Publications
• Wheels24 reader Fiona Craig reveals she has owned only Mercedes-Benz vehicles for more than 25 years.
• Her cars are always 'boys' and she speaks to them on the road.
• Her letter was inspired by Robin Classen's opinion on drivers' relationships with their vehicles.
• For more motoring stories, go to www.Wheels24.co.za
Earlier in October, Wheels24's Robin Classen wrote about how the bond between car and driver goes deeper than just a metallic body.
Classen writes: "Just like most household pets, many people believe cars have feelings or moods and reciprocate positive or negative energy to the driver, depending on how it is treated.
"At some point in your life you might have heard someone say their car has 'moods' or 'it normally does this', and you think what in the world are they talking about.
"Cars, in general, operate according to how it is maintained or the behaviour of the person behind the wheel."
Many of our readers wrote in saying they feel exactly the same way about their cars. One such reader is Fiona Craig, who is a mega-Merc fangirl. She has only owned cars from the German automaker and says if she could buy her next Mercedes, her dream car would be a GLA 45 AMG because it's "compact and super sporty".
Do you treat your car unusually special, and talk to them, or clean it more than you should? Do you have any strange quirks such as no eating allowed in your car, etc? Please email us your stories and photos here, we'd love to share them.
Wheels24 reader Fiona Craig shares the following:
"I have always been a bit of a petrol head. I love cars and bikes. I am a single girl who spends a considerable amount of time alone, in my car, frequently driving long distances.
"My car brand of choice for the last 25 years has been Mercedes-Benz. I started with a 1978 280S. It had chrome bumpers, a walnut dashboard, and it was a massive car.
"I then had a 260E; nice car. After that came a 230E; although this one was awful, it couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, it made me nervous, and it just couldn't deliver.
"From there, I acquired a 300E Sportline; it was big and powerful. Then I had two 230 Kompressors: one manual which was fun for a change, and the other in automatic guise.
"After that, I had two CLC 350's, and I still own the second one. It's such a stunning car: small, compact and responsive. It's got grunt.
"I have always felt a strong attachment to my cars; they keep me safe. I cried when I sold the 260E.
Wheels24's reader Fiona Craig's 'The Vroom' - Image: Fiona Craig.
"My cars have always been 'boys'; they are called 'he' not she when I refer to them. They've also been codenamed 'The Vroom'.
"Whenever I get home after driving a couple of hundred kilometres, I always thank my car for looking after me; getting me home safely and doing a brilliant job - just as I do when overtaking at faster speeds. Once back in my lane, I will always thank my car for the power and beauty it delivers at the same time.
"My friends think I am weird, but I just really love my cars - they're definitely more than just metal."
