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One in three motorists have given a nickname to their car based on its registration plate, colour, or the make and model. And 34 percent of nickname-givers go as far as to say cars without a light-hearted moniker are \u201cmissing something\u201d.<\/p>\n
Among the comical car nicknames to be adopted include The Beast, The Flying Banana \u2013 and Flo, because its plate started with FL0.<\/p>\n
And the poll, of 1,500 motorists, found 32 percent believe a car can have \u201ca real personality\u201d.<\/p>\n
The research was commissioned by Volkswagen ahead of National Name Your Car Day on October 2.<\/p>\n
The manufacturer has arguably one of the most famous named cars of all time \u2013 a Beetle known as \u201cHerbie: The Love Bug\u201d.<\/p>\n
The brand also revealed some of the most common names British VW owners use for their vehicles \u2013 including \u201cTiggy\u201d or \u201cTig\u201d for a Tiguan, and an ID.5 named Idris.<\/p>\n
Many took inspiration from TV or movies, with one naming their vehicle \u201cGandalf the Grey Golf\u201d, while another opted for \u201cPamela Vanderson\u201d.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Volkswagen said: \u201cNaming your car isn’t just a tradition, it’s a celebration of the bond you share. It’s like giving your trusty steed a name before embarking on a grand adventure.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery car has a story, and giving it a nickname is like writing the first chapter of a lifelong novel filled with road trips, memories, and more.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The research found 31 percent of nickname-givers will administer one to their car as soon as they get it.<\/p>\n
But 37 percent will give it a few weeks and wait for inspiration to present itself, as they get to know their new pride and joy.<\/p>\n
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) even claim to feel more protective of their vehicle once they\u2019ve given it a name to know it by.<\/p>\n
And 70 percent of those polled, via OnePoll, often think back on old cars they owned in the past, and the quirky nicknames they had.<\/p>\n
To give people inspiration for their own car names, the carmaker has produced an Instagram filter at @VolkswagenUK, that lets you scroll through a list of common nicknames until you find one that fits your motor.<\/p>\n
The Volkswagen spokesman added: \u201cYour car is more than just a machine, it’s a loyal companion that’s there for you through thick and thin.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s clear to see, from how many car owners bestow a nickname on their car, how dear to the nation\u2019s hearts cars can become.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSo, if your four-wheeled friend doesn\u2019t have a nickname yet, this checklist for inspiration could help you come up with one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sue Smith, 49, from Porthcawl, South Wales is an avid nicknamer of cars.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cEvery car we’ve owned has had a name. My husband’s car when we met was Emily the Escort \u2013 our daughter Emily is named after her.<\/p>\n
\u201cA G-plate 1.8l diesel automatic was named after my grandmother, Dorothy, as she had been her car \u2013 and when we got our first Passat, my husband kept calling her Dotty, which we changed to Potty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve always given my cars names and talked to them. It was always a dream to own a Beetle \u2013 they are classic cars, and I’ve wanted one ever since watching the Herbie movies in the 70s.<\/p>\n
\u201cKitty was my belated 40th birthday present after a terrible year when our then two-year-old Tommy was diagnosed with cancer on his second birthday.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter nearly a year of chemo, and a major spinal op, we felt we could celebrate at last, and I ordered my dream car. Tommy insisted she was called Kitty, so I could hardly refuse.\u201d<\/p>\n