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.
Car owners think of their cars as part of the family.
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.
These Are The 5 Most Popular Cars In America
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.
A Few Surprises
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.
Plenty of Pickups
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.
But What Color?
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.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.
