I traverse the historic streets of London bringing you the best places to visit in London, the best things to do in London and the best places to eat in London so that you can experience real London life from a true born Londoner who works in this great City as London Taxi Drivers (Black Cabs) & Tour Guide.
Bit of a long winded question. Soz in advance. Passed out in 2015. Gave badge back in 2020. But recently got my badge back. How long is it for a tag now? Is the office still in Newell Road. Thanks in advance and hope you are well.
As a ex merchant seafarer used to open water this gives me a feeling of crushing and anxiety.How you can do this everyday is beyond me,you must surely have to switch off because it looks so mindless and tragic.
Parts/getting tx4 serviced repaired going to become harder and harder. If you’re going to work next 5 years just lease a txe on PCP service package no worries.
Hiya Jamie, I would be brutal in your assessment of what you go for next. Everything comes down how much that cab is gonna make you per hour! Its a numbers game regardless. As soon as emotion comes into what your doing mate that's where you'll fall foul. Let's say for instance you became ill and your cab had to be sold you need that motor to give you enough to cover you so your not out of pocket. I've learnt this with my business you have to think it's not your baby it's a capital asset which you can eventually sell on to make money. As James Sinclair says innovate or evaporate! Do whatever you can to make yourself a successful business, apps,tours,weddings, contract work if it makes you money don't let others tell you it's wrong for you it's wrong for them they aint driving your cab or paying you a wage! What ever you do fella do it without emotion!
You could get a white wrap on the cab probably cheaper than what LEVC sell the white one for. What is your 5/10 year plan? Buying one is only probably worth it if you plan to work for the next 5 years. Are you looking to wind down or continue at the current rate? Just try and remove the emotional element from it 😊 We all get shiny object syndrome and all taxis will yield the same money.
Keep the TX4, sounds like you have something special with it, finance a used car for your wife, it'll be a lot cheaper than the LEVC lease/finance payments
personally if i need a taxi and line cabs i will not use the new ev ones im more happy jump older all diesel, older the better even if metro cab they seem to be rare these days. i like engine noise what ever it is
It’s a no brainier buying a new cab it’s all off set against tax if your freehold your be paying more tax to ride around in a old cab I only work part time and pay no tax cos my costs wipe out any tax owed
Make a list of the the options, costs for and against Do nothing keep the motor you have until it gives up Give up on the Idea of the white txe that's forcing your hand now if you want out within a couple of years or so If you are planning on staying in the game long term then you need to cross the bridge anyway sometime why put it off jump in and get the white motor The txe is a lovely smooth drive once you adjust and get settled into it much better than a tx4 a new warranty is piece of mind but you pay more for it a hybrid electric petrol is the way to go although if you can cash in your old motor then you are quids in to begin Photographs of your motor doesn't put money in your pocket Never get attached to a motor they will always let you down eventually Be lucky
I think the problem is you’re too emotionally tied to the taxi you have . The main plus of getting a txe you didn’t even mention is the savings you’ll make every week on fuel ! Could easily be £100 a week saving and as for whether you’ll get the finance they can give you an answer over the Phone within couple hours . Need to face facts electric IS the future of taxis whether we like it or not !
Jon you are possibly right about the emotional attachment, and yes I forgot to mention the potential fuel savings, when I filmed this I did it have the decision on the finance and hadn’t really made my up my mind either way, but I was cleared for the finance before I put this out but still hadn’t made up my mind
no its not if you do not spend many fare charging. its a fraud a money grab that all it is. LEVC Vista ; Price: £62,719 (with Plug-in Taxi Grant) ; Price as tested: £67,129 you can go a very long way for £60k by that time you prob be retired with change over . and far better than funding WW3 as china has plans to invade Taiwan that trigger usa to get involved also means we will be at war with china, buying a Chinese car you funding that and death of many thousands
If you have to buy one eventually and can afford one then get one. The black one does look smart to be white. I’ve seen ones with sponsors on? Do they get paid much for that ?
I could but the cost would be prohibitive for a decent job, probably about £5000-£8000. Plus I already own an unlicensed white TX4 that I use for weddings. Clients are asking for white electric TXe’s
i had the same problem many years ago i had sold my cab moved to Toronto and my wife wanted to come back to uk i had no money and no home so i leased a taxi and bought the first house i liked and in the long run i ended up better than before but they were all big decisions
