Exotic Car Owner's Code of Conduct

[netsinah]

dont kid yourself the only attention we are gunna get is from men

Almost true. I usually get comments from men, however last Fall when driving from my neighbourhood downtown to work, a woman in a BMW Z4 pulled up beside me and kept staring, repeatedly looking up and down the length of my Emira. We locked eyes and she smiled, before the light changed and we drove away. Some miles down the freeway, we made the same turn off and came to another set of lights. Alongside each other again, she kept looking and I actually started to feel uncomfortable. This time she gave me the thumbs-up when our eyes met. I pointed to her Bimmer and did the same, causing her to smile again.

Finally and although I've told this August 2024 story before on this Forum, here it is again: last w/e was parked at Costco; came back to find a "mom" with her son in a cart next to her, taking photos of my car. They were next to a Toyota Highlander, which I presumed to be their vehicle. She asked if I was the owner (yes) with her son quickly looking away and acting shy. I asked how old he was (5) and then if he'd like to sit in it. She posed that question to him and he immediately became animated and said YES. She sat him in the driver's seat and then asked if she could take more photos, showing him in the car (of course). He was completely thrilled and I suspect he was close to 6 years old, judging by his reaction and "mature good taste" (lol). He said it was the nicest car he'd ever been in, which isn't surprising given his young age, and thanked me profusely, having lost all shyness by then. She commented he'd likely never be in a nicer car and I suggested you never know, given his age and the motivation he'd just received. Another Lotus fan, in the making!

Car fans are found in all genders!

 

[Beachbum]

Perhaps, but we can still run with the big dogs without the cost.
View attachment 61827

What on earth is going on with that Aston. Did someone let a child loose with a stick of chalk?

 

[Medic518]

With Lotus, the attention has been very positive. All kinds of car enthusiasts (and actual kids) come up and try to figure out what it is. My neighbor thought my Evora GT was a Lamborghini... really? Few days ago at Lowes parking lot, a really nice older gentleman in a Mustang asked if it was an Audi. You really have to educate the field properly with PowerPoint slides, handouts, etc.

Can I get some of those hand outs?

I had a guy ask me while filling up "..is that the new Lexus?" I don't even know what the look on my face was, I am guessing it was haughty derision - but I answered "No, its a Lotus.."

 

[MapleOreo]

I view the words differently.
Most of them are "exotic".
But many fall into differ levels.
Sports car
Super car
Hyper car
Mega car

It's all very subjective.
Because in many circles, Porsche isn't considered an exotic.
I've heard people say if it's exotic, it shouldn't be driven.

Some people say what makes a car exotic is a combination of the company, the value of the car, or how many were made etc.
For example, I can't stand Ferrari (the company). But I still consider the cars exotic.
Lotus is a good value. Does that mean it's not exotic?
Porsche build a ton of 911's each year.
Does that mean it's not exotic?
Just enjoy whatever it is you like. And be kind to other people. They're proud of their car even if it's not your cup of tea. Let's keep the community positive and growing and enjoy the hobby as a whole.
Finally, I'll leave you to discuss a hotly debated topic.
Corvette, is it exotic?

 

[Medic518]

Corvette, is it exotic?

Nope.. not to mention they require Jorts, long socks and New Balance..

 

[Tracked Emira]

I remember the first time someone let me sit in their Lambo. It was a Balboni Gallardo in yellow with that awesome racing stripe and a manual transmission. He saw me just staring at it and walked over and just opened the door and told me to have a seat. It was awesome. He even had me put down the window and closed the door for a picture. It was a really fun experience that Ill remember and only took 3 minutes out of his day.

Nice experience!
I had the opposite happen when I was 17 years old. I bought a 1973 barracuda after seeing my friends. Love at first sight.
I was outside of an auto parts store when I saw my first lotus. I was like WOW, an African American James Bond in the Bronx. LOL!
When I asked him which one it was he said it doesn’t matter because I could never afford to get one. Now, back then I was a gentleman’s thug. Meaning if you messed with me, no matter who you were…there would be consequences that were unexpected.
Instead, I was in shock because he was a car guy and it was the only time I walked away because he didn’t provoke me.
I wish I could meet that guy today 38 years later and show him my 2010 srt8 supercharged challenger, 1973 restomod plymouth barracuda, 2019 NSX and 2022 type S NSX. And of course…my Lotus!

 

[David s]

And try not look at one’s selves reflection through a shop front window when sitting at the traffic lights.

