Happy Easter

Easter Sunday on rate 3 I love it. Also there didn't seem to be many cabs out there tonight. Most of them Either spending the day with their family's. Or travelling like some I know to see the love of their lives.

Anyway a Good night work wise. Picked up these four guys in Charlotte street, Wanting to go to the White house hotel in Albany street. They were most impressed by the cab and enquired if they could hire me for the day tomorrow and how much. I Gave them an hourly price they were more than happy with. And a business card to call me If they wanted me. Whether anything comes from it remains to be seen though.

Not long after dropping off at the White house I picked up this guy in Rathbone place that wanted Brixton. He got out by the station in Brixton. It was around about Midnight by this time so I was looking to get a Radio Job home. So I headed back towards Vauxhall bridge. As I was coming around the Vauxhall one-way System I was Hailed by this young couple who asked for a price to Staines. So I got the postcode off them to ascertain the mileage from the Sat-nav. Times that by three and Hey Presto your price as near as dam it. They were happy and so was I, because I knew as soon as I dropped that it was around the M25 and home. O'Happy Days

The trip around the M25 was a real pleasure in the Vito it cruises effortlessly. Also I am beginning to notice the saving I'm making in fuel costs. Yes its safe to say its growing on me.

So to wrap it all up Id like to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

Not the usual Saturday Night Diplomacy

Saturdays nights driving a cab around the streets of London. Can often call for a bit of Diplomacy on behalf of the Cabbie. Humouring an aggressive drunk bending your ear with the biggest load of old crap that you re not even remotely interested in. "Yeah Yeah WoW thats Amazing, How cool is that". Agreeing with just about everything and anything with a Drunk Who's a Legend in his own mind.Is about as tedious as it Gets.

But what about when the Aggression comes from a stone cold sober. Officer of the diplomatic police force. Who's bending your ear about the biggest load of old crap you've ever heard of.
Well that's exactly what happened to me tonight. I picked up a fare in Fulham road by Bibendum's Two guys going to Nizomi's in Beauchamp place. I was chatting to Carlos at the time on my Hands free.
Who so happened to be coming down Beauchamp place in the opposite direction at the time.

As I was pulling up to drop off outside Nizomi's. I noticed a red Diplomatic police car behind me. So I made sure I pulled in tight to the kerb so he could pass without Hindrance. When I came to a halt I had the handbrake on within seconds and the doors open. All of a sudden the blue light came on with a quick burst of the siren. I thought he must of got an emergency call to answer.

But he pulled up alongside me blocking the road. And said to me what did I think I was up to. "Dropping off a fare" says I. "Well you shouldn't be stopping here" he says. "I'm doing my Job" I said. "Well you should stop somewhere else" "Like Where" He looks up and down the road and replies "Well you shouldn't stop here" I said " for a diplomatic Policeman your not being very Diplomatic". I think at that moment he realised How petty the whole thing was and he just drove off.

Carlos was able to see and hear everything And agreed How petty it all was.
Well it takes all sorts and with all the drunks about tonight. that was the only bit of trouble I had the whole night.
Anyway Be Lucky and Be Safe.

More of the Vito

In the rear On both sides,,,,,This a cup Holder on the left And an Ashtray on Right.

In the rear both sides........... A twelve Volt power point for those Laptops/Mobile phones.

And In the front........................ The handbrake/Foot brake

The headlight switch on Top. Underneath that the switch to operate the rear steering. And below that the Handle you have to pull to release the Handbrake.

This is the rear Window fully Opened.

Using the Wheelchair ramp Part I

Using the Wheelchair ramp part II

Interior Photo's of my new Vito

Not a very good photo. I will have to take again in daylight.
This was taken with the door open.

This second one shows the rear Three seats. The Interior is very similar to the Tx4

And the three tip seats.

Check out the leather drivers seat. Fitted as standard in the Vito.

And the cockpit. The little Button Right of the steering wheel Underneath the headlight switch. Is the one you have to press to operate the rear steer.

Vito 9 Day's Old. Am i Unique....?

I left home at 7pm tonight. It can take me anywhere between 30/40 mins to get into an area where you stand any chance of trapping a fare. As Iv said before. I drive in on the M1 from Junction 5. Tonight I decided to try something different. I Turned off the Hendon way and went up through Hampstead. I was hailed by this Russian looking woman with two young children. outside Hampstead Tube. Now she wants to go to Highgate west hill. But would like to stop off at a toy store on the way. The nearest I could think of was at Brent Cross, Toys R us. But she said it was too far. And was there not one in Highgate. No I'm afraid there isn't. Under my breath saying if you hang around long enough they might build one for you.

