Limo Forum - 7 to 9 Seaters. Vito + Viano + Maxicab
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Hi fellow forumers,
Let me start something in this new forum and get the
(ball rolling).... Let share your thoughts on Mercedes-Benz Vito & the newly launch Viano. Cheers.
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Personally, I am driving one of the newly launched Mercedes Benz Viano... (black)...
(Similar to the google picture above).
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The headlights are more classical compared to the previous model (named as Vito).
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The seats inside (back, passenger's seats) are original designed for 3-2-3...
which means... 3 rows of seats (total 8) behind. But due to the limited leg's room, the 2 seats in the middle is removed for larger space..
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Sam... the Combi forum's Owner....
Come in and give your views.....
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Come joins the.... Pte Limo...
But one bad news......
The commercial vehicles COE Premiums are going higher (currently at Record High of $52,004)....
A brand new Viano may cost at least $150k now... need to check with my Cycle & Carriage agent (Mr Ravier Lin, Commercial Vehicles) before I can get back to the forums.
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A cut and paste from Mr QX179R thread on the latest round of COE bidding (22 Feb 2012) ... thanks pal...
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SINGAPORE: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) premiums rose across the board at the close of bidding at 4pm on Wednesday, with prices for commercial vehicles hitting another new high.
The COE for commercial vehicles crossed the S$50,000 mark for the first time to close at S$52,004.
That's a rise of S$2,203 or 4.42 per cent from the previous high of S$49,801 in the bidding exercise on 8 February.
The COE for small cars closed at S$57,009, up by S$4,200 or 7.95 per cent.
The COE for big cars rose to S$78,189, an increase of S$4,299 or 5.81 per cent.
The premium for motorcycles ended at S$2,012, up S$210 or 11.6 per cent.
The COE for the open category went up to S$78,000, an increase of S$4,199 or 5.68 per cent.
Tan Chong Motor general manager of sales and marketing, Ron Lim, told Channel NewsAsia he was surprised COE prices continued to rise despite the market slowdown.
"There is speculation that some of the dealers perhaps didn't manage to get all their bids in the previous round, so... this round, they have to come in and secure the COE for their customers.... pushing the prices so much higher," Mr Lim said.
Asked about the new high in the commercial vehicles category, Mr Lim said it was due to the significant cuts in the COE quota for this category to more than 160 per tender.
But he said he felt the rise in prices is not sustainable given the economic outlook.
He added it may take another few rounds of bidding before prices go down again as there is still a backlog of unsuccessful bids.
"Whether these prices will be sustainable will be a big question mark," he said.
"If you look across the board, most of the COEs have risen 15 to 18 per cent within two short rounds. I feel that the market needs to take a breather. So we'll probably see some corrections soon."
Singapore Vehicle Traders Association honorary secretary Raymond Tang said: "There was overwhelming demand in the market that caused Category A and Category B to be up.
"There are a lot of orders and a lot of stock coming in, in March and April, so most of the motor firms take this time to bid instead of later on, when you might see even higher COEs.
"Commercial vehicles definitely will be staying high. I won't be surprised seeing commercial vehicles going as high as Category A." ( Ole Ole Ole - JDIL )
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The viano is no doubt a good looking chap... Haven had a chance to go down C&C for i was waiting till i finished my BDVL this weekend before getting myself poisoned in the car marts but with the current COE prices, i will have to reconsider my options carefully.
You 2 seats removal is by agent or third party? Your insurance coverage is still meant for the stock 10 pax right?
!@#$@#@% Damm the Abwin salesman told me viano only comes as 8 seaters 3-3-2. whats the problem with the sales peoples these days Zzzz
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You have to ask the owner... for correct information.
Viano is registered as a 9 Pax seater + 1 driver of course.... the commercial insurance we are paying is also inclusive... hence... we are protected.
Whether you decides to reduces the seat(s) is no problem to Insurance. (only upon annual inspection by VICOM, then we may need to install back the seats).
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I took out 2 seats....
now my back (passenger compartment) are left with 3-3 (facing each other).
Go look for Mr Ravier Lin.... Commercial Vehicle Dep. He is very helpful... I haven't seen him for a while liao..
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Bro ahRichard,
the premiums of Cat C may be going higher....
Just go down to the showroom to look for Mr Lin 91470071,
showroom @ Alexandra Road (before IKEA)
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I am already up $23k on the COE... just for a period of 6 months....
(my vehicle COE in Sep 2011 cost me $29k)... I thought it was expensive then... -
Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
You have to ask the owner... for correct information.
