If you were a car, what car would you be and why?

Is there a type of car you identify with; a car that you feel matches your looks and personality?  Are you fast and sleek, or solid and reliable?  Are you a car that says look at me, but has a temperamental engine, or are you all about the engine, rather than the design?

My ex-husband loved cars and had a few interesting models including a 1936 Bentley complete with running boards and bug-eyed headlights.  The interior smelt of leather and it oozed the class and luxury of its day.  He also went through a series of 1970s Porsche 911s.  They were my favourites, beautiful to look at and so smooth and fun to drive with a deep throaty chortle, but I’m not a Porsche!  My favourite car, and the one I identify with, was my old Volkswagen Beetle – the peoples’ car – interestingly, designed by Ferdinand Porsche, but built as a workhorse.  I called my Beetle, George, and he was painted Ferrari red with a black interior – I wear a lot of black, my hair is red...  George had a Vege engine, which meant he had a bit more acceleration and speed than the basic Beetle.  I liked that because people didn’t expect it when they looked at him – it’s good to have some surprises in reserve.  George was one of millions, but he had a cheerful disposition, distinctive, cool design and a bit of a cult status. In the end, George needed more spending on him than I could afford so I sold him to an enthusiast who could do the work himself and, as far as I know, George is still going strong.  And I still have a little collection of red model Beetles that I treasure…

I find it a fun, but interesting exercise to imagine yourself as a car persona because it helps you think about how you identify yourself and what values are important to you.  I also like the car analogy because cars need maintenance and so do we!  The other day I was reading about a face cream that claimed it could plum up your skin, making it look fresh and more youthful.  Whilst it does have a proven effect, the criticism was that to maintain the effect you have to apply the cream every day.  Well yes… you also clean your teeth every day and exercise every day and have to do all sorts of other things if you want to keep well maintained and healthy!  I understand that applying a face cream that visibly improves your skin will come at a cost and is not a necessary bit of kit – you can buy much cheaper products that will perfectly adequately moisturise your skin – but if you’re looking for something that gives you extra benefits then the research that goes into developing the product formula and the high end ingredients that make the product effective, are all going to add to the cost.  OK, there’s also the packaging, the marketing and the brand name to be factored in, but then these may also have a value for you. 

How important is it that your persona car paintwork is kept in good condition, polished even, and the engine regularly serviced, or are you not all that bothered by the odd rattle and mud splashes as long as your car can get you from A to B?   

As I am now a classic car, rapidly slipping into the vintage age category, I realise that I need to invest a lot more into my maintenance to keep things running smoothly and to stop my paintwork flaking, or heaven forbid, any signs of rust!  My investment into my continuing upkeep is both in time and money.  I don’t have a limitless budget, so before I spend on high end products such as serums I do my research to ensure, as far as I can, that they will work.  I also love beautiful things, so the design of the packaging can also influence my purchase of some products, although by no means all – I love Aesop and their products come in the most basic packaging, but the ingredients are all brilliant.  I also go for regular long, brisk walks – and these provide free weight bearing, and lightly aerobic exercise, although I have invested in a good pair of Nike walking shoes to support my feet. I’m not a great cook, but I eat plenty of fresh vegetables, fruit and fish, which I prepare simply and which are cheaper and much healthier than ready meals.   It’s a waste to spend money on products that nourish your skin from the outside, if you’re not nourishing yourself from the inside and drinking water to keep you - and your skin - hydrated.    Unfortunately, unlike your car persona, you can’t trade yourself in for the latest model, but you can make sure you keep your bodywork sparkling and engine running as smoothly as possible. 

So what car are you and why?