Anyway after dropping off in Highgate. I drove down through kentish town. Across into Camden. Up The top of Delancey Street Via Jamestown rd and Arlington rd. Down Albany st. Across into Great Portland st. Oxford circus, Berkeley Sq, Hamilton place.
The Hilton Was full with cabs including both feed ranks.... South carriage drive I get flashing headlights from a colleague driving in the opposite direction. Toes up there's Pc plod stood with his Speed gun pointed at me doing 20mph. Anyway down Exhibition rd And finally onto the South Kensington rank. 15mins later and a good hour after dropping my last fare. I get off to Prince of Wales drive in Battersea. A German couple with two young children. Now he would like the Southwest corner of the road so could I go Via Albert bridge. The moment I had been dreading That Dodgy 6'6" on Albert bridge. I got through pretty easily. But as Carlos says. I haven't really done it yet because I approached it head on. And not turning left onto it from the embankment.

Anyway after returning back north of the river. Via Chelsea bridge I hasten to add. I trapped the first of two North Finchley's for tonight. The latter one from Tooley street at the end of my shift To take me home. And Whilst in Finchley Central I got a Four hander to Edgware, To take me even Closer to Home. A Stark contrast from the start of my shift.

Anyway back to the cab. I was driving along Kings road tonight with four passengers on Board. And the Buzzer for the rear steer came on plus a red light. I had to pull over press the button Then put it into reverse. To make the light go out. Before continuing on my way. Great Eh. No doubt when I'm on the phone tomorrow to Kpm I will get the Pat Answer. As I did the other day. I rang to enquire as to why the Rear steering light kept flashing intermittently. I was told that "This is the first time we've come across this problem". To which I replied that's what I was told with the last steering problem I had. "Well run it in and we will take a look." Now I'm beginning to wonder am I going to be spending the rest of my days Running it in, To have a look. Well here's the Million Dollar Question. Are what they telling me true am I the only one experiencing this problem...?

Anyway as I said before. I will continue to post my experiences. Whether they be Good Bad or Indifferent
Until next time.

Vito Week Two, Day One

Iv managed to clock up 750miles in my first week. And have also discovered a real Bugbear.
You've guessed it with the doors. Well its not the doors really its the public. They insist on trying to pull them open and push them shut. Its winding me up no end. I even had some old posh tart last night. That had more wrinkles than an Elephants scrotum. And must of had three shredded wheat for breakfast. Yanking away trying her best to pull the damn thing off its hinges. she didn't look like she had a yank in her.

Work was a whole lot better tonight. But it helps I suppose if your behind the wheel. And not sat in some Cosy cinema somewhere stuffing your face with popcorn. I even got a radio job home. God knows they have become as Scarce as rocking horse shit.

Anyway a pretty uneventful evening. Growing accustomed to my new office. Iv never heard "Its so big" so many times in my life. I suppose like many other things in my life. Over time it will become like egg and chips. And it wont even get a mention.

So until next time "Let's be careful out there" Ciao Bella.

Vito Day Seven

Well its safe to say that. There are quite a few out there. That don't recognise The Vito as a Licensed London black cab. For the second day running Iv been sat on point at the Dorchester. Only to watch someone come out look my way then walk to Park lane to flag a cab. This time I blew my horn and flashed my lights. And the two Women looking for a Cab came back. After pulling away with them on board. I enquired did they not recognise me as a cab. To which one of them replied. "My friend said you were a Cab we just wasn't sure. Also earlier on in my shift. I watched a woman walk right past me in Oxford st and jump into the cab behind.

If i said it was slow at work tonight I would have been lying. Stationary more like.
So Carlos and I decided to rank up in Saint James's Square. And go to the cinema in lower Regent street. To see The Damned Utd. A Story about Brian Clough's brief spell as manager of Leeds United football club in 1974. Carlos being a Leeds fan & me looking for any excuse to skive off work. £13 a head to get in. We practically had the cinema to ourselves. Armed with Big boxes of popcorn And Diet coke. We settled down in very comfortable seats to watch a very enjoyable film in my opinion.

We left the cinema at 10.30 just in time for the rush. Ha Ha. I forgot to mention that when we parked up. We got chatting to another Cabbie with a Vito. & asked him if he had any trouble with the rear steer. He said he hadn't. But knew someone who had. I mentioned to him how amazed I was at the size of the fuel tank. And he said he had filled his up costing him £92. But he had got four shifts out of that. He also said he would never go back to a Regular cab now. And he also reassured me it took him a couple of weeks to get used to it. And he did wonder in that time had he made the right move.

