Yes, I think you are correct. Mercedes is still the number one but Volvo and Toyota are getting close. One reason might be that the quality and reliability of Mercedes has not been as good as the drivers have expected in last few years.

Taxis in Helsinki are actually pretty cheap. Try Stockholm, or if you’re really adventurous, London.

I second the previous poster, MB is quickly losing its status as a high-quality ride.

In agreement with the above.

Dont they get tax breaks on their cars hence why they tend to get such good cars…

English grammar tip of the day….You pay less, but there are fewer Merc taxis.

I have it from a usually reliable source that as late as the mid-90s there were still a few Ladas as taxis here. Imagine ordering a taxi to get an important client from the airport…

I have it from a usually reliable source that as late as the mid-90s there were still a few Ladas as taxis here.

A family member’s boss got a Lada taxi in Helsinki sometime in the 80s. He refused to get in.

“I have it from a usually reliable source that as late as the mid-90s there were still a few Ladas as taxis here.”

I have seen that Lada taxi in Helsinki. In the 60′s and 70′s they had also Volgas, especially in the countryside, but given the world view of an average finnish taxidriver, I would expect these Ladas are very few and more or less a joke.

Whenever I hear an American complain about how expensive taxis are in Finland, I like to point out that the companies that the drivers work for are required to pay them a living wage and do not expect charitable contributions (“tips”) from their passengers to keep body and soul together.

On the other hand, it seems that gratuities are expected in Sweden.

I like to point out that the companies that the drivers work for are required to pay them a living wage and do not expect charitable contributions

That’s anathema to the market worshippers: actually living on your salary. Begone, Satan!

As far as crappy jobs go, being a taxi driver (in Finland) is not one of the worst at all.

On the other hand, it seems that gratuities are expected in Sweden.

Those evil freeriding folkhemmet-welfare-statists!

Its all about tax and resale value.

A taxi enterpreneur (who bought the taxi) could get the 120% car tax (let alone the VAT) “excused” according to certain rules. At the end of the day when he traded the Mercedes benz in as “2 years 200 000 km” car, he could, if not make a profit, buy a new “tax-free” car due to the price differences. And Mercedes-Benz had the best resale value whereas some other car depreciated more.

Nowadays as the tax has gone lower the “market discrepancy” between the resale value has also diminished so calculating the overall costs has also been important. I am just wondering though where all the big MB’s and BMW’s disappear – suspect is the moloch’s mouth is Russia, as keepinga big car like that id prohibitively expensive here.

When you run a business you need tools that work. Paying more up front is not nearly as expensive as having your car broke down during the busiest weekend in november.

As far as I know the most important thing for taxi drivers is the service. They need to get their cars yesterday, so the service organisation has to work. APparently, that’s one of the reasons why one generally doesn’t see many Audis as taxis, even though the cars themselves would be good…

As someone who has been around a while longer than most readers I can assure you that the Lada taxi was very much a huge joke when it was brand new.

I think your observations may have some credit. News from Germany tell that last year MB lost dramatically it’s positions as number 1 taxi car. It’s still number one, but with a very small margin to the rivals.

Reason is quality and rust problems MB is having.

Buy Skoda instead next time. At least you don’t pay overprice for what u get…

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give this guy (“penis enlargement” ) a ride in one of those taxis.. haha might work out for him

Mercedes – the best car for taxi!

mercedes should not be used as taxi ………………