Me and My Car: Carly Flynn

Carly Flynn has fond memories of road trips in a Kombi van they named Cyril. Picture / Ted Baghurst

Journalist Carly Flynn says she's drawn to charcoal grey, her house is that colour, her furniture and her SUV

You drive a 2010 Kia Sportage?
After I had my second child relatively quickly after the first I was doing a lot of leaning into cars putting in car seats, etc, so I wanted something a bit higher to make life easier. The Kia was so competitive price-wise, safety-wise and economical, and I like the look of it. It was an easy decision.

Main consideration when buying a car?
Safety, fuel efficiency, then looks and all the little extras. Ridiculously, a cup holder is very important to me. It's amazing how many cars don't have those little things that make them a superior driving experience.

First car?
A Red Mitsubishi Mirage that I bought with my student loan. I didn't tell Mum and Dad until it was a done deal, and I loved that little car. A manual that I'd drive back to Taupo from Hamilton, feeling special! It felt like a coming of age thing. I would have been 16.

Dream car?
One of the brand new BMW 2 Series Active Tourers ... slick, smart, and a BMW.

Who taught you to drive?
My dad, in his yellow ute. It was hilarious, a column change in Taupo. I had to do hill starts, and in my licence test I accidentally ran the orange light at the only lights in Taupo. I failed. Dad was a great teacher, although I can still picture the clenched knuckles and he still tells me when I'm driving to put my shoulders back!

Manual or automatic?
After the hard school of column change, definitely automatic. Driving an auto is a pleasure.

Most memorable road trip?
We owned a 1972 Kombi van (Cyril) for 10 years before the kids came along. We loved that van and would escape in it every weekend. We spent three months discovering the Bay of Islands in it before the big OE in the early 2000s. I would love a later model one day that's a bit safer and easier with the kids.

If you could take anyone, anywhere, in any car ...
I'd be happy with a Kombi roadie with my family, to introduce them to the pleasure, the simpleness.

What do you listen to in your car?Often kids' music - even when they're not in the car because I've tuned out and don't realise it's still on. I love Duncan Garners' Radio Live show, and also Ali & JT. George FM if I've caught up on the news and want to sing along.

How do you keep your children happy on longer trips?
Tilly is 4 and Jude is 2. This year my husband bought a new car. After lots of research, what tipped the balance was the Ford Territory had an in-built DVD player. We travel to Taupo to visit my parents a lot and the kids aren't good car travellers or sleepers, so this has been life-changing. It has guaranteed peace on those longer journeys.

Great day trip out of Auckland?
Many friends have moved to the "country" just outside of Auckland, Puhoi, Taupaki, etc. It's a quick trip. We've discovered the Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens and Plant Centre, which is a nice day out.

Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?
I'd like to be able to work consistent hours in town and be able to take the ferry, although I get sea sick. I was in Brisbane recently and was in awe of how well that city is set up for public transport, with all the bridges offering pedestrian/cycling access. I like being able to drive myself.

If you could change one road rule...
If only the texting and phoning while driving thing was able to be policed better. It's chronic! We had a story on 60 Minutes about just how distracting texting/phoning while driving is and how much we still do it.