The Merit variant of the Taxi is a four-door, sedan-based taxicab appearing in Grand Theft Auto IV. It is manufactured by Declasse.
Design[]
The Taxi is built by Declasse and is based on the Merit, which in turn is based on the 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala (along with the Police Patrol). It is only seen in a yellow color and uses a set of unique shallow dog dish hubcaps also shared with the FlyUS Feroci.
The Taxi is operated by L.C.C. Taxis, whose scheme is inspired by older generation NYC Taxis (with the minivan version bearing the same markings).
The Taxi can appear with three different roof signs; both modern and classic versions of the icon "taxi" sign with amber lights aside the "TAXI" display sign, as well as a rooftop advertisement board, itself spawning with three possible combinations of commercials; WTF and Banging Trash Can Lids for an Hour, and Conjoined Twins, The Science of Crime, or Weazel News. All taxi signs can be detached in collisions.
The Taxi also features a medallion screwed on the front grille, similar to a real practice by New York City Taxi to denote vehicles which are licensed to pick up passengers; they also have a red beacon light on the front grille and and rear trunk. A set of push bars comes as standard for both models, with the frontal ones reused from their law enforcement counterparts. This Taxi, as well as the Stanier variant, Roman's taxi and the Cabby, carry the registration insignia LC2708.
Performance[]
The Declasse Merit-based taxi's acceleration is very good, and the top speed is above average. The brakes have been upgraded over the regular Merit, requiring a shorter stopping distance and thus reducing the risk of being ejected through the windshield after a frontal impact. The suspension has also had an upgrade, making this vehicle corner more effectively at speed. Crash deformation is acceptable, and the cab can survive a few frontal hits before failing.
The Merit-variant of the Taxi is powered by an Inline-4 engine, coupled to a 5-speed gearbox in a rear-wheel drive layout. It also has two cam pulleys visible and the layouts are different compared to the Stanier-variant of the Taxi. The car uses a mid-revving sound found on its civilian and law enforcement counterparts.
Performance Overview[]
| Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engines | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | 84 / 135 | 5 | N/A | RWD | 1900 / 4189 |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | 5 | FRFRFront engine, rear wheel drive DOHCDOHCDouble Overhead Camshaft Inline-4 (In-game model) | RWD | Cannot be observed |
Gallery[]
Design[]
Images[]
A Declasse (Merit-based) Taxi in Grand Theft Auto IV (Rear quarter view; without roof-mounted advertising).
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
The Ballad of Gay Tony[]
- High Dive – Tahir Saaed lands on a Merit-based Taxi after he was thrown by Luis for betraying him and Yusuf.
Locations[]
- Reflecting real New York's abundance of taxicabs, Taxis are the most commonly spawning vehicles in Liberty City, and are particularly common in Downtown Broker, at Francis International Airport, and throughout Algonquin, especially within The Triangle and Star Junction, where Taxis make up the majority of road traffic. Taxis are less common in peripheral, industrial, and suburban areas of the city; notably, taxis will rarely spawn in eastern Dukes and northern Alderney and never spawn in Acter Industrial Park (Alderney), and in parts of Bohan.
- One may occasionally be parked on Asparagus Avenue in front of the Liberty City Transport Authority Headquarters.
Radio Stations[]
- In Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, the default radio stations are grouped by genre:
- The Declasse Taxi variant uses either the "Latin" group, which can play San Juan Sounds, or the "Hip-Hop" group, which can play either The Beat 102.7 or The Classics 104.1.
Specifications[]
Traffic Default Colors[]
| GTA IV | PrimaryPrimaryPrimary color (1) | SecondarySecondarySecondary color (2) | PearlescentPearlescentPearlescent color (3) | TertiaryTertiaryTertiary color (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89 Taxi Yellow | 89 Taxi Yellow | 1 Black Poly | 0 Black |
Trivia[]
- New York City never used the eighth generation Chevrolet Impala as a taxi. However, some other US cities did. The decision of depicting this taxi as a Merit-based vehicle probably stands from the previous titles' tradition of police cars and taxi cars sharing vehicle models.
- All variants of the taxi, as well as the Cabby, have screens that show the destination for the player; however, they will despawn if the player is not inside the car.
- Most of the taxi drivers in Grand Theft Auto IV are Greek. A taxi driver may say "I'm Greek, you know" when held at gunpoint. They also can be heard cursing traffic in front of them with the Greek phrase "malaka", which is slang for numerous derogatory remarks.
- If the player takes a taxi ride in GTA IV and shoots outside the car, the driver will stop the car, make a comment and then run away, leaving Niko in the back seat of the stationary vehicle. This will also happen if the LCPD are chasing the player.
- When Niko takes an NPC out of the backseat of a cab, they may sometimes say, "That's my wife's car, take it!" or tell Niko it's their car.
References[]
See Also[]
- Taxi – All relevant articles on Taxis, including taxi models, missions and other functionality.
- Merit – Civilian version
Other Taxis and Taxi variants: