Author Topic: Car Service  (Read 11683 times)

Offline Lohan2b

  • Resident
  • ***
  • Posts: 30
    • View Profile
Car Service
« on: December 09, 2007, 07:22:27 AM »
What are the closest car services to 78th and 35th, and which are reliable?

Thanks.

Offline toddg

  • Moderator
  • Mayor
  • *******
  • Posts: 3492
    • View Profile
  • Lived here since: 2002
Re: Car Service
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2007, 09:13:02 AM »
I use Mexicana Car Service, at 70-18 35th Ave, 718-446-8700... have found them to be very reliable.


Offline jennsch

  • Activist
  • *****
  • Posts: 144
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2007, 02:45:41 PM »
Mexicana is my backup car service but the one I use most often is Continental. The dispatcher always says a car will be there within 7 minutes and he's (almost) always right.

Offline spaceboy

  • Resident
  • ***
  • Posts: 43
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2007, 03:31:35 PM »
Mexicana is my backup car service but the one I use most often is Continental. The dispatcher always says a car will be there within 7 minutes and he's (almost) always right.

Jennsch, What's the number for Continential?

Offline jennsch

  • Activist
  • *****
  • Posts: 144
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2007, 03:44:35 PM »
718-507-8006

Offline bunnyspeaks

  • Resident
  • ***
  • Posts: 36
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #5 on: December 09, 2007, 06:22:01 PM »
How do the prices for Continental and Mexicana compare?

On a side note - curious when catching a car from the 74th Street station, how much does everyone pay and how far do you go? I have a slight fear I am overpaying. I go up 3 avenues and 8 blocks, and it's $7. I tried $6 and I got "no" a few times, and never tried it again.



Offline jennsch

  • Activist
  • *****
  • Posts: 144
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #6 on: December 09, 2007, 07:02:26 PM »
Mexicana and Continental charge about the same thing -- I just switch back and forth if I can't get one or the other to pick up the phone.

Offline Shelby2

  • Mayor
  • *******
  • Posts: 4955
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2008, 12:16:20 PM »
When you need a car service to get to Laguardia for a flight, how much in advance should you call?

Also, is using a car service like a taxi in terms of tipping.  In other words, if the price is $10 to get to the airport, you should tip on top of that?


Offline eddiestjohns

  • Council Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 455
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2008, 03:15:04 PM »
When you need a car service to get to Laguardia for a flight, how much in advance should you call?

Also, is using a car service like a taxi in terms of tipping.  In other words, if the price is $10 to get to the airport, you should tip on top of that?



I like to give at least 30 minutes notice so I am early.  If the weather is bad or it is a weekend night or holiday at least an hour to be safe.

If I call to get a car I tip about 20%. So for a $10.00 ride I would give a $2.00 tip.  If I get a car on the street without calling the dispatcher I give the driver the negotiated price since he will pocket the entire fare.  When you call the dispatcher or "base" the car company and driver share the fare at varying percentages.

Offline John Prester

  • Activist
  • *****
  • Posts: 189
  • El Juan Preste - Emperador De Los Absinios
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2008, 04:11:44 PM »
I use ¡Viva Zapatista! Car Service.  The driving techniques used by Mexicana Car Service are far too right-wing and repressive for my impeccable left-wing sensibilities.  Mexicana sure hasn’t done much to ensure that wages are distributed fairly to those who do most of the driving!  One of the primary bigwigs, Mr. Carlos Slim, has a monopoly and gouges the passenger whenever he can!  End result is that many are disillusioned with the Mexicana system, and go over to ¡Viva Zapatista!, or at least develop sympathies for the Zapatista driving technique.  An even greater number of passengers are completely fed up with the driving techniques of both Mexicana and Zapatista, and are encouraged to flee to the north by the government, which fears what would happen if its own subjects directed their anger at the true problem – them!  They’d rather have them direct their bitterness at those pesky northerners!  But the car service to the north doesn’t really use cars per se, it relies mostly on “mules”.         

I usually request Sub-Commandant Marcos from ¡Viva Zapatista!  His driving skills are beyond compare, but I’ve never been able to get a good look at his face, as he’s always wearing a balaclava, even in the steamy dog days of summer!  Pedro Sanchez is also a good driver with a strange deadpan personality, and that toupee he wears is quite comical!  Pedro bakes cakes in his spare time, usually when he’s courting a woman.
Disco Dandy and Flâneur Extraordinaire

Offline Chuckster

  • Mayor
  • *******
  • Posts: 2807
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2008, 05:37:18 PM »
When you need a car service to get to Laguardia for a flight, how much in advance should you call?
Also, is using a car service like a taxi in terms of tipping.  In other words, if the price is $10 to get to the airport, you should tip on top of that?

Shelby, my husband used Mexicana early this morning for a ride out to JFK.  They quoted him $26.  Not sure how much he tipped...we do usually tip based on the service.   Anyway, I called the cab for him approximately 15 minutes before he went down.  I peeked out the window and noticed that the cab had arrived approximately 10 minutes after I called.  So....the pick-up was at 7:00 a.m. and hubby called at 7:25 to let me know he had arrived at the airport.
The Chuckster has spoken!

Offline buddy

  • Mayor
  • *******
  • Posts: 1477
    • View Profile
    • work
Re: Car Service
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2008, 05:59:21 PM »
I've used Central car services. 718-335-4141. They're right here in Jackson Heights.  I book it the night before so I don't have to think about it next morning.

 I think they're all competitively priced.  I usually take a car service when I'm going to LaGuardia but I take the bus coming  home (unless there's too many bags).

The bus is so easy and pleasant.  It travels along 83rd. St.  I live at 86th so I get off at 34th Ave. and only have to walk a couple blocks.  Just make sure to have $2.00 in quarters. 

In the middle of this link are the different bus lines. I think it's the Q33.  This page lists all fares, routes etc.  Very helpful page.

http://www.toandfromtheairport.com/lga.html
« Last Edit: April 22, 2008, 06:05:33 PM by buddy »
First, do no harm.

LaVidaBuenaenJH

  • Guest
Re: Car Service
« Reply #12 on: April 27, 2008, 06:55:23 PM »
This is a subject dear to my heart, since not only do I not have a car, I never even learned how to drive.
When I need to call a car, Mexicana is far and away the best. I'm at 80th and 34th, and LaGuardia costs $10. They are very reliable, and usually pick me up in seven minutes.
When I need to catch a ride to Manhattan, I often go to Northern and hail a cab, if the traffic isn't bad it can be cheaper than car service.
As for rides from 74th Street to my block, they are trying to get $8 out of me these days (when I first moved here it was $5!). I don't mind paying a reasonable rate, but that just seems crazy to me. I always confirm that it is $7 before I get into the vehicle.

Offline spanishfish

  • Activist
  • *****
  • Posts: 230
  • JH_AB
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #13 on: April 27, 2008, 09:00:16 PM »
I use Paisa. Cheap, fast, on time.
-JH_AB

Offline normelrod

  • Citizen
  • ****
  • Posts: 72
    • View Profile
Re: Car Service
« Reply #14 on: April 27, 2008, 09:08:05 PM »
On multiple occasions I've had car services in the neighborhood quote me one price on the phone and then ask for a higher price in the car.  When the driver confirms with the dispatcher, he responds with the higher price without fail.  It's usually not that much higher, but it's really annoying.  I pretty much avoid car services around here for this reason.  Has anyone else had this problem?