Marvellous, comfy ute

Mazda’s new BT50 is finally here. Available in 2WD and 4WD, the range starts with the double cab GSX and ends with my test car, the flagship 4WD double cab limited.     At $47,490 and $60,990, respectively, the price is up there yes, but this is somewhat justified when you step inside. The minimalist […]

Mega motorcycles, mega service

For Dennis Charlett, motorcycles are a way of life, whether on a Saturday ride, or competing in the New Zealand Superbike Championship, of which he has multiple national titles under his belt.     Dennis knows the bike industry inside and out, which led to him purchasing Budget Motorcycles Spares Ltd, and transforming it into […]

New take on a sporty classic

It’s not the typical jump-in-and-go-get-Fish’n’chips, but you will soon spot Maserati’s new range like the Ghibli, Quattroporte and Levante around the place with a more unified look.     Maserati started producing cars in Bologna in 1914 with the iconic trident as its bonnet’s standard. It’s a luxury car brand making 75,000 globally yearly. Now, […]

The perfect fit

The name Kamiq originates from the language of the Inuit people, native to Northern Canada and Greenland. It means, “something that fits perfectly”. And I think that says it all.     I live a pretty busy life, which means I need a car that is easy-to-use and equipped to deal with all my requirements […]

A sporting update

Lexus definitely thinks the saloon segment is not dead. I attended the exclusive launch of their new IS Saloon in Palmerston North, Taupo, and Hampton Downs. Here is the lowdown.     The new IS consists of seven different variants. The base IS300 and IS300h, moving to the higher spec IS300 and IS300H Limited, and […]

Lost in the Forester

The Subaru Forester is a great SUV, and of the few soft roaders to actually do well on the rough stuff. Now, along with the XV, the Forester has gone Hybrid: Let’s see how it stacks up.       The range consists of the E Boxer Sport, and the flagship E Boxer Premium featured […]

Stress less, shine more: RO Jones Panelbeaters

A vehicle is often someone’s prized possession and it can be very distressing when it is damaged. Helping to take the stress out of dealing with this kind of situation are the panelbeating experts at RO Jones Panelbeaters.   “It is really important for customers’ peace of mind for them to have confidence in their […]

King of the water: King Water Craft

William King’s passion for boats started at an early age. Inspired by his grandfather’s naval career and round the world sailing expedition, at age 12, he put pencil to paper to design his first boat – a plywood dinghy.     With his father’s encouragement, he set about building it himself at the coastal family […]

In Focus

The team at Ford are always delivering a great range of vehicles to suit everyone’s needs. The Ford Ranger currently sits at number one in New Zealand, but now it’s time to drop the spotlight on the Ford Focus ST, a hatch with the exhilaration of a Mustang.   This is a multi-award winning car […]

The Ultimate VW Challenge: Tiguan vs T-Cross R-Line

Here is the challenge: you’re loading up for a weekend trip with three women to go to Maruia Springs. You’ve got pillows, blankets, makeup bags, bags for shoes, bags for clothes, bags for swimming…basically everything bags.   They have had time to prep so it’s my job – while they have a few wines – […]