Estate is Not the Car to Impress

London--March 21, 2014: A new study from Europcar, the leader in car hire services in Europe, reveals that the practical estate car, while perfect for lots of jobs and moving stuff around, is definitely not the car of choice to create a lasting impression on a first date. Just 1% of respondents to the Europcar research said they would choose an estate car when hiring for a special day, with women put off by the practicality of estates.

Perhaps not surprisingly, prestige vehicles, such as a Mercedes Benz, 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.

According to the Europcar research, the younger generation of 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.

“Although we make judgements about people every day, this is magnified on a first date” said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. “But our research suggests that a winning smile and a set of Prestige wheels with wow factor could make sure there’s a good chance of a second date!

“No matter who they’re trying to dazzle, the Prestige by Europcar fleet offers motorists the choice of some of the most desirable cars on the road. From the city chic of the MINI Cooper S, to the slinky and stylish Mercedes Benz E Class or the power and performance of an Audi TT, we have cars that are guaranteed to turn heads for all the right reasons.”

When it comes to making a lasting impression, over 1 in 4 women prefer the space and celebrity appeal of a limo, whilst a quarter of men opt for the thrill and instant cool factor of a sports car.

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.

The Prestige by Europcar range includes 4x4s, luxury saloons and performance cars, available from a network of locations throughout the UK. Plus there’s no hassle collecting the car as free delivery and collection is available on hires of 2 days or more to home addresses within a 5 mile radius of a Europcar branch.