Is the New Warranty Worth it?

Hear what Paul Byron has to say regarding the new price increase on the LEVC warranty
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[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

Invaluable info, thanks for sharing Paul. This is a man of the trade, sharing all his experience of these vehicles for the benefit of the whole trade. Need more voices like this 🙏🏻

[@hptaxicompany7059]

Thanks alot Tom, really helps when you get positive feedback 👍

[@WizAnn320]

Couldn't agree more!

[@CappuccinoDave]

I wouldn’t bother with the extra warranty after 5 years I’ll just put some money away each week and drive it as if I was wearing slippers plus keep the A/C on 24/7 all year.

[@WizAnn320]

Yes I think that seems to be the best idea

[@TomtheTaxiDriver]

I will be doing the same

[@frankobond007]

Great Video Dean, thanks Paul for your valuable insight. All cabs respond to how you look after them, TX4’s and Vito’s are no different, regular oil changes etc. The only thing you can really do to look after the TXE, is to not drive too hard, it’s still an engineered machine which has tolerances and stress levels. One thing I was told when I got my first TXE (so great I’m on my second), is do not let the power gauge (accelerator) go into the orange, keep it blue! Drivers need a different approach to how to drive the cab, things do go wrong, so it’s no guarantee, but you can reduce the risk of breaking the vehicle, if you treat it ok.

[@WizAnn320]

You have reminded me of the days of sitting at the lights side by side to another fairway. They were never fast vehicles but you knew that the driver next to you had just floored the pedal. They must be driving like that all day. I am a poodler just let the vehicle accelerate kind of naturally

[@mikebuck69]

This cab is hammering a nail in our coffin. Once the gov grant goes, the ever increasing warranty cost, the excess, loss of fuel saving due to on street charging cost. And the fact levc aren't making any money. So what if it's the best drive we've had? It's rapidly becoming an unworkable financial millstone around our necks and the lack of an alternative is a massive worry. We need a grown up conversation about vehicle requirements going forward with the view to keep it looking distinct enough from phv, but opening up the market by by revising the COF. The sooner we do this as a trade, the better. All our very fragile eggs are in a very expensive basket. Not a good position to be in.

[@WizAnn320]

Really well put. My thoughts are on lowering the fit for purpose and making it exclusive to use in the taxi market to avoid confusion between others. This might be where its heading but needs to be well thought through to avoid hidden issues.

[@hptaxicompany7059]

Why is it that new drivers coming out dont complain about the expenses but older drivers do ?

[@mikebuck69]

@@hptaxicompany7059 I was enthusiastic too when I first got out; but it's largely irrelevant if drivers moan or not. Enthusiasm won't change the costs we're all going to start incurring once out of warranty. Maybe ask them again when they're in that situation and don't have the safety net. Having only one taxi, still in its relative infancy (and already with its inherrant erad issue) and owned by a company in such a fragile financial position, is one hell of a risk for us all. There's no Plan B, no alternative, no other option. That doesn't sit easy.

[@Shads187]

Where's the ltda when you need them? 😂😂 Unless you want some m&s vouchers of course. 😂

[@Cabdrum1]

My understanding regarding the extended warranty for years 6 to 8 is that it covers you for only one erad, although if replaced the new erad would have a years guarantee. If you need to replace one at your own cost that's nearly £5,000 and only a years guarantee ! I've had my TXE for 5 years, back then it came with a 5 year warranty included. I've had 2 erads go so far. It seems to me that LEVC are selling a part that's not fit for purpose. Maybe LEVC should be challenged in court. But of course it needs someone or a body with the drive to do it.

[@WizAnn320]

This is a true conundrum. I think it might be a house of cards that could collapse. Leaving those with the power to make decisions quickly about what vehicles we can use. I am beginning to think that the turning circle going and introducing options may be the only way to save everything

[@Cabbiez1]

Thanks for highlighting the issue chaps..is def a worrying issue for many as older vehicles are coming out of warranty. Iv done a bit of searching for a repair solution to the ERAD, found a company that specializes in ev battery and drive train repair. Put the question to them for a repair solution, much like an exchange service maybe send in faulty erad and exchange for a refurbished unit, the response I got was… “Tony, Thanks for your enquiry. We are currently unable to buy some key components for these ERAD units and therefore, for the foreseeable future, we could not remanufacture your ERAD for you. Sorry and hope you find a solution.” 🤔 In the diesel days gearboxes and engines were rebuilt and exchanged, surely this can be an option going forward for these ERADS??!

