Close your eyes. Think of a New York taxi. What’s the first car that pops into your head? Of course, that would be the Checker Marathon Ford Crown Victoria.
Sadly, now is your last chance to ride in a yellow Crown Victoria taxi in New York. You see, the New York Taxi Commission has one stupid rule: a car being used as a taxi cannot, under any circumstances, be used as a taxi once it is 8 years old. It doesn’t matter if its just been refurbished to as-new condition. Once its reached its 8th birthday, its out. With the Ford Crown Victoria being discontinued in August 2011, only a handful of Crown Victoria’s are still being used as cabs in NYC, and they’ll be gone in a few months. Replaced by flimsy crossovers, or a Prius.
Unfortunately, that’s all they can be replaced with. The New York Taxi commission decides what can and can’t be used as a taxi. The Dodge Charger would be a worthy replacement- with the Hemi V8, they’re very reliable, and are slightly more efficient than the Crown Victoria. The suspension in the Pursuit models are very sturdy too. But that won’t happen, because the New York Taxi commission forgot to approve it. But that’s fine, because they remembered to approve the VW Jetta.
Because clearly, the VW Jetta was made to be a taxi.
Yellow NYC taxi’s will continue to exist. But they won’t be as spacious, as comfortable, or anywhere near as reliable as the Crown Victoria. Just as importantly, they won’t be iconic. People from all over the world want to experience New York, and part of that experience is hailing a cab. They won’t care so much when they find out an NYC cab is the same crossover that their grandmother drives.
So, this is it then. Your last chance to hail a true New York Taxi. Do it while you still can.
(all images taken from google)