Buyers of top-end new cars are using low interest rates and keen finance deals instead of buying outright despite the tough economic climate, according to Oracle Finance.

"This demonstrates a clear intent from buyers to secure a good deal before inflationary pressures force interest rates to rise,” said managing director Peter Brook.

He sees higher residual values as a factor: “By paying the balance over two to four years buyers aren’t taking the hit of laying down large amounts of cash on an outright purchase.

"They won’t feel the negative equity when they decide to change car.”

In 2010 the number of prestige and sports cars financed by Oracle was 11% higher than in 2009. The analysis covered the buying trends of people spending £25,000 or more on a car.

The Range Rover accounted for almost 18% of loans from Oracle, said Brook, with advances for its Sport derivative alone attracting almost 10% of the company’s deals.

Audi was the second most popular brand, accounting for 14% of finance written with Oracle, followed by BMW (12%), Porsche (9%) and Aston Martin (9%).

Brook said Oracle has arrangements and partnerships with lenders in the UK and internationally, providing finance packages to meet customers’ needs.

“As we aren’t affiliated to one car brand we tend to have a very savvy clientele who view finance as a separate transaction to purchasing a vehicle, thereby sourcing the best quotes available,” he said.

Oracle Finance, founded five years ago, underwrote more than £250 million of vehicle finance last year, said Brook.

The firm also has divisions to advance loans for buyers of commercial vehicles and plant and machinery (including agricultural) plus an aviation and marine division.