[@WizAnn320]

Yes we are certainly in a new era. Making things subscription based or unrepairable is the play of the day

[@jacklifeonwheels]

I use my aircon all year all day on low

[@WizAnn320]

Yes this seems to be a sound strategy

[@cabbieoo7]

75k miles 2 & half years in. No erad issues, had rear brakes done on last service. Not had heating issues. Thought about getting a new one but decided to stay with current vehicle and will rethink when near 5 years are up

[@WizAnn320]

Thats good going John. Do you think your driving style is a major contributing factor to that low wear and tear

[@tonytaxi6180]

I was working back and forth from port early mornings so lots of higher speed driving which I don’t think suits the TXE.

[@cabbieoo7]

@@WizAnn320 seems to be a bit of luck and how you drive. I don’t boot it off the lights. Plus I always use full regen

[@tonytaxi6180]

I had an ERAD fitted in October and it broke again in December and I was barely at work

[@hptaxicompany7059]

​@tonytaxi6180 this is quite interesting

[@Br1anuk]

If they’re having so many problems with the ERAD maybe they need to make it four wheel drive and split the torque between the two axles.

[@WizAnn320]

If they have already thought of that and not done it then it may be an expense issue. Could also be a thing of clearing old stock before releasing a true fix. Either way its not good for the customer. It all seems to make things very insecure

[@louminati4318]

If things continue to go up like they have in the last ten years, it soon will be unsustainable driving a cab.

[@patpong5873]

Over 5 years Levc have had to sort this problem on the Erad It should be a National recall and the engineer need to make the upgrade of the components that keep breaking Paul says they levc dont have a monopoly really paul they must do we only have 1 choice of cab to buy not the 5 other cabs we drivers was promised 🙄 On the tx4 we had a company called Diff doctor in lea Bridge rd maybe need ERAD doctor for reconditioning the Erad Some thing needs to be done and we need a answers from Levc about why the erad is not up to standard 🤔 so after 5 years all levc have done is say will keep putting the price of the cab up 11k since 2018 and the warranty up to 5.5k for extra 3 years 🤔 and to top it off the government grant 7.5k looks likely to be gone in march 👍

[@hptaxicompany7059]

Look up monopoly, yes it's true we only have one, but it's not levc that have forced it, it's because other manufacturers don't want to come in... there is many reasons why not but the main one is our market is shrinking .

[@patpong5873]

@@hptaxicompany7059 What is Monopoly. Definition: A market structure characterized by a single seller, selling a unique product in the market Metro cab was about to Launch when we was both still on the knowledge but Levc took them to court over the body shape and fraser Nash went skint Volvo Geely or who ever made the ERAD should sort the problem out Hp Taxi Sherbert Glassman blk taxi rental should all get together and ask serious questions 🙄 as to why keep prouducing a Cab with a known faulty ERAD they know there is a problem and it's being going on for over 5 years Imagine if Tesla had this problem on their cars it would be recalled and fixed straight away because it would be bad publicity Can I ask a question Paul Would you buy brand new before the Government grant ? 70k Second hand 19 plate from ascott with their 3 year warranty say 40k Or just rent but that's 17k a year ? Thanks in advance for reply

[@WizAnn320]

They do have a monopoly i think thats a given. The issue is that all the competitors that came were not really wanted. If the competition doesn't really compete then it becomes a single market. (The MetroCab story is a whole different issue and a bit of a scandal)

[@tonytaxi6180]

I’ve had 5 ERADS on my 19 plate. I really don’t know what to do right now. Might go back to renting

[@WizAnn320]

Yes i think quiet a few people will conclude that going back to renting will be a decent strategy at present.

