Comedian and Uber driver Tarun Mohanbhai's uber funny show is part of NZ international comedy festival.
What are you driving?
It’s a 2011 Silver Prius. I spoke to other drivers and it was one of the most economical, and a car that would be in high demand for re-selling. It’s also comfortable and great to drive.
How does it fit driving for Uber?
The Prius is a hybrid so therefore charges as you drive. On a full tank of petrol you can travel anywhere between 800-1000km, costing anywhere between $68-$85 depending on the price of petrol.
And how does your Prius fit your personality?
I like a bargain and boy that’s some savings on petrol!
Having gone hybrid, would you go back to full petrol/diesel?
Probably not.
Who else drives it?
My partner does as, to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of driving in general.
Tell us about being an Uber driver?
I only really drive in the AM as I’m an early riser and have nothing much to do, so I kill two birds — driving and gathering material all while making a bit of cash on the side.
How often do you clean your car?
I’m a bit of a clean freak so I like to keep my car fairly clean and try hard not to get it dirty on the inside. As for the outside, that’s kind of out of my control, so I try to clean it every two weeks.
What do you always keep in it?
Tissues for anyone who needs them or for me if I get the sniffles. Hand sanitiser if someone wants to shake my hand or if I am
about to go eat something. Moisturiser as I’m not a fan of the dry skin. And water to stay hydrated — and apparently it’s good for you.
First car you owned?
A 1957 Austin A35. It was a classic and to this day a lot of people still remember me for having that car. I loved it.
Who piqued your interest in cars?
I do like classic cars and I guess watching Comedians in Cars getting Coffee has kind of reinvigorated my interest in classic cars.
Your dream car?
I would love a Tesla. Or a time-travelling DeLorean. But to be honest I’m not really into cars. I’m more about the practicality and reliability and if it gets me from A to B with minimum expense.
Any vehicles you have regretted selling?
I had a Toyota Camry before my Prius and it was amazing. I sold it only because I bought the Prius, otherwise I would have driven that car until whichever one of us died first.
Who taught you to drive?
I started driving around 12, possibly 13, at the back of my dad’s dairy and my siblings would all let me have a go of doing a bit of a drive in car parks back in the day. I then went on to have lessons at 15 and then got my licence.
Any tips for young drivers?
Yeah, focus on the road and remember the biggest threat on the road is everyone else. Driving is not about how good you are, it’s about how alert you are for the idiot who’s about to cause an accident.
Do you prefer manual or automatic?
Automatic, as it frees up your hands to text and eat food ... Just kidding. I think in heavy traffic, it’s easier to have one less thing to worry about when driving.
Most memorable road trip?
My mate Raj and I drove all the way from Auckland to Dunedin one year in my Nissan Primera. I realised that is a stupid thing to do and way cheaper to fly!
What irritates you most about other drivers?
When you indicate to get into a lane and no one lets you in. It’s my pet peeve.
■ Catch Uber Funny, May 15-19 at the Classic.