For me it was a female coworker complimenting my Q50 Redsport. Interned at a 3 letter fed agency last summer and one of the other interns who I became friendly with was a mid 20’s former sorority girl - someone you’d never expect to be a car enthusiast. Gave her a ride after work one day since her car was in the shop and immediately after walking up to my car in the garage, started complimenting it. Talked about the VR30TT engine and asked me if the turbos were giving me any trouble, then talked a little shit about how it’s still slower than her car. I asked her what she drove and she had an M2 lol
Many years ago, I was a valet at a country club which regularly saw high-end cars, which for better or worse, we never gave special treatment, like parking them up front or whatever. They all went in any available space, just like everything else. We saw so many nice cars every night that it’d be hard to play favorites even if we wanted to.
Personally, I drove a Honda del Sol at the time. It was black with aftermarket rims, but otherwise stock, including ride height. So, nothing special, is what I’m saying. But I did park it in the front/best space one night, because I got there first, because of course I did.
More than once throughout that night, people asked what it was, whose it was, expressed no wonder it was in the best space because clearly we favor the good cars, etc. A Honda. del Sol. People were saying this about.