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.