Viano is registered as a 9 Pax seater + 1 driver of course.... the commercial insurance we are paying is also inclusive... hence... we are protected.
Whether you decides to reduces the seat(s) is no problem to Insurance. (only upon annual inspection by VICOM, then we may need to install back the seats).
u mean to say u have to fix back the 2 seats pior to inspection? I was also looking at the Hiaces but too many seats for me and the seats is like perm mounted without rails.. so removing seems to be a challenge if wana re configure the layout inside but well i will leave this out of viano thread haha.
The configuration ya using now is basically what all maxi cab are using and probably the best imho. The thing that made me research abt this car is after i took a maxi providing feeder service for RWS recently during festive season. Love at first sight.... lol
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Viano seats can be fitted back....
now is part of my furniture at home... (sofa with safety belts)...
me going out liao... got hourly job from 11am to 8pm.... 50pts each.... will come back here (this forum) after 9pm perhaps....
Cheers bro.
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Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
Viano seats can be fitted back....
now is part of my furniture at home... (sofa with safety belts)...
me going out liao... got hourly job from 11am to 8pm.... 50pts each.... will come back here (this forum) after 9pm perhaps....
Cheers bro.
9 hours?
last fri did a 4 hrs alrdy very tired, me too new i guess.. always tensed abt leaving the vehicle too long so everything chop chopCheers
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Originally posted by ahRichard:
9 hours?
last fri did a 4 hrs alrdy very tired, me too
new i guess.. always tensed abt leaving the vehicle too long so
everything chop chopCheers
Yeah...
. Just came back..... 9 hours today... 9 hours yesterday....
Tomorrow got morning Departure 7am. 85pts from Hotel in town. Got to sleep early today.
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Once you starts driving Pte Limo....
You will tend to like doing Hourly disposals rather than Airport transfers.....
U will saved on diesel, engine also cold...
(go translate to Hokkien)... Also saved on Tyres rubber, servicing (on mileage), more relaxing time.
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Pte Limo = Ideal job to many (though hands still on steering wheel)....
Above = Viano's steering wheel.... nice ?
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Originally posted by ahRichard:
9 hours?
last fri did a 4 hrs alrdy very tired, me too
new i guess.. always tensed abt leaving the vehicle too long so
everything chop chopCheers
When I used to drive Mercedes limo cab... I don't enjoy disposals too... I still preferred to run around taking MDT jobs....
But once you got disposals (which is a grading of MSW durian), you will never want to do AP transfers. Agree with me Mr Sam ?
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Originally posted by ahRichard:
u mean to say u have to fix back the 2 seats pior to inspection? I was also looking at the Hiaces but too many seats for me and the seats is like perm mounted without rails.. so removing seems to be a challenge if wana re configure the layout inside but well i will leave this out of viano thread haha.
The configuration ya using now is basically what all maxi cab are using and probably the best imho. The thing that made me research abt this car is after i took a maxi providing feeder service for RWS recently during festive season. Love at first sight.... lol
I was at Sentosa yesterday and today.... RWS. My guest got a seminar at Convention Center RWS (next to HardRock Hotel).
I only can see 1 black Viano....
The rest are all.....
(this color) parked outside Hotel Michael & Festive Hotel.
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personally, I find limo svc the best make to use would be Mercedes-Benz..
and not just because I'm a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast that's why I say like that..
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Originally posted by QX179R:
personally, I find limo svc the best make to use would be Mercedes-Benz..
and not just because I'm a Mercedes-Benz enthusiast that's why I say like that..
Yeah... agreed... For Pte Limousine, Mercedes-Benz is a top preferred brand....
For the Limousine drivers, Mercedes-Benz is a proven machine and outstanding in many areas.
There are many e-Class Pte Limo drivers...
(The latest model, is expensive)...
Not many....
Only big limousine companies can afford these premium cars.
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yeah, agreed that Mercedes-Benz though expensive but if you take good care of it, in turn it'll take care of you (the driver/owner)..
one of the safest & yet most reliable makes out there..
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For vehicle maintainenace, the cost are much reasonable (Mercedes-Benz), compared to other Euro-contingent made brands (like BMWs).
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The Forum Owner (Sam)..... drives a Mercedes Benz Silver-Vito.... A OLDER VERSION
of Viano.No Auto Sliding doors....
It is also more practical to buy a MPV (diesel engine) than the petrol run engine.
Small fries like us (Sam & Me).... cannot fight the big boys... or big fries....