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No official minifig taxi has ever had space for more than one passenger, at this scale I don't think more than that would be feasible. It's a shame there are big gaps in the floor though, but I suppose that if a plate was put in to conceal them there wouldn't be enough clearance between the driver's head and the windscreen?" The inclusion of the flat cap is very nice and just adds to the characters look, along with the suitcase, that of course has a donut inside.
I think the interior is probably the weakest section of the model, with only enough space for one passenger, squeezed right behind the driver. There is ample luggage space though, housing a suitcase, another slice of pizza and a dark blue cap, adorned with the Avengers logo. The cap also appears in 76269 Avengers Tower and presumably belongs to the taxi driver, although he cannot really wear it with his double-sided head. From building the character, standing him at the Taxi rank, hailing a Cab, popping him inside and driving off, it’s great fun even for a thirty-something AFOL ( Adult Fan of LEGO) like me! The single minifigure included in this set doesn’t have any unique pieces, but the combination is new, making him one of those “somewhat exclusive” characters. His head has had 11 other appearances across many themes. (In fact, this is the clone of the chef from the 10260 Downtown Diner.) And that was for Amelia Earhart - an excellent set (also, more parts at a lower spending threshold)When this set was revealed, I found the taxi decidedly underwhelming, based primarily on its seemingly awkward shape. However, this model is more attractive than I expected and I think the first image was unflattering. The proportions of the vehicle are realistic and the curvature of its bonnet and windscreen looks superb, which is something LEGO cars often struggle with. Case in point: look at the van designs from 1687 or 6345. Both still use the old 1x3 vehicle doors, but because of the shape and size of the windscreen, the minifigure can't possibly exit the vehicle via the side doors, only by lifting the roof! The set comes with a single minifigure. Is he the driver of the cab? Is he a passenger? All we know for sure is that he has a 1×1 round printed donut tile in that suitcase. Another hidden detail…another mystery from the designers! Or maybe this dude just likes donuts. Being such a small set there aren’t numbers on the bags but there are three of them in total and an instruction manual, which again is nice and small, perfect to slip into the box.
As design standards have continued to change and evolve — such as with molded wheel arches and curved elements becoming more ubiquitous on LEGO vehicles — the practicality of those traditional door pieces has diminished further and further. Yeah, he probably just likes donuts. Enough to carry them around in a briefcase. (In fact, this could be the Donut Thief from the Police Station Modular!) Take the amount needed out of the equation and it’s totally worth it and a joy to build and display, it sits perfectly alongside the LEGO Boutique Hotel (10297) and rightfully so, its from the same are after all! Taxi is, in many ways, a confusing companion for 76269 Avengers Tower. The four minifigures have little relation to the tower and LEGO fans interested in Avengers Tower may already own 76178 Daily Bugle, which includes another taxi. Honestly, this model feels like the result of designers not knowing what to make, which I would understand, as 76269 Avengers Tower already includes most things associated with this location. The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author. Box and Contents
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Looking at the box design with the shared sand green strip, and the design of the taxi, and just how well it fits into the Boutique Hotel, it’s clear that LEGO probably meant for the Vintage Taxi GWP to be released alongside the Boutique Hotel at launch on 1 January, but supply chain delays probably meant that they couldn’t make the timing work. Having a portion of the pavement is a nice bonus although it does stand a little proud of the LEGO Modu baseplates. Maybe a MOC could remedy this and somehow build the Taxi rank into the Boutique Hotels walkway? Good review! It's definitely charming and a beautiful match for nostalgic vibes of the Modular Buildings Collection. The only other set I remember with old-school curved fenders like this was 70911, and needless to say that was at a far more exaggerated scale! It's a great demonstration of how useful the 1x3 inverted arch can be for automotive detailing.
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