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Early Addition
Reader Ben sent us this picture of a cab on fire at West 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. This is odd, but made odder by the fact there was a taxi fire outside Rockefeller Center on West 50th on Tuesday. What's going on with the Crown Victorias?
It's unclear if anyone was injured. If anyone knows, can you tell us if taxi fires are fairly normal? Or car fires, for that matter. And a hypothesis was just offered: The flower decals are making the taxis heat up more!
Update: City Room says the cab was not a floral-decal cab. And Gotham City Insider has a good rundown on why cabs, Crowns Vics in particular, are susceptible to fires: "Imagine that x 8 hours a day 5 or 6 days a week. Those motors are dying to explode and rest in Ford heaven."
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OK , so is it just me or does something seem weirdly suspicious? In a space of two days 2 cabs go up in flames in proximity to each other?!?
Does this make anyone nervous?...
check where and when them crown vics were made.
recall time.
They're not unusual in Crown Vics. They're one of the most dangerous cars on the road today.
car fires are fairly common. they're listed daily on gothamist's own newsmap... seems almost every other day there's a car fire noted on the am radio traffic reports because it's screwing up some route. they used to be a lot more common, though.
There is a serial car fire starter person on the loose out there people..!!
AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
That is correct - there are more fires than you would think - I find it amazing that a car can just go up into violent flames but these do.
Coincidence?
Perhaps...
I think it's a protest against those new "NYC Taxi" door logos.
probably cause by a smoker.
it's too hot, too hot, lady,
gotta run for shelter.
there's a giant magnifying glass that is responsible
Curse! Ahmadinejad!
The riding public is at risk. Recall these cabs Ford! The TLC should be a little more concerned and not so silent on the matter.
I think it's the painted-on flowers.
it has something to do with a design flaw on the Crown Vics, its been documented... go here
http://www.gothamcityinsider.com/2007/09/look-honey-its-taxi-inferno.html
maybe it's those new gps/videoscreen units
Thanks guest 14.
See? Now that is helpful. I don't know why gothamist is changing it's poilicy on anonymous posting (they're getting rid of it) - some people just don't want to be in the limelight.
I've seen a couple of burned out taxis since moving to the city six years ago.
Why can't I get it to allow me to view guest comments?
If I was Andy Sipowitz, I’d be roughing up some pedicab people right about now...
It makes sense that Crown Vics would age much faster - thanks #14.
Right before all the comments, there's an option to Show or Hide Guest Comments. And re: commenting, you can use a handle for your registered commenter name and use a nonspecific email address.
I had to quit my browser and relaunch to be able to use the show/hide guest comments option. If you're having trouble, it may work for you.
"why cabs, Crowns Vics in particular, are susceptible to fires"
Because they are often driven by Muslims?
In Iraq, they're called "Car Bombs"
Car fires are common in leased cars, especially in the month before the lease is up and the leasee is way over the limit on the mileage.
The cabs are immolating themselves to protest the GPS systems. Duh.
I think its those flower covered cabs immolating.
I witnessed a taxi fire in Austin, TX. I entered a nearby office complex and asked the security guards to get a fire extinguisher, but of course they couldn't find one.
That's all I have to say on this matter.
Saw this from my office which has a view all the way up 8th...a huge black cloud just hovering over 8th for 15 minutes. Scary shit.