this way. For my modest 1-litred car to overtake a taxi, I need to be willing to burn some petrol as well as have some good driving skills. Now, overtaking taxis is just the next thing you will do once you have start your engine.
I can only attribute this trend to one factor, THIS:
Rising Oil Price.
Diesel price went up to almost $2 per litre, originally it was less than a dollar. What makes matter worse is that the increase for diesel is a more than proportionate increase as compared with petrol. It has actually come to a level where it is alarmingly close to petrol prices ($1.93 to $2.13 is a mere $0.20 difference)
So last time, taxi drivers could just 'waste fuel' by driving fast because they know that the cost per km is much lesser than passenger cars. Not anymore with today price. With prices as expensive, they are forced to make full use of diesel and drive slowly with the sole intention of increasing fuel economy.
Is it a good thing?
If you have no idea of what I am talking about, let's put it this way. For my modest 1-litred car to overtake a taxi, I need to be willing to burn some petrol as well as have some good driving skills. Now, overtaking taxis is just the next thing you will do once you have start your engine.
I can only attribute this trend to one factor, THIS:
Rising Oil Price.
Diesel price went up to almost $2 per litre, originally it was less than a dollar. What makes matter worse is that the increase for diesel is a more than proportionate increase as compared with petrol. It has actually come to a level where it is alarmingly close to petrol prices ($1.93 to $2.13 is a mere $0.20 difference)
So last time, taxi drivers could just 'waste fuel' by driving fast because they know that the cost per km is much lesser than passenger cars. Not anymore with today price. With prices as expensive, they are forced to make full use of diesel and drive slowly with the sole intention of increasing fuel economy.
Is it a good thing?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
News: ComfortDelgro impose 30c surcharge
IN THE NEWS:
Source: Channelnewsasia Website
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/359729/1/.html
SINGAPORE : From July 17, passengers on Comfort and CityCab taxis will have to pay a 30-cent surcharge per journey.
Singapore's largest taxi group, ComfortDelGro, said this is to help its cabbies cope with increases in diesel costs.
Open market pump prices for diesel have risen by more than 50 per cent in the last six months, and ComfortDelGro said it has been subsidising the cost so that its cabbies can enjoy diesel prices at S$1.19 per litre.
But despite these subsidies, cabbies still have to cough up an average of S$15 a day extra for fuel.
So with the new surcharge, cabbies making at least 30 trips can make S$9 or more each day. But some cabbies said it is still not enough.
One of them said, "(If we get about) S$17, S$18... extra, (then) it's okay."
Others do not think the surcharge will benefit them. One cabbie said, "(It) doesn't help. (It will) frighten people from taking a taxi."
Passengers also had mixed views. One said, "I'm already taking a cab during the peak hour, so 30 cents doesn't matter actually."
Another said, "I'm not all right with that. Because basically we already have the 35 per cent surcharge for peak hour."
A third noted, "I think it's quite reasonable. At least you pay the cabbie, because I think the other surcharges, what we pay, I don't think it reaches them."
Some passengers, however, worry this will set a precedent. One passenger said, "What happens if the petrol price increases again? Are you going to increase the surcharge?"
ComfortDelGro said the surcharge will be removed when pump prices fall back to S$1.19 per litre - the market price last December.
For now, there has been no word from other taxi operators on whether they will introduce a similar surcharge. - CNA/ms
My Comments:
If you ask me, it will not work if other taxi companies does not follow. Reason being commuters can conveniently not flag for comfort taxi and flag the other company taxi to avoid surcharge. If every company follows suit, then commuters would not have a choice. I dont think it will affect too much in terms of demand as 30cent as a percentage in today's taxi price is just insignificant. On midnight for me, it is a mere 1%.
And is it realistic for Comfort to think pump prices will really drop back to S$1.19 per litre?
Source: Channelnewsasia Website
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/359729/1/.html
SINGAPORE : From July 17, passengers on Comfort and CityCab taxis will have to pay a 30-cent surcharge per journey.
Singapore's largest taxi group, ComfortDelGro, said this is to help its cabbies cope with increases in diesel costs.
