RobiNZ Personal Blog

Austin Maxi Vs Fiat 128, no contest

Love this driventowrite.com series comparing the design and life of the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128. Although they were not direct competitors (the 128 is more 1100 sized) the similarities, of both cars and design history, are remarkable. 128 v. Maxi Part 1 : Last Tango of the Titans 128 vs Maxi Part 2 : Function over Form 128 vs Maxi Part 3 : Spring Song 128 vs Maxi Part 4: The Racehorse and the Donkey Continuing our meditation on the Austin Maxi and Fiat 128 Every Day Is Judgement Day. If you drive a front wheel drive car today... Read more →

Really Jeep?

Because Fiat/Abarth is FCA, I am on the mailing list for Jeep. Have to wonder if this image does anything positive for the brand? Lets fuck up a mountain? Read more →

My Fiat Bravo 155 HGT the HubNut star!

Back in mid-January 2020 Ian (HubNut) Seabrook took my 2001 Fiat Bravo 155HGT for a drive. I'm glad to see the verdict was favourable, even though his drive was hampered by an intermittent sensor problem causing it to feel flat on acceleration. Ian must be stronger than me. He pulled the bonnet release lever out of its pivot, never seen do that before, but clipped back in now! Since this was filmed the air conditioning condenser has been repaired so it's even cooler now. The wobbly throttle sensor was being sorted when the COVID-19 virus lock down closed NZ. I... Read more →

The Pencil and the Battery Electric Vehicle

Had a chance, and interesting, coincidence today in my podcast playlist. Pocket Casts has my favourite podcasts set to auto-download and add themselves to ‘Play next’. Two episodes were ready to play when I left for the morning commute. The power of graphite; in pencils First up a new season of The Boring Talks* kicked off with ‘Pencils’: Brian Mackenwells on why we should all appreciate the pencil. Part of it (~0:05:00 onwards) told how a limited source of pure graphite (needed for pencils) in the 16-18th century made the British Cumberland graphite deposit a strategic asset. From its discovery... Read more →

Fiat Bravo HGT heading for classic status?

A recent “Hidden Heroes” article on Honest John got my attention. They think my Fiat Bravo HGT is a future classic and there are only 21 left on the road in the U.K. There were never many HGTs in New Zealand; I was told maybe Thirty total and just a dozen of the later 2001 HGT 155 model I have. According to some recent research (by a fellow Fiat enthusiast) there are now probably only three left on the road. Probably why the 155HGT plate, acquired last January, was still available over a decade after I first considered getting it!... Read more →

A2O Cycle Road Trip 02–Whanganui to Wellington

Awoke to a stunning day, clear blue skies and no wind. Like yesterday it was a leisurely start, self catered breakfast and an unscheduled car wash before getting on the road. I had parked under a tree, which was fine, but the overnight resident birds had left a calling card on AHBART’s roof and windscreen. That was easily sorted, also gave me a chance to clean of all the bugs which met their end on the trip down last night. The blunt nose panel, no grille between the headlights, and white colour make it very obvious cars and insects don’t... Read more →

AHBART 156k

What is it about round numbers? Glanced down just as AHBART rolled over 156,000km on the way to work yesterday, but pulled over to take the photo! Read more →

Just because you are on a crossing, keep watching…

Red lights, cars stopped, green pedestrian and cycle crossing, all good, right? No! It doesn't look so dramatic on the front camera (due to field of view). I let this run a bit longer so you can see the cars queuing across the bike lane trying to enter a gridlocked parking area. The second white one was actually trying to push into a space which wasn't there and looked mad a me for crossing their path! But the rear view better represents what happened at the crossing and how close this near hit was. Read more →

Triangle Road, Massey, Auckland Chicken Run

It is astonishing how many cars are doing a head on "’chicken run’ down Triangle Road passing stationary traffic, on the wrong side of a double yellow ‘no passing’ line, crossing a two lane bridge with no means of escape. They must have a good job to be that desperate to get there… Just to show this isn't a one-off here is a repeat performance from today. * I don't use the bike lane down there unless there is traffic approaching from behind as it is rough, has a lip to the road and often covered in road debris. Read more →

From no Abarth to an AHBART–My Abarth 500 Esseesse

It all started with an email. A running TradeMe search for “Fiat” turned up this listing which got me thinking about a way not to replace the Fiat Bravo HGT which is my daily drive. I should also credit, blame, Sam “Seen Through Glass” whose numerous Abarth YouTubes. many I (re)watched over Christmas/New Year, contributed to the Abarth being on my radar again. Love the Bravo, but time for a change? I’ve owned this 2001 car since 2008 and it has 252,000km on the clock. Although reasonably reliable minor mechanical problems can cost a lot to fix thanks to next... Read more →