Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive an exotic sports car as your daily driver? Emotionally speaking, it would be an incredible experience for sure. However the logical (and yes, boring) side most of us possess screams things like exorbitant cost of entry coinciding with proportionately high maintenance costs, severely reduced overall practicality, the higher likelihood of speeding tickets, potholes, and such.
Well let me make it easier for you then. You have the chance to drive an exotic sports car or any other ultra high-end vehicle of your dreams for one year, entirely paid for down to the gas (or electricity because this is 2019). What would you choose?
My own choice may seem a little out of left field, but I’d have to say the Aston Martin DB11 Volante. I’ve always been captivated by Aston Martin since childhood. There’s a certain heightened level of sophistication about Astons when compared to many other sports car brands. Much like the Porsche 911, the Aston is known for being more of a sports car you can daily than a track-only car. Aston Martin reliability is well… British, so one year for free can’t be all that bad… or can it? In any event, why not go for glamorous top-down touring if given the opportunity to drive something spectacular? This DB11 Volante caught me completely off guard this past summer, and it was love at first sight!
So, if given the chance, what would you choose?
A Bentley Flying Spur
Hmmm what’s our working definition of “exotic”? Just something expensive or rare?
Considering I’m a carpenter by trade if we are talking strictly a daily driver it’s gonna have to be some kind of truck, maybe that new fandangled Tesla truck? Nah that’s too easy, if fuel and other expenses are paid for, maybe I’ll go for a Chevy Silverado 2500 with the 8.1 gas v8 and manual transmission to make it fun.
If we are pretending that I don’t have to work my regular shit kicking job, I’m going for a 59 Chevy Biscayne, not just any Biscayne but one of the ones Zora Arkus Duntov set up for the Oregon State highway patrol, that beat contemporary Ferraris lol. As much as I love the 1965 belair/Biscayne 2dr post full-size Chevys, I WILL own one of these someday through sheer force of will so no point in fantasizing. As far as exotics in the sense that most people think of them, I really don’t know, they all seem the same to me, American muscle cars always had more appeal to me because they were dirt simple ordinary grandma cars made to go fast, yeah any bunch of Italian artisans can craft a beautiful sporty chariot that costs a fortune, but hell most of them ended up using American engines anyway hahahah, I dunno maybe a Lamborghini Diablo, cuz I had a model of one of those when I was a kid and it might have subconsciously primed me for enjoying women with large backsides as an adult? Who knows?
Ultimately maybe the best compromise would be the little know Lamborghini Cheetah, it’s a truck and would do for my work, but certainly “exotic”.
Model 3.
Not considered an exotic by most, but considered an exotic by me.
However, living in a condo with a one car garage, and not wanting to get rid of either of my two current DDs, and not (yet) in possession of a 240v charger, I’m just sitting here thinking about it.
But the model 3 is one heck of a vehicle and an exotic in its own right.
https://www.yestesla.com/tesla-tips-tricks/tesla-model-3-tips-tricks-the-ultimate-user-guide/
2 dogs, no kids, and my partner and I just moved to a snow-covered land for the first time. Only driving it a year, so I can deal with the self-loathing of driving a flashy ride for the .01%.
Gotta be a new GTC4Lusso then. I’ll take mine in “Grigio Alloy” (a nice, pale metallic blue-green to my eye), per favore…
An electric Renault Dauphine. That’s pretty exotic.
aww the old Henney Kilowatt, checks all the boxes, exotic, yes, slow, yes, low range, YES!
Tiffany Electric Car review from 1975.
I don’t know if a Shelby is considered exotic, but I’d do a 289 Cobra.
Alfa Romeo 6C 2500, from about ’47. Or maybe Cunningham coupe by Vignale. Or , let’s dream big. A Pegaso Z102B with “Thrill” coachwork by Touring of Milan. Bets the heck out of a Cavalier any day !
