Would you have the same group of friends? Yes and no. Back in high school I changed my "friends" group to the people who liked cars. But I didn't own a sports car, and I didn't stop hanging out with other people. So I'd have the same friends, but I wouldn't know some of them as well as I do.

Would you have the same significant other? Probably not.

Would you have the same lifestyle? No. My life revolves around automotive related things, for better or worse. If I didn't own the car I do now, my last year would have been different with it not breaking, and spending the money/time on other stuff.

Would people think any differently of you, had you never owned that car? Probably. But I've learned it's alright to meet people because of your car, but it isn't good to talk to people only because of your car.

MAIN QUESTION:

If you didn't have your car, would people still think of you in the same respect or would it be lesser? I hope not. That doesn't sound like a productive friendship. Think more or less of a person because of what they do in their life. While some of that is expressed in their car/what they do to it/what they do with it, there is a lot more to a person. And you don't need friends on that shallow of a level.