I had a similar experience of badge snobbery when I first got my zed
The day I picked up my zed I was absolutely bursting to show people but all my mates were working so I stopped off at the family home to show my brother, mother etc ....... Anyway I'd traded in my xkr to buy the zed so I parked my zed round the corner called for my brother and mother to see my new car, what have you got now they asked...... A nissan I replied to which they responded WHY ...... Come have a look I said trying to hide my smug grin, we walked round the corner and they went straight past my zed looking puzzled they asked where's your new nissan..... At which point I could no longer contain myself, had to laugh as at first they refused to believe it was a nissan until they looked at the badges..... People's perceptions never cease to amaze