A&Q about Lotus
Q:
Well it seems we all define exotic in different terms, which I suppose makes the question of whether the Elise is exotic a bit pointless really.
I suppose for me it is whether it's a car that makes young boys have eyes the size of dinner plates, point with excitement and want to have a poster of it on their bedroom walls, and is coupled with the performance that the looks justify. Only four cylinders? Big deal. In fact having a relatively puny engine and such great drivability is reason to be impressed even more.
A:
Originally Posted by Crudson
Well it seems we all define exotic in different terms, which I suppose makes the question of whether the Elise is exotic a bit pointless really.
I suppose for me it is whether it's a car that makes young boys have eyes the size of dinner plates, point with excitement and want to have a poster of it on their bedroom walls, and is coupled with the performance that the looks justify. Only four cylinders? Big deal. In fact having a relatively puny engine and such great drivability is reason to be impressed even more.
It certainly has exotic looks - which is what impresses young boys (and quite a few adults) - but that doesn't make it an "exotic car" IMO.
The Elise/Exige is more akin to a Caterham than a Lamborghini or Ferrari. The Caterham is foreign, rare, has a lot of performance and track capability and isn't an exotic either
A:
If the average joe can afford one it isn't exotic.
Get real people, its a common $45k car, not a limited production $100k+ car. Heck, there are a half dozen in the parking garage where I work.
A:
I can sum all this up:
Question A: Does it have an unusably small or non-existant back seat?
If yes, then:
$70,000 and down, sports car
$70,000-$120,000, exotic
$120,000 and up, supercar.
A:
Originally Posted by QuickSilver
It certainly has exotic looks - which is what impresses young boys (and quite a few adults) - but that doesn't make it an "exotic car" IMO.
The Elise/Exige is more akin to a Caterham than a Lamborghini or Ferrari. The Caterham is foreign, rare, has a lot of performance and track capability and isn't an exotic either
Yeah I see that. I suppose my point was that an exotic means different things to different people. Reading people split hairs over something so subjective prompted my statement that if there's no clear definition then it comes down to something akin to liking a piece of art.
I actually voted no when the poll was posted so I feel differently day to day about it being just a car and something a little bit special. Perhaps that I have been without my Elise driving a Pontiac Grand Prix and a Chevy HHR for two weeks has really reminded me that it is worthy of some elevated status.
A:
Originally Posted by Crudson
Yeah I see that. I suppose my point was that an exotic means different things to different people. Reading people split hairs over something so subjective prompted my statement that if there's no clear definition then it comes down to something akin to liking a piece of art.
I actually voted no when the poll was posted so I feel differently day to day about it being just a car and something a little bit special. Perhaps that I have been without my Elise driving a Pontiac Grand Prix and a Chevy HHR for two weeks has really reminded me that it is worthy of some elevated status.
It is certainly worthy of elevated status!
A:
Originally Posted by rush
when your insuring the car and the lady on the phone says "make and model?" and you say "lotus elise" and she say "hmm haven't heard of that one...lets see...*click click click of the computer*...hmmm OH MY thats a nice car" that means its an exotic
Or when she says: "I'm sorry, we don't insure exotic cars..."
A:
I don't have much of an opinion on exotic/non-exotic, but I can say for certain that Lamborghini is much more common here in San Diego than Lotus. I see at least one Lambo per week -- just a couple of weeks ago I saw two yellow Lambos traveling almost next to each other. As for the Elise, I have only seen one here, ever.
A:
I'm not sure it's exotic, but I'm facinated by how people are trying to define an exotic car.
I've always thought of a Lambo and Ferrari as exotic. I've never thought of a Porsche as exotic. Before owning one, I also thought of Lotus as in the exotic category.
A:
it would be consider an exotic if it had a real engine....
A:
Originally Posted by Imolas54
it would be consider an exotic if it had a real engine....
Hummm, sorry to hear about your car, mine has an engine in it. Perhaps you need to speak to your dealer.
Man, I'm tired of hearing that statement.
A:
Originally Posted by Imolas54
it would be consider an exotic if it had a real engine....
So what would make it a real engine? If it had originally came with a 240HP 2ZZGE, passed smog, street legal, would it be exotic then?
A:
It is Exotic due to the low production numbers and the manufacturer’s heritage and skill in building such cars. It is exotic in the materials used and the way the car is built. It is exotic in how little it weighs in comparison to ther cars. These things make it exotic and not so much $$$ or performance.
What it is not is a supercar because of the lack of performance to compete in that catagory
And most importantly... It is Exotic because my Exotic collectors car's insurance company agreed with me in that it is an Exotic and covers it as such!
A:
I wouldn't consider the Elise to be an exotic. In my book, an exotic is a car that lists for more than $150k new, is hard to get insurance, requires $500+ oil changes and $5000+ scheduled services. It doesn't have anything to do with how few were made or how unusual they look. It has to do with how much money you need to make in order to justify owning the damn thing.
Also, if you can pay $250k for a car without blinking and keep it in your 12 bay garage with a bunch of other overpriced, mid-life crisis cars, then you qualify as an exotic car owner. I'm working on it...
Marc
A:
For me, it is an exotic because of the combination of:
- low production volume
- looks
- niche manufacturer
- reaction of people
- unique manufacturing technology
A:
Originally Posted by saudio
I can sum all this up:
Question A: Does it have an unusably small or non-existant back seat?
If yes, then:
$70,000 and down, sports car
$70,000-$120,000, exotic
$120,000 and up, supercar.
WRONG
a Bentley or a Phantom is not a supercar. You guys are looking at this all wrong...it has nothing to do with price
A:
Originally Posted by cpforyou
So what would make it a real engine? If it had originally came with a 240HP 2ZZGE, passed smog, street legal, would it be exotic then?
something along a s2000 supercharged 300 hp + would be overkill but exotic for sure.
A:
Originally Posted by rush
WRONG
a Bentley or a Phantom is not a supercar.
Even the Continental GT? Granted its styling is debatable, but it's got that twin-turbo W12, 0-60 faster than the Elise, and tops out around 200MPH.
A:
Originally Posted by cstetter
For me, it is an exotic because of the combination of:
- low production volume
- looks
- niche manufacturer
- reaction of people
- unique manufacturing technology
All apply to the older Elans, Europas, 7's and the M100 Elan, and nobody would consider them Exotic.
A:
Originally Posted by saudio
I can sum all this up:
Question A: Does it have an unusably small or non-existant back seat?
If yes, then:
$70,000 and down, sports car
$70,000-$120,000, exotic
$120,000 and up, supercar.
997 TT does not equal to "exotic"
430 & Gaylardo does not equal to "supercar"