Open market pump prices for diesel have risen by more than 50 per cent in the last six months, and ComfortDelGro said it has been subsidising the cost so that its cabbies can enjoy diesel prices at S$1.19 per litre.
But despite these subsidies, cabbies still have to cough up an average of S$15 a day extra for fuel.
So with the new surcharge, cabbies making at least 30 trips can make S$9 or more each day. But some cabbies said it is still not enough.
One of them said, "(If we get about) S$17, S$18... extra, (then) it's okay."
Others do not think the surcharge will benefit them. One cabbie said, "(It) doesn't help. (It will) frighten people from taking a taxi."
Passengers also had mixed views. One said, "I'm already taking a cab during the peak hour, so 30 cents doesn't matter actually."
Another said, "I'm not all right with that. Because basically we already have the 35 per cent surcharge for peak hour."
A third noted, "I think it's quite reasonable. At least you pay the cabbie, because I think the other surcharges, what we pay, I don't think it reaches them."
Some passengers, however, worry this will set a precedent. One passenger said, "What happens if the petrol price increases again? Are you going to increase the surcharge?"
ComfortDelGro said the surcharge will be removed when pump prices fall back to S$1.19 per litre - the market price last December.
For now, there has been no word from other taxi operators on whether they will introduce a similar surcharge. - CNA/ms
My Comments:
If you ask me, it will not work if other taxi companies does not follow. Reason being commuters can conveniently not flag for comfort taxi and flag the other company taxi to avoid surcharge. If every company follows suit, then commuters would not have a choice. I dont think it will affect too much in terms of demand as 30cent as a percentage in today's taxi price is just insignificant. On midnight for me, it is a mere 1%.
And is it realistic for Comfort to think pump prices will really drop back to S$1.19 per litre?
Friday, July 11, 2008
One step closer to the 300C
Unveiling the SMRT Hyundai Azera CNG
(That's the only photo I got...)
Spotted near Yio Chu Kang Area.
Does that mean the Chrysler 300C is also out on the roads already?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What's worse than flagging down a Toyota Crown
As you know, in one of my posting in March 08, me and my group of friends hated the Toyota Crown and would go to great length to not take a Crown Cab for reasons that you can refer to my previous post.
So, what could be worse than taking a crown cab?
My answer came when I flagged this:
The Nissan Cedric
It is as old as the Crown and being a Nissan (no offence to nissan fans), some of the aspects are not as good as a Toyota.
Basically, to sum up, as comparison:
Engine is noisier and lounder and coarser than the Toyota
Ride is not as good as a Crown
Interior feels like it is older / falling apart faster than a Toyota
In fact, everything feels sub-standard as compared to a Crown
It feels like a car from the pre-historial age.
Now if left with no choice, I would take a crown but if left with no choice, I would not even take a Cedric. You know what I did, I went to take a bus. At least, the ride was more comfortable.
So, what could be worse than taking a crown cab?
My answer came when I flagged this:
The Nissan Cedric
It is as old as the Crown and being a Nissan (no offence to nissan fans), some of the aspects are not as good as a Toyota.
Basically, to sum up, as comparison:
Engine is noisier and lounder and coarser than the Toyota
Ride is not as good as a Crown
Interior feels like it is older / falling apart faster than a Toyota
In fact, everything feels sub-standard as compared to a Crown
It feels like a car from the pre-historial age.
Now if left with no choice, I would take a crown but if left with no choice, I would not even take a Cedric. You know what I did, I went to take a bus. At least, the ride was more comfortable.
Cabs in Singapore
For the benefit of people who are not living in Singapore as well as for the benefit of people living in Singapore who have no idea of which cab belongs to which company, I have drafted some information as below:
Company: ComfortDelgro(Comfort)
Primary Colour: Blue
Hotline: 6552 1111
Models owned by this company: Crown, Sonata, Azera, E220, Vito, Camry
Other Information - Merged with Citycab (below).
Largest cab company in Singapore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: ComfortDelgro(Citycab)
Primary Colour: Yellow
Hotline: 6552 1111
Models owned by this company: Crown, Cedric, Sonata, Azera, E220, Vito
Other Information - Merged with Comfort(Above).
