From John Prescott and his two Jaguars to Jay Leno and his vast automotive collection, men have long splashed out on expensive motors in an effort to seem more attractive.

Now, a study has found the tactic works: owning a flashy car makes a person more desirable and sexually appealing.

The good news for petrolheads holds true both for men and women, the scientists discovered, with the car acting as a status symbol across genders.

Scientists in Brazil recruited more than 500 people and asked them how they perceived a person if they had a normal, common car, and then how they viewed those who drove “premier” automobiles.

Data show that men and women both viewed a person of the other sex as more attractive if they owned an expensive car.

In the study, the authors use 4x4s and pick-up trucks to illustrate the difference between popular — a 1.4L Fiat Strada — and a premier alternative — a Toro Volcano 2.0.

“Premium car ownership not only seems to make you more attractive to the opposite sex, it also makes the owner themselves believe they are more attractive and socially superior,” said João Lucas G da Silva, lead author of the study from Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.

“This suggests that people buy luxury products like premium cars to signal specific characteristics, in this case, higher social status, dominance and mating value.”

Social advantages

Luxury cars confer the same social advantages as having a nice home and clothes, the researchers say, by indicating a high position in the social hierarchy.

Previous work has shown that showcasing luxury goods leads to higher social status and this can lead to social and reproductive advantages.

“Individuals with high status are perceived as competent, attractive, receive preferential treatment, are more likely to be favoured in job selection, and receive more monetary donations,” the study authors write in their paper, published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences.

“It is likely that individuals with premium cars were considered more attractive due to the potential benefits associated with high status.

“Overall, both men and women can benefit from relationships with partners who possess these attributes.”