Purpose-Built Taxis…
The definition of ‘Purpose-Built’ seems to have been lost somewhere along the way.
Purpose-Built means “built for the purpose”, it does not mean “adapted for the purpose”.
It seems that even suppliers are now getting this wrong. The latest Cab Direct advert (TaxiTalk Feb. 2007) gives one of the reasons to buy an E7 as “Purpose-Built”.
The E7 is not Purpose-Built. It is adapted / converted.
At LTI in Coventry, materials and components are taken into the factory, assembled and then, at the other end of the production line is a Purpose-Built taxi.
At Cab Direct’s ‘factory’, light vans are taken in. Here, seats and ‘TAXI’ stickers are added. The final product is… a van with seats and ‘TAXI’ stickers.
OK… the E7 is safe and operates successfully as a licensed taxi. That is not my argument. What I am saying though is that it is not, and never will be, a Purpose-Built taxi.