The ultimate Kiwi dad car

A recent survey has confirmed that the ultimate dad car should be big and grunty with plenty of room for the family. Other suggestions included a tow bar for the boat, a good sound system and even a roll of toilet paper in the boot!

According to a recent poll carried out by GAS Service Stations to celebrate Father's Day, Utes (40 per cent) and 4x4s (25 per cent) were highlighted as ideal dad cars, with sporty V8s (32 per cent) also getting a nod.

When asked about the cars their dads used to drive, Holdens, Fords and Vauxhalls all stood out, with the Ford Falcon getting a few mentions. According to participants, the most common dad car colours are white, blue and brown.

It’s clear that dad’s car holds a special place in many a New Zealander’s heart with stories ranging from humorous to touching.

"A highlight was definitely the guy that said he would always remember it as he was born in the backseat of his dad’s Ford Cortina," said Kylie Baudet, head of marketing at GAS. 

"Other people described hot summer road trips and fun family times, or it might have been the first car that they learned to drive in. For many Kiwis, their dad’s car was at the heart of the quality time they spent together growing up. It has been a real privilege to read through so many personal, heartfelt memories."

Interestingly, dads have reported that they drive slightly different makes and models these days, with Nissan (22 per cent) and Toyota (21 per cent) nudging ahead of Holden (10 per cent) and Ford (7 per cent).

Space, the number of seats and price appear to be more important than looks, with a number of participants also mentioning comfort, performance and safety.

508 New Zealanders took part in the online survey.