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
Not quite the same, but years ago, I was helping a friend move with my Saturn Ion. Car was a 5 speed manual. So me and my friend’s boyfriend are in the car on the way to her new apartment. I’m dealing with the stop and go traffic as best I can. And then her boyfriend starts with this.
“Are you sure this car isn’t an automatic?”
“You do see me shifting and using the clutch frequently, so yes. I’m sure”
“But the shifts are so smooth!”
He had never been in a stick car with a competent driver before. Guy also knew nothing about cars. He was into IT.