Sixty-one per cent of Canadians associate drivers of exotic sports cars with short-term flings. In comparison, 65 per cent associate modest and reliable sedans with someone that is more stable and commitment-friendly, according to a recent study by autoTRADER.ca.
The study connects your relationship potential — how relationship-ready you appear to be to someone else — with the type of car you drive, including how long you’ve owned the vehicle.
“Busy daters often look for visual cues to determine whether a date is a good fit with their lifestyle, values and what they’re looking for in a relationship,” said Dr. Jessica O’Reilly, PhD. “Just as we have a tendency to associate traits with a person’s home or friends, Canadians believe they can better understand relationship intentions based on the car an individual drives.”
She adds that Canadians may be searching for clues to help them associate certain ideals with certain possessions.
Based on the report, 40 per cent of Canadians find SUVs attractive, followed by sedans (28 per cent); trucks (15 per cent); sports/exotic cars (14 per cent); and motorcycles (3 per cent). In terms of commitment-friendly vehicles, SUVs remain at the top with 48 per cent and sedans are in second place with 36 per cent.
“Despite the myth of hookup culture and ‘serial dating’ in the digital age, the majority of Canadians are clearly long-term romance-seekers at heart,” said O’Reilly, adding that the majority of Canadians (60 per cent) are craving commitment.
The study indicates that 39 per cent of Canadians believe it takes four to seven dates to commit to a relationship, while 28 per cent believe that number hovers around eight to 10 dates.
Canadians also have emotional ties with their vehicle. Approximately one-third (35 per cent) of Canadians have given their car a nickname — a practice that is most common among millennials (46 per cent). And nearly one in four owners (23 per cent) have held back the urge to cry after selling a car they loved.
In terms of loyalty, 46 per cent of car owners feel their level of loyalty towards a car brand can be equated the loyalty they feel in love (and relationships). This might explain why 54 per cent of Canadians hold onto the same car for at least eight years, while 36 per cent will stick with the same vehicle for 4-7 years.
Ontario car owners appear to be the most loyal, remaining with a single car brand for more than 15 years compared to the national average (24 percent vs 19 percent).
Quebecers on the other hand have been described as the most “impulsive” group in terms of settling for fewer dates before feeling committed. This suggests they may commit more quickly to a car brand.
