h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

my parents must have had 5 or so cars so far, and not one of them has a name, except the current galaxy but only my little sisters call it "eggy" cos of its number plate ("EGY"), all have been great cars, especially the good old mondeo, but none have exibited the soul to have a name.

I have however got one motorbike which has got more of a personality than any one of those cars, called "Uki" because the "suz" is missing on the left side of the tank. the things that give it (and other vehicles) personality are:

- reliability - or lack of it, the Uki needs to be cared for and have attention in order to work, if it gets these things it will never fail, if it doesn't then it'll sulk like a mardy 5 year old who's had it's sweets taken away.

- fills requirements - for me, fun factor, but for others it might be a vehicles ability to carry a lot of people or look good.

- age - often linked to reliability, but it helps if its at least 10 years old.

- first one - its always the special one, they say a bloke is more likely to remember his first motor than his first kiss, understandable I think. It also helps if the car reminds you of a particularly special event, like marriage.

i think that's it...or is it?

I think it's the negative Querks too, the things that make it yours, even if they are rubbish.

My first bike was a cheap 125cc, and in the cold weather, i had to have the choke fully open in gear, a little bit of throttle, and let the clutch out has i hit the starter, then bring clutch immeidietly back in to start. it was a chore, but made it what it was.

it's the same as friends, you can identify the faults of a real friend, but not hate them for it!

Andyd, T1mown, very intersting comments, both of you. It seems it's ultimately the niggles or faults that give the car or bike its unique personality. New cars are probably much safer and cheaper to run but where are the characters?! As Leonard Cohen said, you need the cracks coz that's where the light gets in. Good posts

they say that the most human of traits is making mistakes, so it does make sense that a machine also has to be flawed to have personality.

Besides, if you're the only person who knows how to work it then it feels more personal, as if it prefers you.

still a pain in the bum when it doesn't start though, or when it stops at the most annoying moment possible.