A Right Old Estate of Affairs

A NEW study from car hire Europcar has revealed that, while a practical, versatile estate car might be just the ticket for a busy life, it’s not the car of choice to create a lasting impression on a first date.

According to the firm’s survey, just one percent of respondents said they would choose an estate car when hiring for a special day, with women put off by the practicality of estates.

Unsurprisingly, prestige vehicles topped the list for the car to make the best impression at 32%. The street-appeal of sports cars and coupes also made them a top choice to impress for more than 1 in 5 motorists.

Also, younger motorists are particularly critical when it comes to driving the right car. Almost a quarter (23%) of 25-34 year olds said the car someone drives is important when meeting a potential partner. Reassuringly though, it’s not all about the wheels. Almost half (49%) of all respondents admitted that the first thing they usually notice about someone on a first date is their smile.

Regionally, it is drivers in the North East who believe the car someone drives is important to make a good impression on a potential partner at 44%, compared to just 16% of motorists living in the East of the country.  Londoners (35%), those from the North West (34%) and the South East (32%) also thought the set of wheels was important for making a good first impression.

By Press Association reporters