Ant Niterl co-hosts Short and Wide, a sports show streaming on TVNZ OnDemand
What do you drive?
A Holden Colorado 2011, gun-metal grey with four interior coffee cup holders. It is a manual. I purchased it so I could tow the boat and take it off-road. I love getting it grubby and giving it a good thrashing. A great car for New Zealand outdoors.
How does it fit your personality?
I am a rough-around-the-edges kind of Kiwi bloke. I like the simple things in life and relish my days on the wet stuff with a fishing rod in hand or in the bush hunting and gathering meat for the family. I feel like the utility vehicle fits my personality and life style.
Who else is allowed to drive your ute?
Any human may drive my car if they want to. Except maybe an ex-girlfriend who was supposed to get me home safe after a few beers but crashed into her own car, and then into the garage.
What do you always have in your ute?
Brut deodorant, chewing gum, golf clubs and part of my wardrobe. A toothbrush. Always prepared.
How often do you clean it?
I live out of my car most of my life, so it is not always spick and span. Once a month I give her the full monty — hoover, facial scrub and tend to her shoes with an old pot scrubber. A clean car is good for morale and also slightly more attractive when going on dates. My mum hounds me, saying a cluttered car means I have a cluttered brain, so she probably has a point.
What do you listen to?
I love my music on high volume penetrating my ear drums daily. My go-to is anything reggae, dance or oldies.
First car?
I was fortunate enough to inherit a Toyota Corolla 98, beige, a similar complexion to a bronze whaler shark. The number plate was Teebag. Not the most attractive thing, but there was a lot of trust in our relationship. The number plate was eventually given to All Black stalwart, Tony “Teabag” Woodcock.
Your dream car?
I’m not a flashy kind of guy, but if I had to choose a dream car it would probably be a Ford Ranger or VW Touareg ute.
Favourite car colour?
All black, everything. It just looks beautiful and slick.
Who taught you to drive?
My courageous mum with her patience and fortitude. She would take me in and around Lloyd Elsmore Park, in Pakuranga. Once I figured out how to change gears and hit speed bumps at a slower pace, we ventured to the outskirts of Whitford. I started this process at the tender age of 15, and my mother was a fantastic teacher.
Any tips for young drivers?
My only tip would be learn in a manual. I believe it is a life skill. Most memorable road trip?
December 27, 2011, myself and four mates hopped into my mate’s Nissan Pulsar named “Taniwha” and headed south to Rhythm and Vines. I had just won a full festival “Pimp my campsite” prize through MTV and the boys were fizzing! On the trip down we wore the bare minimum of clothing, got pulled over by a policeman, sang songs, chanted, observed a gang fight in Whakatane while we consumed KFC and then it was all topped off by being side stage for Calvin Harris. Young, free and a buck wild roadie.
Great day trip out of Auckland?
Always rate getting out to Muriwai for a bit of golf, an attempt at surfing, topped off with a barbecue.
If you could go anywhere, in any car, with anyone?
I’m South African-born so it would most definitely be an African safari in an open-top beach buggy with Will Ferrell at the wheel. Lots of laughs over a few beers while observing God's greatest creations.
Favourite movie car scene?
Can't go past the car scene in Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carey and Jeff Daniels. The montage of their journey on their way to Aspen in a wagon fitted out as a giant sheep dog. It just gets me giggling every single time.
What irritates you most about other drivers?
Drunk drivers. I have stopped three in the past two years while being on the blower to the police. The last one I had to drag the driver out of the wreckage after he had a head-on with a parked car at speed. It's mind-boggling, people risk their own and others’ lives.