Largest cab company in Singapore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SmartCab
Primary Colour: Green
Hotline: 6485 7777
Models owned by this company: Crown, Caren, Camry, Touran, Azera
Other Information - Relatively new company, expanding rather quickly in range of models
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SMRT
Primary Colour: White
Hotline: 6555 8888
Models owned by this company: Crown, Cedric, Merc, Rodius, Chrysler 300C, Azera
Other Information - 2nd largest company after ComfortDelgro. Rather conservative until now. Bringing in Chrysler 300C. Can't wait!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: TransCab
Primary Colour: Red
Hotline: 6555 3333
Models owned by this company: Crown, Wish, E220,
Other Information - Relatively new company, expanding quickly in number of same model
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SliverCab
Primary Colour: Sliver lah
Hotline: 6363 6888
Models owned by this company: Crown, Skoda, Magentis, E220
Other Information - IMO, a rather radical company who do not want to be the same as the rest. Make things more interesting for the Singapore taxi scene.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: Yellow Top
Primary Colour: Black base with Yellow Roof
Hotline: NA
Models by this company: Crown, Cedric, Wish, Stream, Airwave, Axio, Corolla, Fielder, Liteace, Hilux, Croma, Peugt Partner.
Other Information - Notice I did not use the word 'own' under 'Models by this company'. This is most of the cabs are personal meaning they are just using the company as a name to operate the own cabs. They have no call system nor any network system. Therefore for them it is just flag down and go. Have the most interesting range of cabs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: Prime Taxi
Primary Colour: Orange / Light Blue
Hotline: 6778 0808
Models owned by this company: Wish, Axio, Fielder, Airwave, Carmy, Estima, Stepwagon
Other Information - Only company to not have crown in the fleet. Only company to use CNG for all their cabs. Their cabs are nothing we can ever imagine it being a cab in the past.
Company: ComfortDelgro(Comfort)
Primary Colour: Blue
Hotline: 6552 1111
Models owned by this company: Crown, Sonata, Azera, E220, Vito, Camry
Other Information - Merged with Citycab (below).
Largest cab company in Singapore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: ComfortDelgro(Citycab)
Primary Colour: Yellow
Hotline: 6552 1111
Models owned by this company: Crown, Cedric, Sonata, Azera, E220, Vito
Other Information - Merged with Comfort(Above).
Largest cab company in Singapore.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SmartCab
Primary Colour: Green
Hotline: 6485 7777
Models owned by this company: Crown, Caren, Camry, Touran, Azera
Other Information - Relatively new company, expanding rather quickly in range of models
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SMRT
Primary Colour: White
Hotline: 6555 8888
Models owned by this company: Crown, Cedric, Merc, Rodius, Chrysler 300C, Azera
Other Information - 2nd largest company after ComfortDelgro. Rather conservative until now. Bringing in Chrysler 300C. Can't wait!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: TransCab
Primary Colour: Red
Hotline: 6555 3333
Models owned by this company: Crown, Wish, E220,
Other Information - Relatively new company, expanding quickly in number of same model
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: SliverCab
Primary Colour: Sliver lah
Hotline: 6363 6888
Models owned by this company: Crown, Skoda, Magentis, E220
Other Information - IMO, a rather radical company who do not want to be the same as the rest. Make things more interesting for the Singapore taxi scene.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: Yellow Top
Primary Colour: Black base with Yellow Roof
Hotline: NA
Models by this company: Crown, Cedric, Wish, Stream, Airwave, Axio, Corolla, Fielder, Liteace, Hilux, Croma, Peugt Partner.
Other Information - Notice I did not use the word 'own' under 'Models by this company'. This is most of the cabs are personal meaning they are just using the company as a name to operate the own cabs. They have no call system nor any network system. Therefore for them it is just flag down and go. Have the most interesting range of cabs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Company: Prime Taxi
Primary Colour: Orange / Light Blue
Hotline: 6778 0808
Models owned by this company: Wish, Axio, Fielder, Airwave, Carmy, Estima, Stepwagon
Other Information - Only company to not have crown in the fleet. Only company to use CNG for all their cabs. Their cabs are nothing we can ever imagine it being a cab in the past.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Guess who is the new king?