[@tonytaxi6180]

@@WizAnn320 3k I would have and then 3.5k but now 5.5 nah

[@WizAnn320]

@@tonytaxi6180 Paul thinks that this may even be their intentional strategy, that they dont even want to sell warranties so the inflated price is deliberate to put people off

[@RahatKhan-si5kz]

I’ve been inside a vito taxi. Also they’re used as transportation for bus drivers from garage to where they need to be. So I’ve driven them also. It’s a shame because a it’s a make shift taxi. As a bus vito it has 2 rows of bench seats. And then the van version. I’m surprised, why Mercedes didn’t just make the London taxi based off the V class instead of the vito. It’s far more spacious and better looking interior and exterior. And if they were priced similar to an levc that would then be a good competition between the two taxis. A Vito is comparable to a tx4 not the levc

[@WizAnn320]

The V class is very very nice and a similar price to the LEVC so would be competition. I would buy one

[@mick-nardini]

Toyota and JCB moving over to Hydrogen Combustion, this technology is our future. Will a manufacturer buy into building a new cab? Needs government backing.

[@WizAnn320]

I have heard a little about this. Lets see where it goes

[@mick-nardini]

We are paying for their failures (LEVC) with the increased warranty.

[@WizAnn320]

Yes, The thing s i think that it was inevitable. We should have maybe took the opportunity to abandon the turning circle criteria and had a more brand name taxi

[@timsturley7293]

plenty of Nissan NV200 mini cabs

[@hptaxicompany7059]

Not seen many in London

[@WizAnn320]

I knew of two and both the drivers i spoke to regretted it

[@najali77]

Question, what would you do, I been driving the txe for 4 years 6 months part time. I have 71000 on clock. So do I trade in and get a new one. Pay the balloon payment £19.2k and buy the extended warranty, or put the money in the bank. By the way, never had a Erad issuse as of yet. Thats my worry

[@WizAnn320]

Could be that you are driving kindly? My aim would always be to not be paying anything but to own outright. You will have 10 years of the cab left with no payments after the balloon payment. Just spares and repairs. It could be said that people are being made scared of mechanical failure deliberately to keep the turnover of cabs going (I have no idea if thats the case, but it did just occur to me as a possibility). Imagine if you could buy a 5 year old cab with low mileage for £19000 they would pull your arm off for it.

[@najali77]

Thanks

[@terryfranks3772]

Dean I would like to come on one of your pod cast soon

[@WizAnn320]

I have you penned in Terry as you know. I think you should come on and tell us why the vito is the best option

[@hptaxicompany7059]

​@WizAnn320 it's a great option and we need it to comeback , unless they comeback what can we say ?

[@bells1969]

Scrap the turning circle why do we still only have 1 cab to choose from It’s not needed This is probably why Nissan and Mercedes did not see it as a Worthwhile investment in the Taxi trade

[@WizAnn320]

I was against scrapping the turning circle for some fairly shallow reasons. I think i am now swayed and we should just approve certain appropriate vehicles with the requirement that they can not be used for PHV

[@bells1969]

@@WizAnn320 definitely one being the Vito having just one vehicle is no competition and in turn leads to to no benefits for taxi drivers becoming rent free some big changes need to take place if this trade wants to move to forward n a very short space of time we now have to buy. Vehicle. Thats over £100k

[@terryfranks3772]

No am not a Heathrow driver and I still like the vito

[@WizAnn320]

You are one of the hardest working Taxi Drivers I know.

[@terryfranks3772]

I’ve been a cabbie for 21 years and the vito is the best cab full stop all I hear is the new cab just so expensive and always going wrong!!!!!!!

[@WizAnn320]

I know you take care of your cabs too. i would have to agree that having Vito in this current market seems to be a good play

[@Shads187]

So you're saying use it as a private hire vehicle / uber with a partition.... That will be the end of the trade. And of course they have a monopoly, what on earth are you on about. They are the only ones selling the cabs. Not thst you would care because youre making a nice profit from your rented taxis.

