Me and My Car: Tim Beveridge and his BMW

Tim Beveridge at the Holy Trinity Cathedral,with his 2004 BMW 318. Photo / Ted Baghurst.

Tim Beveridge is performing with Dame Malvina Major and Simon O'Neill at a Christmas concert on December 16 at 7.30pm at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell. Proceeds will go to Mercy Hospice Auckland and Dove House, Eastern Bays Hospice.

What do you drive?
A blue 2004 BMW 318. I bought it from Metro Automotive. I love this car, it drives beautifully. I have had it about three years.

What do you think this car says about you?
Maybe that I'm a bit square? I don't really know, I just enjoy driving it. I probably broke a few rules when I bought this but it felt so great to drive. My uncle loved cars and used to travel to Germany to buy a new BMW - he would drive it around Europe for a while before bringing it home so, in some way, BMW has been imprinted on me.

First car?
A 1970 Ford Escort, a great first car. I drove it between Rotorua and Dunedin numerous times when I was a student. I got my first eye-watering speeding fine in Ashburton ... $180 back in 1990. I discovered the world of the speed trap, the widening road in a 50km/h area.

Who taught you to drive?
My dad when I was 15, around his work at Forest Research Institute in Rotorua. He must have been patient; I don't remember ever being flustered with him. It was in an old Triumph 2.5 TC.

Manual or automatic?
I know I should say manual but the technology of automatics is so good now. So long as it has the option of manual selection.

Dream car ... ?
I never thought I would want a luxury sports car until the late Tim Bailey (owner of Continental cars) arranged a Maserati for me on the launch of my first album. It ruined me. After that I swore the first thing I would buy after winning Lotto would be a Maserati.

Most memorable road trip?
Driving around Provence and the south of France. My wife and I had a delayed honeymoon to France and we just fell in love with every part of Provence and the Riviera - as well as Paris. Our travel agent was a devoted expert on France and he put together a special driving itinerary, which I was initially hesitant about but all his suggestions were magic. Another great road trip was driving a Mazda MX5 prototype to Queenstown with my wife at Christmas 2009.

If you could go anywhere with anyone in any car ...
I like the idea of driving from Cape Reinga to Bluff. New Zealand is one of the greatest countries for driving scenically; you can go from glaciers to deserts in a matter of hours. I would take my wife, and I would love to take my kids but you would want to take some kind of sports car. Initially I would say a Maserati, but I'd be happy to go in an MX5.

What do you listen to?
Usually radio talkback and news but lately I'll often do a vocal warm-up or exercises in the car. I'm sure it looks a bit strange to other drivers.

What do you always have in your car?
Sheet music from a previous gig.

What's a great day trip out of Auckland?
Muriwai or Piha, just to get to a beach for the fresh air and the walk. It's always nice going through Kumeu and I love going through Titirangi, a lovely village. But because we now have two girls, one is 2 the other almost 4, we don't go for drives as much.

Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?
I like the flexibility of driving. I'm freelance and self-employed and, also having kids, there's only so much you can do in a day. If I was a 9 to 5 worker, I probably would use public transport.

Who else is allowed to drive your car?
My wife - we often swap cars as our car seats are in her car.