Korean cars for taxi use?

[Bry]

I've been thinking about using slightly used Korean cars to build up my small taxi fleet.

My choices are:

Hyundai Getz (2005 models)

Kia Picanto (2004 or 2005 models)

Kia Rio (2005 models)


Which of these would be the cheapest and easiest to maintain?

How would these relatively newer Korean cars compare versus older (2002) Corollas and Sentras?

EDIT: My budget is only 250K to 275K max per unit, hence the newer-Korean versus older-Japanese comparo.

[kpy555]

I think the Kia Rio will be the most practical. Small sedan with a fuel efficient engine, not really that small interior plus a trunk (minsan kasi may dalang maruruming gamit ang mga passenger so might as well put it in the trunk). Saw a couple of these on our roads already.

Just to share, the new Hyundai Sonata CRDi is being used as taxi in Singapore!

[praetorian]

Sorry if this is a bit OT but aren't taxi units supposed to be no more than 6 years old? If you use 2002 Corollas/Sentras wouldn't you have just one more year to operate it before you need to retire them?

[hominid]

Sad to say pero short po budget nyo. Wag nyo naman po masyado maliitin mga Korean cars. Nasa P380k+ pa mga resale nyan sa naun.

[Bry]

praetorian: It has to be no more than five (5) years old when you first register it as a taxi. Tapos I think ten years sya pwede gawing taxi then retire na yung unit.

hominid: I have done a lot of searching sa classifieds. Apparently, madaming nagbebenta ng Picanto na bagsak talaga ang presyo.

[russpogi]

Rio! Rio! Rio! hehehe! Nakakita kasi ako ng taxi na Rio and it really looks nice!

Wala nga lang sa list pero IMO, the Sentra looks like it makes a good car for taxi use as AFAIK, it's still available in 1300cc and it looks elegant, not cheap.

[niky]

The Sentra is a good bet... large interior, great engine architecture (if only average fuel economy).

[jpdm]

yung bagon Spider ng Norkis, maganda...

[hominid]

Apparently, madaming nagbebenta ng Picanto na bagsak talaga ang presyo.

D Picanto lang po pala option nyo.

[heightdeprived]

The Sentra is a good bet... large interior, great engine architecture (if only average fuel economy).

great aircon too! :D

[vhenok]

Sorry if this is a bit OT but aren't taxi units supposed to be no more than 6 years old? If you use 2002 Corollas/Sentras wouldn't you have just one more year to operate it before you need to retire them?

also a bit OT...been recently to Davao, pansin ko they have lots of Surplus/refurbished units there, Kia Avella yung mga unit, and I'm pretty sure these units are also that old but still nagka-franchise pa din...just wondering!

[~JasoN~]

Samin po dito sa davao, yes marami pang non-air kia taxis pero d na po pwede kumuha ng new franchises ang mga non-air . aircon nalang ang allowed . and if you have noticed we have some new taxis, specifically Kia Rios, Nissan Sentras and Chevrolet Aveos. may mga kia avella rin dito . aircon karamihan . pero mostly is the old kia pride . new ones are those i mentioned above, nissan sentras AFAIK is 250-300 units - mabuhay taxi and Chevrolet Aveos from Holiday taxi .