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Suzuki Jimny, $18,000 to $26,000~
The Suzuki Jimny is perhaps the most affordable 4WD vehicle on the market thanks to its compact and spartan design. A brand new 2020 model costs from $26,000, while secondhand models from the 2010s are easy to come by for less than $20,000. Early models seem to hold their value because of their famed 20-year life span. The Jimny has a following, selling almost 3 million units in 194 countries since it was launched in 1970. It is known for its impressive off-road capability thanks to some quirky features, including solid beam suspension on the front and rear wheels, a ball bearing steering mechanism, instead of rack and pinion, and the ability to switch between 2WD and 4WD. The latest generation has mod cons, including LED lights and seat warmers, and bumps up the engine from 1.3 to 1.5 litres. When two wheels diagonal from each other lose traction, the new Jimny’s traction control automatically brakes the slipping wheels to redistribute torque and allow the vehicle to gain traction. The Jimny is possibly not as smooth over bumps on sealed roads as most daily drivers, but its ability to maintain traction on nearly any off-road surface is its draw.
JX-DS913 Home Gym, $1600
The fear of lockdown and continual closure of gyms has meant home gym machines have become increasingly scarce, but gymandfitness.co.nz still has stock. The JX Fitness 913 home gym allows you to perform a range of exercises, including chest press, butterfly press, leg extension and abduction, low row, tricep push downs, shoulder press, lateral pull downs and ab crunches, to name a few. The pin-loaded weight stack has 13 graduations up to 68kg. The whole unit has a footprint of only 105cm wide by 180cm long and is designed for people up to 195cm tall. It is not the cheapest home gym on the market, but shipping is free.
Can-am Maverick X3, $41,500 to $47,500
The Maverick is the ultimate paddock basher with a 195-horsepower turbocharged engine. It can be fitted with wheels up to 30 inches in diameter. It has a 7.5-inch digital dashboard display with keypad, and has an 850w magneto electrical generator to handle its power needs, including its lights and sound system. The Maverick is primarily a play machine used for organised rides and circuit racing. However, the two-seater version has a small tray if it needs to be treated as an on-farm work vehicle. It is available for test drive by appointment at Warkworth Motorcycles in Warkworth and Kaiwaka.
Olympus PEN E-PL9, $699
The Olympus PEN E-PL9 is designed for the weekend. It takes capturing happy snaps of sport games, social outings and sensational scenes to the next level of quality. Its defining feature is built-in Bluetooth and WiFi for instant transfer of images to phones to upload to social media. The PL9 comes at a point-and-shoot price but has enthusiast-level features including 4K video, an array of interchangeable lenses, and in-body image stabilisation. It also has a 180-degree flippable LCD screen to make taking sharp looking selfies easier. Its leather grain body with metal dials and aluminium accents has won numerous awards, including the Australian Good Design award and the British Red Dot design award. It is available from The Camera Shop in Warkworth.
Big Green Egg BBQ,$1099 to $2599
The Big Green Egg has gained a cult following around the world among barbecue enthusiasts for good reason. The concept is based on a traditional Japanese Kamado charcoal cooker, but improved by ceramic technology from NASA. It is insulated with a double-glazed body to lock in heat and moisture. A patented air flow system with a regulator cap on the chimney and a draft door allows for precision control of temperature. Its gauge is accurate up to 400 degrees. In addition to charcoal, damp wooden planks can be placed on the grill for those addicted to smoking their food. The Big Green Egg is available in different sizes from Stihl Shop Warkworth.
Bauen watch, $200 to $229
The Olympic Bauen watch is a simple yet sophisticated timepiece available at a practical price. It features a 40mm stainless steel case coated with a corrosion-resistant layer. There are several designs. The black dial with a gold index and the matte black dial with a white index are pictured here. Nearly all the designs are water resistant to 50 metres and have a leather strap. The Olympic Swiss watch brand was established in New Lynn, Auckland, in 1972 to produce affordable watches of high quality. Their watches feature movement mechanisms built by Swiss manufacturer Ronda AG, which has been in production since 1946.
