Introduction: This was my first Exoto, purchased from another collector. Previously, I'd thought that there was no way any diecast was worth $150+ (though I paid much less for this one), so I had not given the Exoto product much consideration. Now, having owned one, inspected one up close, and enjoyed its intricate details, how do I feel about paying that much for an Exoto? Let's just say it didn't take long to add 4 more to my collection (as you can see from the Reviews listing).

Highs: The Standox paint does not look particularly special if you keep the car hidden away in a cabinet, away from sunlight. But place it out in the open, and the color shift is quite beautiful. As my eyes perceive it, the Laguna Seca Standox works off of a medium- to light-blue base, and can exhibit shades of violet, purple and pink. For those of you males with a vulnerable, sensitive, "I-cried-during-ET" side, the pink-ish shades won't pose any insecurity issues. There's so much to like about the Exotos, it's not hard to find the value behind the high price tag. As you can see from the photos below, the wheels are all removable, revealing detailed brake and suspension componentry. The engine is beyond anything else I've ever seen in the diecast world. Only the doors, hood, and trunk on my Ertl Chrysler Collection Chrysler 300C work more smoothly than the lids on this 934. Everything is realistic, and of high-quality, like the brake cooling hoses running from the front airdam air intake screens to the front brakes, and the seats that actually feel like real seats, and head- and taillights that look like the real thing. What can I tell you...for you skeptics out there, I know where you're coming from. Six months ago I wouldn't have thought of paying $150 for an Exoto either. But get one in your hands, and I promise you you'll look at all of your Kyoshos, and Autoarts, and Minichamps very differently.

Lows: For this kind of money, a person is entitled to be picky, right? In that case, I would point out that the car came out of the box with the left rear tire a little off kilter, so that when I rolled the car it didn't roll smoothly. I pulled the tire off, and put it back on paying careful attention to alignment, and it's good now. My point being that the little "teeth" onto which the wheel attaches can be susceptible to mis-alignment when removing and re-attaching the wheels. Go ahead and laugh, because that's the only fault I can find with this diecast! It was almost like I was actively searching for something to complain about, just to have something to write in the "Lows" section! Just goes to show how nice these are....

Summary: The Laguna Seca 934 is now retired, and cannot be purchased directly from Exoto. As such, you'll have to buy one from a collector, online reseller, or ebay. Is it worth $100-200?? I can't make that call for everybody. Look at it this way: a person who appreciates superior machinery and performance might consider the $175,000 price tag on a Ferrari Modena 360 justified. To someone who just wants to drive from point A to point B, a Ferrari is a waste of money. It's just a matter of which camp you're in.