it's a cross-culture shock imo. So many different emotions and behaviors get triggered.
First and foremost - it is a thing of beauty, legitimate art. It's not an American box, clearly not American culture . It's roots are European, Dino Ferrari. I's outside the box. The "American Box". BUT - we love cars here - and that is part of our box, as a culture.
Then there is our economic caste system - that comes into play - the assumption that they cost a zillion dollars.. yields the following spectrum of comments.. all based on incorrect assumptions
a) "you are crazy to spend that kind of money on a car that will be unreliable, and prohibitively costly to fix" ( the Elise is the most reliable car i own)
b) "you should not justify being this different - people will think you are a dick - Who thell do you think you are" ( actually - i think i am me, and right now .. YOU are being a dick)
c) a girl will come up and lick my headlights...in the grocery store's parking lot, give me a look and walk off..(when i'm really thinking..."damn bitch.. did you really just lay your saliva over those $1100 to replace lenses? Gee thanks.. Not.")
d) People will get angry with you. Really pissed. You haven't said a word. You are just going into the store to purchase some non-gmo Marshmallow Fluff ( made from free range marshmallows) for your health diet of Fluffernutters. But somebody will get all bent out of shape and stomp around being all pissy about your Elise. Like you are rubbing it in their face. When all you really wanted was some Fluff.
etc...etc...etc..
Then there are the nice, interested, positive people too.
Some owners have SOLD the car - just because of the reactions. You will appear to be an azz hole if you are not prepared to talk about the car everywhere you go. Sort of the price of ownership i guess. I really don't mind usually. But sometimes I avoid this scenario by never stopping anywhere. haha