Or…at least not get caught doing it.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Nice experience!
I had the opposite happen when I was 17 years old. I bought a 1973 barracuda after seeing my friends. Love at first sight.
I was outside of an auto parts store when I saw my first lotus. I was like WOW, an African American James Bond in the Bronx. LOL!
When I asked him which one it was he said it doesn’t matter because I could never afford to get one. Now, back then I was a gentleman’s thug. Meaning if you messed with me, no matter who you were…there would
be consequences that were unexpected.
Instead, I was in shock because he was a car guy and lit was the only time I walked away because he didn’t provoke me.
I wish I could meet that guy today 38 years later and show him my 2010 srt8 supercharged challenger, 1973 restomod plymouth barracuda, 2019 NSX and 2022 type S NSX. And of course…my Lotus!

I previously questioned if the Emira was the right car for your priorities/use case. Seems this story adds some context for why this car is special to you.

I doubt that interaction years on would be as satisfying as you’re imagining. The guy sounds like a prick. Unlikely he’d give you any credit for being successful. And if you’re happy with your cars who cares?

 

[allenyao09]

Emira doesn't qualify as a super car. I think the entry-level super car is Audi R8.

 

[Jinba ittai]

Emira doesn't qualify as a super car. I think the entry-level super car is Audi R8.

You counting the v8 or only the v10?

 

[Nick in Sydney]

Emira doesn't qualify as a super car. I think the entry-level super car is Audi R8.

Supercar has become so overused as a term. I don't think even an entry-level Ferrari or Lambo is a "supercar". It's just a great sports car. Surely to be a genuine supercar you have to be talking about something extraordinary like an F40, 918 or the P1.

The term has been misused so often that people are now starting to talk about "hyper-cars."

 

[RyanGphoto]

I guess everyone has their definition of what each type of car is exotic supercar hypercar super exotic Etc but I believe it's a dollar figure for supercar including engine and horsepower and I think Lambos and certainly Ferraris fall into that category as a supercar. I think the Emira is a exotic sports car and that's what I tell people and people tend to agree. I would never say that our cars are super cars

 

[Steve24]

Emira doesn't qualify as a super car. I think the entry-level super car is Audi R8.

While I agree the Emira isn’t a supercar (it’s a sports car) no Audi can be a supercar IMO.

 

[allenyao09]

While I agree the Emira isn’t a supercar (it’s a sports car) no Audi can be a supercar IMO.

R8 is essentially Lamborghini Huracan/Gallardo without fancy pants. I don't see any reasons it can't be a supercar.

You counting the v8 or only the v10?

I'd say only V10.

 

[crestima]

What on earth is going on with that Aston. Did someone let a child loose with a stick of chalk?

Being prepared for mod surgery.

 

[Gprodigy]

Lotus calls it a “Junior Super Car” on their website. Honestly, I’m never saying that out loud lol.

From my experience,
Emira is def Exotic car and I just leave it at that if it’s brought up. It’s more
Rare than lambos and our aftermarket prices are def the same price . It’s not super car simply from horsepower and top speed. The handling is hyper car level lol.

Manual transmission will give you a lot more super car level props at car meets.

C8s aren’t exotic simply bc there’s too many of them. C8s would be exotic to European buyers, but not the US.

 

[DeltaTL6]

Junior never gets the love...

Lotus calls it a “Junior Super Car” on their website. Honestly, I’m never saying that out loud lol.

From my experience,
Emira is def Exotic car and I just leave it at that if it’s brought up. It’s more
Rare than lambos and our aftermarket prices are def the same price . It’s not super car simply from horsepower and top speed. The handling is hyper car level lol.

Manual transmission will give you a lot more super car level props at car meets.

C8s aren’t exotic simply bc there’s too many of them. C8s would be exotic to European buyers, but not the US.

Junior never gets the love... But totally agree calling it a junior supercar is just silly. Also agree that it can classify as an exotic. To me, I know the C8 isn't really an exotic but it still looks like a supercar.

But to those not in the know, they do mistaken it for a supercar. My wife asked me yesterday if the Emiras sitting in the dealership lot are Ferraris and that's when I told her no, they are the same Make/Model as the one she have been seeing everyday at home, just with different colors.

Later in the afternnon, a father told to his son my yellow Emira is a supercar while walking across in front. I just don't think non-car people knows/cares about the difference between a supercar and an exotic, nor do I expect them to. Whatever you call it, it is appreciated that people appreciate it's a pretty car.

WIth that said, I saw the Evija at the dealer yesterday, THAT hypercar isn't debatable, it has such presence. And the interior design and lack of a dash is really cool.

Speaking of conduct, I need to remember to smile more while driving. My delayed reaction to people looking probably makes me look like an a-hole.