I’m old. And practical. Fast forward a few years and I’d probably pick the Cybertruck. Right now, perhaps a Model X, to see if I could live with an electric car as a daily driver, but still roomy enough, with AWD etc, to be usable for 99% of my driving. Both would still be very fun to drive as well. Or maybe I’d pick a 914-6. Good thing it’s not something I really have to decide, but fun to think about.
This is really hard for me because the last time I was attracted to exotic cars I was 10 years old, and my taste for them is in arrested development.
Lamborghini Diablo VT 6.0
Aston Martin DB5
True “supercars” really don’t move my needle at all. I’m already daily driving about as exotic a (modern-era) sport sedan as I’d be interested in, and it’s been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned, having covered 70K miles (in 2.5 years) with no issues at all.
+1, can you imagine? We’d have to laugh at ourselves….
For a day 2 day performance car youre unlikely to find anything better among the exotics anyway, its unlikely you’ll need to go faster than the Holden can and they go around corners quite well for a big RWD car fit several people, I’d drive one if gas was free and our roads a bit smoother.
Sometimes I think us Aussies didn’t fully appreciate just what Holden engineers produced with those last Commodores. Or maybe we were blinded by the so-called prestige of imported cars. Or maybe we were just following the neighbors into SUVs and dual-cab pickups. Same with the last Falcons. The magazines always thought they rated up there with the high-priced Europeans, but somehow the local product lacked street cred – probably because the neighbour (like mine) had a base model six with a look-alike factory-option body kit and alloys. But sell the top model in another country as a stand-alone product, and it gets the admiration and respect it deserves. Makes this Aussie feel proud, but also sad that we’re reduced to a nation of import-consumers.
Lamborghini Urus.
It’s a Lambo so it’s got performance chops. But unlike a low-slung coupe, I’d feel way more confident daily driving it. And it boasts some utility too, so I could use it to haul stuff.
My heart says Alfa Montreal, but my head says Honda NSX ( first gen. ).
Does an M-B AMG GT Roadster count as an exotic? I saw a brand-new coupe yesterday, still had temporary tags, and I kind of liked it.
I wouldn’t mind having a go at driving a Jaguar XJ220 though I would have to be careful since not all of the roads around Multnomah County are friendly towards such vehicles. A brand new Ford GT40 could also be fun.
To my limited budget the Audi e-tron qualifies as exotic. Or perhaps the Mercedes EQC. Relatively guilt free driving, for a year anyway.
👍
That Aston Martin pegs my needle for looks, but really I’ll be the first here to pick a Tesla Model S. Dual motor (aka awd) and extended range / performance please. It looks fabulous, drives like the supercar it is, plus it’s a totally practical hatchback and of course carbon free.
’61 Continental sedan, with A/C (brand new :))
1963 XKE
I’d like to try out the 2020 McLaren GT. A grand -touring has a certain appeal.
Probably another 911, the most overall usable, everyday capable “exotic”.
If I actually were in the position to buy and exotic… it would be a 911, for it is an exotic one can daily drive and especially someone in my position who rarely if ever hauls a large amount of cargo or more than one passenger. The Porsche is arguably much more reliable an less expensive to maintain in the long-run than any Aston, though with their V8s now built by Mercedes, the DB11 and Vantage may indeed be less finicky than their predecessors.
First choice would be a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, the most beautiful Ferrari ever made. Second choice would a 1951 Jaguar XK120 Coupe with wire wheels and upgraded with disc brakes and the 3.8 liter 3-carb engine from an XK150-S.
Thinking of something brand new and skipping all (super) sports cars, as I’m not interested in any of them, I would like to try an E-segment power sedan or wagon. Which means I would end up in something like this:
The new RS6 Avant wasn’t even on my radar when I wrote this, but if I were to pick a practical everyday exotic, this would likely be it. So excited for the return of the A6 Allroad and RS6 Avant to U.S. shores!!!
+1 for exotic wagons
Sweet! Yours?
I’ll speak for Read when I say yes! E46 Touring M3 conversion. I’ve ridden in it before… an absolutely amazing vehicle!
