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
I was at Madtree Brewery the Sunday after my son and his wife got married. It was an everyone is leaving town and going home breakfast. I parked my 6 speed G35 sedan and went in. 20-30 minutes later some Lamborghinis, a Ferrari, a few Corvettes and some muscle cars started parking in the same row as my car. Turns out it was a monthly cars and beer (it’s a brewery after all) event.
What surprised me was with all the high priced exotics and muscle car people were still checking out my car too. Maybe because it’s not beat to shit like most?