What was your first car and how old were you at the time?

I have a confession to make – I was very lucky. My parents didn't drive, and so they gave me a brand new

1992 Nissan Pathfinder. I was sixteen at the time, in secondaire cinq, and I soon became the family's designated driver. But that's not a complaint. Believe me! That was actually a very small price I had to pay for having such a fine car.

Why did you choose it?

I wanted a four-by-four because my cousin owned a Jeep Cherokee that impressed me a lot in stormy winter weather. Even today if I drive an SUV, it's because I can't stand having to shovel snow. But instead of choosing the Jeep, I went for the Pathfinder because I didn't want my cousin to think I was copying him.

What made it so special?

It was a fully equipped model, with a chrome grill, leather seats, electronic locks, sunroof, even a MOMO steering wheel. And boy, did I take good care of it! I handwashed it every single week.

Any memorable stories?

There were a few friends at my school who drove their parents' cars. Imagine what a hit I made by driving my own car! I was pretty impressed myself. But after a few years, the Pathfinder began to display some problems. Let's just say it wasn't the best car that I ever owned. Still, I kept it for seven years – until I finally had to give up hope.

What do you look for in a car today?

I certainly have no interest in the “new car of the year” category, gleaming with all the latest gadgets and stuff like that. First and foremost, I want reliability and no unpleasant surprises. And I prefer four-by-fours simply because of our winter conditions. My latest love affair – the new-generation BMW X5 that I bought last fall – is just the ticket. I love everything about this car: the way it handles, its look, the ivory-coloured interior. I especially appreciate its safety features because I occasionally get distracted behind the wheel, and I like that my vehicle can give me a heads-up!

Data sheet

Samir Khullar: Stand-up comedian, actor, writer

Career highlights: 

• Has performed 1,000-plus comedy shows (in four languages: English, French, Hindi and Punjabi) in 30 countries

• Best-known comedy shows: You're gonna rire (since February 2012) and En français SVP (since September 2012)

• First anglophone comedian to be honoured at the Gala Les Oliviers (Comedy Show of the Year and Comedian of the Year), in May 2013

• Television series Ces gars-là with Simon-Olivier Fecteau (launched in February 2014)

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