With Valentines Day just around the corner, we got thinking about why we love cars so much.
After your home, your car is likely to be your most expensive possession. Even if you lease and don’t own your car the monthly cost will no doubt exceed most other expenses, so it only makes sense to take care of it.
The suburban Sunday ritual of washing your car with a bucket of soapy water and sponge might have been usurped by a multi million car wash industry (last UK figures from 2010 state we spent a staggering £500 million on car washes!) but we like to keep our cars looking presentable, don’t we?
Have you ever given your car a name? Research commissioned by the AA found that 4 in 10 drivers had named their car and women were more likely to have done so than men.
There’s a school of thought that says the car you choose is an extension of your personality? I’m sure you’ve all seen the young, cool, bohemian couple looking effortless in a Fiat 500 or the suave silver fox in a Bentley and thought they just ‘match.’
A car can of course, very easily become a status symbol. Does a new Mercedes on the driveway scream ‘we’ve made it’ and make the neighbours net curtains twitch? Does driving into the car park for an important meeting and parking your Range Rover Evoque give off a certain vibe? We might like to think we don’t judge others by what they drive but in truth, we do!
Cars can also bring memories to life. Vintage car drivers are often transported back in time when they are toodling along in their Morris Minor or original Mini – like music, the memories a car can bring can be powerful.
There are also many iconic cars that made their name in movies. From Bond’s Aston Martin to the Minis in The Italian job, the cars we covet are often linked to the big, and small screen.
One thing’s for sure, we don’t think you should ever apologise for loving your car and the sense of freedom that driving on the open road can bring!