While easing my 1976 911S into a spot at Starbucks last week, a pair of women in their 60s walked by and noticed my car.

"Wow, that’s a tiny little Porsche," remarked one of the ladies.

"It's an old one," the other replied wisely.

They probably didn't realize I was still in the driver's seat as I chuckled at their commentary. Yes, Smokey is smaller than a lot of new cars. Yes, he's 40 years old. What's not to love?

A lot of people get excited and distracted by classic cars. They stick out in a world full of large SUVs and modern models. Plus, they're rare to see on the road, particularly in the shoulder season before many classic car owners remove them from storage after a long winter hibernation.

And everyone has an opinion.

When I'm pumping gas, people will often comment on Smoky: "Nice Porsche" followed by "What year is that?" Or they'll tell me about a Porsche they owned or someone they knew possessed. And I'll witness people peeping in the windows when I'm several yards away.

They're curious. And who wouldn't be? There's something to be said for vehicles that have survived several decades on the road and are still running well. In today's disposable society, people lease cars, give them up after a couple of years and dump them when they are no longer valuable or too costly to upkeep.

Americans want bigger, better and newer things, whether it be the latest piece of technology or four-wheeled vehicle. Classic car owners see life a little differently. We appreciate the elder statesmen. We see value (aesthetically, historically and monetarily) in their existence.

I regularly notice other Porsches on the road, in parking lots and during my travels. I'm also guilty of peeping in windows and checking out other people's Porsches, including the gold 944 for sale down the street from me. No, I'm not in the market for another Porsche. I'm just curious, like everyone else.

I also have opinions. A gold Porsche? "I don't like that color," I told my boyfriend after he too noticed the 944 around the corner. Sorry, metallic lovers.

Owning a classic car also makes you a confidant of sorts. People open up to me about their own experiences. My boss just bought a 1969 Camaro, and I was the first one in the office he told about it as he displayed pictures of it on his computer like a proud papa.

There's something mesmerizing about classic vehicles, particularly sports cars.

Remember playing the paper game "MASH" as a kid? Depending on your luck, it predicted whether you'd live in a Mansion, Apartment, House or Shack. Another part of the game involved picking the kind of car you dreamed of driving. Porsche always made my list and many of my friends' as well.

I wonder if those ladies at Starbucks played MASH. Even if they didn't, they know something good when they see it.