My choices will have to be from my childhood: 1. Dodge Daytona/Plymouth Superbird
2. 1969 Shelby GT350
The Renault LeCar I had in HS. In orange, with the big fabric sunroof. Yes, it was exotic (ish) then, and more so now. Few cars I have EVER owned ( and thats 60+) could stick a smile on my face like that one could, and it was quite reliable. At least it was for me in 1985 or so!
Lucky you. I really wanted one, looked at a used one in the early 80’s, it caught fire on the test drive.
That’s a problem.
But depending on how much the person likes it, might still keep the car even if it catches on fire once a while, like some Lotus owners
Darren, you’re my hero!! I had a buddy in HS with an orange LeCar with the sunroof and it will always be the car I’m hunting on Ebay. Today, they are definitely far more exotic than almost all other “rare” cars. I’m with you, buddy. All Le way
The inner young guy in me would want a Lamborghini Countach S. I was fascinated with them after seeing Cannonball Run.
I’ve since seen plenty of reviews saying this was not an easy car to drive. By extension, I suppose its modern equivalent would be an Aventador S, but it’s probably no easier to live with as a daily driver.
Jay Leno has a cool McLaren, wherein you sit in the middle. That’s kinda neat. Not sure of the model, 720S maybe?
As some others have said, a Tesla Model S would be nice, although they’re hardly exotic anymore.
The Mustang guy in me might enjoy a Shelby. The current GT-350 would be nice. I think the new GT-500 may be a little overkill.
Then there’s the new mid-engine C8 Corvette.
Just too many choices!!!
That McLaren of Leno’s is an F1. A very good choice.
A Lamborghini of some variety. There is one floating around town and my daughter got way too close to it on a driving lesson last summer.
Then, after obtaining said Lambo, I’d sub-lease it to somebody and go acquire myself something more practical and make a little coin in the process. My practicality trumps all else, despite my better efforts.
You havent seen our roads and exotic supercars interact, I did just recently it was quite entertaining I got overtaken by something that accelerated like a speeding bullet literally and howled like a banshee when it lost traction over a large bump it was moving too fast to avoid, at the next roadworks stop n go it was right in front of me still something very fast from Lamborghini in black so I dont want an exoti super car for free thanks wery much theres nowhere other than race tracks to explore what it can do but if entry to those comes in the package ok somethin fast WITH a metal roof from Aston or Ferrari will be fine I’ll keep my C5 for the daily grind over the potholes if thats ok.
1970 Maserati Ghibli convertible.
1st choice: Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (any year)
2nd: Iso Grifo (preferably late 60s)
3rd: Mercedes-Benz 500 TE AMG wagon (’79)
2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom. It’s the most exotic car I like a lot that is still usable in modern day traffic.
Like DMan above, I’m old (and pragmatic). I would want a 70’s Jeep Wagoneer. Exotic now because of the price to get a mint version, and it’s practical (other than horrendous mileage, but I’d be driving it for free, so….no big deal), and I loved them then, and still do now.
None of my choices are super exotic, but all would be expensive to repair or obtain parts. I’ll assume a mechanic and parts would be available or free during the year.
1. Maserati Quattroporte. Love gen 1 (1963-1969), and gen 5 (2003-2012), but current model would be fine.
2. Citroen SM (1970-1975)
3. BMW 850Ci (1992-1999) or BMW 850CSi (1992-1996)
4. Ferrari 412 (1985-1989)
TVR. Any TVR. Especially liked the Ford V-6 engined models from the Eighties, actually came close to owning one.
Any Aston Martin with the proper ration of pedals (that would be three) in the footwell. A coach built shooting brake would be nice, adding some practicality.
Caterham 7 420S. Just enough car to get me around.
Singer Porsche 911 please…… but need one with rear seats and matching child seat…, silver with black stripes and an oxbloood interior…oh and a set of snow tires to cover the year round bit…
I could live with one of these for much longer than a year!
Can I crowdfund it??
Considering Cadillac no longer makes a massive imposing sedan, I might choose this instead. Probably a nice modern day Russian Packard or Imperial.
