Some People Consider Their Cars As ‘Part Of The Family’

Every day, our cars take many of us to work, keep us warm during a winter commute, and sometimes boost our adrenaline when we hit the gas pedal. In many ways, our cars can be a reflection of who we are. It's no wonder some people give them nicknames, opt for custom license plates, and hang unique air fresheners. Some might treat them to premium gas and occasionally change the oil earlier than necessary. Interestingly, some people may find themselves indebted to a car that protected them during a collision.

Many car owners enjoy naming their cars, taking family photos with their cars, and even consider their cars "part of the family." Many of us get why people say this about their furry companions but an inanimate object is an interesting one.  A survey of 2,000 car owners conducted by One Poll on behalf of Meineke, a car care center, looked into people’s feelings toward their cars, as well as their preference for future ownership.

The survey revealed that 51% of car owners think of their car as part of the family. About 53% would keep their current car forever if given the option. According to the survey, this is due to an emotional attachment (22%), while others have fond memories with their current cars (24%).

Some people revealed more practical reasons for why they want to keep their current car. Almost six in ten

said it was because of the reliability (58%) their car has given them and 45% said it's due to the good gas mileage they’re able to get.

From a financial perspective, the majority of drivers surveyed (80%) said they are likely to hold on to their car for as long as possible if they feel it will save them money in the long run. Others admit that their car needs an upgrade now, but they are unable to afford one due to financial constraints (46%).

Despite some people's attachment to their current vehicle, only a third (34%) of drivers surveyed said they’d purchase the same make and model for their next car. On the other hand, 47% said they'd be looking for something different.

Now that we know some people consider their car family, what about the ones with full-blown relationships with their cars? In 2009, a documentary called My Car Is My Lover profiled two "mechanophiliacs," people who are sexually obsessed with cars or machines. Maybe adding your car to a family photo or calling your car family may not be that extra anymore.

Take a look at more insights from the survey here.

There are many factors to consider when deciding to purchase a new car. Insurance rates have fluctuated, and the automobile industry constantly introduces new features, especially in electric vehicles. Forbes recently published a report detailing the five most popular cars in America.

They state that car ownership increased by 3.66% between 2017 - 2021. Furthermore, "Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021 (the latest data available), and 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles," the Forbes piece explains.

But what cars are people buying most? Forbes detailed the sales figures for the top 10 purchased cars in 2022. The number one selling vehicle in the country was the Ford F series, with 653,957 units sold.

Two additional pickup trucks claimed the second and third spot as well. There were 513,354 Chevrolet Silverados sold in 2022, and  468,344 Ram Pickups. Then, the list gets more into the small and mid-size space. Toyota had two high sellers with their practical RAV4 and Camry.

The compact SUV Tesla, the Model Y claimed the sixth best-selling spot on the most popular cars list. This fully electric vehicle has a starting price of approximately $47,500. The only mid-sized SUV with a larger footprint to make the list was the Jeep Grand Cherokee at number 10.

GMC and Toyota's pickup truck offerings joined the list as well. This means five out of the top ten best-selling cars in America are pickup trucks. The GMC Sierra was seventh, and the Toyota Tacoma was 9th.

This fascinating subject has many angles in which you can continue to break down the details. For example, Forbes shows that white is the most popular color of U.S. cars bought. Yellow was the least popular color.

Starting with the Ford F series truck, let's take a further look at the five most popular cars in America.

The F Series has been manufactured by Ford since 1948. Currently, Ford offers a F150, F250, and F350. The increased number reflects a larger framed pickup truck. The 150 had eight different models available.

The Silverado prides itself on performance and durability. It contains a powerful engine that has a higher level of torque than most comparable Ford models. Another appealing component to this pickup truck is that Chevrolet offers various ways to customize. Starting with nine different exterior colors to pick from, including a harvest bronze and glacier blue metallic.

Although Ram offers six different pickup options, including one with a cab, the 1500 series is most similar to the Ford F150 and Chevy Silverado. The Ram also has a favorable price point, with some 1500s starting as low as $30,000.

The RAV4 is considered to be the first compact crossover SUV. It was introduced in America in 1995 and available in 1996. Currently, there are an array of models including a sport package, premium, and hybrid electric. Furthermore, the city and highway gas miles per gallon numbers are great with a RAV4. They are typically in a 27/35 range.

The price difference between a standard Camry and a hybrid can be as low as $2,500. 2023 marks 40 years of the Camry being a reliable sedan in America. While there have not been many complete makeovers, Toyota consistently improves the technology options in each Camry model. Lastly, the Camry now has four different two-tone color options.