[gabbaman]

From the article quoted the following quote is interesting:

Mr Smith is now part of a global community of more than 500 “car lovers” brought together by internet forums. One can imagine a scenario where enough people are persuaded into allowing (voting or legislating) for this type of 'relationship' to be legally recognized, since at the end of the end in their views, the car is not molested or hurt, there are no unwanted side-effects like broken relationships, the people doing it are happy, and it is their private lives.