So I have had Spike just over a week. The other night my husband was driving while I was taking a nap when we met another MINI. My husband woke me up to say they waved, I asked him if he waved back and he said no. I informed him that he is supposed to wave when meeting another MINI.

Today at lunch, I met another MINI and they blinked their lights at me, I just waved like my dad always waved at other truck drivers. Is there a preferred method of greeting?

Empty minds want to know.

P

 

The "wave" is the proper method of greeting other MINI's. Your wave can be out the window, up and out the sun roof, in your face interior wave, or maybe the outside high five "no motion". I don't think it should be the biker down low fingers extended..a little difficult..
At night, not sure if a quick flick of the lights might not be too offensive.
But, by all means WAVE...we will be out there waving back!

 

Waive??On the contrary!The current approach is one of a listless,grainfed bovine who seems not to see other Mini owners in the near vicinity.Oh well,I'm more comfortable as an island unto myself anyway.

 

I've heard of people around here getting pulled over for flashing the high beams (to warn people of cops running speed traps, but still). I don't think it's legal at night, not sure during the day.

I'll just be waving or giving .

 

i think the OPs post was a good example how we as a community can maintain our unique identities without being tied to "proper ettiquite" in the strictest sense. first she mentions a passing MINI waved, then another motorist blinked...

Personally, I am a fan of the "blink", since there are times when there is not enough reaction time to say "hey look, a MINI", then roll down the window, then wave...

I figure as long as there is at least some kind of acknowledgement, it doesn't necessarily have to match/mimic the original gesture. Although slightly disgree with mrmagoo's "the wave is the proper greeting", I do like (and may repurpose) his list:

out the window
up and out the sun roof
in your face interior wave
the outside high five "no motion"

 

Don't forget the peace sign.

 

I think the basic idea is to share the joy of motoring a MINI...and I suspect most of us enjoy it very much. Now, how one acknowledges this reality should be open for discussion, I think. The wave is somewhat traditional, but I think if we understand the motivation, then whatever happens is fine. It is always good to remember that not all owners will see us on the road or be in "a happy place," but even with this we are still a wildly diverse group, so one single proper etiquette probably doesn't (and shouldn't) exist. It's all about the joy of motoring in a MINI!!! Considering the car could easily have passed into oblivion, we should have something to be very happy about.

 

Lessee now, I've waved...
-like an idjut on speed,
-hand up, slight wrist flick
-peace sign
-devil's horns (fist with 2nd and pinky fingers up)
-happy wave
and prolly a few I don't remember.

The key thing is to acknowledge a fellow MINI driver for well, have ing the good sense to see similar things in the MINI that you did

Oh, at night, I've turned off and relit my headlamps before instead of doing highbeams... and yes mom, that was when it was safe to do.

hehe, I can't tell you how hard it is to get MBenz drivers to wave when I'm in my SLK... they think yer in trouble or jus' crazy!

 

I think as long as it's not the "one finger salute" anything will be just fine!!

 

i've been waving since January....only got 1 wave back (I see about 6 -minimum a day)

I'm giving up

 

The wave is by far the most common greeting that I've come across, but heck, anything will do! I prefer the wave to the headlight flash, because to me, a headlight flash means, "Watch out, there's a cop up ahead, radaring for speeders".

There are more and more MINI owners driving around now, since the R56 came out, who don't know the waving rule. It is our civic duty and responsibility, as early adopters of the MINI community, to lead by example, and wave at every MINI we see.

This means that even if we pass that R56 on the way to work every day, we wave, no matter if they return the wave or not.

Be the bigger person.

Lead by example.

KEEP WAVING!

 

don't stop!!!
if everyone stops waving, who will wave to me when my mini is finally mine??

 

yup the "duce" aka peace sign is good enough... if they don't wave back then they probably aren't a real mini enthusiast. damn posers!!!!

 

Make sure you have your palm facing outwards though. Two fingers up with the knuckles facing out means a totally different thing in Britain.

 

I am a newbie to this site; but I do have some experience with "waving".
When I was in my pre-teens, my uncle purchased a TR-3 and was advised before he left the showroom that he would be REQUIRED to wave to other TR-3 owners on the road. I don't know if it's just a British thing or not, but it does lend itself to a strong sense of comadrie(sp) and fellowship - even better than the boater's wave!
Keepa wavin'!

 

I crack a beer and offer one, preferably english variety.

Oh, this is while driving...my bad. I just wave, mostly with 5 fingers.

 

omg

 

I've learned that I always have to inform my passengers that, in the rare instance where they sight another MINI before I do, that they are to immediately notify me and begin waving. Sometimes, actually, I DO focus on the road and not MINI-sighting, so it really helps to have an active co-pilot.

I prefer the wave while in motion, but if another MINI is stopped right beside me, and is looking right at me, I/we will give a peace sign or a thumbs up. Usually get a nice big grin in return.

 

i usually flash people. especially if it's Friday

 

For me, it depends on what's easier. Usually, I'll give the wave. However, there are times when my hands are tied up with the shifter or whatever - this is when I give the headlight flash and a big smile.

The funny thing I've noticed recently - people I don't know, driving in non-MINIs have been waving at me, sometimes followed with a thumbs-up. Is that cool, or what?

There's also a guy with an electric car (a Zenn?) who regularly waves at me when I'm in my MINI.

In any case, if I receive a wave - I'll return the favor...or at least try to acknowledge it somehow.

 

+1 on any acknowledgement. Like I've said on similiar threads: no one is allowed in the MINI unless they're fully briefed on their waving-to-other-MINIs responsibilities. My friend was THRILLED when somebody actually waved back. So was my boss. It was cute, really, how excited they got. Now they ALWAYS want me to drive, just so they can be MINI-spotters/wavers.

I sometimes flash beams if I'm too far away to wave. Or if they're not paying attention...which, unfortunately happens a lot.

 

The "wave" is also very big in the jeep community. And i mean the real jeep community, 2 doors, a soft top and doors that come off. Not the soccer mom jeep community. One day my mom and sister were driving and wrangler and came back saying how all these people we waving at them. I asked " were they in jeeps like you" they thought about it and said "yes". They though they were waving cause it was two girls in the car. I like the "wave" when it comes to cars. It shows that they is a real community with that car or jeep. I still "wave" when every i pass a jeep. Even when i'm not in my jeep.

 

I got my mini in January, not knowing the rules. It was just so cool the first time someone waved and I caught on real quick. Now I get irritated when someone is a snob and puts their nose up at me. Why drive a mini if you aren't willing to stand out a little?

 

i used to get upset too, then i realized that to some people, it's just a car...

 

I've heard about the jeep thing, my friend has a wrangler. She said it was very specific which jeep's you wave out, right down to the fact that they had to have round headlights. She now also has a BMW and has noticed that they do not wave to each other. My husband was amazed the other day when another Mustang convertible waved at him.

I used to have a Honda Ruckus scooter. The first time I came home and told my husband that I received a motorcycle wave, he laughed and said they must not have realized what I was really riding until it was too late.