Wheely
Wheely drivers follow a code of conduct, which includes wearing a suit and tie and opening the door for passengers.
- Luxurious Russian chauffeur app Wheely launched into London last year.
- CEO Anton Chirkunov said that the company is trying to attract drivers in the capital away from Uber.
- I tried Wheely on two occasions - once from my flat to Gatwick Airport (£75, or $97), and once to Heathrow (£70, or $90).
- It was more like having a personal driver than being in a taxi.
I've lived in London for more than five years, and getting around is officially becoming exhausting.
Over the last few years I've become relient on Uber for when I've been in a rush, carrying a lot of stuff, or just feeling too tired or lazy to get on public transit (which is almost always).
However, ever since Uber lost (and then regained) its license in London - and drivers started protests demanding better treatment and an upgrade in employment status - the app seems to have turned a bit chaotic. Lately, Uber rides rarely go off without a hitch, whether it's due to a long wait time, a badly-planned route, or even an unfriendly driver.
What's more, when the company won its license back in June, it was only for 15 months with a clear set of conditions - so the future of the app in the capital remains uncertain.
Luxurious Russian chauffeur app Wheely launched into London and Moscow in 2012, but pulled out of the UK capital when it failed to compete against then-giant minicab company Addison Lee.
The company re-launched in London last year with "plans to plough hundreds of thousands of pounds into attracting drivers away from Uber," according to the Financial Times.
When I heard the news, having long wished for an Uber competitor, I decided to give it a go.
Wheely may not replace Uber like-for-like - it's certainly more expensive than the standard UberX, and has less drivers in the capital.
However, after using the service twice - once in September from my flat in south east London to Gatwick airport, and a second time in December from home to Heathrow - I had a glimpse at how money can, in fact, buy happiness.
Here's what riding with Wheely is like: