SWISH cars may boost your sex appeal after all, according to research to delight petrolheads.
Scientists found both men and women are rated as more attractive and with a higher “mating value” if they have a shiny new motor.
They suggest that expensive and luxury purchases like cars give the impression of higher social status.
Two studies asked 580 people in Brazil how their opinion of someone changed based on what they drive.
People with “premium” high-spec new car models ranked higher on social status, social dominance and mate value than people driving bangers.
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Those with no car at all were rated lowest by potential partners.
Study author, Joao Lucas G. da Silva, from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, said: “Premium car ownership seems to make you more attractive to the opposite sex.
“It also makes the owner themselves believe they are more attractive and socially superior.
“This suggests that people buy luxury products like premium cars to signal specific characteristics.”
The study compared new and old models of Fiat and Volkswagen pick-up trucks to judge whether drivers had “popular” or “premium” vehicles.
It adds to past research that found a swanky car can boost sex appeal.
An experiment on a high street in Cardiff in 2009 found women were more attracted to a man when he was pictured driving a Bentley Continental than a Ford Fiesta.
Men did not change their opinion of the woman in that study.
Writing in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, Mr da Silva added: “People with high status are perceived as competent and attractive and receive preferential treatment.”