When Keith Hehir-Lynch and his business partner, Bill Webber, recently decided to start up their own taxi firm, finding themselves a good deal on some high spec, spacious and comfortable vehicles was high on the list of priorities. As was finding a suitably memorable name for the duo’s first joint venture. With The Rather Excellent Carriage Company duly registered, Keith and Bill moved on to the car search.
Keith, from St Leonard’s-on Sea in Hastings, says: “We’ve both been in the taxi trade for a number of years and we’re proud to have transported well over 250,000 rather lovely customers during that time. As you’d imagine, between us, we’ve driven our fair share of vehicles but, handily, we were both agreed that Toyota’s Avensis Tourer was first choice.
“That being said, we did a fair bit of shopping around – particularly looking at what second hand options were available. But in the end, the figures just didn’t add up. The deal Cab Direct offered on a new Avensis was too good to pass up.”
Perfect Partner
Keith continues: “We kicked off the business on May 1st and we’ve been really pleased by the response so far. We’ve already managed to secure a new corporate account which was, in large part, down to the look and feel of the cars.
“We choose black for a more executive image and they definitely look the part. The sleek lines of the vehicle really give it character and the privacy glass in the rear looks great too.
“With the Avensis, it’s obvious that the Tourer was designed as an estate car – unlike with some other manufacturers where it almost looks as though the boot was added as an after-thought. Customers definitely seem to be impressed when the cab pulls up.”
While the exterior is bold and dynamic, inside, Avensis is all about quality, refinement and choice. With premium quality materials used throughout, the Avensis has been designed to enhance your driving experience and the comfort of your passengers.
Space
Arguably the Tourer’s biggest asset is space. The generous interior dimensions are ideal for anyone frequently carrying a full passenger load. It also boasts a massive 543 litres of loading capacity with the standard-fit, split-folding rear seats still in place. If needed, the back seats fold down incredibly easily thanks to some dedicated one-touch controls in the boot that drop the seats with virtually no fuss giving a whopping 1,609 litre luggage area.
Keith says: “The amount of legroom in the rear is absolutely fantastic. No matter how tall the customer, everyone travels comfortably in the Avensis – even when full.
I love the amount of space there is in the boot too – it’s perfect for airport work. Plus, whenever I need it, it’s a case of one click and the rear seats are down.”
Specification
The Toyota Avensis has long been a hit for taxi drivers because of its quiet, comfortable and easy nature, which is especially welcome when you spend long hours behind the wheel.
Keith continues in his praise: “The spec of the vehicle is fantastic. It makes driving the cab a real pleasure. We both opted for the Icon model which offers a lot for the money. The rear view camera is particularly handy for an estate car as it really improves visibility.
“Overall, I can’t fault the cabs – I’d recommend the Avensis Tourer to other taxi drivers without hesitation.
“We both received great service from Cab Direct too. We dealt with different salesmen, Iain and Stuart, and both were really patient with us. They were also very informative and helpful too – from start to finish, the whole process was really smooth.”