- Research reveals millions of British men find it easier to maintain their car than their girlfriend
- Nearly a third of young men spend longer searching for their ideal car than their perfect partner
- One fifth of people aged 55+ think a sporty car will help them be more attractive to others
- More than half of people surveyed in the South East and West Midlands think their partners are more difficult to maintain than their cars (51%)
- Behaviour and relationship expert Doctor Pam Spurr advises petrolheads to get the balance right
The ‘RCZ Study’ from Peugeot, announced today, has revealed the extent of the British love affair with the motor car and it seems that Brits are often more keen on being under the bonnet than between the sheets.
The research study, which polled over 2,000 people and was commissioned on behalf of the company behind the curvaceous RCZ Sports Coupé, highlights how some Brits are more concerned with wheels than heels with 50% of men admitting that they find their partner more difficult to maintain than their car and 1 in 10 guys confessing to being more captivated with their cars’ alluring curves than their partners. The study also revealed that 14% of guys talk more about their cars than their partners in comparison to 3% of women.
Maintenance
The Peugeot ‘RCZ Study’ also found that gents can lavish more love and attention on their cars than their girlfriends, with men being three times happier spending cash on their car rather than their partner. Nearly a quarter of those surveyed in the West Midlands, spend more money on their cars than their partners (24%), closely followed by a fifth of those in Northern Ireland (20%). Overall, it appears men and women are harbouring a much bigger love for their motors than we may have realised:
- 50% of men admit they find their partner is more difficult to maintain than their car
- 17% of Brits spend more on their car than their other half
- 13% of respondents have been with their car longer than their partner
- 14% of people think a sporty car will help them get the girl or boy of their dreams
- Millions of us potentially spend more time with our cars than our partners (9% of the population in fact) and 8% of us would choose our car over our partner
Upgrades
Interestingly, the biggest proportion of people who think their car is better looking than their partner, are aged 45-54 (14%) and a fifth of people in this age group also spend the longest admiring their car (10%). Meanwhile, the highest proportion of people who spend the most time with their car are aged 35 – 44, and 11% of this age group would choose their car over their partner.
Behaviour and relationship expert Dr Pam Spurr, who collaborated with Peugeot on the study, commented: “We’ve long known that the British are a nation of petrolheads but by the looks of things, the balance can often tip a little in the wrong direction. And car lovers should be mindful of their partner’s feelings. It seems that the pleasure we derive from our cars is one that we have greatly underestimated. It’s incredibly surprising to think such pleasure sometimes surpasses the enjoyment a car owner derives from their partner!”
Regional car lovers
The Peugeot ‘RCZ Study’ also sheds light on some interesting regional differences across the UK. More than half of people in the South East and West Midlands think their partner is more difficult to maintain than their car, (51%). Respondents in these regions also appear to be much happier spending time on their cars than their partner (19% in the South East and 16% in the West Midlands) and they are most likely to view their cars as the greatest symbol of success.
- 17% of people in Yorkshire and the Humber think their car is better looking than their partner, followed by 14% in Wales
- 15% of people in the West Midlands are most proud of showing off their car to friends and family rather than their partner, and they spend the most time admiring their cars (13%)
- 13% of people in Wales spend more time with their car than their partner
- Londoners would be more upset if their car was stolen than if they were dumped by their partner (15%) followed by people in Northern Ireland (14%)
- People in the East Midlands are least likely to talk about their car with their friends vs those in the West Midlands who would discuss their car (15%)
Andrew Didlick, Director – Communications at Peugeot UK said: “As a French brand, Peugeot is naturally seen as a company with a distinct French flair, and the RCZ Sports Coupé certainly has a frivolous attraction being so curvaceous, so it doesn’t surprise us that the study shows that some British people are more tempted to look after their motors than their other half!”
The research also revealed that fickle 18-24 year olds are more likely to have more meaningful relationships with their wheels rather than their partners, with a quarter of 18-24 year olds longest relationship being with their car compared with a mere 4% of those older than 45 years old. A fifth of 25-34 year olds are more likely to regret losing their car rather than being dumped.
The country is also divided with their love affairs with just under 20% of unromantic Welsh spending more time with their car over their partner, in comparison to only 3% of those in Scotland. And Interestingly, it’s not just men who invest in their cars… 17% of women spend more money on their car rather than their partner and 19% of women will spend longer looking for their car than their other half.
