So would the new term be "Dorkthusiast?"

Just wondering.

PS - I wave, too, but I don't get pissed at people who don't. Their loss, I say.

 

This is why my license plate says "OTHERZ". You are not the only one in this world!!!

I definitely wave.....but, I don't get bitter if they don't wave back.

I LOVE THIS POST...........PLEASURE FOR ME TO BE READING THIS
(sorry! O&A reference)

 

Don't make me get all Pat Battle on you Baldy!

 

I blame 1FNMINI.

 

On my way home after picking up my new MCSC from the dealer (one block away), a guy leans out of his car at a stop sign to ask me how I like my car. "Well, I've only had it for five minutes, but so far so good," I say. People are pretty curious about it.

 

There's this one guy at the Chevron right down the street from me. Everytime I stop in - whether I'm paying by cash for gas, getting something to drink or what - he ALWAYS asks me "Are you enjoying your Italian job?" And then folks here at work ask me at least 2 times a week "How're you enjoying that little Cooper of yours?" or "How's that bimmer treatin' ya?"

It's crazy funny.

 

Heh, reminds me of a couple of weeks ago when driving onto Andrews Air Force Base with another DCMMer behind me. The security guard mentions while he looka at my ID 'now I don't want you folks playing Italian Job while on-base'!

-Paul!

 

 

Driving into work this morning there was a red Volkswagen coming from the opposite direction and the driver waved at me and my MC. Maybe it was because we both have red cars. I thought that was pretty cool


MTFBWY,
--Will

 

It's the most peculiar thing ever.

Complete strangers gush and ask questions about your MINI, while other MINI owners (not motorers, in my book) just brush the dirt off their shoulder and drive on..

 

i don't take it personal when people don't wave back, these days, alot of people don't even wanna make eye contact with other drivers on the road. some people purchase minis just because they are good on gas! just because they are making a gas-centric decision doesn't mean they should be FORCED to take part in the cult-like enthusiasm that most of us share in some form or another. it also doesn't mean that they aren't worthy of enjoying such a fun car. they just aren't "into it" like most of the people on these boards.

i myself tend to give the "nod" or the "2 finger wave off the steering wheel". if they wave back cool! if not...eh! whatever!

this morning someone gave me "the nod" and i waved back...cool! a fellow enthusiast! but chances are, i will drive home on the parking lot known as the 405 and come across the usual 5 or 6 minis and no one wave. no big deal!

on the flip side, just because people enjoy being friendly and enthusiastic (waving, smiling etc), they shouldn't be labeled "dorks". i think we could use a little more of the friendly drivers out there, or "motorers" whatever you feel like calling them.

 

You're right...they aren't the dorks. Dorks are the ones that carry on and complain about it too

 

well..eventually & hopefully they will work their way out of the mini owning system.

 

I heard someone once say that there are around 11k registered members on NAM. Wouldn't it make sense to say that all the enthusiasts of mini's are probably not members of an internet forum? Well... if 122k mini's have been sold in the US. lets say just 10k of those owners are here, many of whom have owned 2-3 even 4 mini's. Ok... so then wouldn't a very low projection of 10% work as an enthusiast number? Far from your 2% estimate. I think 20-30% is more reasonable considering all the other forums that exist, and taking into account the multiple ownership.

These cars are enthusiast cars! Come on, we're not driving Civics here guys

 

Seems everyone has been labeled except "the grinch" (those that don't wave & continue to rant & rant & rant about people that do)

 

Theres about 150K cars out there now in US. Despite the fact some people have bought several, all that means is that someone else owns them. Whats more important is the 2 MINI owner. Not the 2 MINI household, but the 2 MINI owner. I suspect thats rare and therefore the 150K number is valid. Yes, some have been totalled. Of the 10K population how many are active, maybe 10%? Lots of people sign up for things and never use them. 2% is probably high. I think its more like 1%

 

Maybe, not sure, just exercising my brain a bit... been in my house all day!

 

thy've been banned.....

 

I believe the farther north you go up the East Coast, the fewer waves back you will get Down here in the Richmond area, I get waves back at least 3 out of 4 times Of course there is less traffic and fewer MINIs down here.

 

My initial interest in owning a MINI had nothing to do with the community behind the brand (I was completely oblivious to that fact), nor the heritage behind the MINI, or really much about the way it looked either. I'm typically a very function oriented individual.

I wanted a smaller car that was nimble/agile, was reasonably fast, decent gas mileage, and a good "city traffic" car, as well as something good to take on trips. And the MINI seemed to be the best combination of the above specificactions, and I thought it looked cool enough, so I decided to go for it.

Now that I've discovered this NAM community, I've become much more excited about getting a MINI. There is such a wealth of knowledge to gain from this site, and from other's experiences with their MINI's. So many people have shared their appreciation of owning/driving a MINI, and that as well makes me excited to get one of my own. And I'm eager to further share in that excitement with others through various means in addition to this forum.

I'm a nice person in general, and like saying hello to people, strangers, or people I don't know, if they're willing to offer a smile, I'm certainly willing to pass the gesture back their way, regardless of reasoning/motives =)

Perhaps the people who don't wave, especially the ones that are familiar with the custom of waving to other MINI drivers, are themselves uncomfortable with the thought of being labeled a "MINI dork", for participating in such friendliness. Isn't it sad to think that some people shun random friendliness? As if it's somehow a detriment in any way to behave in a friendly manner? I imagine I'll be a waver, labels or not

 

I normally don't wave. But that's mainly b/c I'm expecting to see the other person wave first. I just assume that the other mini driver doesn't want to be bothered with some psycho waving back at him or her. Although I did see another mini with an m7 sticker next to me and suddenly I had this urge to do a little racing down the highway. he he...

Anyway, if anything, I get tons of people coming up to me and asking how I like my mini. Then they ask how much mpg I get (currently around 28 mpg) and they look slightly disappointed. But they still keep smiling at it. Of course, there's always the occasional pointing and 'driver-looking-at-rear-view-mirror' move.

 

That's funny about the MPG - I just got a similar dissapointed like reaction from a person at work when I told them I get about 28 mpg in my MCS. I actually think the 28mpg is awesome considering the capabilities of the car. How many MPG's does a 5 liter mustang get????

 

IF I keep my foot out of it, I got about 24-25 before I went to 300+hp. The 0.63 overdrive in the five speed does wonders on the freeway. Can we say about 1800 RPM at about 65? The mini spins much faster, and if you're where the SC kicks in, it really sucks the gas.

As for the thread on waving (oh yeah, that), the number of wavers is rapidly diminishing in the No-Cal Bay Area. Dilution of the early adoptors, and no time so everyone is stressed.

Matt

 

I have to agree with you Jen. People just are not as polite as they uesd to be. It is a real shame that society has gotten to this point.