Paul has always been a big fan of Suzuki Jimny, so when he moved to New Zealand he jumped at the chance to finally own one. His 'Off Road Toad' provides a lifestyle that he just can't get enough of, so we took a few moments to chat with Paul about the love he has for his Jimny.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I moved to Wellington, New Zealand from Los Angeles, California, USA in early 2016. I moved to NZ to work for WetaFX as a Motion Capture Specialist, and Facial Animator. I currently live in Hamilton with my lovely wife Hayley who is a Kiwi.
Why did you choose Suzuki over other brands?
I have always been a big fan of the Suzuki Samurai (Jimny) in the States, but they haven’t been available there since the mid 90’s. So when the new Jimny came out while I was living in New Zealand, I knew I had to have one!
What do you love about your Suzuki?
Everything! I like the retro inspired look of the new Jimny. It is tough and cute at the same time haha. I like how capable it is off-road stock, and even more after a few modifications. Mine is lifted, with bigger tyres and air lockers in the front and rear, so it goes pretty much anywhere I point it!
How would you describe your Suzuki to a friend?
A tough little Juice Box of a car that can keep up with the big boys off-road!
Why was your Suzuki Jimny the right fit?
I wanted a Jimny for the longest time, so I jumped at the chance to finally own one here in NZ. I really enjoy the outdoors and off-roading, so the Jimny was perfect for what I was wanting in a car. I like how small it is, and how easy it is drive out bush or in the city.
How has owning your Suzuki Jimny made a difference in your life?
I love the outdoors, so the Jimny lets me get out and explore New Zealand really easily. I take the Jimny camping and off-roading as often as I can, and I definitely didn’t do either as much when I’ve had other cars in the past.
Describe the experience you had buying your car?
The Suzuki Jimny has been really popular here in NZ the last few years, and there was a huge waiting list to get one for the longest time. I knew I wanted one, and couldn’t wait, so I checked out used ones. Eventually, I found the perfect Jimny five minutes from my house in Wellington! The only problem was that we were in the middle of Covid lockdowns when I scheduled to go look at the car. I kept in contact with the seller, and as soon as we were allowed to see people outside of our “bubble” we met up for me to look at the car. I knew that I had to have it as soon as I saw it. The Jimny was super tidy and had low kilometers. I fell in love with the car during the test drive and it has been a dream to own ever since.
Have you got a nickname for your Suzuki?
My wife and I call our Jimny “The Off-Road Toad”. The name came to us on a holiday in Bali, when we would scooter around the jungles and would see heaps of toads jumping around the rocks just off the main roads. We called them “off-road toads”, and the name came back for the Jimny since it likes to go off-road like those toads back in Bali.
What will you be doing/where will you be going when you next pick up your car keys?
My parents are here visiting New Zealand from Los Angeles for the first time at the moment, so I’ll be taking them on a few scenic drives through old gravel roads around Kawhia and Raglan. Then on some more drives exploring beautiful New Zealand!
What's some advice you would give to someone looking to buy a car?
I would definitely recommend doing your research ahead of time. I watched heaps of videos and read a bunch of reviews on the Jimny before buying one, which was super helpful. Have a think about what kind of car you want, for the type of lifestyle you have or want to have. This is my first Suzuki, but definitely not my last.