WILD THING
THE GENERAL MANAGER OF EUROPCAR NZ, STEPHEN JONES, DRIVES A FORD RANGER WILDTRAK
You’re driving the latest Ford Ranger Wildtrak? It’s a 2018, automatic in chilli orange. Being a top seller in NZ absolutely did influence me wanting to drive it.
Why this ute?
It drives like a car, has lots of space and it looks great. This ute has an endless number of safety features — lane control, adaptive cruise control. It’s everything and more that a car can offer.
It’s large at 5.35m long, 1.85m wide and 1.85m tall?
Yes it is a large vehicle, which definitely has its benefits and when you have full parking assist, there’s no problem parking in the city.
Who else drives it?
My wife and anyone else who works at Europcar.
How does this vehicle suit your lifestyle?
To be honest it doesn’t fit my lifestyle at all, it just looks and drives great.
Do you prefer manual or automatic?
I had always driven a manual before moving from the UK to NZ. Now I prefer autos for ease on Auckland’s motorways.
Dream vehicle?
The epic V10 Audi R8 looks and sounds great.
Who taught you drive?
I was taught to drive by a UK driving instructor. I was 17 and managed to pass my licence first time.
What was your first car?
I loved my first car, it was an awesome 1982 Ford Escort, although that manual choke was testing in the winter. I shared the car with my sister and our common argument was over who was going to put petrol in it. Your most memorable road trip
in this ute?
When I got the ute, the first trip that had to be made was to Bunnings. I felt like I just had to go.
Do you have a favourite TV car scene?
The scene in where they were doing doughnuts. They were impressive. Dukes of Hazzard
If you could go anywhere, in any car, with any celebrity?
It would have to be the long, straight road to Darwin (the one with no speed limit) driving the V10 Audi R8. And a celebrity to accompany would have to be someone funny like Ricky Gervais.
What’s a great day trip out of Auckland?
Up to Matakana, Leigh, Goat Island. Not only is it an easy drive (when there’s no traffic), the coffee’s great and the fish and chips are even better. It’s perfect in summer for swimming, too.
Craziest thing you have done in a vehicle?
Driving a 100 per cent electric VW e-Golf through Arthur’s Pass with 10km left in range, no cellphone reception and having no idea how much further we had to drive before we reached our overnight stop. The heart was racing fast that day.
Electric and driverless cars, can you imagine yourself travelling in them?
Absolutely. We just bought 100 per cent electric e-Golfs on to our fleet. It’s the way of the future.