Ex taxi market.

TURBOTAXI · 08-03-2009, 02:29 PM

Hi guys,

Been to Sydney and back yesterday to pick up another car. my father in law paired his 95 magna with a roo and needed some new transport. I offered to get him a cheapy to run around in until he knew what he wanted to do.

Followed a thread on an ebay and and bought a 1999 AU ex taxi with December 09 rego and an impco LPG system for $1000. The lights all work, the car drove well and the body is base station spec (bad)

So we drove the 400k home. The car was a bit thirsty for gas (anyone got some pointers for how to tune (lean off) impco?)

I also got futura alloy rims with new tyres ($500) and a balance.

Got an $85 detail at platinum car wash at ashfield (nice people)

Today I did plugs and leads, flushed engine oil and new oil and filter. Trans oil and filter, air filter, coolant flush with new coolant, some air box repairs and re did the battery terminals. ($260 in parts)

The engine while used runs like a swiss watch and the trans is very smooth with no thumps or slippage - has a decent trans cooler fitter too.

so for $1845 and a 1/2 day being greasy, I have a car that has nice cold a/c, kid proof vinyl seats (with new cond fabric under neath) an impco gas system (I understand these are good) that I would be confident to take anywhere and enjoy.

I am amazed that these cars get overlooked by people looking for cheap transport.

mickyyyy · 08-03-2009, 02:50 PM

Alot of people in Sydney buy ex taxi's but there the only people who actually deal with LPG workshops usually. Example a taxi driver will tell a friend and so on, but they usually sell very quick and dont advertise on ebay or any other forum as they sell by word of mouth.

TURBOTAXI · 08-03-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickyyyy

Alot of people in Sydney buy ex taxi's but there the only people who actually deal with LPG workshops usually. Example a taxi driver will tell a friend and so on, but they usually sell very quick and dont advertise on ebay or any other forum as they sell by word of mouth.

Yeah I sort of agree. But I have bought two ex taxis now, and both within a couple of days of looking.

Regarding your search for an EF/EL XR there was a tidy on on Parramatta road for $5,990 just near Drummoyne Point road (Ashfield)

Hemicuda · 08-03-2009, 03:02 PM

I know a few people who have done well with extaxis. The main thing to look out for is evidence of a big hit and dodgy repair. Anything else can be fixed at a reasonable cost with an AU. Owner driven cars ( avoid depot cars) are probably the best ones to go for.
Impco systems are good and a ballpark tuning by ear is quite easy. Create a vacuum leak by taking off the PCV hose at the valve and immediately block the hose with your finger. Engine should still be idling and now create a small vac leak by lifting your finger off the hose until it starts to hiss. Listen carefully to the engine revs. If the revs go up then the rich fuel mix is starting to match the extra air you have introduced. If motor drops revs then you have a lean condition. To adjust you have to turn the idle screw, it is the big flathead type screw with the spring on the side of the convertor. Winding in will decrease air and winding out will increase air. If motor is rich then wind out slowly and then introduce a little extra air thru the Pcv hose. Takle note of what the engine is now doing. If revs go up but less than before you are on the right track. Try to get the mix to a stage where a little extra air the revs go up a little but if you start to open up the Pcv hose hole by 30% the revs should drop off and motor should be stalling. If you run out of threads on the idle screw then it is running way too rich and convertor will need lean off shims in the diaphragm. Being an ex taxi i'd be guessing it will need a new diaphragm and valve. After having said all of this, i still think it's worth your while having the AFR checked on a gas analyzer for optimum tune. Gas isn't as cheap as it used to be and the money spent will save you money in the long run.

FPV8U · 08-03-2009, 03:21 PM

My Brother drives a AU1 Ex-Taxi, he likes it, drives well enough, does burn a little oil but knowing him the poor thing won't have had a service in a while.

Besides a few basic things like warped rotors and a dead battery seems to have been a good thing for him.

TURBOTAXI · 08-03-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemicuda

I know a few people who have done well with extaxis. The main thing to look out for is evidence of a big hit and dodgy repair. Anything else can be fixed at a reasonable cost with an AU. Owner driven cars ( avoid depot cars) are probably the best ones to go for.
Impco systems are good and a ballpark tuning by ear is quite easy. Create a vacuum leak by taking off the PCV hose at the valve and immediately block the hose with your finger. Engine should still be idling and now create a small vac leak by lifting your finger off the hose until it starts to hiss. Listen carefully to the engine revs. If the revs go up then the rich fuel mix is starting to match the extra air you have introduced. If motor drops revs then you have a lean condition. To adjust you have to turn the idle screw, it is the big flathead type screw with the spring on the side of the convertor. Winding in will decrease air and winding out will increase air. If motor is rich then wind out slowly and then introduce a little extra air thru the Pcv hose. Takle note of what the engine is now doing. If revs go up but less than before you are on the right track. Try to get the mix to a stage where a little extra air the revs go up a little but if you start to open up the Pcv hose hole by 30% the revs should drop off and motor should be stalling. If you run out of threads on the idle screw then it is running way too rich and convertor will need lean off shims in the diaphragm. Being an ex taxi i'd be guessing it will need a new diaphragm and valve. After having said all of this, i still think it's worth your while having the AFR checked on a gas analyzer for optimum tune. Gas isn't as cheap as it used to be and the money spent will save you money in the long run.

Thanks for the tuning tips - just what I needed.

TURBOTAXI · 08-03-2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV8U

My Brother drives a AU1 Ex-Taxi, he likes it, drives well enough, does burn a little oil but knowing him the poor thing won't have had a service in a while.

Besides a few basic things like warped rotors and a dead battery seems to have been a good thing for him.

Yeah they need love, cant just keep abusing them. rotors @ $~80 - 110 +pads @ ~$50 and battery for $40 is a cheap fix.