For what it's worth, one time I pulled the mylar from a Taxi with the freeze spray technique and it came up without taking off any artwork.

What is the PF like under the mylar, and in the areas without mylar?

Shame on you for buying from eBay bro

Did the same thing years ago really enjoyed the game - play it until your sick of it then expected a lose but move on

Taxi is a pretty neat game. Not sure what "gritty" means but I've seen filthy, grimy playfields that look great after cleaning and polishing. If I got a Taxi where the condition was not quite as good as I expected, I would probably fix it up (remove the mylar using the freeze spray technique, clean and polish the playfield, clean and replace playfield parts as needed, *maybe* do LEDs), and enjoy the game until I got tired of it. Then it's time to sell and get something else. I don't think that's is one of the voting choices though

Taxi is a cool game. For sure clean it up! I could not even think of buying a game and not at least cleaning it well and enjoying it. Seems like you just unwrapped it and a few (a FEW) things are maybe not as perfect as your imagination had hoped. Sounds like a game that will clean up really well and probably look great and be enjoyable. It’s pinball- clean it up and beat on it till you set the high score or it tilts! Enjoy it- I bet it looks better every day you let it sit and soon you will be chomping at the bit to clean the bit of dirt away and play it.

Polish it up, take it to TPF, and let it be enjoyed, sell if you're not too attached by then.
You'll get free TPF entry/swag bag, and probly get 2k-2.5k if you sell, or trade?

How much do you have into this game now? $1200-$1500? You can sell 5 players condition Taxi's at that price point. I say play it for a few months then sell it when you are ready to buy a TSPP.

Taxi is a great game.

Option 1: Sell as-is and hopefully get your money back out of it. Dont waste your time putting LEDs in it if you dont plan to clean/shop the rest of the game.

Option 2: Clean it up as best you can and enjoy it for awhile. You dont have to go crazy. Wipe it down, wax it, new rubbers, new balls, etc... If you like the game and can see yourself keeping it, then maybe do a hardtop install.

Option 3: Dive in head first and do a hardtop install.

If you do decide to install a hardtop, keep in mind that you will probably want to replace other parts, meaning more money. Think plastic set, ramps, etc... Depends on how far you want to go with it.

If it's fully working and you got it for around 1500 on eBay, you should have no complaints. You will never lose $ on a 1500 working Taxi unless it catches on fire or you are really bad at selling things.

Pics would help this thread tremendously.

I say clean and play. Forget leds until you know you'll be keeping a while.

I also removed mylar with freeze on an F14. Well worth the half hour. Of course, your paint may peel off, then id feel bad. Play it first.

If you just hate it sell it to me for $800

Some pics of the good and bad would help.....

Pictures please.

I agree with @snyper2099, if you really only have $1500 into the game, you're fine.

Bubbling mylar isn't too much of a problem... broken plastics and major playfield wear are a problem. How's the cabinet? The boards?

My gut says: clean it up and enjoy it. It's a classic game... I owned one for quite a while and loved it.

Pretty much in line with the others. If you're not keeping long term, don't throw a bunch of money into it. Fix things that may be broken, replace rubber and general cleaning. An elaborate shop job is not required, unless you have nothing better to do with your time.

Perfect response, I agree completely. I've had TAXI twice, and just recently sold it again. One of the best System 11 games there is. Enjoy it for awhile, then maybe decide. You'll likely end up wanting to keep it, THEN start putting some serious $$$ into it pending on what you want to do...

Was this the one for sale up in Michigan not long ago on ebay?

looks good- way better than many and totally worth the money. The vast majority of the art is near perfect Andy the major wear is pops and that’s just a solid color! if it ever got stripped and restored it could be fully rescued... no way you should hard top this game.

Not sure what you were expecting, that looks better than 90% of Taxi out there. Is that works and was only 1500 then you scored big time and came out way ahead.

Yeah man I was debating going to grab that. For Taxinits in very good shape. Take a sharp object to Mylar bubbly to deflate. Someone with way more knowledge than me has discussed putting some sort of adhesive under that bubble as well to fix.

Yeah that’s a excellent $1500 taxi IMO you did good. I personally would leave the Mylar, clean it up, led, and enjoy. I remember reading people using a very tiny bit of super glue injected under bubbled Mylar with a very fine hyperdermic (sp?) needle. Maybe research that for the one insert affecting ball travel. I say you scored though!

You have a pretty nice Taxi. Unless you were lied to I think you nothing to really complain about. Push start and enjoy!

I just bought a Taxi YESTERDAY and that mylar on mine will be GONE tonight after I get home from work. Mylar has no place in a home environment IMO. Mylar sucks and looks like sh...

as lomh as it doesnt take all the paint with it!

I'd be very interested in seeing any pics after the removal to see how it turned out.
Thanks

Yeah this time I learned stick with Coors light instead of an assortment of high ABV IBA's before deciding to do cosmetic work! Let's just say a new hardtop is on order lol...oh well, could never live with the mylar knowing a hardtop is available...new playfields are just sooo sweet!!

I started after too many IPA's and freeze spray, no bueno. Next day, hair dryer on high and much better results, butbafter all done, still felt overall condition necessitates a hardtop. DARN (and yes, being sarcastic and just so glad their available)