if you like driving to fall into the "challenging/exciting/terrifying" category, there's nothing better than a Mirage rental car in Puerto Rico.

but have you ever driven a 2013 Mitsubishi Mirage?

all of my cars say taxi on the side of them. Currently sporting a 2014 Scion xB, but there are things I definitely miss about the Crown Victoria. Mostly power, drifting, and stopping ability.

I rented a brand new Mitsubishi Mirage while in Puerto Rico this year, it was super fun to have to see a hill, and have no idea if it would make it up it. Would recommend renting/beating the shit out of one.

You must HATE driving.

Have you ever had 5 men over 6'/200lbs + luggage in a Civic? If the answer is yes (it isn't) how were those brakes? Acceleration? Because the Crown Vic gives literally zero fucks. I've done it in a Vic, I've done it it in a Camry, I've done it in a Scion xB. The CV wins by a country mile.

Leisure. Suit. Larry. I somehow got a copy of Land of the Lounge Lizards when I was like 13. The fact that not putting a condom on will give you AIDS and kill you means that it was an educational game, right?

so the 30% of customers who get taxis by flagging will be shit out of luck? Yes, very innovative. How will I ever compete?

the problem with making blanket statements about Uber is that they have different models for different markets. In some, they're simply ride share/gypsy cabs. In some, they operate exactly as you described Taxi Magic above (except with a cuter website, apparently). I'm glad you found a good product in your market, and…

so, we have an app called Taxi Magic that does all those things and was pre-uber. I drive a 2014 Scion xB. I have every cell phone charger known to man, and obsessively stock gum. One trip to Costco for bottled water, and there will be ZERO reasons for Uber?

Uber is a middle man that does basically nothing, so what is it that they do that rings your bell?

The math gets fuzzy, since we don't know how much a driverless car would cost, buy you need to look at cost of vehicle + maintenance - amount of fares that could be generated. It's even harder to calculate, because what about car insurance? That's one of the biggest expenses of running a cab right now, would it stay…

I think you have it backwards: less manned cabs in NYC/SF/CHI, more manned cabs in smaller markets. No one's going to bring an expensive product to a diminished market.

I've always wanted a diesel merc wagon cab...

oh, yeah, cause wasted kids who can't even remember what bar they ended up at are going to have a great time finding dedicated Cab Stops. At least I'll always have business on the weekends?

As it stands right now, Uber is fighting/has fought lawsuits in every market they've entered. It's easier and smarter for Google to let them fight the battles, get the bad press and animosity, and if the tide turns, just buy them later. If Uber keeps being sued by people assaulted by their drivers or who are hurt and…

Aside from the technophobes, I wonder how they will deal with flaggers? The smart cars might be able to see someone waving from the sidewalk, but how will it be able to determine if that person is waving at them, another car, for no reason, etc. It's hard enough to figure out for us. Will the cars only come get you if…

There are thousands of taxi drivers in my city alone, this isn't exactly a great metaphor. there ARE tons of people weeping in Southern Oregon for lack of ability to cut down trees.

The other thing to keep in mind is that cab driving has typically been a job for immigrants. Maybe a good reason you don't hear the…

as an owner/operator of a taxi, we've been talking about this for a while. Guber is trying to make us the new lumberjack, and there's really not a lot to be done about it. The question becomes: will there be enough old ladies and luddites who aren't into this idea to justify trying for business as usual for the next…

Let's get this out of the way- California has bad air. I know, right? It's remarkable that the state considered to be one of the most progressive in the nation, as well as one of the country's most abundant agricultural producers, would have issues with pollution, but along with our left-leaning politics we do like…