Cars: Why Do We Love Those Machines?

Cars are like an extension or a representation of ourselves. Joining with them empowers us and allows us to overcome impossible tasks, such as traveling 60 miles per hour under our own control. A sense of control and power, when you are at one with your machine, is addicting. Cars also give you a sense of independence, especially for young adults. Every type of vehicle has a distinct personality that matches, or even clashes with, our personalities. They offer thrills. Even dogs agree, as they Love to stick their heads out of car windows. They are fun to drive or even just to ride in. They also comfort us so that even crying babies tend to fall asleep during a soothing ride. Cruising outside in the sun or under the stars and enjoying the scene with good weather enhances our spirit. Cars offer adventurous experiences ranging from making out in the car to cruising across the country. We adore the way they stimulate our senses: the sounds of the engine when we step on the gas pedal, the appearance of the vehicle, the familiar smell of our cars and the way we feel sitting in the seat going at high speed. It is fascinating how engineering involves all parts of the car, as they work with each other to create functional pieces of art. Cars help some of us to attract a mate or a new friend. Some people enjoy having luxury vehicles to display their wealth. Even young kids or non-drivers enjoy cars by being passengers in sports cars or limos, building and controlling rc cars (radio controlled), building and painting model cars or even full scale kit cars, getting wet participating in a car wash then buffing with wax. Some enjoy fiddling under the hood and doing a simple engine tune up or a major overhaul. Some like taking their time restoring cars, while still others spend many hours playing car games, such as one of the popular video games called Need for Speed: Most Wanted and watching car movies, such as Gone in 60 Seconds (1974). This film has perhaps the longest car chase scene ever created. It lasts about 34 minutes and in it 93 vehicles are wrecked.

Just like many people get excited about spending a day shopping at a mall, some of us enjoy the experience of going out to buy cars. There will likely be a vehicle of your choice in your favorite car lot, plus you will be able to choose from many accessories to further customize your purchase. Or you might even just enjoy window shopping by attending a car show, with its vehicle types ranging from antique classic to prototype/ concept models. Used cars have been hot products for many years. They are mostly affordable and there is less need to worry if the car gets dinged or the interior is damaged. You will have cheaper car insurance and registration fees and it will be much easier to pay it off with just a few payments. However, some old cars can be more expensive than new cars, such as with rare antique classic cars.

There might be affordable ones, but they are loaded with car accessories, expensive paint jobs and unique engine and body modifications. There are so many cool cars out there. One good example is the hybrid between a car and a motorcycle called a trike, a three- wheeled vehicle.

There are many car activities that we enjoy. For example, we use a variety of off-road vehicles, ranging from 4x4 Jeeps (4WD) to VW Baja Bugs (dune buggies or sand rails) to even golf carts! One of popular 4x4 activities is rock crawling- driving highly modified four-wheel-drive vehicles, such as trucks and Jeeps, over very harsh terrain including boulders, mountain foothills, rock piles and mountain trails. This adventure is then followed by camping overnight in the middle of "nowhere". Or we use VW Baja Bugs to drive on desert or beach dunes. Both activities provide the thrill of driving while enjoying scenic views. Racing go karts is another example of off-road vehicle activity. There are many types of street-legal vehicles that can be fun. Surfers hang their surfboards on VW Buses or VW Bugs and head to the beach. Low riders show off their hopping cars. Some car owners impress their friends with a muscle car or a sports car, with their superior looks and/or performance. Or, perhaps totally the opposite is impressing friends with economic cars with high miles-per-gallon rates and/or loads of environmentally friendly features. High school students ride in limos on prom night. Some people live in a vehicle and travel across the country in a van, such as a VW Bus with a bed installed or an RV (recreational vehicle) that is loaded with bed, bathroom, shower, refrigerator, stove, TV, etc. Or sometimes we just simply relax by cruising a few hours on a road trip through a scenic route.

There are a bunch of types of car racing events to watch. Some of the most popular ones are: formula racing, touring car racing, sport car racing, production car racing, stock car racing, rally, targa racing, drag racing, off-road racing (Dust to Glory is a good documentary film on off-road races held in Baja, Mexico), kart racing, demolition derby, drifting, mini sprint, monster truck, rally-cross, solar car racing, and many more!

There are loads of reasons people love their cars. People who love their cars come from all backgrounds. Cars do not break our hearts as much as people do. They give us a sense of security. Some people care about vehicles only for their ability to provide us with transportation and they love the convenience of having them. Let us appreciate having cars in our time!