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Naming cars

(60 Posts)
rosesarered Wed 02-Mar-16 23:23:48

Chatting the other day to a neighbour who has just bought a lovely new car,she told me that she had already named it.....I didn't know what she meant, so she went on to say that she always names her cars, and this one is Daphne, after the Eggheads Daphne ( tv quiz show.) Yes.... Hmmmn.
Went indoors and told DH, who snorted with derision.I think I will name my car Gareth just to annoy him.grin
What do you think, have you done this? Be honest, we won't laugh( or not very much.)

grannyactivist Wed 02-Mar-16 23:59:03

I've only owned two cars; the first was a Ford Fiesta who had no name, but to whom I confess I had a sentimental attachment, and the second, a Peugeot, was called Percy. On several occasions I have not recognised my own car; indeed I once got very frustrated when I couldn't unlock my car until my two sons (helpless with laughter) pointed out that the car I was attempting to open wasn't in fact mine. In naming it Percy I was then able to check the plate, which included the number/letters P3C and Y, to confirm that the car was mine. I had the car for more than ten years, but never actually memorised the number-plate, just that it was an approximation of Percy. I can't even remember which Peugeot number it was; 306 maybe?

My husband and I theoretically share our current car, but it's a huge (to me) Ford Focus with all sorts of unintelligible modern gizmos and I'm rather afraid of it. I've only ever driven to meet my husband at train stations when he's returned from working away - and he's always had to drive it home from the station as my stress levels on arrival have been ridiculously high.

This is a similar car to Percy.

ninathenana Thu 03-Mar-16 00:08:53

I did name my first car (had 5 since then) only because part of the number plate was WDY= woody. DH and I still call it that when talking about holidays we went on with it about 25yrs ago.

grumppa Thu 03-Mar-16 00:24:45

I must confess I never have, and on reflection perhaps it's a pity I (or the family) didn't.

Pippa000 Thu 03-Mar-16 06:20:43

We name all our cars, my present on is Jasper, as it is a Jazz, DH's is Horatio, a Honda CRV, very macho. (the car not DH), In the past (40 odd years ago) we had Sasha, a very sexy French Renault. Rupert, was the first car I had all to myself, a Renault 5. I loved that car and the freedom it gave me as I drove all over Germany where we were living, with the children in their car seats in the back to visit friends in distant places, while DH was away on yet another tour of N Ireland or on exercise. Then there was Granny, a very awkward and demanding Ford Granada. Even DD names hers, the current one being Steve, no idea why. Perhaps we are just slightly dotty!! blush

thatbags Thu 03-Mar-16 06:32:03

Diggory, Clover, Lucy, Rab the Rattler, Bluebell.

DDs 1 & 2 remeber Diggory with great affection. He was a member of the family! In his later years he was my mobile shed as well as mode of transport.

There was an old Honda in between Clover and Lucy, whose name I can,t remember, who died at traffic lights on the main road through Maryhill in Glasgow. Fortunately the Saturday football match had just ended and there was a police car behind us just coming from the match. They bobbies helped us haul the car off the road.

I killed Lucy (not deliberately) by somersaulting her over a sea wall onto a rocky beach six years ago or we might still have her. Sob.

Rab the Rattler and Bluebell are difficult characters, but after Diggory (awkward but lovely), I can deal with toughuns.

FarNorth Thu 03-Mar-16 06:47:14

No, I never name cars but I do often say 'hullo, little car' - to my own car, not others. I hope they don't feel patronised by that.

Imperfect27 Thu 03-Mar-16 07:01:47

I have named some f my cars if the number plate lends itself to a name, but my current one is nameless. However, I do talk to my car - and it is actually a 'she' in my mind!

shysal Thu 03-Mar-16 07:26:04

I usually make up something with the number plate initials, most too rude to mention, but currently YUK!

ninathenana Thu 03-Mar-16 07:30:36

thatbags shock glad you survived even if 'Lucy' didn't.
It must have been horrific at the time.

