The results of a new state-by-state happiness survey might surprise you. Despite easy access to exotic cars, Texas residents aren’t quite as happy as those in some other states like Maine or Tennessee.
The poll studied the happiness of residents in each of the 50 states and then ranked those states in order. The Lone Start State came in at number 15, a respectable showing but not quite as high as some Texas residents might expect.
“I meet a lot of happy people,” says Ron Sturgeon, owner of a Dallas exotic car rental business.
It’s possible that Sturgeon’s sample doesn’t reflect the entire Texas population. That’s because Sturgeon gets to speak to people just before and after they make their dreams come true.
“For a lot of people, the dream of driving a Lamborghini or Ferrari seems out of reach,” says Sturgeon, who also owns a business that provides automotive dream tours in the Dallas and Fort Worth area. “We show them that you don’t have to be a millionaire to drive an exotic vehicle.”
These days, millionaires seem pretty few and far between. Instead of running out and buying an exotic sports car, many auto enthusiasts are turning to creative alternatives like exotic car rental, automotive dream tours, and exotic car clubs.
While it can be fun to own an exotic car, it comes with a lot of hassle and expense. In addition to the astronomically high car payment, exotic car owners need to find secure exotic car storage, qualified maintenance professionals, and affordable insurance.
Those are just a few of the reasons that exotic car rental is taking off.
“It’s also great for people who really want to experience a car before buying it,” Sturgeon says. “This isn’t the kind of decision you should make lightly.”
The happiness survey asked participants about their lives and included questions about things like time spent commuting, quality of area schools, and crime levels. Of the top 10 states, 7 were located in the Southern portion of the US. Another high-ranking state was Hawaii.
“We get a lot of sun here too,” says Sturgeon. “There’s nothing that improves your outlook like enjoying nice Texas weather in a convertible rental.”
Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer, specializing in web content and technical writing.