FORGET the colour of your next car because it's not important.

Forget the number of extras' the car might have. Even forget how much it depreciates in value the second you drive it out of the showroom.

Those are not the things that really matter to Britain's motorists when they buy a new car, according to a nationwide survey by breakdown service Autonational Rescue.

What matters most to UK motorists is how hard their pockets are hit on the day of purchase. and the actual cost of their new motors.

Some 48% of motorists say it's the initial cost of the vehicle that is the big deciding factor for them.

Next in order of importance to motorists - first or second most important to them - was making sure the new car would produce savings on fuel costs and be more economical (38% wanted this).

Close behind in order of importance is the new car's safety rating (37%) while the actual performance of the vehicle came fourth with 26%.

In fifth place, but with only 18% of the votes, came the vehicle's emission levels.

Other benefits, such as the number of extras the car may have like air conditioning, took only 10% of the vote, while the depreciation of the car was a leading factor for only five per cent of drivers.

Last and probably least was the colour of the vehicle, thought to be really important to only 3% of motorists, and almost entirely women motorists as the most important aspect.

Ronan Hart, Autonational's marketing manager, said: "The survey has sprung some real surprises about what actually matters to motorists looking at their next car purchase, and the car manufacturers would do well to take note."

For more information about Autonational Rescue, the car breakdown service with the no claims bonus, call 08459-500999.