Shaun Trueman, from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, has been in the taxi business for five years. He began his cab-driving days with a standard-build Peugeot Partner but decided to buy an accessible cab two years ago in order to meets Erewash Borough council’s specification for a hackney license.
In a bid to scope out what was available on the market, Shaun visited the PHTM taxi show at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. He was quickly won over by the conversion of Cab Direct’s Peugeot Premier™. Here he explains why.
Winning Features
Shaun says: “I was looking for something which offered me the same space, comfort and reliability as the Peugeot Partner but with easy to use wheelchair access too – the Premier covers all the bases for me.”
Shaun continues: “I had my last vehicle for four years and did 180,000 miles with no hassles at all. Cab Direct uses the Partner as their base vehicle so I knew I could rely on it in terms of trouble free motoring for years to come.
“I’ve been very impressed by the handling of the Premier too – it provides a really smooth and comfortable ride.”
Accessible Design
Designed to offer drivers a five seat cab with plenty of luggage one minute and full wheelchair access the next, the Premier™ boasts a unique FlatFold™ ramp which integrates with the vehicle floor when not in use and simply lifts from this position as and when required.
Shaun says: “I’m pleased to be able to provide a safe and comfortable environment for wheelchair passengers. The ramp is really easy to use and customers definitely prefer travelling in the forward facing position instead of facing the back, like in some other conversions.
“Plus, when I’m not carrying a wheelchair user the Premier feels like a standard 5-seat vehicle, meaning I get the best of both worlds.”
“When I’m not carrying a wheelchair user the Premier feels like a standard 5-seat vehicle, meaning I get the best of both worlds.”
Practical Points
The Premier™ tops the charts for accessibility and economy and is a reliable choice for any cab driver with this in mind. But that’s not all, Shaun’s noticed some unexpected advantages since he purchased the vehicle too, as he reveals:
“I’ve had quite a few people on golf trips in my taxi and they’re particularly impressed that I can stand their golf clubs up, even with a boot full of other luggage. I’m no golf pro but I do know that keen players don’t like their clubs to be laid down on their side if it can be helped. The huge boot space makes this possible in the Premier whereas with other vehicles it’s often not an option.”
Top Choice
Since taking delivery of his Premier™ Shaun has had many positive reactions from his customers. He says: “I have all types of people in my taxi and I can honestly say they all think it’s great.
“It’s such a comfortable and versatile vehicle and lots of people comment on its spaciousness. I’ve even had comments about the visibility – one customer said sitting in some other cars is like looking through a letterbox!”
Shaun’s gives his final verdict on the Premier™: “All in all, it’s a fantastic all-rounder. I’ve got the flexibility to pick up a huge range of fares and offer my passengers a comfortable journey. At the same time I get to drive a reliable, quality spec vehicle that I know is up to the job.”
For more information on the Peugeot Premier™ call Cab Direct free on the number at the top of the page, email info@cabdirect.com or click Peugeot Premier™here.