[pjd7]

Taxi's in NSW/Sydney are much better these days. Uber X are typically shit by comparison.

A $95 UberX ride home is about $109 in a taxi for me.

Talking to a few friends who also live a similar distant from the CBD/downtown find that Taxi's are the better / more reliable option these days too.

The taxi is pretty much always newer, with a professional driver who usually isn't almost falling asleep behind the wheel. The quality of the driving is typically significantly higher. It feels like a safer ride.

Of the recent UberX's I have caught, the car was typically in need of a suspension replacement or significant servicing and around 6-7 years old or older.

Most recent taxi rides I have had a car around 12 months old or less.

Taxi's are better regulated and provide a better service. I'll happily pay the little premium there is in this market to use one over an Uber.

On a recent trip to NZ the uber to taxi price comparison was massively different.. Taxi was like 2.5x more expensive..

[resolutebat]

And why are they better "these days"? Because competition from Uber forced them to up their game.

They still suck though, and ripoffs and even sexual assault remain legion.

[protocolture]

I ordered an uber from one side of the Sydney CBD to the other.

We got to talking about ubers situation in the CBD. He told me he doesnt normally accept fares in the CBD because he gets pushed around by the police. As he was saying that, a motorcycle cop ordered him to pull over for an inspection. I thanked him and decided to walk the rest of the trip.

Anyway, now armed with the reason I couldn't get an uber reliably in the CBD I found that Uber into the CBD, taxi out of the CBD was the best way forward.

[aragilar]

Or, you know, public transport...

[protocolture]

I mean if I am in the Sydney CBD I am there for work. I usually need access to a variety of suburbs, the airport and the CBD itself for various work engagements. I need to be on time, and spend ideally less than 45 minutes in transit between engagements.

When I am on my own time in Sydney, I have an opal card and will train everywhere possible.

[theshackleford]

He said “best” not barely adequate at the best of times.

[aragilar]

Uh, if you're in Sydney CBD, public transport (train/light rail) or even walking is faster than any kind of motor vehicle in my experience (this assumes that you have no mobility affecting disability, in which case use what you need to use).

[theshackleford]

I lived and worked in the city. I did not find this to be the case at all. (I had a motorcycle).

[FireBeyond]

> Of the recent UberX's I have caught, the car was typically in need of a suspension replacement or significant servicing and around 6-7 years old or older.

This was a pet hate of mine in Australia. Order an UberXL "Fits your group of 6 riders (or extra luggage) comfortably" and most of the time someone was showing up in a Honda CRV or Passport (which has 5 seats). We had five passengers plus some luggage at times.

And when you cancel because that "XL" option won't meet your needs then the app starts hitting you for repeated cancelations, despite the fact that all of these vehicles don't actually fit the description and capacity described.

[hnick]

I had a similar issue when Uber was newer (I don't think they had XL) at SFO, the guy showed up in a little car, and was SHOCKED, SHOCKED, that we had LUGGAGE! At the AIRPORT!

He did not want that on his nice seat, and the trunk would not fit much either since he had his own stuff in there. Silly guy. He made us cancel, old trick, since that makes us pay not him. Support sorted it out.

[mianos]

Also living in Sydney, and catching Uber often. I find the complete opposite. The cars are old and beat up and Ubers are always newish. Taxis are always smelly, Ubers much less so.

Maybe my experience is more a result of being closer to the city.