As I encroach on 14 years of auto criticising, I find myself becoming very emotional. I won’t start crying about the fact that I’m getting old, but I will share with you my softer side, the one that has shed many a tear over cars.

I am one with cars; I can feel them, communicate with them and care for them. I might be a little extreme about rubber, steel, aluminum and plastics but I can’t help it: this is who I am.

Over the years, some cars have actually got me teary-eyed from the pure pleasure and satisfaction they have brought me. A select few cars have managed to reach so deep and far inside my person that they managed to bring me practically to my knees.

When a car is all that I believe it should be, my outpouring of emotions cannot be contained.

The latest car to have done this to me is the 2013 Ford Mustang Boss 302. I’ll be reviewing the car shortly but what I can tell you now (you may have already read some comments if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram) is that the Boss handles, turns, brakes, accelerates and commands attention like no other Pony car or performance coupe. And then there’s the sound...

Photo: Mathieu St-Pierre

Many of the cars on this list have logically made their way to my all-time favorite list mainly because of the way they make me feel, whether they have 140 hp or 500+ hp. The first car that had me practically bawlin’ was a second-generation Mazda Miata. To this day, it remains one of my absolute favourites, and probably always will be.

The remainder of the crop features the likes of the B7 Audi RS4, the E46 BMW M3, the MKIV Volkswagen GTI VR6, the 997 Porsche 911 GT3 and the R35 Nissan GT-R.

The final car stunned me. I clearly recall opening the door to the basement garage in my old apartment building and catching a glimpse of the GT-R’s fat rear down at the end. The sight of that huge ass, spoiler and tailpipes got me lightheaded every time. There was something magical about being under the same roof as this world-dominating juggernaut of a car; I felt as though I was in the presence of royalty. Strangely, this car has never been on my Top 10 list, though...

There are other cars that have affected me profoundly such as my uncle’s 1967 Cadillac DeVille convertible and 1969 Ford F-100 and my own MKII Volkswagen Jetta GTX. I’m certain that there are countless other cars out there that would have me crying my eyes out like a little boy that’s had his Hot Wheels taken away from him because he wouldn’t come in for dinner when called upon.

Anyone else get stupid emo over cars?