23 Oct 2024
Good Things Come in Threes
Pop culture is full of famous trios – the Three Musketeers, Charlie’s Angels, the Jonas Brothers. And here’s another, the New Zealand home-grown Dixons.
From oldest, James, to younger brother, Mitchell, and youngest, Olivia, this trio are the embodiment of getting out there and getting it done. What began as a gateway to adventure, soon became an exciting, and never-ending competition of owning the best and boldest Jimny.
It all started with James, when an off-roading trip with friends quickly turned into a phone call home. “These things are invincible… I can drive sideways on a 45-degree slope, plough through streams, and blast through mud!” he recalls saying to Mitchell. The bug was caught. James soon purchased a Jimny, which he fittingly named ‘Samurai’ as tribute to its predecessor. When Christmas rolled around, Mitchell took James’ Jimny for a spin. And the rest, as they say, is history.
“I was impressed by its simplicity. To me, it was a retro-looking 4WD that wasn’t obnoxiously big and had plenty of capability,” Mitchell says.
It wasn’t long before Mitchell weighed in on the action. Soon after test driving his brother’s Jimny, he bought one for himself. Proudly nicknamed the “Mini Mog,” after the Unimog trucks he drives in his role with the New Zealand Defence Force, along with the colour to match the theme entirely. He jokes that each time the siblings catch-up, “it’s a competition on who can accessorise their Jimny the best.”
When asked about his best Jimny memory, Mitchell highlighted a trip to Port Waikato as an all-time favourite. “It was all about the setting. Sunset, BBQ, tight fishing lines, and good times with my siblings.” What more could you ask for?
Adding fuel to the fire, Olivia couldn’t wait to join the club. Her Chiffon Ivory Metallic pride and joy, dubbed the ‘Lunch Box’ by her friends for its boxier shape, has certainly earned Olivia her stripes when it comes to Jimny adventures. “My favourite adventure would have to be my 5-day solo camping trip,” she says.
“Pukekohe to Palmerston North, the trip ended at North Range Road, next to windmills and stuck in a rut with my diff on the ground, and wheels off the ground. A word of advice… always have an extra vehicle when off-roading!”
With summer right around the corner, the siblings are gearing up for another season of memory-making. From barbecues to fishing trips, the Dixons have it all mapped when it comes to their Suzuki summer.
“At some point, we’d love for us to make our way to the South Island. There’s plenty to explore. Whether its off-roading or sightseeing, we’re all here for it,” they say.
And that’s what the Jimny is made for.