RobiNZ Personal Blog

On the road again

Way back in 2009 I drove the 5 cylinder Ferrari to Wellington to see the "Formula One ™ – The Great Design Race" exhibit. I have a week off and decided to give it some exercise and explore one part of New Zealand I haven't been to before. Going for a road trip; revisiting Coromandel then on to East Cape. I have been to each side, Opotiki & Gisborne, but never around the end. After that maybe Wellington, New Plymouth but haven't booked anything so can change plans as suits. I have my mountain bike in the back, and a... Read more →

Dark(er) wheels on a Bravo HGT

Getting the wheels refurb’ed, same again or dark? Must admit brake dust can mean dark irrespective of the actual wheel colour! Read more →

210012 Kilometres in a Fiat Bravo HGT 155

I couldn’t stop to take a photo when the odometer clicked up 200,000 km tonight so captured something a bit more symmetrical. Read more →

The ticking Bravo, a Christmas car win!

Christmas evening, jump in the car and hear an odd ticking noise from somewhere within the dash. Engine off, it slows down to a stop. Power on, back again, turn the ventilation fan from Auto to Off, slows down but still there. Realise the air conditioning is on, turn that off, it slows to no ticking. Learn, after how many years driving this car?, that the air conditioning runs the fan at Speed 1 irrespective of the fan speed selected! Sounds like something in the fan, maybe a bearing worn or debris being knocked around, but nothing major; just bloody... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Bravo HGT around the world

According to WolframAlpha clocking up its 166,000’th kilometre means my Fiat Bravo HGT has been around the world just over four times. (166,000 km = 4.1 × equatorial circumference of Earth). I happened to notice it on the odometer sitting at the lights in Henderson on the way home from work tonight. Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Honda Accord Euro, not quite

There was an Accord Euro just in front of me as I headed for the petrol station. Only one free pump, both sides empty, and I was in a hurry to get back on the road. Would he go to the left side, meaning I’d get the right and hassle of pulling the filler hose over to my Fiat’s drivers (right) side petrol filler? That’s not a really big deal but the Flying Spaghetti Machine was just out of the paint shop having had the left guard and hatch top wing re-sprayed*. To risk dragging a hose across the back,... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought — Does this happen to Corolla drivers?

Although Fiats are not exotic in New Zealand they are fairly rare. I noticed a nice black Stilo Abarth at the lights opposite. Then I noticed its driver looking at my Bravo HGT. When the lights changed we passed with a friendly wave. I bet that doesn’t happen if two Corollas meet… For how this image was made see My car gets Wordle'd Read more →

Traffic Light Thought — Fifteen Week?

This week marks fifteen years working at The Warehouse Tonight the 5 cylinder Ferrari clocked up 150,000 kilometres! Read more →

Othello, a Peach Theatre Company masterpiece

This isn’t a review from an avid theatre or Shakespeare fan. In fact I must admit I didn’t pay for the ticket and distantly know the Director. My Aunt was Principal of Jessie’s Primary School, his Mum taught with her and I first knew him as the guy behind the Bird Barn counter selling me Cockatiel seed before his media & theatre career blossomed. My last contact with “real” Shakespeare was at High School and I shudder to think that was 30’something years ago!. I only remember “doing” Macbeth but there must have been others. I know of his work... Read more →

Fiat and Ferrari dominate 2011 Engine Awards

In my experience Fiat engines have always been great. It’s the bits surrounding them which usually account for the demise of the car! The images below are two I’ve owned, Uno Fire & Bravo HGT, but the awards went to the amazing 875-cc TwinAir mill in the “500” and the Ferrari 458's 4.5-litre V8. One day I’d like to own those two! Fiat and Ferrari dominate 2011 International Engine of the Year Awards Read more →