Cruise Traveler Rights Detailed In New Bill
Clearly Ambiguous/Flickr Travelers' rights are often difficult to define. ...
Name My (Sweet) Ride for a Chance to Win a HP Veer phone
One of my colleagues once nicknamed his father's 2000 Miata "The Penis Extension". In hindsight, "Extension" could have been changed to "Reduction," but I give him credit for trying. And the guy had a point, anyone with an emotional engagement with their vehicle needs to name it -- it's a way of connecting and making the journey personal, or, if you're lucky a way to win a phone (details below.)
As Americans, we tend to grow attached to our cars, which isn't surprising considering its easy to put a couple hundred thousand miles behind the wheel of one auto. Emotional bonds are bound to be made, identities defined, and nicknames assigned.
Which is all to say I need to name my ride.
The problem? I have no experience in naming cars. Not the Volkswagen Fox, not the Ford Contour, not the 1969 Dodge Swinger (Heyo!) not the many rentals I've used to escape the surly bonds of Manhattan, where I live.
So I've enlisted the help of colleagues to provide a little inspiration for this exercise.
Gadling's fearless leader Grant Martin once had a 1989 Honda Hatchback he affectionately named Jeco Speeder. So very...Grant.
A colleague to remain unnamed calls her Mazda 3 Crackerjack for reasons only known to her. AOL Travel Assistant Editor Rebecca Dolan named her 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid Knight Rider. When asked why she called it Knight Rider she replied, "I don't know."
Knight Rider (Minus David Hasselhoff)
Rebecca's father called their 1970 "brown" (that's all she can remember about the name) pickup The Sled.
The Bee is what Senior Editor Chris Anderson not-so-affectionately nicknamed his first car, a yellow 1977 Toyota Celica that sounded like a bee with a hyperextended wing.
Finally, an editor-not-to-be-named-ever was once the proud owner of a 1994 Ford Taurus which he named Boris. Yes, Boris the Ford Taurus.
Boris?
There's too much awesome contained in the name for Boris the Ford Taurus. I need some of that awesome applied to naming my Ford.
Inspired yet?
When you've got a suggestion, drop it in the comments here or message me on Twitter. The best name will live in glory, at least for the summer, and to help you come up with good submissions we're giving the winner ONE FREE HP VEER PHONE (valued at $99.99) . Just go easy on the phallic references.
[flickr image via Kim Scarborough]
This giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, comment below and name the Traveling the American Road car. You must comment before 11:59pm on Tuesday, June 21st and may enter only once. 1 winner will be chosen at random to receive one HP Veer phone valued at $99.99. Click here for the official rules.
So I've enlisted the help of colleagues to provide a little inspiration for this exercise.
Gadling's fearless leader Grant Martin once had a 1989 Honda Hatchback he affectionately named Jeco Speeder. So very...Grant.
A colleague to remain unnamed calls her Mazda 3 Crackerjack for reasons only known to her. AOL Travel Assistant Editor Rebecca Dolan named her 2011 Ford Escape Hybrid Knight Rider. When asked why she called it Knight Rider she replied, "I don't know."
Knight Rider (Minus David Hasselhoff)
Rebecca's father called their 1970 "brown" (that's all she can remember about the name) pickup The Sled.
The Bee is what Senior Editor Chris Anderson not-so-affectionately nicknamed his first car, a yellow 1977 Toyota Celica that sounded like a bee with a hyperextended wing.
Finally, an editor-not-to-be-named-ever was once the proud owner of a 1994 Ford Taurus which he named Boris. Yes, Boris the Ford Taurus.
Boris?
There's too much awesome contained in the name for Boris the Ford Taurus. I need some of that awesome applied to naming my Ford.
Inspired yet?
When you've got a suggestion, drop it in the comments here or message me on Twitter. The best name will live in glory, at least for the summer, and to help you come up with good submissions we're giving the winner ONE FREE HP VEER PHONE (valued at $99.99) . Just go easy on the phallic references.
[flickr image via Kim Scarborough]
This giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, comment below and name the Traveling the American Road car. You must comment before 11:59pm on Tuesday, June 21st and may enter only once. 1 winner will be chosen at random to receive one HP Veer phone valued at $99.99. Click here for the official rules.
More Articles You Might Like
On The Runway: United Airlines New Uniforms Revealed
pagedooley/flickr Yesterday, United Airlines revealed new uniforms. United ...