E type Jag…. I don’t care that it has not been built in years, or how many times it catches fire. It is my number one pick!
For me the key word Is “drive.”
1. GT3 Touring (manual)
2. GT3 (manual, if available)
3. R8 Performance
87 Grand National.
Will own one sometime
There are so many
Maybe a Jaguar Mk2 3.8, Red on red. Love them for the tight styling, airy greenhouse, the engine, and in spite of the cart-sprung rear axle.
I like the Jensen Interceptor, and the FF was so rare it should be exotic, in spite of the Chrysler drivetrain.
Astons have always tugged at me, but I tend to the older ones, especially the V8 Vantage from the early 80s. Maybe too vulgar now, but at the time…
Citroen SM for sure. Exotic Frenchness with exotic Italian engine.
The Detomaso Mangusta has always intrigued. Never seen one, but the photos alone make me want it – the early Giugiaro lines – it’s soooo beautiful. In this fantasy, can they be reliable too?
Someone decide for me!
Ditto the electric Dauphine. Or the 1979 electric Lada.
Continental Mark II
1. Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
2. Citroen DS 23 Pallas
3. Jaguar E-type MkI
S65 AMG
Rolls-Royce Dawn in blueish silver.
If I had to pay the expenses myself, I’d have to go with the 2019 Acura NSX. However, you said free, so I’ll take a 2020 Rimac C_Two. Yeah I know it’s electric, so it’d *gasp* save money, but not really overall when you think about the $2.1 million price tag. I’d mostly pick it for performance, I always wondered what 0-60 in 1.9 seconds felt like.
For a realistic, not really exotic, but kind of high end choice I would definitely go with a Tesla model S. Red please.
If money is really no object, then I want a Cord 812 convertible.
Rolls Royce Wraith, no question.
Dodge Challenger R/T Base with manual, so I can save the car payments and buy one when the year is up.
If I have to carry on living my everyday life during this fantasy year, I’ll have the most highly specified, best performing E-class estate (wagon) that AMG can provide.
If I don’t have to worry about the daily grind, I’ll take a Blower Bentley, with a full-time mechanic living above the coach house. Oh yes, and I’ll need a coach house.
Lamborghini Miura, Ferrari Testarossa and in the name of practicality, Bentley Flying Spur.
Exotic. Meaning not ordinarily available to those with out means and low production.
I can’t get what I want, one of the few road going F1 Longtail GTR’s thus would settle for the newest.
I already called out my agreement with Darren above. Defintely, an orange, fabric sunroof-equipped LeCar as my impractical choice.. but since I’m addicted to remote clickers and better radios now, I’ll pick a Polestar 1. I’ll always love Volvo and zipping around in their newest invention would be pretty exotic for me.
2016 Land Rover Defender 110 bespoke.
Rolls Royce Ghost. Expensive enough to be exotic, sensible enough to daily ( I can do 1000 miles week)
I’ve dailyed a Lotus Elise in the past. It wasn’t a problem. Mainly
Easy …. Mc Laren F1
I’ve driven exotics (Ferraris and Lamborghinis) at HPDEs, but for whatever reason I find them a little underwhelming. It’s hard to explain, but I seem to like cars that are less exhibitionist, but equally powerful. I would have to agree with Jim Klein, a 911 would probably make the best exotic to daily. I’ve only ever driven them at HPDEs too, but I think they would be the easiest to live with.
I find the new GT350s and GT500s interesting; I bet they would be fun. I have to imagine that starting with a fairly livable sporty car as the basis should yield a fairly decent exotic driver. Of course, I would skip the Le Mans stripe livery, but it would probably fulfill my need for exotica for a whole year.
No contest. Acura NSX Gen 1.
The car I’m driving since 2009 of course. An old 911.
Got to be a McLaren F1, if that counts as a daily driver still. If not, McLaren 720S and a Porsche Carrera 4S Targa in dark red metallic for the chores.
A Porsche 911 SC/RS or an Audi Quattro Evolution 2 with PDK because I love group B