Has your car ever put a date off?

LOVE is in the air. Or at least you hope it is.

That all-important first date can end well….or it can kill any romance there and then. And creating the right impression when you pick up your date for the first time is vital.

We asked 178,000 motorists for their turn-offs when it comes to ferrying around their significant other. And here is the outcome…

CAR (24%) : It goes without saying that a Reliant Robin or Austin Maestro just isn’t going to cut it with your date in 2017. However, that isn’t all. If your convertible roof leaks or he/she has to climb in and out of the car then you’ve got a problem. Unless you’re dating one of the Dukes of Hazzard, of course.

AGGRESSIVE DRIVING (23%): Whether it’s road rage directed at the OAP heading for church, tailgating on a main road, or trying to out-do Acne Boy in his souped up Vauxhall Corsa at the traffic lights, you’re not going to get very far with the person you’re trying to impress.

LANE INDISCIPLINE (18%): Turning right from the inside lane on a roundabout will not only put the fear of God into your passenger, but is just plain wrong. And then there is that person who insists on ambling along at 56mph on the motorway, when the nearside lane remains a barren wasteland. This relationship should be doomed in the time it takes to yell: ‘KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING’

INABILITY TO PARK (11%): There is nothing worse for your date than seeing you fumbling around in the dark during your first encounter. The reality is this: if you cannot squeeze your car in between two parked vehicles, then maybe find a different parking space. Last thing he or she want to see is you getting stressed over parking.

CLUTTER (10%): Imagine making your date stand in the cold and rain while you sweep away the remains of yesterday’s McDonalds. Worse still, your date climbs into the car to find he or she is sharing their leg space with eight empty bottles of water. Keep it clean.

MUSIC (7%): Ok, so we all have our guilty pleasures. But your admission to liking Saga FM or having the full Black Lace collection is probably one to save for the third or fourth date. He or she might be more forgiving by then.

AIR FRESHENER (5%): Bit of a grey area this one. You don’t want your date to suffer a choking fit because of your forest of Vanilla Trees…but nor do you want him or her to be alerted to your recent trip to the farm or the local Indian takeaway. Get that balance right.

L PLATES (1%): This just isn’t good. On the basis that you don’t want your driving instructor joining you on your date, the fact that you’re still using L plates at your age leads us to ask just how far your inexperience stretches…

OTHER (1%): A special shout-out to the guy who borrowed his dad’s BMW to take his date for a day out, only for her to fall asleep and smudge her make-up all over the upholstery. And then there are those dates who climb into your car and start playing with the heater, stereo or plant their feet on your dashboard. Time to get all MC Hammer with these people with a plain-and-simple: ‘You Can’t Touch This.’

BOTB was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 and has handed over the keys to more than £20m worth of supercars.

Will said: “Valentine’s Day is a special occasion for all couples, of all ages - especially if it’s a first date.

“Creating the right impression is vital if you plan to pursue a long and happy future together.

“We hope people take notice of our tips. And we wish everyone a happy Valentine’s Day.”

Half of all customers play online at www.botb.com, where you can also see reactions of all our previous winners.

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