Don’t think I’ll be able to get my car to fit within the fuel economy requirements in time, have to sit this one out.
I am currently on the nightshift and I guess in the next 12-16 hours I wont go to Automation anyway. Will continue after that then
1 Like
Haha, that’s a good idea but the reality is I am lying with fever in bed. 
and I have too much headache to test the late entrants in a serious way.
Here a picture of the Blaire Taxi as it was missed by its manufactor.
And here is why at least some utility is necessary - you never know where your passenger wants to go,
Aaaand… I managed to import the Vairio wagon. So all are complete, finally.
2 Likes
The Beam Test procedure has the following challenges (example is the Senator by @PengiWanKenobi) :
- Overall handling and performance in city, highway and country roads (up to 40 points).
-
Handling on different surfaces (20 P max)
-
Road of Torture - durability (15 P Max)
-
Crash test (10 P Max)
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Maxton is glad their cars aren’t exempt from a good schlacking, and are looking forward to seeing their only prototypes back after testing has completed.
time for some TAXI MAYHEM making an entry if its not to late
Sorry, but now it is too late as only three points are left:
- crash test
- highway test
- service cost comparison.
Here some more impressions
4 Likes
Finally - RESULTS. I start with ranks 19 - 16.
Rank 19: Enderjed. 184 points. Frunia
The only wagon in the contest has rather strange looks. But that is not why it finishes last. Its 1.3 l4 carbutetor engine is too weak, does not fulfil the emission standards and is mated to a terribly geared 3-speed automatic that makes this snug a drunkard. The car has no mufflers and does not meet the safety requirements. At least its suspension is well tuned, allowing for good handling and durability, absorbing most bumps. That alone and the practicality are not enough not to finish last. We do not recommend to buy it.
Rank 18: Blaire Taxicab. 196 points. Gasmea
The car looks and feels unsophisticated, but that might be a cause of its age, being on sale since 1984 without changes. Its 1.8 l4 has a mild turbo and very low compression and a mechanical injection that rises maintenance costs. It is not too sluggish but you can not expect performance. The comfort is a little low as it feels already dusty, but the handling is very secure. It is stable on mud and ice even without ABS and ETC - but the overall price is too high for the score it delivers. It is time for an uptated trim model to keep up with the competitors. It should go with an automatic transmission, as few Gasmean taxi drivers are able to drive a stickshift like the Blaire has.
Rank 16: Brunator BCT 4005. 214 points. Frunia.
It looks modern - maybe a bit too modern - and goes for an 1.8 l4 as well. It accellerates way slower than the Blaire, it even feels underpowered, although it can theoretically reach a respectable top speed - but this is rare in taxi use. The whole gearing is messed up in the daily test drive and the handling can not convince us. On mixed surfaces it is not bad but not overwhelming. Practicality and service costs are good. More refinement is needed.
1 Like
And last place DOES’NT go to the Jidosha?
Color me surprised.
1 Like
Rank 15: Maxton Senator FE, 216 Points (Frunia)
The Senator looks very taxi-like and has a good size between compact cars and large sedans. So far, so good. Drivability and comfort are rather low, the handling is dominated by a rear axle that is really alive, especially when driving on ice and mud. But taxis should not be sports cars. The engine, a 2.5 l6, is responsive and has low emissions, Reliability and service costs are excellent - now we are in the taxi requirements. The car is overall not bad if it is in the hands of an experienced driver.
Rank 14: Maxton Senator FE, 226 Points (Gasmea)
It is basically the same car as its frunian version, but with a larger engine variant (3.0L) and more comfort. The stronger engine has to get along with the same suspension which seems a little -eh… surprised - when faced to the whole power. This is why the handling is even worse, it tends to spin when accelerating in a corner and is harder to countersteer than the Frunian version. Overall not a bad cabbie, but difficult to handle.
Rank 13: Bauer M-Series, 229 Points (Frunia)
Like Maxton, Bauer offers the same car with different trims and powertrains, in this case it is a very modern 2,5 i6 mated to a traditional chassis.
The Bauer is really durable, dashing over the torture road unharmed. The maintenance costs are very low, running costs and reliability are more than just bearable. The handling is also dominated by oversteering, but the Bauers are not as nervous as their Maxton counterparts, especially on mud and ice. What the Bauer M for Frunia really lacks are strenghts in the test results to egalize the one or other lower score.
Rank 13: BDM Citizen, 229 Points
The BDM Citizen offers excellent comfort and its 2.5 l6 gives the whole thing a decent push foward, but this results in annoying wheelspin when accalerating from zero. The handling is indifferent and a rather dull, Besides that, there is nothing really to mention positive or negative. It fails totally on the torture road and fuel consumption is higher than allowed - otherwise it could have reached a better rank here. Overall, it is strong in comfortable and secure highway driving if the fuel cost is not the first thing you worry about, but in narrow cities it feels unrefined.
