RICHMOND, Va. -

In the spirit of today’s holiday, CarMax revealed “what made the sparks fly” during the car shopping process, as well as the launch of a new Facebook contest that focuses on the love affair between consumers and their vehicle of choice.

When asked what the leading factor was when deciding to buy a car, nearly half of shoppers cited price as the big deal breaker, according to a new survey conducted for CarMax.

But practicality didn’t overwhelm the list. Many survey participants noted that finding the car of their dreams, or even lifestyle changes, most affected their choice.

But following price, the car’s personality or features (horsepower, MPG, etc.) dominated 31 percent of responses.

But that said, the car’s “personality” seemed more of a concern for men. Men were more likely than women (35 vs. 27 percent) to say the car’s personality or features was what made the sparks fly, officials noted.

Lifestyle changes (12 percent) and finding the car of their dreams (9 percent) came next on the list.

In addition, the same survey asked respondents why they "broke up" with their last car. And 37 percent said "not meeting my needs.” Next on the list was wanting a "younger  model" (36 percent), showing some respondents were loyal to a particular model and nameplate while picking their new car. And 12 percent of respondents said they just need more space.

Also for those who haven’t made the plunge and bought a new car yet,  CarMax asked respondents why they have stuck with their current vehicles, as well.

Makes financial sense to stay with "her” was the winner in that category, with 45 percent of respondents picking this line.  Next, 34 percent of respondents chose if "she" ain’t broke, dont fix "her" as their response.            

More than 1,000 adults were asked the aformentioned questions through an online survey conducted Jan. 20 through Jan. 24 by Ipsos Public Affairs.

How Much do You Love Your Car?

In an effort to find out more about the connection between owners and their vehicles, CarMax has launched the five-week Love Your Car Facebook contest.

To enter the contest, visit the CarMax Facebook page and share a picture and caption to show how much you love your car, officials explained.

"Our customers are passionate about their vehicles," said Joe Kunkel, senior vice president of marketing and strategy at CarMax. "Whether it’s the color, features, style or just a great price, everyone loves their car for a different reason."

For complete contest rules, visit http://www.facebook.com/CarMax.