A new research study from Peugeot, which polled over 2,000 people in the United Kingdom, reveals that a significant number of British drivers are often more concerned about their car than their other half.

According to the “RCZ Study” commissioned by the French carmaker, 50 percent of men in Britain confess that they find their partner more difficult to maintain than their vehicle and 1 in 10 guys admit to being more fascinated with their cars’ curves than their partners.

A break up of those numbers shows that the largest proportion of men who think their car is better looking than their other half, are aged 45 to 54 (14%) while 20 percent of people in this age group also devote the longest time to admire their car (10%).

However, the highest proportion of people who spend the most time with their car are aged 35 to 44, with 11 percent of this age group saying that it would choose their car over their partner.

The research also showed that 14% of men talk more about their cars than their partners in comparison to 3% of women.

Other interesting facts from the study is that 18-24 year old males in Britain are more likely to have meaningful relationships with their vehicle instead of their partners, with a quarter of 18-24 year olds longest relationship being with their car compared with only 4% of those older than 45 years old.

In addition, a fifth of 25-34 year old males that participated in the study said they are more likely to regret losing their car rather than being dumped.

Pam Spurr, a behaviour and relationship expert 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!”

Countrywide Finds:

  • 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

Regional Finds:

  • 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%)

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