Or at least that’s what the good folks at Wired’s Autotopia blog say.
I think the Ford Transit Connect could make a very viable taxi. It’s got a lot of what you want in a taxi: big on the inside, small on the outside (doesn’t take up much road), and it looks to be rugged enough to tag an NYC-grade pothole or bike messenger and shrug it off. It even does OK in the two tone yellow & gray paint job.
But to say this thing could be the next Checker Marathon?
To say this thing could replace the Checker Marathon?
No.
Not just no, but hell no.
Have you ever seen a Checker Marathon? Ever looked at one up close?
If you get the chance, you should.
The things are massive, intimidating vehicles. They make Hummers looks like shopping carts. The bumpers look like C-section steel girders (and the steel seems to be a quarter inch thick); the body panels look like they’ve been pulled off of a Stalin tank; the frame and suspension looks like they borrowed designs form coal mining equipment. I’m pretty sure the at the curb weight is far in excess of 4500 pounds.
You ever known anyone to rashly pull out in front of a Checker Marathon moving at speed?
If you did, you probably went to their funeral.
Imagine getting t-boned by a Checker Marathon while driving a Toyota Yaris? The Checker would probably have to pull over and hose the residue out of its wheel wells before moving on down the road.
The Ford looks like a very logical vehicle to make into a taxi, but it’s no where near as intimidating as a Checker Marathon.
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