Mammoth Mountain Bike Park To Open In Time For Memorial Day
Mammoth Mountain Good news for mountain bikers looking to hit a trail this ...
A Traveler In The Foreign Service: What Impact Does Moving Have On Children?
If you're a parent who is interested in an international career, you've ...
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 49)
Greg Jun 14th 2011 4:12PM
Sylver Zephyr. I think that would be a good name. I named my red HHR Panel Miz Scarlet.
marylin thomas Jun 17th 2011 6:24PM
my first car, an English Ford, was named Boswell Milton Spivey; my current car, a PT Cruizer is named simply Wilson- because he wears a very conservative deep grey suit, all the time. If I had a Ford Explorer I probably would name him after one of the famous explorers but it would have to be an American one, maybe Davy Boone or Daniel Crockett (lol)
FLOYD HOLMES Jun 14th 2011 6:45PM
Even though I haven't named my Acura TL yet, I will still give my thoughts on a name for your Ford.
I think that "Fjord Ford" is a good name for your car.
scott Jun 14th 2011 5:41PM
I had an 84 VW i named the "Panzer". It drove like a German tank
and nothing could stop it!
Riley Jun 14th 2011 4:16PM
I named my Mercedes the Ghetto Benz because all of his (yes, it's a he) equipment decides to fail anywhere, at any time. Headlights won't work, the engine will stall, the sun roof decides to not open in one click, but rather 30, etc etc. So when I tell people they can catch a ride with me, I warn them that they're about to be entering the ghetto...
Toni Jun 15th 2011 5:49AM
I owned a 1974 MGB named LazyJane, because the three letters in her license plate were LZJ and I couldn't afford a vanity plate. Many years later we bought a 1965 Ford truck, sometimes he ran, sometimes he didn't so we named him Tricky Truck. I think Harrison would fit your Ford, dignified and sexy.
Barry Jun 14th 2011 4:18PM
My new Chevy Cruze is Gold and actually gets 40 MPG, so I call it the "GOLDEN GAS GUZZLER (NOT)"
Jen Jun 14th 2011 4:20PM
My dad had an old Studabaker (yes,that is correct!) that he used to call "The Green Latrine" .With 3 small children I guess he really didn't need to explain!
Don Jun 14th 2011 11:29PM
Not to be overly picky, but it's NOT Studabaker - it's Studebaker. Don't argue with me, I used to own one.
Robert Anders Jun 14th 2011 4:19PM
You should name your car Dora the Explorer!
bornwi968 Jun 14th 2011 10:59PM
LOL THATS FRIGGIN AWESOME
Shannon Jun 14th 2011 4:21PM
As a mom of three active kids, a mini-van is really the only affordable option. My kids all know that what I really would like is a Mustang. So, last spring when we got a new mini-van, my son named it The MommyStang!!
Michelle Jun 14th 2011 10:01PM
My 1997 Toyota Camry has horrible pick up so I named it Nemo. Gimpy engine, gimpy fin. But I always have hope that it will go and so far it has!
Mark Jun 14th 2011 4:19PM
The best nickname ever came up for a car was the "General Lee". It still is to this day.
John Sammel Jun 14th 2011 8:44PM
2003 Tundra pick up named "Buckboard"Terrific on hard surface roads, but try it on the back (dirt) roads in Vermont. "Buckboard it is"
Don Pogi Jun 14th 2011 4:21PM
Hi,
I named my 2005 Jeep Liberty JEP (Filipino word for Jeff). Hahaha it just sounds funny. Thanks :)
Bruce Jun 14th 2011 8:04PM
Having worked with high end clients for years without having a high end salary my car is often the only non-luxury car surrounded by a sea of "S's, E's, 300-500 and 700's". This is why I have anointed my car:
THE NON STATUS STRATUS
Jim Bennett Jun 14th 2011 4:23PM
My car is named Shasta.
Shasta have tires,
Shasta have brakes,
Shasta has gas,
etc.
Pat Jun 14th 2011 6:36PM
My Dad named his car Shasta for the same reason........He was born in 1890 so he had one of the REALLY EARLY cars.
karen mcdermott Jun 14th 2011 4:26PM
My blue1958 Impala is named "Baby Blue" My 1971 Camaro is named "Kammie" My 1994 Chevrolet S10 pick-up is named "trucklet" and my 1996 Impala SS is named "Cherry" in regards to it's dark cherry metallic paint. Maybe you can get an inspiration from one of those