For Many People, Car is a Member of Their Family

WASHINGTON -- Almost four in 10 of those polled said their car has a personality of its own. Two in 10 have a nickname for their car. When people talk about their strong feelings for their cars and trucks, they mention dependability, time spent maintaining them and the freedom that comes from cruising on the open road. That intense vehicle loyalty may be linked to the amount of effort an owner has put in keeping the car in good shape. Three in 10 think of their car as having a gender, with 23% thinking of their cars as female, compared with just 7% male. Four in five of those polled said they love to drive. Young adults and older people were more likely than those 30-39 to say they enjoy driving. People who make less than $25,000 were more likely than those who make more than $75,000 to say they enjoy driving. Also, 62% say they can tell something about someone's personality just by the car he or she drives, according to the poll of 1,004 adults taken Dec. 19-21.