Everyone's too busy staring at their phone while driving to wave anymore...

 

I wave to another MINI driver whenever I see one. I don't get a "wave back" all the time, though. I may be new to the MINI culture (2012), but I like it. MINI dealerships should encourage it. 😎✌

 

I just traded an '08 Clubman for a '13 Countryman. In the Clubbie I used to wave all the time. From 2008-11 or so, I got a lot of waves back. At that time, there were fewer MINIs. I think I was the first Clubbie in Boston - I had to go to Long Island (NY) to get delivery on it!


After 20011 or so, I've not had as many waves, and there are lots more MINIs. So I'll report what happens when I'm driving the Countryman!


Cheers and Happy Motoring,


Ambidexter

 

Hardly anyone waved back so I stopped! 😕

 

I know this is a very old thread but I just got a Countryman 2 weeks ago and got my first wave back. It's a wonderful feeling being part of the MINI heritage. I wave at all MINIs but a lot don't eave back.

"BRING BACK THE WAVE"

 

I started out with the wave about 5 yrs ago when i bought my Countryman and got maybe 2 return waves for every 5 I gave out. Now I'm down to about 1 in 20. :(

 

I try to always wave. Was easier when I had the automatic. Now in or coming out of an intersection both hands are tied up or you just have to do a quickee wave

 

I've owned two "niche" cars at launch including a VW New Beetle, and 2002 MCS-- and I have determined that the decline in the wave is due to a couple of things. Now that the MINI has expanded its product line immensely (for years it was just MC or MCS), and these cars have had second and third lives with various owners, the sense of family is not as applicable as it once was. There are so many on the road now-- ppl don't really feel special anymore. Nobody punches their friend in arm anymore when they see a Beetle drive by either. Sadly-- to go back to the days of the high wave ratio-- I think we need to find cars that are a little more unique.

When I bought my Scion FR-S, the wave to return wave ratio was near 100% in the first couple years I had it. The cars were new/rare and people definitely felt that.

 

Soon after I got my CM I was thrilled to learn that I was in a wave-worthy car. It's hit or miss though. I still wish I would cross paths again with the cutie in the pink MINI that waved to me haha.

 

What? You dont play 'punch bug' any more?

 

I had a miata -- notorious for waving
I have a CM too.

I don't wave in either vehicle. And I'm a pretty friendly guy.

I think it boils down to antisocial behavior--I bought the cars for practical reasons (really!) and not to become a member of a social faction. I don't automatically associate similar things (cars) with a personal connection.

Now... if you drive well and are courteous--especially to me--I will totally wave.

 

With all 3 of my vehicles I have some sort of a wave.

First up is obviously the mini, very rarely do I have people wave back except for other Chili Red owners, maybe they just notice that there is a similar car coming towards them. I don't think I have been waved to by a CM yet, but doggone it I'm gonna wave at them anyway.

Second, biker wave. The only ones who don't wave all the time are Harley riders, I have a Honda. But no I don't wave to the little motorized scooters and mopeds people buy to carry their cat food back from the grocery store.

Third, the Jeep wave. I drive an old Cherokee that is somewhat decked out, would be more if I had more money. I only wave to old Cherokees/Comanches and Wranglers that have had obvious work done to them. All other models and completely stock Wranglers never wave back, normally driven by a middle aged lady that is going to pick up her kids from band practice so they don't get beat up by the school bully when walking home.

So it's not only minis that don't get a return wave, but no matter what I'm driving I'm gonna be waving.

 

When Grayson arrives I will be waving like a minimaniac.

 

I also have an 11 yr old Mazda Tribute. No one waves to me in that POS...

 

Yeah, back when I bought my '06 R53, I would get a decent number of waves, particularly when I was outside Chicago and would bump into another MINI somewhere more rural. I can't remember the last time I got a wave in that car (which I still own). I also can't remember ever being waved at in our "big" car, a '13 Countryman. MINIs are somewhat ubiquitous these days and I don't know how many of the enthusiast types are in Countrymen.