We all know that once upon a time, the king of choice of taxis is the Toyota Crown, for being all obvious reasons.
They were:
- Spacious (just take note of how generous the leg room is when you next take a crown and compare it with a Sonata, which is a much bigger car)
- Comfortable (just look at how much they cushion the ride on the road)
- Powerful
- Accomodating (Boot space and such)
- Reliability (Tell me how often you seen a broken down Crown taxi pulling over at the side of the road)
- Fuel Efficient (It is a Toyota!)
In fact they still are now, just that there are other better car around...
Be it the consumers or the peeps from the cab company love the Toyota Crown and susbsequently, not surprisingly, the crown became the dafault choice of taxis on the roads. Every taxi companies out there started to buy the Toyota Crown, replaced a Crown with a Crown and wanted nothing but the Crown.
The Toyota Crown - The old king of taxis
Pulling you back to the Present, environmental factors have changed. Oil price reached record high price, technology improves (auto becomes as efficient as the manual) and people want something more confortable.
This translate to people switching to automatic cabs, increasingly more cabs using CNG and people prefering cabs which take them home without annoying them.
So someone has to take over, and NO, it is not the Sonata....
Why?
Because to be the King, the model has to be the first choice for taxi companies and from my observation, except for Comfort / CityCab (which is the same company), no other companies use the Sonata (you realised? Despite being very common, Sonata cab is either in comfort blue or citycab yellow). Therefore, it cannot be acclaimed as the king. I am not giving it the honour just because one big company bought many of them.
So, if it is not the Sonata, who is the King?
The TOYOTA WISH!!!
Why?
See, the 1st Wish that started the whole thing is a CNG yellow top cab, then Prime Cab took in a couple more and then only recently, Transcab brought into a lot more. Have you notice how the streets today are filled with red colour Toyota Wish? (below)
What more, it is automatic, it is a Toyota, it is powered by CNG, with space for lugguage even with the huge CNG tank and it is relatively spacious and refined.
It is therefore the new King of taxi on the road in time to come.
Not convinced? Email me.
The Toyota Wish - The new enthroned king of taxis
The King is dead, long live the King...
They were:
- Spacious (just take note of how generous the leg room is when you next take a crown and compare it with a Sonata, which is a much bigger car)
- Comfortable (just look at how much they cushion the ride on the road)
- Powerful
- Accomodating (Boot space and such)
- Reliability (Tell me how often you seen a broken down Crown taxi pulling over at the side of the road)
- Fuel Efficient (It is a Toyota!)
In fact they still are now, just that there are other better car around...
Be it the consumers or the peeps from the cab company love the Toyota Crown and susbsequently, not surprisingly, the crown became the dafault choice of taxis on the roads. Every taxi companies out there started to buy the Toyota Crown, replaced a Crown with a Crown and wanted nothing but the Crown.
The Toyota Crown - The old king of taxis
Pulling you back to the Present, environmental factors have changed. Oil price reached record high price, technology improves (auto becomes as efficient as the manual) and people want something more confortable.
This translate to people switching to automatic cabs, increasingly more cabs using CNG and people prefering cabs which take them home without annoying them.
So someone has to take over, and NO, it is not the Sonata....
Why?
Because to be the King, the model has to be the first choice for taxi companies and from my observation, except for Comfort / CityCab (which is the same company), no other companies use the Sonata (you realised? Despite being very common, Sonata cab is either in comfort blue or citycab yellow). Therefore, it cannot be acclaimed as the king. I am not giving it the honour just because one big company bought many of them.
So, if it is not the Sonata, who is the King?
The TOYOTA WISH!!!
Why?
See, the 1st Wish that started the whole thing is a CNG yellow top cab, then Prime Cab took in a couple more and then only recently, Transcab brought into a lot more. Have you notice how the streets today are filled with red colour Toyota Wish? (below)
What more, it is automatic, it is a Toyota, it is powered by CNG, with space for lugguage even with the huge CNG tank and it is relatively spacious and refined.
It is therefore the new King of taxi on the road in time to come.
Not convinced? Email me.
The Toyota Wish - The new enthroned king of taxis
The King is dead, long live the King...
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