Wheel Love: a 2000 Honda Insight
08 January 2026
Andrew Gladstone shares what he loves about his unusual 2000 Honda Insight, one of the first hybrid vehicles ever made.
Wheel Love: Liesje Kirkbeck and her 1969 Peugeot 404
A classic 60s Peugeot 404 evokes sentimental family memories for owner Liesje Kirkbeck.
Fifi is a French car and her licence plate starts with ‘FE’, so the name ‘Fifi’ seemed to fit.
She's very original and straight, which makes her quite special. I've had her for four years and I love that she's a usable classic. I drive her regularly for work and weekend excursions.
Peugeots are a firm favourite for Liesje Kirkbeck. Photo by Jessie Casson
I also have a sentimental family connection to Peugeots. One of my parents’ first dates in the 60s was picking up two new Peugeot 404s off the assembly line in Thames and driving back to Wellington. They stopped just outside of Taupō, and Dad stuck his head in the window to check on his then-girlfriend, later his wife, to see if she was OK; that was when they had their first kiss!
Then, in 1971, when I was a baby, our family moved to Thames because Dad got a job at the Peugeot factory carrying out the final inspections.
Today, I’m the secretary of the Auckland Peugeot Car Club. There's a wealth of information in that club. The ages range from young guys in their early 20s, right through to John, one of our founders, who's just turned 90. What he doesn't know about Peugeots and 404s isn't worth knowing.
I ended up buying Fifi because I was having a discussion with my son about spending money. He said, “well, Mum, it's like if you went on Trade Me right now and there was a 404 for sale, you would have to buy it.” And I said, “well, let's have a look.” And there she was!
In Fifi, every drive's an adventure. It's not just about the destination; it really is about the journey.
This story is from the Autumn 2026 issue of AA Directions magazine.
