PUA MAGASIVA PLAYS NURSE VINNIE KRUSE ON SHORTLAND STREET
What car do you drive and why did you choose it?
I drive a 2009 Suzuki Swift Sport with a 1.6-litre engine. I always wanted a small car that has a little bit of zip in it, that was good on gas and cost effective. I love the shape — it’s still got a sporty look without it looking too girly; even though people say that it is a girly car I don’t care. I bought it at the end of last year.
The colour happened by chance, I wanted red but this car had all the specs that I was looking for — full airbags, low km, and manual — it had to be manual. The colour has grown on me as it’s loud like me. It’s the colour of my home town Wellington and of course I call it “Bumblebee”.
The Suzuki Swift perhaps isn’t what a lot of macho guys would be comfortable driving. Do you prefer this vehicle over the “muscle cars”?
Of course I’d never prefer the Swift over a muscle car, are you kidding me? Sure I would love to have a [Mustang] Shelby or a [Dodge] Challenger, or a 1970 Holden Monaro.
But this car is all about having everything that suited me. Fast, economic, small, manageable.
I think this whole idea of having a car as a status of your manhood is bull! I train hard and I’ll take on anyone if my life depended on it.
Your dream car if you had no financial restraints, no responsibilities?
2015 GTR Godzilla.
What was the first car you owned?
It was a 1985 Honda Civic I bought in 2001.
Who taught you to drive? What age? And where?
Me and my twin Tanu used to steal our parents’ car and teach ourselves how to drive when we were about 15 and living in Wellington. We were good teachers because we didn’t have to answer to anybody but ourselves.
Do you prefer manual or automatic? And why?
Nothing but manual, because I like being in control.
Your brother actor Robbie told Driven that you used to have lots of family road trips. What were they like?
They were horrible because I was always left to sit in the boot of the family station wagon. They were during the times when road rules weren’t so hardcore.
If you could drive with a celebrity anywhere at any time, what would you drive and who would you take?
Actress Jessica Alba in an Aston Martin Vanquish convertible — and definitely in Hawaii.
What is your favourite movie or TV show car scene?
Any scene from the Fast and the Furious franchise of films.
Do you enjoy driving or would you rather be a passenger?
I love driving.
What do you listen to in your car?
1990s R&B, and of course Shortland Street radio, on ZM 1-2pm Saturdays, hosted by me!
What’s a great day trip out of Auckland?
A drive up to Tawharanui or just keep travelling up that coast line.
What irritates you most about other drivers?
Slow cars in the fast lane.
■As told to Donna McIntyre