Indinana Thu 03-Mar-16 07:42:14

I was so proud of my very own first car, having only ever had use of my DH's old crates up till then. It had got to the point where I refused to get in his car as it was such an old banger, so I took out a loan and bought my own car, a Fiesta Bravo, only 2 years old.
She was called Juliet (Juliet Bravo - get it? wink), although I always thought of her as Weetabix as her reg plate started with WT and ended with 81X.
I exchanged her for a Rover, then a Peugeot, then a Seat, and now I drive a Fiesta again, but I've never named any of them.

phoenix Thu 03-Mar-16 07:51:37

My car is called Iris blush because of her colour, a dark, slightly purpley blue.

PRINTMISS Thu 03-Mar-16 07:55:56

In our motor-cycling days our bikes were always called "BESS" - and then numbered. We have never named our cars, and my husband can never remember the number plate. Is that a man thing?

Jane10 Thu 03-Mar-16 08:02:15

I've never named my cars but I remember apologising to one that I felt should have had a racier owner than me. I felt that I let it down. My last car felt like my friend and I'm sorry I changed it for the efficient but soulless one I have now. Am now feeling guilty for writing that. I wouldn't want to hurt its feelings. It does its Teutonic best. Oh God. I'm daft! Sorry everyone.

kittylester Thu 03-Mar-16 08:03:58

I'm slightly concerned that I am very macho pippa as I drive a Honda CRV - the 3Rd I've owned although this one is a nice purple/ blue colour!.grin

The only car that we have named was my Citroën Diane!!

We do, however, name the sat nav 'naggy aggie!' grin

grannylyn65 Thu 03-Mar-16 08:07:32

Many many yrs ago, my x made a kit car which was bright yellow and named ( for obvious reasons) 'The Flying S***e' !!

Anniebach Thu 03-Mar-16 08:32:13

My first car was named Prunella , in my defence I was seventeen

Teetime Thu 03-Mar-16 08:38:10

I have only named a car when it was a quirky or character. When I was a District Nurse I had a Red 2CV - named Poppy of course and she was wonderful. After that I had nice shiny 'good' cars which didn't get names but in retirement we decided on only one 'good' i.e. new car. after a while I missed having my own car so a small cheap one was sought. Enter Mildred the pale Blue Suzuki Altro- cheap to buy, costs £20 a year tax and I give her 'drink' of petrol every couple of months at about £20 a real old lady car - hence the name.

NanaandGrampy Thu 03-Mar-16 09:14:05

We have always named our cars .... we had a Big Bertha back in the day a huge old foreign estate job that let us down bit by bit until only one door was working smile .

She was followed by Red Sonia , a very old red vauxhall who had a tricky engine part and so would conk out often meaning Id have to run round throw up the bonnet and fiddle with her till she restarted !!

Our current Vauxhall Zafira is called ' Optimus Prime' named by one of the DGS. No idea why but we all obliging say it when we're talking about the car .

mollie Thu 03-Mar-16 09:20:06

First one was called cherry because of the colour. It was really for the children and I haven't given names to any other cars since. But maybe I will now...

hildajenniJ Thu 03-Mar-16 09:20:09

I have only ever named one car, "the pig". It was a terrible car to start, very old stop gap between two better cars. My late MiL called her car Dinah.

ginny Thu 03-Mar-16 09:31:06

My first car, an old Wolsey Hornet was called Katy Jane . Named my girls as the Reg. No. was KTY *.

A Corsa I had for a very short time was called 'Scary Mary' as I hated it and never felt 'right' in it. it just seemed to have a nasty presence.

My current car is called Ms. Baffle. Again due to the Reg. BFL.

lefthanded Thu 03-Mar-16 09:35:33

I have never named a car, but my grandson called our last car C-3PO after the Star Wars character. His reason? The registration nuber was C?63 P?O.
Only a 7yo would have spotted that.

rosesarered Thu 03-Mar-16 09:46:58

Well, it's obviously a lot more common to name a car than you would imagine, now, who will confess to not only naming and talking to the car but to patting it.! Come on, you know you do....

Marmight Thu 03-Mar-16 10:42:48

Never! I have a Honda CRV so perhaps 'she' should be called Horatia. DH called the SatNav 'Bruce', as he had an Aussie accent.