It's worth noting that as a customer we have the right to choose the taxi we travel in (
Link to Taxi Regulator). So if don't like the look of the first taxi in the rank for any reason (I refuse to get into a taxi more than 4 years old - I know, I'm a prick) don't be afraid to skip it and get into a car of your choice. OK, it may cause a little bit of agro at the rank between the drivers but at the end of the day I don't want to be stuck in some untidy banger with the smell of stale cigarette smoke.