Me and My Car: 2Degrees CEO Stewart Sherriff

Stewart Sherriff likes the colour of his Audi RSQ3, because it doesn't need to be washed all the time.Picture / Ted Baghurst

2DEGREES CEO STEWART SHERRIFF KNOWS WHAT HE LIKES IN A PHONE ... HERE HE TELLS US WHAT HE DRIVES

So you drive a 2014 Audi RSQ3?
It's a great little car, a real wolf in sheep's clothing and very practical. Audi is my favourite brand. I did look at most of the models but decided the RSQ3 was the best. It's used for commuting and for weekend road trips as I am determined to see as much of New Zealand as possible.

Who else is allowed to drive it? Anyone could but in reality I am the only driver.

What do you always have in your car?
My must-haves are a USB phone charger, an umbrella and there is usually a rugby ball rolling around the back.

What phone do you use in the car?
I have a different phone every few months as I like to try each new device. I try to avoid taking calls in the car, though the audio system and hands-free Bluetooth functionality gives me visibility of who's calling, and voice-activated controls allow me to accept or reject calls. I would never dream of texting or emailing in the car - it's just too dangerous.

First car?
I had a Mark 1 Ford Cortina, two-tone green, bench seat in the front and column change manual. I didn't have it for long - it crapped out on me, but for £50 what did I expect? I then bought a Mini Cooper, which I loved.

Your dream car?
I think I have it in the form of the RSQ3.

Preferred car colour?
I like the colour of my car, it's understated but elegant. Plus it doesn't show the dirt much so I get by with fewer washes.

Who taught you to drive?
I grew up on a farm in Scotland so I learned to drive tractors from a young age. Later my mum was a great driving teacher and I passed my test a month after my 17th birthday, which gave me a great sense of freedom.

Most memorable road trip?
I was working on a project in Croatia and, driving from Zagreb to Split, we ventured into Bosnia for the day. This was around 1998 and you could see the impact of the war. I was with my wife who was trying to navigate from a map. At a crossroads I turned left and heard loud screams so I stopped the car and not far in front were the remains of a bridge.

What's a great day trip out of Auckland?
Piha beach on a nice day.

Would you rather drive in Auckland or take public transport?
I prefer the flexibility of driving, but I do use the buses and trains on occasions, especially if heading to Eden Park.

Auckland's traffic congestion ... how would you solve that?
Coming from Chicago, traffic congestion is a relative term! I think allowing taxis to use bus lanes would help. Also, in the US you can turn right on a red light if there's no traffic, I think that would work wonders turning left here.

Auckland roads: is there room for cyclists and drivers?
I'm a cyclist and a driver; I appreciate the effort of Auckland Transport in providing dedicated cycle paths.