Filed under: Auction Action, Etc., Opel
Now-famous Schumacher taxi for sale
We just can't get enough of this saga. First, Michael Schumacher, family in tow, commandeers a taxi to get to the airport. Then the local police decide to launch an investigation into the purported violation of Germany's Personnel Transport Act. Now the cab driver, a hundred euros richer thanks to the champ's generosity, has said that he's considering selling the now-famous taxicab which Schumacher drove in the incident.
The taxi is a nine-seater Opel Vivaro minivan, and according to the driver, he's already been inundated with calls from potential buyers interesting in acquiring the cab. The top offer at the time of printing the story in the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag was 63,000 euros.
"I need the money – because of the Schumi-Ride I could be in big trouble with the police," said Tuncer Yilmaz, the owner and driver of the taxi.
[Source: F1-Live]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Avinash machado 8:14AM (12/18/2007)
Is the driver a Turk? Tuncer Yilmaz does sound like a Turkish name.
Reply
DefJef 8:20AM (12/18/2007)
Yes he is a turk, and a 9-seater is by no means a "minivan"!
Reply
nagmashot 12:32PM (12/18/2007)
agree.. this "minivan" has the same dimensions as a Hummer2... the empty weight of the Bus version is 2.0to and fully loaded it reach 2.9to(6400lbs) ..204inch long 79inch high.. never heard a US claim a Hummer2 to be mini..
ok it is from europe.. everything from europe is mini no matter how large it is.. :)
Richard 8:34AM (12/18/2007)
What's the replacement cost of the "taxi-van"?
Reply
EJ25RUN 8:54AM (12/18/2007)
i would buy it and put it next to his 2003 f1 car if i had a collection.
The two would look so nice together!
Reply
Ted 8:58AM (12/18/2007)
I don't think that this is such a bad thing. Schumacher is a true hero in Germany and a good role model for youth all over Europe. If you look at our sports stars here in the states Schumacher could be granted Saint status.
I think that the Taxi driver should keep the Taxi and use the publicity to his advantage. Dress it up if not on the outside but on the inside. Make it a local legend and he will be better off. If he is going to get into REAL trouble then perhaps he should sell it to cover the fines. Heck, if Schumacher was a true stand up guy HE would cover the potential fines.
Reply
Jesus 9:29AM (12/18/2007)
I believe that the actions and behavior of Michael is not to symptomatic of fame per se, but it can be moreso tied to the lack of faith-based education in our morally corrupt school systems.
Delving deep into our collective psyche, we've shunned God, and there is a palpable negative energy from it. Without a doubt, this is a negative energy that is felt not only by our faith-starved children, but by the rest of the world, including Mr. Schumacher.
Let's work as a community to bring Under God back into the schools and the lives of our children.
Amen.
Richard 11:58AM (12/18/2007)
Ted,
I think you're right. I also think that the owner/ driver should get Schumi to bless the van being wrapped in red with a picture of MS on either side, some stripes and something like "Schumi drove here!" on the doors.
Might help you get more fares...and make you the scorn of the taxi bureau in town.
Doug 9:04AM (12/18/2007)
When I look at the picture, why do I think someone at GM is mulling the words, Saturn and Commuter Vanpool?
Reply
James 9:45AM (12/18/2007)
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, there's your new GMC Safari / Chevy Astro replacement just waiting to be imported...
Mattias 10:18AM (12/18/2007)
The Vivaro is actually a Renault Trafic. The cooperation involving Opel slamming its dashboard into the Renault is limited to commercial vehicles between 2.7 and 4.0 metric tons.
Since the Trafic is also sold as Nissan here you might have more luck getting this thing (or its next gen) badged as Nissan and fitted either with a clean 2.0l Diesel (Renault sourced) or some kind of 1.6l hybrid drivetrain (Nissan sourced).
nagmashot 12:42PM (12/18/2007)
@Mattias
if it went to the USA it went as Saturn to the USA.. all Vivano/Trafic/Primastar are build at a GM plant in the UK... the development is 100% Renault..the production 100% GM
I own a Trafic.. good transport in the 1to carry class... large box shape transport compartment, large doors, good protection vs parking hits, low consuption, nice cabin (compared to older transporter it feels and drives like a normal car)..
iSpec 9:55AM (12/18/2007)
'Without a doubt, this is a negative energy that is felt '
Dude, you're failing in the pretending, judgemental Christian role. You gotta do better than that post to come off as valid.
Reply
ThwartedEfforts 10:09AM (12/18/2007)
Guaranteed troll.
porschedevotee 2:54PM (12/18/2007)
Yeah, he's gotta be a troll - this is the only comment he's ever posted. You'd think he could have made it a little more coherent and somehow tied to the article, but maybe that was asking too much.
Philip 11:15AM (12/18/2007)
Yep, thats the Renault / Nissan / Vauxhall / Opel we need here, Its popular in Europe, WHY WHY WHY cant we have it here in Cargo form, Its a Brilliant van, I would drop the money in an instant, If its good enough for an F1 driver its good enough for me.
Reply
TriShield 11:56AM (12/18/2007)
I might be alone on this but I think a Saturn Vivaro cargo/airport van would be cool.
Reply
Go5Go 11:57AM (12/18/2007)
I think Shuey should offer to pay for the violation fees if they are that much!
Still wondering why he was flying commercial to begin with, with his money he should have at least a partial ownership type deal going on!
Reply