It comes with the car man and there is nothing us young drivers can do about it. The reason the general public do look down on us is because about 70% of young drivers are dickheads and do stupid shit on public roads. Alot of accidents and police chases publicised are young kids driving fast cars hence we are looked down upon as people think that all young drivers are like this.
We are driving fast cars. Cars that alot of people envy for whatever reason. Just because we are driving these fast cars doesn't mean we are "hoons" or bad drivers. Set an example from your driving, you may not get the respect or whatever you want to get, but atleast you know your not a jackass of a driver!
As dynamix said you will find there is normally a mutual respect between import drivers, usually because they appreciate the cars and the scene, other drivers dont look at us this way because they have seen what imports are capable of and they are not involved in/dont appreciate the world of performance cars (poor them)
Keep it sensible, drive safe on public roads, who gives a flying F*** what other people say, especially the bevans driving their beat up commowhores.
/end rant/