Possibly the last ride in a G6E taxi

whynot · 12-09-2019, 03:00 PM

Ended up with a 2012 G6E out of the taxi lotto for the ride home from the airport the other night. I am seeing fewer and fewer of these once prevalent combos on the road.

Struck up a conversation with the taxi driver. He has been driving taxis for the last 22 years. All Fords, mainly Falcon wagons. The G6E was going to be sold shortly have done 680 000 kms. What struck me about this G6E was how tight it was. How well it had been treated. No rattles or squeaks. No drone from the rear differential. No shudder from the front rotors on brake application. And judging from the driver’s hands and the movement of the car, no slop in the steering. (Actually, for a cabbie, he was a good driver. Smooth and steady on the controls. Kept his mind on the job and steered down the centre of his lane ….)

The driver said that his next car will be a Hybrid Camry. I must admit feeling sad watching this bit of Ford history go by. They were good cars in their day.

chris.j · 12-09-2019, 03:19 PM

Seeing all kinds of different taxis here now in Melbourne, Hilux & Prado being a couple of the more interesting ones!

Vesper Martini · 12-09-2019, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.j

Seeing all kinds of different taxis here now in Melbourne, Hilux & Prado being a couple of the more interesting ones!

Taxis or Ubers? - big difference

Vesper Martini · 12-09-2019, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whynot

The driver said that his next car will be a Hybrid Camry. I must admit feeling sad watching this bit of Ford history go by. They were good cars in their day.

they often put the Camry Hybrid on LPG too

chris.j · 12-09-2019, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

Taxis or Ubers? - big difference

Yep, the ones with Taxi down the side and a funny little white hat on the roof with Taxi written on it are definitely taxis....

Brazen · 12-09-2019, 07:01 PM

Hilux taxi? Would be a laugh to see that

Although with the death of the big durable station wagon. A Hilux with a canopy would probably be good for the airport trip with large suitcases

**Jastel** · 12-09-2019, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whynot

Ended up with a 2012 G6E out of the taxi lotto for the ride home from the airport the other night. I am seeing fewer and fewer of these once prevalent combos on the road.

Struck up a conversation with the taxi driver. He has been driving taxis for the last 22 years. All Fords, mainly Falcon wagons. The G6E was going to be sold shortly have done 680 000 kms. What struck me about this G6E was how tight it was. How well it had been treated. No rattles or squeaks. No drone from the rear differential. No shudder from the front rotors on brake application. And judging from the driver’s hands and the movement of the car, no slop in the steering. (Actually, for a cabbie, he was a good driver. Smooth and steady on the controls. Kept his mind on the job and steered down the centre of his lane ….)

The driver said that his next car will be a Hybrid Camry. I must admit feeling sad watching this bit of Ford history go by. They were good cars in their day.

Actually I have noticed more of them in big cities, especially Falcon wagons coming back now there are no age limits anymore.
I often get comments of "finally a real car" when they get into my Falcons.

Ben73 · 12-09-2019, 07:44 PM

I have recently sen a g6e taxi quite a few times. it's unusual because you don't see them around here much at all.
Last time I was in a Ford Taxi was probably like 2014

happy1 · 12-09-2019, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whynot

680 000 kms. What struck me about this G6E was how tight it was. How well it had been treated. No rattles or squeaks. No drone from the rear differential. No shudder from the front rotors on brake application.

I have been passenger in a large amount of FG taxies while at work. Some of them were horribly worn out with all kinds of suspension problems, knocks, and even instability while attempting to drive in a straight line.

The one you describe must have been exceptionally well maintained. It must have been an owner-driver, instead of the usual 'lease to random drivers'.

Cheers,

roKWiz · 13-09-2019, 07:27 AM

Sorry to see that Silvercab one on the news, crushed under a tree that fell.
Owner Op said it was uninsured.

Citroënbender · 13-09-2019, 07:35 AM

I was told (after being rear-ended by a cab that shunted me into another car) that many are self-insured.

Vesper Martini · 13-09-2019, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.j

Yep, the ones with Taxi down the side and a funny little white hat on the roof with Taxi written on it are definitely taxis....

A Prado? ..Pictures Please..

chris.j · 13-09-2019, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bevsta007

A Prado? ..Pictures Please..

I work in the same street in Tullamarine as the Taxi Inspection place, so get to see a few different Taxi's go up & down the street.
I'll try and snap one for you next time.

Big_Daz · 13-09-2019, 02:14 PM

I actually had an Ego FG G6E as my uber last week... Was pleasantly surprised when i realised what I was getting.. Beats the normal Small SUV (Sportage or Outlander) that I normally get... I never sit in the back of my VF2 (Obviously) so this was a good reminder of just how comfy and spacious these big aussies really are..

Crazy Dazz · 13-09-2019, 07:52 PM

Still get B series wagons in Perth

fiestaz · 13-09-2019, 08:29 PM

Still see B series wagons in sydney. But geez they are looking real tired.

malazn mafia · 14-09-2019, 04:20 AM

I personally let other customers at the taxi rank go in front of me, so I don’t have to ride in a Camry. I dread the day when there’s no other option

**DJR-351** · 14-09-2019, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

I personally let other customers at the taxi rank go in front of me, so I don’t have to ride in a Camry. I dread the day when there’s no other option

Chances are you will be standing around Brisbane Airport taxi rank for a considerable amount of time doing that, but those that do want to get home will thank you....

**Jastel** · 14-09-2019, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

I personally let other customers at the taxi rank go in front of me, so I don’t have to ride in a Camry. I dread the day when there’s no other option

No need to do this, just go to the car/driver you like.

Taxis can pick customers, passengers can pick drivers/cars.
Happens to me regularly as I drive a Falcon and am not from you know where.

Only problem is sometimes he cant get out until the others go due to kerbs and rails etc...

EBSXR6 · 15-09-2019, 02:09 AM

I got a Camry Taxi recently and the driver was saying he preferred the Falcon.
The Falcon seating is better, he is more exhausted and sore after a shift in the Camry than the Falcon.

theunfairadvant · 16-09-2019, 12:32 AM

The new FG X Falcon taxi is nice and good looking.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

whynot · 16-09-2019, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theunfairadvant

The new FG X Falcon taxi is nice and good looking.

Personally, I think you are kidding yourself. Nothing can bet the AU Falcon as a taxi once production restarts. Vinyl seats. Retrofitted with the trusty 3-speed BW gearbox (with column selector). And a touch of class by replacing the original Forté grill with that from a Futura. ;)

Vesper Martini · 17-09-2019, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris.j

I work in the same street in Tullamarine as the Taxi Inspection place, so get to see a few different Taxi's go up & down the street.
I'll try and snap one for you next time.

Still hanging out for that Prado Taxi pic, Ill settle for the Hilux if you can find one.
I know their common place in Thailand, but its pretty interesting to use one here.