Decided to sell my Punto to clear some debts and get a cheap run around to tide me over for a bit. Arranged to sell it Sunday night and cleared two days off with my boss to go get something else. All goes well, car sells etc.. then Monday morning get a call saying I cant have the time off! Long story short I end up working from home for two days trying to juggle a busy workload and car shopping... Tested 4/5 absolute dogs - I mean really really bad. Got to tuesday afternoon and Id basically given up hope and was thinking Id made a huge mistake and was going to have to get the train to work on Wed. Last gasp hope searched ebay for the billionth time and someone had just listed a 1998 Toyota Avensis 1.8 GLS just down the road in Wrexham. Negotiated him down to £700 and said Id come view - to be honest my hopes were far from high at this point. Turned out to be a minter! Not a mark on it, 13 months MOT, just had service - 4 new tyres, discs and pads etc.. drove sweet as a nut, engine looked really good. had plenty of zip despite being HUGE compared to what Im used to. Absolutely love it and Im now a £2k debt better off

last pic

EDIT - oh yeah - its got a mini disc player in it too lol!!

Thats excellent, its great to see such a good result and that youve not ended up with a lemon.

yeah, looks like you got a bargin !

whats it like now you;ve had it a few days ?

looks good. nice find.

should be a lot better than your punto.

cheers boys!

Really chuffed -after 2 days no problems Ive spotted yet (touch wood) and love driving it. Dev your right its loads nicer than the Punto! Shes a little thirsty but thats to be expected - but its well worth it to give my fellow commuters a decent run for their money now!!

Another plus side, youre properly set to  become a minicab driver...

Jaimz

Quote from: JaimzAnother plus side, youre properly set to  become a minicab driver...

Jaimz

LMAO!! Things arent that tight.... yet!!

I have always wondered why people in england call private hire taxis minicabs.

Any ideas?

Quote from: MarkI have always wondered why people in england call private hire taxis minicabs.

Any ideas?

Got to be honest - dont think Ive ever heard the term used. Everyone I know always calls them taxis.

Quote from: MarkI have always wondered why people in england call private hire taxis minicabs.

Any ideas?

Comes from the 1060s when they found a loophole in the law. That allowed unlicensed taxis that you phoned for and they would pick you up. This is unlike the hackney carriage which could you could flag anywhere. The drivers originally used a lot of smaller cars than the hackney black cab therefore earning the term mini-cab to separate it from Taxicab.

Laws have since changed and most areas regulate them fairly strictly. Effectively the two have merged in most areas and the original hackney cab is going out of use, so there is only taxis now.

Quote from: SeriousComes from the 1060s when they found a loophole in the law.

Whoa, just in time for the battle of hastings!

Belfast still has a thriving black taxi culture where they basically operate like tiny buses.

Quote from: GoblinBelfast still has a thriving black taxi culture where they basically operate like tiny buses.

Yeah, the gypos charge everyone going to the same place the same fare

EG a 4 pound metered trip with 6 people on board, everyone gets charged the £4 on the meter.

Quote from: Edd

Quote from: SeriousComes from the 1060s when they found a loophole in the law.

Whoa, just in time for the battle of hastings!

Yeah, well the Normans would have never made it to the battlefield otherwise, cost them a pile of gold in fares though ^_^