I think that Lotus is an odd car because if you are younger than 30, people react like they did to the OP and if you're older than 30 then you're going through a mid-life crisis!
I definately get a lot of haters, although most just make back-handed compliments. Example........
Several times a week at work I get people come up to me and say "Hey I saw a Lotus like yours the other day".
What they actually mean to say is "Hey your car is not so special coz I saw another one".
I just smile and say "oh", but inside I'm thinking.....
- Well it's a city of 1 million people (Charlotte) what the hell do you expect?
- Guess what? You drive a Toyota Camry and I saw 38 of those of the way into work this morning!