It wasn’t that long ago that talking about cars at the dinner table was not considered polite, or cultured, conversation… Much better that you discuss the latest cinematic masterpiece or the plays of Pinter, Williamson and The Bard…  At a pinch you might stray into music – after all, politics and religion are off limits. If you were really desperate, the weather…

But how things have changed…  Now weather discussions invite clashes between greenhouse aficionados and climate sceptics. And the cinemas are full of vacuous US teen movie sequels. Chefs haunt your every move on the TV and internet…

Call it what you like (I reckon it’s the Top Gear factor) but it’s now fashionable to be reasonably well informed about cars…

The key word here is ‘reasonably’, diverge into the region of being a little too au fait with the nuts and bolts and you’re straying into anarok, or worst still, bogan territory.

Am I wrong to have sensed this general increase in interest about cars from the general populous?

Is the feeling unique to me?

As evidence I proffer two recent dinner table discussions with groups of well-heeled, well-informed Melbournites. On finding out about my profession the questions and opinions came thick and fast. And the crowd, evenly split in terms of gender, proved to be up to date and, best of all, genuinely interested in what was happening on four wheels.

It’s enough to make you send a thank you note to the BBC…

You can see what petrolhedonist does for a day job at motoring.com.au