All in All after working this cab for a week now. I would have to give it the thumbs up so far. Even with the problems Iv had with the steering. The comfort alone is a vast improvement. Well one punter Chucking up in the back might change all that. Anyway Onwards & Upwards.
Until next time B'Lucky Be safe & keep the doors Locked. Thats if you can open them in the first place.LoL.

Vito Day Six

Day Six brings me up to Date. After tonight's shift I will give my verdict so far of working the new Vito Within the Metropolis.
Well last night was pretty uneventful also just a few things of note. Like I was sitting on point at the Dorchester. When I noticed a guy come out of the hotel look my way then proceed to walk out into Park lane and flag a cab down. It has to be said it was dark & the Taxi roof light on one of these things is unmissable. Make your own conclusions.

The other two things of note are. I was ranked up on the South kensington rank when a girl approached me on my side and asked for the Collection in Brompton rd. So I opened the door for her she then walked around the other side. so I closed that door and opened the other. After getting in I closed the door but the rear light never went out & the Buzzer was still sounding to let me know the door wasn't closed. I opened and closed the door again much to her bemusement but nothing changed. So I decided the collection was only around the corner Id drop her off then sort it. Driving down the road with the rear light on and this buzzer sounding in my ear.

After dropping her off I pulled up the road and got out.I tried opening and closing the door from the outside but No difference. Totally pissed off I thought that was going to be the end of my nights work. When the thought came to me to try the offside door. I cant tell you how happy I was when it had the desired affect.

The other Moment of note was when I picked up this young couple in Great Portland st. Who were going to Hampstead. Pulling away I could hear the guy saying something to me, so I put the intercom on only to hear "are you going to close the door". Then I realised Id done it again, pressed the window button instead of the door. Even though the Buzzer was sounding I failed to pick up on it. I have to say I think these problems are my failings not the cabs.
I really do most things in Autopilot and am sure not before too long I'll be doing it Blindfolded.
I really am a creature of habit. Anyway until next time B'lucky.

Vito Day Five

Well day Five finds me with a day off. Grandsons give the cab the big thumbs up. They especially love opening and closing the doors. Which after time can become quite annoying. Which incidentally reminds me of a real plus with this cab. Punters not being able to open the doors up into oncoming traffic.
My daughter has twins and a double buggy which are easily loaded straight in. You could hold a party in the back of one of these things, they are that big. That being said there isn't a whole lot of headroom because they are very high off the ground. Anybody that has loaded a wheelchair passenger into the back of a regular cab knows there isn't a lot of headroom for the passenger in the wheelchair, well there is even less in this.

Vito Day Four

I am having to write from notes that I made to bring you up to speed with where I am now.

Day Four was pretty uneventful until I picked up these three Girls from Buckingham gate. They wanted to go to Highgate via Victoria. On arrival at Victoria two got out leaving one more to go to Highgate. She said she would need a cashpoint on the way. Iv been done before by cameras for parking on red routes so I decided to stop at the H.S.B.C in Curzon st. The conversation on the way very quickly turned to the cab. She told me she worked for tfl and that I had made a sound investment what with the cab being six-seater an all & the fast approaching Olympics. The usual patter of someone that has had too much to drink. What she wasn't aware of was my anxiety as to whether she might be sick or not. Women are notorious for getting sick and saying nothing.

I forgot to mention that after her pals got out she wanted to know how much the fare would be.
When we got to the Hsbc it had £9.40 on the meter. So I told her it would be somewhere around £35. she'd better be safe and get forty out. "Forty pound to Highgate" she says. I then tried to explain God only knows why. That if you start making diversions to station's and cashpoints it has an overall affect on the meter, What with the recent tariff increase. I ain't Harry Houdini and I certainly am not being held to Ransom over some price I give some drunk as an estimate at the start of the Journey. "Its on the Meter." Anyway the atmosphere very quickly changed from nice cab to I know where I'm going Iv lived in London all my life. She couldn't see what difference stopping off here and there would make on the price. Then she started saying I wouldn't have come this way. "O yeah" says I. Then what way would you have gone madam. As Im going up Davies street heading for Marylebone lane & Wimpole st to get Marylebone rd.
"Tottenham ct rd" she says. By the time I got into Wimpole st I find myself Telling her to check on a map when she gets home.
WHY do I take the bait every time Arghh. Anyway by now She's telling me shes frightened. So I said "would you like me to pull over" Ok she says. So after she payed me the £15.60 on the meter I told her that she actually frightened me and that the real problem here was that she had too much to drink. To which she replied "I knew you'd say that"
Anyway i was Glad to see the back of her. I think cabs should carry Doggie bags like Aircraft For these lowlives.

