So going to a rent-a-car place is kind of like visiting a brothel for these guys?
But yeah, seriously, I'd be really interested to know the psychology of this sort of thing. I understand anthropomorphising vehicles (for example, I'm a steam train nut myself, and those things have traits strongly resembling living beings). But I just don't get how that translates into a paraphilia. Is it like bestiality, but taken a step further? What is considered "sexy" in a car?
I don't know, I suppose it's fairly harmless to everyone except the mechanic who has to fix the exhaust.