Call us old romantics, but we’re quite a fan of Valentine’s Day here at LK Performance. After all it’s an excuse to treat the love of our lives to something special – like a new set of alloy wheels, an exhaust system, or a snazzy coilover kit. We’ll probably buy our partners something nice as well. 

But what about those among us that are unattached, and planning to set up a Valentine’s Day date? The world of romance can be difficult to navigate and first impressions are everything; you’ll call us biased, but we believe there’s a lot you can tell about someone from their car.

Whether they get from A to B in a scruffy old banger or cruise the open road in a convertible, a person’s daily run-around speaks volumes about their personality. Take a peek inside your beau’s garage and consult our guide to what a person’s car says about them, so you know whether to give the date a green light, or pump the brakes before it’s even begun.

A Convertible

 Pros: They like to have fun, take spontaneous road trips, and are extremely optimistic. Because a convertible? ...In the UK? ...Really?

Cons: They might be a little on the misguided side. And that’s putting it nicely. You may also have to wrap up warm on your first date, because no doubt they’ll want to show off their drop-top at any and every given opportunity.

A Vintage Classic

Pros: They like the finer things in life, aren’t afraid to invest their money and time, and take great care of what belongs to them. Date someone with a ride like a vintage Jaguar, Porsche or Mercedes, and you can expect them to pour the same amount of effort into your relationship too.

Cons: You’ll spend a lot of time broken down by the side of the road. They’ll also constantly talk about the ‘good old days’ and have a house full of vintage car memorabilia. If you accidentally spill your coffee in the car, you’ll be walking home – but so will they, because their car will break down two minutes after they kick you out of it.

A Van

Pros: Bigger is better to a van driver, so expect to go somewhere impressive on your Valentine’s Day date, and see them leave a generous tip. They won’t cramp your style, because they like their space, and as they probably have a manual labour job, they’ll be good with their hands. Plus, moving house will be a doddle.

Cons: You’ll spend a lot of time at the petrol station when you date a person with a van. Getting lifts from them won’t be the most luxurious affair, and you’ll never be able to borrow their ride because you simply won’t be able to drive it. 

A Performance Car

Pros: Performance car drivers are, without exception, charming, generous, romantic and always incredibly good looking. Wait, you’re calling us biased again? What makes you say that?

Cons: There are no cons to dating someone who owns a performance car. Unless of course you don’t like the smell of burning rubber, the sound of a perfectly-tuned engine and a high-quality stereo system, in which case, that’s your loss.

A Scruffy Old Banger

Pros: Don’t write someone off just because the car they drive is dirty, messy, rusty and generally unkempt. They’re dedicating less time to caring for their car, so they’ll have even more time to dedicate to you. Plus, they clearly don’t value material possessions, and have better things to spend their money on than a vehicle.

Cons: You’ll never want to have a ‘spontaneous liaison’, shall we say, in the back seat – as it will be covered in drinks bottles and crisp bags. And quite frankly, we don’t understand which type of person has anything better to spend money on than their car.

A Smart Car

Pros: If there’s anyone who would dance like nobody’s watching, sing like nobody’s listening and love like they’ve never been hurt, it’s a Smart Car owner. Because who could possibly be less self-conscious than someone who drives a Smart Car? Oh, and you’ll also have no problem finding a parking space on Valentine’s Day, which means more time enjoying your time together.

Cons: As with people that have messy cars, there’s no chance of a romantic encounter in the back seat – since there isn’t one. You may also experience crippling jealousy at their miniscule annual road tax charges.

A Land Rover

Pros: Land Rover drivers are no-nonsense, straight to the point and practical. They enjoy long walks in the countryside, horse riding, organic foods, tweed clothing and sheepdogs. They will also enthral you with tales from lambing season, and their second car will be just as impressive: it’s a tractor.

Cons: There will be an ever-present, faint scent of 'farmyard' everywhere you go. Your date will end early because they’ll have to be up at 5am, unless of course you know your way around cows’ udders and can lend a hand. Chances are that you’ll also never get to have a ride on that tractor.