Technology named leading factor that influences Americans’ dream car: poll

America’s most desired movie car is the Aston Martin DB5 from the "James Bond" series, according to a new survey.

The second spot was claimed by the Ford Mustang GT 390 from "Bullitt," closely followed by the charming Mini Cooper from "The Italian Job."

The futuristic DeLorean DMC-12 from "Back to the Future" and the iconic Ecto-1 from "Ghostbusters" rounded out the top five.

More than half of the respondents (53%) had a more specific dream car in mind, with 33% nurturing this aspiration since their teenage years, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans.

So what exactly makes a car a “dream?”

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Carvana, the survey found that technology (26%) was the leading factor that influenced people's dream car.

Performance (25%), safety features (25%), reliability (23%) and emotional appeal (20%) were also significant influences in shaping respondents' dream car preferences.

Thirty-one percent expressed a strong preference for electric engines, beating out gasoline engines (27%), and hybrid alternatives (21%).

Among the most coveted dream car models, the BMW M4 (17%), Tesla Model S (16%), Mercedes-Benz S-Class (16%), Chevrolet Corvette (14%), and Ford Mustang (14%) held the top positions.

In terms of style, SUVs (29%) reigned supreme, followed by luxury cars (17%) and sports cars (14%).

Comfort (20%) played a role in respondents' dream car preferences, with climate control (30%), leather or premium upholstery (30%), and a built-in navigation system (29%) ranking as the top three must-have comfort features.

When it came to color, black emerged as the most popular choice (22%). White ranked closely behind with 16% of participants favoring it, followed by red (13%).

People hold their dream car in such high esteem that just thinking about it brings happiness to 39% of the respondents.

Interestingly, many respondents have gone the extra mile by giving names to their dream cars. Approximately 46% of those with a dream car had a name for them, with popular names including Bluebell (14%), Black Beauty (13%), and Baby (12%).

Six out of 10 Americans would choose to own their dream car over their dream home.

In terms of budget, the average American expressed a willingness to spend varying amounts on their dream car. Forty-three percent would be willing to pay more than $100,000 for their dream car.

Moreover, many participants have actually taken initial steps toward buying their dream car. Three in 10 of those who have a car in mind sought advice from car enthusiasts or experts, while an equal number created budget plans to save for their dream car.