The well-known saturation PR campaigns run by the makers of London's black cabs aside, what is it we love about the famous London black cab? Actually, when you sit down to analyse it, it's a pretty short list:
- The drivers' knowledge of London streets and locations (known as "The Knowledge")
- The legroom and general space in the back (in which you can have excellent "two person" prep meetings on the way to the real meeting)
- The limousine-like ride (something to do with the weight and the relatively low-power engine) and the truly incredible turning circle (A drunk "No! You've passed it!" doesn't phase these machines)
- The "high-wide" profile which allows easy, mostly dry even in a downpour, umbrella-ed "step in" entry and exit. No "bum down and swing in" in these babies -- which is the only possible entry style in any sedan-based taxi, indeed into the back seat of any sedan
- Practically the entire fleet is wheelchair friendly
And what do we hate? Also a short, but telling, list:
- The cost. These are some of the most expensive cabs to ride in the world
- The stink. Put ten of these smoky oilers in a poorly-ventilated inside/outside taxi annexe, and you've got instant nausea-inducing blue haze
- The lack of proper luggage space. They're great for short biz-rides, but NEVER take one from a London airport fully laden with your alloted 20 kg -- you'd be better lugging your stuff on and off the Tube
- The ventilation on a London summer's day
So put that all together and you'll see that talking about the "London black cab" is a conversation that's mostly NOT about the London black cab! It's a conversation about London cabbies, or about how cities should work, or how airports should be serviced.
But hidden in there are three things that no other car, be it a specialist "taxi car" like Tokyo's Toyota Crown Taxicab, or a modified production car like New York's horrible fleet of yellow Victorias, or one of Beijing's totally unmodified Citroen BXes, can do: the rain protection, the fabulous sense of space with the standard load of two besuited passengers on board, and the truly amazing turning circle for London's narrow streets.
The perfect purpose-built taxi has yet to roll off any production line. But for a great experience washed down with some truly amazing history, the London black cab, with all its flaws, comes pretty close.