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I saw my first Prius Taxi in Chicago today

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by freshmtt, Jun 25, 2008.

  1. freshmtt

    freshmtt Dachshund Addict

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    Well, I finally saw for the first time a Prius Taxi here in Chicago today, I was downtown over on Congress and Clark and one passed right by me. It was the Checker cab company, yellow and lime green colored taxis,, I have to say that the aftermarket paint job on this Prius looked very cool, being a Taxi and all, I really loved seeing those colors on the Prius.

    I wonder now how many more Prius Taxis are driving around downtown Chicago.. Anyone else from Chi-town seen anymore and what cab company were they with???

    That cab driver must be one happy dude :D
     
  2. 4G63

    4G63 I quit boosting

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    never seen any prius cab in chicago.. but i saw a camry hybrid cab last month near midway
     
  3. PriusSport

    PriusSport senior member

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    All taxis and rental cars should be hybrids--right now. But that would mean less gas sales for the oil companies. Which is why taxis and rental cars are not hybrids right now. The mindset has to change soon.
     
  4. mingoglia

    mingoglia Member

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    Honestly, do you really believe that? Wow.
     
  5. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    In a few years, it'll be hard to spot a taxi in Vancouver that isn't a Prius. They're everywhere!
     
  6. Barcelona Red Lass

    Barcelona Red Lass Sips gas like fine wine!

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    Sure. The oil companies exert a LOT of pressure- on senators and congressmen, local businesses, etc.

    :humble:
     
  7. OrlandoGuy

    OrlandoGuy Junior Member

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    Chicago is where I saw my first as well...and I just had to take a picture of it...
     

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  8. TJandGENESIS

    TJandGENESIS Are We Having Fun Yet?

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    That's cool. In our area of the country, taxis are rare.
     
  9. felton

    felton New Member

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    I saw my first Prius taxi, a white one, in San Antonio two weeks ago. Way cool. I can't imagine why a cab driver would want to drive anything other than a hybrid.
     
  10. lfwintx

    lfwintx New Member

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    Yes, the Prius has started becoming popular with some of the San Antonio taxi companies. Also, I saw a City of San Antonio white Prius right after I took my Prius test drive.
     
  11. 4G63

    4G63 I quit boosting

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    it has fog light too! not a basic prius.. how come i've never seen any...? :confused:
     
  12. freshmtt

    freshmtt Dachshund Addict

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    I have only seen one myself so far, and I work downtown and my building is right on Congress Parkway a very busy street with tons of traffic and tons of taxis and this was the very 1st Prius Taxi I saw..
     
  13. SW03ES

    SW03ES Senior Member

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    You don;t understand how this works.

    Taxis and rental car companies are private businesses. The government, oil lobbyists, etc don't mean a thing. Taxi and rental car companies don't stock only hybrids because they're expensive.

    What incentive would a rental car company have to stock hybrids? They don't pay for the gas!
     
  14. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

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    The guys around Boston/Cambridge love the Camry hybrid taxis;
    they don't have to worry about the whole idling thing.
    .
    _H*
     
  15. Jennjay

    Jennjay Member

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    Jeez, we've had some Prius taxis in little old Fort Myers, FL for over a year.
     
  16. My2008Prius

    My2008Prius Junior Member

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    NO Prius taxis in and around Jacksonville... Anyone want to invest in getting me a taxi company full of Prius'? The return should be OK, except for the Highways (I-95 and I-10). City streets aren't quite as congested as Chicago, NYC or anywhere else, so getting stop and go traffic isn't as bad.
     
  17. jbreynolds

    jbreynolds Junior Member

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    I have seen at least two different white Prius cabs in downtown Chicago. I don't think I've seen the Checker and Yellow ones.
     
  18. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    Just saw two at DFW Airport yesterday. I think they're finally here.
     
  19. orracle

    orracle Whaddaya mean "senior" member?

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    Knowing what a "Prius Geek" I am, my daughter called me a couple of weeks ago when she saw a white Prius taxi at O'Hare.

    But strangely, all this week Prius sightings have been very rare. Did everyone go on vacation and forget to tell me?????:Cry:
     
  20. Scummer

    Scummer Eh?

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    I saw that white Prius Taxi as well. Somewhere around LaSalle and Ontario last week.

    Also, I sighted a white Prius of the Chicago Park District during my bicycle commute home today on the Lake Shore Path a little further south of the Museum of Science and Industry parked right next to the bathroom for the beach visitors