Vito Day Three

Day Three took me back to Kpm. I spent three hours there waiting for the rear wheel steering problem to be righted, So I took a stroll over to have a chat with the sales Director at Kpm to voice my concerns. I told him I was afraid this might be a taste of things to come. He again assured me that my cab was the first to have this problem. Carlos's Voice ringing in my ears "It could only happen to you" Hence (Titanic). I think if he offered me a Tx4 right at that moment in Exchange. I cant say I wouldn't have taken him up on it. He said to me you are going to have to get used to working in a completely different way to the one you've become accustomed to. Which on reflection I have to Agree.

Anyway I had some Banking to do, so I killed some time off By walking up to Bethnal Green Road. On return The Mechanic that had come out to me two Days ago called my name & dangled the keys in my face. Saying That it had a faulty component that had been replaced & tested repeatedly. To be honest I just wanted to get out of there. So I thanked him and went about my day.

One thing I have become aware of that I shouldn't really be surprised about. Is that Joe Public are as totally conditioned with the use of cabs the same as I am. Because Quite often when I pull up after being hailed. They think they have to pull the door open. So end up Yanking the door to open it. Then repeating the exercise once inside to close it. With me Yelling its Automatic don't pull it. I have to confess It really Bug's me. So far Three people have actually asked me is it more expensive to ride in this cab. In general the feedback I get from the public is that they love it.

Little by Little I'm discovering things that have the potential to piss me off. Like the Handbrake.
Except it doesn't have One Well not in so many words. The Handbrake is actually a foot brake. And is applied with the left foot almost like a clutch on a ratchet. Coupled as i said before with no spare tyre. Its almost as though the designers had an afterthought. Shit we forgot the Handbrake and the spare wheel. Another is The fact that there are only two windows in the rear that open outwards Slightly. I do really think they could have put more effort into the Importance of this to the Cabbie. They must think we spend our days driving around suits.
The other thing that could potentially be a problem to some people are the dimensions. I'm led to believe its six inches Wider than a tx4 & Sixteen inches longer. I found myself Subconsciously avoiding 6'6" Width restrictions for the fear of scraping it down some post. I have since passed through a few with no problems whatever. Service Schedules are a minimum of 18,000 miles and up to 24,000 depending on the way it is driven. (Every 9000 in my Tx2).The engine management system lets you know when a service is due. The other big advantage is the fuel economy its definitely better than my old tx2. I will have to fill up the tank and Check the comparison from my old cab. Overall I think its growing on me as I get used to the different functions, Like the front & rear parking Sensors that incidentally can be turned On or off.
I will continue to post my experiences of the Vito, So watch this space & B' Lucky.

Vito Day Two

Well day two wasn't, It didn't happen I felt drained and decided what with all the demonstrations going on in the city,
I didn't fancy circumnavigating my way around all that to get to Kpm,
So i rang them and said i would be attending the following day.
After 14 years of driving a cab, A brand new one sitting on the drive isn't enough incentive to get me out the door, Having to pay for it usually is,

But later that night i decided to Christen it, so its around to the Filling station to fuel up for the shift.
Right this is an experience on its own, To Fuel one of these things you have to open the nearside front door to gain access to the Flap & untwist the fuel cap which is situated down by the the doorstep Quite low, Not a problem for me being a Short arse,
Don't know how some Six footer might get on,
Anyway I think its a new cab it deserves to be full up, £40 later I ain't get the usual signs that the tank is nearing its limit so I decided that was enough,
Screw the cap back on close the Flap then you can close the front door.
After paying for my fuel Checking my fuel Gauge noticed it was just over half full, Approaching 3/4.
It must be a massive fuel tank which I quite like, Not having to refuel so often and also having enough fuel to return from those Elusive Roader's,

Now I use the M1 Motorway to get into work and I have to tell you it was a delight to drive, Smooth, Powerful, No problem overtaking,
I drove all the way into Paddington to pick up my first fare
A young lady approached my cab on the point of the rank, Here Goes I press the button to open the door for her & Nothing my window goes down, Getting even more flustered and Paranoid about holding the rank up, I jump out & Run around the cab Feeling like a Butterboy,
I Pulled the door handle from the outside & Prayed, allacazam the door opens I usher her in, Load her Ton weight suitcase into the back & speed off.