4 Likes
above 13th… wow
Y’know what… if it was good but the only problem was that it wasn’t good enough, with no particular weaknesses, then I’m pretty satisfied 
Also the rank 19 car looks like a Cominturismo… not many people are going to know what I’m talking about, but to those who do… umm… here, have a gold star 
1 Like
Rank 12: Jidosha-Hino F848, Gasmea, 234 Points
That car looks and feels like a relic from the 70s. Its rather uneconomical 2.9 l6 is barely able to push that heavy car foward, needing 15 seconds to 100 kph and barely reaching 170 kph. Its super soft velours seats and chrome ornaments show its age as well as the soft and undynamic suspension, the car is always in movement, if not to left and right, it bounces up and down. The rear end is constantly alive, but not tending to heavy oversteer. The other side of the medal is that this car is almost bullet-proof. Neither curbstones nor the road of torture really impress this car. The reliability is excellent and it is cheap to maintain as the technology of this car is everything but complex. If there is need for a rough guy to handle the job, the Jidosha is still worth a try.
Rank 11: Bauer M-Series Gasmea, 235 Points
Its basically the same as the Frunian variant. The automatic transmisson allows for better comfort, but the chassis is still not able to keep up with the new engine. When the Jidosha is a concrete cookie, this is a Texan steak grilled medium rare. Not for everybody’s taste, but you can not say it’s bad, A smaller engine could have helped a lot, as most power gets lost in wheelspin anyway.
Rank 10: CMT Regent CX, Frunia, 248 Points
CMT has invested a lot of work to turn a 1975 design into a modern-day taxi. Many things make a good taxi out of it: Spacious interior, neutral handling that never tells you it has RWD but is overall rather boring, large trunk, high trim level. It even features all modern day driving aids and an airbag. The service costs are surprisingly low as there is no real innovation under the renovated but still somewhat outdated sheetmetal. The modern 1.8 l4 engine mated to a 5-speed manual is really good but feels like poverty in this former luxury battleship. A good choice for conservative people.
2 Likes
Well hey atleast I entered, I may have gotten last AGAIN but atleast I have actually not been binned!
Rank 9: Franklin Marshall Horizon., 253 Points
Another car with no particular highlight but with a solid overall performance. The Horizon is good to your pocket, very low maintenance cost and an affordable price as well as returning excellent mileage. The 2.2 l6 engine delivers a reasonnable amount of power, not being really fast, but delivering enough punch in everyday driving. It is slightly sporty, practical and there is no real lack in comfort and utility. The driving is not that convincing, driven slowly it runs good, but when you push it to the limit it oversteers and you need a calm hand on an icy road to avoid spinning. The torture road should be avoided as well. Sophisticated suspension and modern driving aids - that is not delivered by this budget car. Otherwise it is worth a look for those with a tighter wallet.
Rank 8: CMT L24 TX (Gasmea), 256 points
A classic Gasmean taxi - the L-Class is quite common in this service since the first generation starting in 1975. For 1990, a special model with a bad-road-tuned suspension and a rather lowtech engine will compete in this segment. While the L-Class has normally rather sporty handling, the new setup reveals its rather complex front suspension mated to a coil spring solid rear axle. The L24 TX has a light understeer on the front and a light oversteer in the rear - it lacks harmony when driving, but is overall very controllable even for unexperienced drivers. Safety and comfort are excellent, revealing that this is a real premium car. Materials are nice and the interior is among the most spacious, making it a pleasure to be a passenger. Practicality and utility are even more strengths of the L-Class. The simple 2.4 V6 engine, a new version of a 1965 design and developed only for this taxi variant, has been a bad choice. Thanks to the heavy weight of the large and solid car, the L24 accelerates dull, returns only acceptable mileage and produces more emissions than newer designs. If you look for a premium car that pleases its passengers, is unharmed by the worst road conditions and can serve as a workhorse, the L24 TX is your car. But its price and consumption are really a thumb down for those who want a taxi that is cheap to run.
Rank 7: CMT Hypro LC (Frunia), 257 points
The same engine as the Regent, but this time in a new, contemporary compact sedan instead of an elder luxury sedan. It feels a lot quicker, handling almost too direct, feeling edgy sometimes. The car is not expensive but thrifty and quick, but rear seats and trunk are rather tight for a taxi. Although being nimble, the comfort is better than in some larger cars. The road of torture may be a number too large for this light car, but dirt and ice are nothing you need to be afraid of, the Hypro is always secure, The 4-speed automatic transmission works well together with the engine, but the car has slight disadvantages in safety and service costs. Yep, it is small, light and modern. Hard, if not impossible to beat in inner city use, but everywhere else it is not scoring a lot better than its counterpart, the Regent.
