By TOM KELLY

Last updated at 23:03 24 February 2008

Many young men will readily admit that they bought their first car to impress the opposite sex.

But it seems most end up with fonder memories of the motor than the girl.

A survey reveals that the majority of Britons remember their first car more readily than their first kiss.

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Popular: the most common first car is the Ford Fiesta

Getting a set of wheels ranked more highly for young people than their initial embrace, their first boyfriend or girlfriend and their 18th birthday.

Indeed more than four in ten of those surveyed were so attached to their first car that they could recall its number plate in full, the survey by organisers of the British International Motor Show found.

The most common first car was a Ford Fiesta, followed by a Ford Escort, Mini and Nissan Micra, most of which were between six and ten years old.

Six in ten regarded their first car as female, a quarter gave it a name and 12 per cent felt more attractive to the opposite sex once they had qualified to drive.

More than a third had sex in the back seat of their first car, and half took the opportunity to leave home once they had wheels.

Not surprisingly, the poll of 2,011 adults also showed that 59 per cent saw passing the driving test as a life-changing event.

Nearly six in ten of those polled passed their driving test first time, but more than 10 per cent needed at least three attempts.

Kirsty Perkinson, one of the show organisers, said: "People develop powerful bonds with their cars, especially their first.

"First cars represent an explosion of independence and a gateway to untold adventures, which is why they are so special."