I drive a base, and have never had any problems. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think you need to find some new friends if they wouldn't talk to you just because you bought a base, instead of an S.
In my experience, most of the guys I know drives trucks, but they have never bad mouthed my car because they all like sports cars. I just have to take them for one short drive in the base, and they want to trade in there truck for one. Then there a few guys with big 4x4's (like your friends, right?) who think there truck is way better than a sports car, and you just have to accelerate past them from a stoplight, to make them shut-up.
Honestly, most people don't even think twice about what car you are driving, and it shouldn't matter what other people think as long as you are happy.
I am happy with my car, and who cares what everyone else thinks. I am the one that has to drive it!