Rank 6: DMV Quasar Fleet.Gasmea, 264 Points
The only van in this competition is very versatile, offering the best interior and cargo space. Its comfort is pretty ok and can keep up with sedans. Especially for disabled passengers with wheelchair or as airport taxi with many suitcases the DMV is the car to choose. The engine is an old-fashioned 4.2L V6, making this car the fastest of all. The heavy engine results in not very impressive fuel consumption and terrible understeering, the electronic driving aids are always working hard on the limit which is quite annoying. The car is to a certain point durable, but the torture road stops the racing van.
Except all the electronic stuff trying to keep the car on the road the whole construction is very conservative, resulting in low maintenance costs - good for fleets. For those who need the practicality a van offers or a lot of engine power the DMV is the car to choose.
Rank 5: Fuji Coherence 2.4, 266 Points
Again a car that looks like a fleet vehicle, but in a positive way. Serious, plain, no experiments and practical. Its drivability in normal use is excellent, its service costs low, its price really affordable. Although on the market since 1988, the Coherence still keeps up well in the field of competitors, mainly because it is not derived from a consumer vehicle and completely designed as rental car, taxi or municipal cop car. The 2.4 l4 engine is refined and delivers steady power without neglecting the low end. The handling can be described as unwilling when pushed hard, it is understeering in a way as it defends its driver to stop him or her driving too ambitious. Although not featuring latest electronic driving aids, ice and dirt is nothing to worry about. This can not be said for the torture road that damages the car severely.
Rank 4: Brunator, BCT T6005, Gasmea, 270 Points
Now this car looks really sporty - not very common for a taxi. The driving experience keeps what the look promises, The drivability scores are well above average, the handling is really fun, mostly neutral and only slightly understeering. The 2.7 l6 engine pleases with decent power and quick throttle response. Although the car is quite modern the reliability is very good, and it performs acceptable on the torture road. Anything wrong with the driver’s choice? The consumption and the service costs are not really low, but the car is not too expensive for its overall score. Buy it if you want to have fun when driving foreign people all through the region.
almost at the podium, but i am happy to get up to the 4th position with one vehicle, and also having a good review
Nice. 5th isn’t bad at all. The Coherence wasn’t actually designed as a fleet vehicle - just that trim. Surprised it did so well with 2 stats under the minimum, but I guess drivability min-max worked out. LSD in a taxi gang
100th post and now the great final.
Rank 3: Washington Xenon, 273 Points
Bronze for the Washington Xenon, modern-looking car with a 2.1 liter inline 5-cylinder, that feels a little unwilling and delivering rather poor accelleration. The handling is very secure, good for drivability, but after pushed to the limit the car tends to understeer, but you can get it back with clever braking. It is very easy to drive under all circumstances, so all drivers should get along with it.
It is collecting points with reasonnable price, good comfort and easy maintenance. All in all together this car is worth a try as it is incredibly easy to handle in daily use. The unmotivated engine with only average mileage might be the reason that the performance is not enough for the silver medal.
Rank 2: Marquez 120, 281 Points
A real surprise is that the cheapest car finishes second. It is a lot cheaper than all competitors, even less than 10.000 $ are unbeatable. To please Uncle Scrooge the car even has low consumption although its 2.5 inline 5 delivers a good power, never feeling sluggish and is very cheap to maintain. Where is the thumb down?
Its handling is really boring, constantly understeering without any effort to be suitable for more than daily commuting. The soft suspension is not as durable as we thought, but at least as comfortable as a flying carpet. Well, it gets a lot foward in the competition due to the price which counts a lot for the judging, but it features good seats, enough interior space - the Marquez is not bad at all and a real bargain both in purchase and running cost.
Aaaaannnnddd… the winner is:
NISMA-TREK ECOCAB, 292 POINTS
This car looks gasmean, but its specs are unusual. It features a 1300ccm turbocharged inline four - and we were very, very sceptical. This dwarf could never provide enough power to accellerate such a giant car (length over five meter) on the highway or a mountain road. But the sophisticated engine is responsive, lively and much better than expected, the whole car is as quick as the Gasmean Bauer cab, but needing far under 8 liter per 100 kilometers - astonishing! The turbo provides some low end support, but is generally balanced for economy.
The front and rear independent suspension is well tuned, the car is very neutral and handles perfect. The comfort is the best of all cars here, excellent seats, large interior, smooth ride. The suspension can, although being so comlex, bear the one or other hard bump. It is neither cheap nor expensive, both in purchase and maintenance, but in relation to its performance the price is nothing to critizise. Really, no weakness? Not exaclty. Its brakes are not vented and the pad type is modified to brake as comfortable as possible. Especially in Utah or the Southern Californian highway roads, this results in excessive brake fade. As you can not shift down with the automatic, this is a problem downhill. This should be fixed before we call it the perfect taxi cab.
3 Likes