Prime to roll out 8-seater petrol cabs

• QX179R

  24 Oct 08, 21:00

  As the price gap between petrol and CNG has narrowed, Prime Taxis will roll out its first batch of eight-seater petrol cabs at the end of the month.

  Twenty auto 1.5-litre Honda Freed models will hit the streets, with a flag-down rate of $3.50. And five-seater Toyota petrol cabs are also in the pipeline, revealed Mr Neo Nam Heng, Prime Taxis' managing director, who plans to revolutionise the diesel-dominated industry.

  He told my paper: "The 1.5-litre Freed is more fuel-efficient than older 3-litre diesel taxis. Passengers can also expect quieter and smoother rides."

  Petrol prices have fallen over 18 per cent from the year's high, compared to CNG's 5 per cent drop. At Smart Energy CNG pumps at Mandai, CNG is now $1.64 per kg, while 95-octane petrol is $1.846 a litre.

  In August, Smart Group gave extra fuel rebates to unhappy CNG-taxi drivers who complained about high CNG prices.

  An advantage for Prime Freed cabbies is that they can avoid the long queues at Singapore's two CNG stations at Mandai and Jalan Buroh. Prime operates about 400 bi-fuel taxis.

• Poolman

  28 Oct 08, 20:45

  KNN Prime si bei many pattern .....

• youyayu

  28 Oct 08, 20:47

  wth honda..

• KCTK

  28 Oct 08, 22:15

  1.5L 8-seater good fuel consumption? maybe with just the driver. With 8 adults seated i think engine sure not powderful enough. maybe fc worse than hyundai matrix or suze apv.

• chongctd

  29 Oct 08, 01:12

  In terms of engine torque, petrol engine still loose to their diesel counterpart.

• purpledragon84

  29 Oct 08, 01:23

  Prime? issit new? what colour one?

• QX179R

  2 Dec 08, 10:21

  Prime Taxis introduces 20 petrol-powered taxis

  SINGAPORE: Even though petrol is more expensive than diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG), one taxi operator has decided to introduce petrol-powered cabs on the roads.
  
  Prime Taxi launched 20 petrol-powered taxis, 10 of which are MPVs which can sit up to seven passengers per car.
  
  These petrol-powered taxis are said to be more energy efficient.
  
  For every litre of petrol, one such cab can run 12 kilometres, three kilometres more than a diesel-powered taxi.
  
  The company, which has a fleet of 400 CNG taxis, said cabbies find it inconvenient to top up on gas even though CNG costs 20 per cent cheaper than petrol.
  
  Other taxi operators said they have no plans to roll out petrol-powered cabs as fluctuating petrol prices could hurt cabbies' income. - CNA/vm

• sinicker

  2 Dec 08, 10:26

  taxi driver want fuel efficient ah? HAHAHA.
  
  they kick accelerator like goalkeeper kick like that.

• ALN

  2 Dec 08, 11:39

  make sense to cabby only if rental for 5 seater version is much cheaper than the CNG $69.9 daily rental... cos petrol taxi no need to pay high diesel tax wor....
• lianamaster

  2 Dec 08, 21:29

  Oh my... like that who will buy honda freed?

• SBS7484P

  2 Dec 08, 21:32

  Originally posted by chongctd:

  In terms of engine torque, petrol engine still loose to their diesel counterpart.

  
  to make it worse, 1.5l vs 3l..

• QX179R

  2 Dec 08, 21:33

  Originally posted by lianamaster:

  Oh my... like that who will buy honda freed?

  sure have one..

• lianamaster

  2 Dec 08, 21:33

  

• lianamaster

  2 Dec 08, 21:34

  As far as I know... rarely will anyone wants their car to look exactly like a cab...haha

• QX179R

  2 Dec 08, 21:39

  imagine a sonata owner telling the salesman that he wants his car to be the exact same colour as the comfort sonata..

• lianamaster

  2 Dec 08, 21:41

  Originally posted by QX179R:

  imagine a sonata owner telling the salesman that he wants his car to be the exact same colour as the comfort sonata..

  
  Ok.... he better be prepared to be flagged then...

• carbikebus

  3 Dec 08, 14:09

  Hope thay dont recklessly speed like petrol powered private cars.I still prefer Turbodiesel cabs which is far more efficient.Imagine Honda freed with 7 peoples on board sure kanasai eat petrol like shit.Bad idea.

• carbikebus

  3 Dec 08, 14:10

  Originally posted by SBS7484P:

  
  to make it worse, 1.5l vs 3l..

  
  1.5 petrol is equal to normal 3.0 diesel.Unless turbodiesel

• SBS7484P

  3 Dec 08, 14:11

  but doesent the diesel has more torque?

  i know the skodas and the hyundais/kia got turbo.. crown dun have hor?

• lianamaster

  4 Dec 08, 10:16

  Originally posted by carbikebus:

  
  1.5 petrol is equal to normal 3.0 diesel.Unless turbodiesel

  Wow...

• carbikebus

  4 Dec 08, 11:10

  Originally posted by SBS7484P:

  but doesent the diesel has more torque?

  i know the skodas and the hyundais/kia got turbo.. crown dun have hor?

  
  Only Turbodiesel has more torque but not for normal diesel.More torque mean powerful acceleration and mid end but lack of top end.

• lianamaster

  4 Dec 08, 15:20

  Diesel prices have fallen to about $1.25 per litre. Looks like diesel is the way to go for now?

• chongctd

  7 Dec 08, 01:00

  Originally posted by carbikebus:

  
  Only Turbodiesel has more torque but not for normal diesel.More torque mean powerful acceleration and mid end but lack of top end.

  That's why models like Skoka Superb, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Magentis accelrate like no tomorrow!

• ALN

  7 Dec 08, 04:45

  so chong, u drove which taxi model before so far? i recalled u tried crown, cedric, and sonata? not trying more brands? haha...
• swee_heng

  7 Dec 08, 11:38

  How much does it cost to book Honda Freed current booking during peak hours?