The punter A young French lass wanting to go to South Kensington Oblivious to my predicament,
& the fact that I had this wonderful new cab, went right over her head,
Driving through the park I had time to reflect on what had gone wrong,
Then I realised after years of working nights and controlling the door locks from switches on the drivers doors,
Which incidentally operated the windows in my new cab,

I had a chuckle and tried to concentrate on the Position of the doors switches which really couldn't be more straight forward they are located right in front of me with a Little picture of the door on the switches, the Left switch for the left door & the right switch for the right door Der,
Anyway we arrive at the Holiday Inn Forum in South Ken.
I pull up select Park Press the Left door switch and again Nothing, What now Thinks I,
So Getting Flustered I started pressing Buttons Galore, The windows coming down Again,
Then I Gain A moment of Sanity in all the Confusion And press the correct button once more It Opens I'm beside myself with Delight, It felt like more of an achievement than passing the Knowledge itself.

The rest of the Shift went more or less the same way,
What I did realise that to open the doors there is a slight delay,
once you pull up if you listen carefuly you can hear a click.
Then you can open the Doors Safely.

Time's are a changing. Vito Day One

I decided recently to take the plunge & buy a new cab, What with VAT at 15% my road tax needing renewal, & overhaul imminent,
As i had a tx11 with a 120,000 on the clock the timing chain would have to be done soon, there was also an oil leak coming from the rear end main oil seal which would have meant the gearbox coming out, Untold electrical problems,
I decided to trade it in while it still held some value a 2004 tx11
Until recently i would have had the choice of one taxi to choose from,
that was until the new Vito by Merecedes came onto the Market,
When i looked at the tx4 with recent fire problems, Radiators bursting at £500 pound a go, and not really much different from the cab i was already driving,
I started to make enquiries from drivers already with the Vito, I have heard plenty Pro & con, Pro mostly from the driver's who already have them & con from those that don't,

So i have decided to give my Experiences of driving & working the new Mercedes Vito,
I will try to stick to the facts, & share with you the comments i get from the punter also,
so here Goes.

Vito Day One

Picked up my new Vito from Kpm in Hackney,
I have to tell as i was being shown around it i was shocked to find out that for one thing, it doesn't carry a spare tyre, it has one of those Tyre seal canister's that inflates the tyre,
My first impression was how big it was, Secondly the amount of different switches to get used to in the drivers compartment, the salesman was doing his best to explain those to me & their function,
I work nights & by this time i was totally Knackered & taking nothing in.

I had promised Carlos i would pop into his place on the way home
Driving away from the showroom i was beginning to wonder had i done the right thing,
it felt very strange and i feared it wouldn't be practical to work the streets on a nightly basis year in year out, Because that was what it was going to be,
anyway on Arrival at Carl's place, Carlos and his son Michael gave it the once over,
I decided i was going to Christen it and do a job before going home, so to turn around i would demonstrate the rear wheel steering,
Which to operate you have to be Going 5mph or less & then press a button on the dash, A buzzer goes off and a light illuminates to let you know its operating, It felt very strange turning around, Anyway i waved fond farewell to Carl & Michael, & Zoomed up the road, it wasn't long before i realised all was not well,
Especially when a dustcart behind me was flashing his lights and waving frantically at me, looking in the mirror i could see that the offside wheel hadn't gone back into place,
so i pulled over and rang kpm Who assured me i was the first person this had happened to Hmm,
& said they would come out to rectify the problem immediately,
Then i rang Carl who came out to give some moral support to a fading pal losing the will to live.
Ever the hero he turned up & supplied the Coffee's from Starbucks.
I managed to limp around onto the taxi rank in Elgin ave,
It wasn't long before Kpm turned up in a 4x4 Porsche, Managing director with a mechanic in tow,
He took out a big battery from the rear of the Porsche And disconnected a couple of wires from the offending wheel,
& placed them on the battery & hey Presto the wheel went back into line,
He then disconnected the rear steer system and assured me it would be okay to drive
until i returned it to Kpm the following day to have it rectified.

From tommorow i will try to give a blow by blow account of working this cab, I will have no influences either way, So "Watch this Space."

Watch this space

Iv decided to give this blogging business another shot,
After being pushed by my mate Carlos, AKA londoncabby
Cant let him have all the attention now can I, so much has happened over the past year,
I cant believe its been that long,
Anyway as i said "Watch this space."