Advise on Whether Lancer is an ex Taxi

**Hanren** · March 19th, 2007 12:42 PM

Hello. My brother-in-law wants to buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer GL (Pizza type). In fact, they are about to finalize the deal today. It costs 155K (from 168K). The ff are the specs:

mileage: 187k +
1.5L
Power Streering
Spoiler
Lexus Tail lights
aircon is not really that cool
not so fresh interior
with side skirts

My concern is, with the mileage, it migh have been previously used as a taxi. What are the things to watch out in order determine whether it is an ex taxi or not? Because if it is an ex taxi, then I might as well tell my brother in law to haggle for a much lower price..or he might just as well look at other vehicles. TIA.

**1D4LV** · March 19th, 2007 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Hanren

Hello. My brother-in-law wants to buy a 1997 Mitsubishi Lancer GL (Pizza type). In fact, they are about to finalize the deal today. It costs 155K (from 168K). The ff are the specs:

mileage: 187k +
1.5L
Power Streering
Spoiler
Lexus Tail lights
aircon is not really that cool
not so fresh interior
with side skirts

My concern is, with the mileage, it migh have been previously used as a taxi. What are the things to watch out in order determine whether it is an ex taxi or not? Because if it is an ex taxi, then I might as well tell my brother in law to haggle for a much lower price..or he might just as well look at other vehicles. TIA.

the price for that model is a little bit low, imho. probably because of the mileage? normally, that model can still cost between 170-180k.

but for the vehicle that was used as a cab, no sure signs are present engine-wise and suspension wise. nasa body ang signs. look for the doors/interiors kung may nakasulat before na name ng taxi, etc. or markings commonly found in taxis. pero hindi rin reliable ito, if napapinturahan na ng may-ari.

check mo yung papers. ano yung plate number?

**badkuk** · March 19th, 2007 02:21 PM

di ba pag public utility vehicle, dilaw ung plaka? pwede bang ichange ung plaka ng isang former taxi into a private one(green)?

**trup** · March 19th, 2007 02:26 PM

pag previous taxi, may maliiit na letter "H" somewhere sa plate number...like those duplicate plates, may maliit na letter "D" sa middle or sa leftmost side

**trup** · March 19th, 2007 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by badkuk

di ba pag public utility vehicle, dilaw ung plaka? pwede bang ichange ung plaka ng isang former taxi into a private one(green)?

yes pwede, kung previous private unit, surrender yung green plates in exchange for yellow plates, then pag decided ka na to use it as a private car, the green plates will now have a small "H" in the middle or leftmost side ng plate

**jazcker** · March 19th, 2007 02:36 PM

taragis! yun akin yata ex-taxi din e. 97 lancer EL. I bought it for 120k with mileage of 96k+. di kaya ako lugi?

**XTO** · March 19th, 2007 03:13 PM

the good side is honest ang may ari in terms of mileage but tungkol
sa ex-taxi issue medyo mahirap ma-verify. thorough check-up na
lang ang final basis mo. aside sa nabanggit nila isa ring tingnan maigi ang
seats (masyadong lubog), dashboard kung may mga butas na maaring
pinanggalingan ng metro.

**Emong3** · March 19th, 2007 03:34 PM

Mahahalata mo naman sa plaka yan kung ex-taxi siya.

and isa pa, kung orig pa carpet usually pag ex-taxi mapapansin mo halos butas na yung carpet dun sa may ilalim ng gas pedal.

Another sign is sa may door jamb, naka turnilyo dun yung taxi sign. Look for signs na binutas yun.

187k kms is quite low for a taxi. Taxi's usually get 200 kms/day x 365 days = 73,000 kms/year. Normal is 20,000 kms/year and since 10 years old na yan normally nasa 200,000 na yan so techinically ow milage pa yan for a 10 eyar old car... ;)

**pup2** · March 19th, 2007 05:30 PM

What are the PARTICULAR reasons to avoid ex-taxis ba? The prices quoted here by the buyers seem low enough to (more than) account for the high mileages anyhow?

Is maintenance an issue? I'd suppose body work might be but that should show, shouldn't it?

**Emong3** · March 19th, 2007 06:28 PM

Ex-Taxi:
1. Very high milage = laspag
2. Prone to accidnets so it might have been involved in a crash
3. Useful life of engine is already overdue perhaps

155k for an ex-taxi lancer is quite high, unless the car just had an engine change, body repair and suspension overhaul that the car does not appear to be taxi. But for a high milage priovate car good deal na yan and as i said, hindi pa high milage yan for a 10 year old car... normal lang isya... ;)