[@hptaxicompany7059]

A monopoly is when it's forced, they're the only ones left due to the fact they have invested into the trade over the years, other companies haven't but there is no stopping them if they wish, but the problem is we are not a growing industry so big car companies are not attracted to it... renting taxis is a big part of this business and very much needed maybe think more about how it all works before you make your comments.

[@WizAnn320]

Shads I will leave this comment up but you need to understand that what you say and how you are saying it is not appropriate. I didn't hear anything that said to use the vehicle as a private hire vehicle, quiet the opposite. Any vehicle that is approved to be used as a London taxi would not be permitted to be used as a PHV. (This is what would be required if any other vehicle was introduced, and how that would work or being enforced would take some thought) you think it would be the end of the trade elaborate why thats the case. If you keep mentioning profit that just shows jealousy of sorts. Another companies profits is irrelevant to you. You mention a monopoly, but if no one buys the competitors cabs or no competitor puts up a competitive cab then it raises questions as to why no one else is building a purpose built cab for a very niche market. Even with the LEVC being the only real new cab to buy they are losing money. (And i know you like profit) So would you build a cab for the current market knowing it will almost certainly lose money?

[@Shads187]

@@WizAnn320 it's not about jealousy but garages are charging way too much for renting a cab. I also understand everyone needs to make profit because we all need to survive. But how much profit is enough? Levc doesn't make money? Have you seen their books to see whether the make money or not. And goj seriously don't believe there's something dodgy going on as to why only levc sells London taxis???

[@WizAnn320]

If you know the price and investment needed to buy a cab, you can then deduct that from the rental cost and calculate profit. If the profit is too high then renters should just buy and no one should rent. Rental price is driven by the market force of the difficulty or risk of buying. You are putting forward really weak arguments based on your gut feeling that honestly equates to a stand point of jealousy or envy. You sound very disgruntled that things are not the way you want them and offer nothing substantial to back up what your saying. If being a taxi proprietor involves great profit then you should invest in that and start renting cabs. If renting out cabs is not for and renting a cab is not for you then it leaves the only option for you to be an owner driver. What stops people being owner drivers is the commitment and the risk nothing more. @@Shads187

[@hptaxicompany7059]

​@Shads187 during covid we passed on cabs for free when finance company's gave payment breaks we are now paying for that on the end of the finance deals whilst cabs are out of warranty... but don't let that stop you from being bitter

[@terryfranks3772]

Mercedes is the very best taxi if you can get one cabbies keep asking me to sell me my taxi to them no thanks am keeping it

[@WizAnn320]

Is it still difficult to buy a Taxi that hasn't been licensed in London previously?

[@terryfranks3772]

What I mean the second hand market

[@Shads187]

Lastly, if you cared so much about your fellow cabbies who rent from you, why don't you lower rents? These garages are raking in the money. Its cheaper for me to lease then it is to rent because garage rents are so high. Would be nice to see your 📚 to see how much profit youre making off the back of hard working cabbies.

[@hptaxicompany7059]

Do you mean lower the rents so we make no profit then become a taxi charity ? I love these types of comments its like me saying to you why don't you work for free for comcab as they transport vulnerable people around , it would save councils millions of pounds then they could lower our council tax... have a think

[@WizAnn320]

Hi Shads your comment makes no sense. If it is profitable to own cabs and rent them out then it must follow that its cheaper and better for you to buy your own cab! You are free to buy your own cab and you would also be free to buy it and rent it out. Thirty years ago it was £200 to rent a brand new fairway. It is now £350 to £370 I do not see much difference. You should not concern yourself at all with the profits of any business other than your own. You want a cheaper taxi then go to the source and buy one. Their are risks and those risks and other expenses are added into the price of rental. Your comment is bitter and pointless

[@Shads187]

Am sure Garages could pass on some savings. But I guess it's dog eat dog out here. I wouldn't call it bitter tbh. Just as I see it.

[@hptaxicompany7059]

​@Shads187 what do you think we are making on each cab ?

[@Shads187]

@@hptaxicompany7059bro, it ain't that deep, it's a matter of opinion. You gotta do what you gotta do. I do feel like the trade is messed up because it's everyonan for himself. This is why we find ourselves in this situation. B lucky and all the best. 👍