OH, I dunno...if MPG is what attracts them in the first place, i'd see that as a starting point (or a foot in the door) for the enthusiasm of the community! I know I sound like a nut about this vehicle (the many how-many-heads-does-she-have?? looks I get when talking to coworkers/friends kinda indicates that...), but I figure once I hook them with it's practicality, safety, cost-effectiveness, etc. I'll work on their community skills. For every person considering the MINI, I try emphasizing the community, NAM, and waving.

I know there are bunches of NAMers who scoff at us Wavers, but acknowledging one another is a bonding thing. Scoff away; the Nuts will carry the day!

 

 

It is sad to hear that younger people are less likely to wave. I like to think of myself as still relatively young at 26 and I wave to every MINI I see. (except that one the other day I saw while I was mid-turn...couldn't help it ) I seem to get about 50% waves back on average.

 

ok it's getting better, I had 3 waves, and a thumbs up the other day!!!

 

Ya...everytime I see a potential convert, I actually try to push them towards a prius or insight (I think) stressing if you want good mileage, get a hybrid. If you want a fun as heck sporty iconic car that happens to get decent mileage if you stay out of the gas, get a MINI.

The day everyone is driving one is the day I will have to find a new car I think :(

 

I really don't bother anymore; it's no big deal. I love my MINI (we have three in the family!), but the days of people waving back are over in my area. I got sick of the WTF look.

If someone waves to me I respond, if not, that's OK.

 

I have to agree!!! I was talking to some MAs the other day and it seems many folks come in the MINI dealership now looking for a car with good fuel economy, presumably having looked at several similar cars on the market. That's all fine and well.....until the test drive!!! Apparently there are not a few OMG moments!! Suddenly folks realize they can have great fuel economy (they are right for wanting this) and a tremendous little driver's car. That's a winning combination, right there...and probably accounts for why the lots are pretty bare up at the dealership right now.

 

Well, I'd have to disagree on the age thing - not that I"m "old" per sey (although I certainly FEEL like it some days!!) at 32 (*gasp!* HOW DID THAT HAPPEN!?!) Unless I've spoken to them directly (i.e. co-workers who have fallen in love with MINI and I can get my paws on them) I see mostly older-than-me people driving MINIs around here, and they are VERY neglectful at waving.

You know, it kinda concerns me - Yes, we all know i'm a nut, i think i've firmly established that. But if MINI people aren't paying attention to what's going on around them, and many many OTHERs don't pay attention...no wonder there are so many (avoidable) accidents! Forget speeding; pay attention! ESPECIALLY GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE and pay attention! (Note: this last statement isn't necessarily for folks on NAM...unless you're guilty of not doing the hands-free thing.)

 

No matter what their age, there are those who are one with the MINIverse, and there are those who are just passing through on fuel economy.

I'll fight this gosh darn lumbago (I must be an elder by age standards set in some earlier posts) and wave whenever I spot a MINI. If I get a wave back, cool, I've spotted a kindred MINI; if not, I've spotted a potential inhabitant of this coolest of universes who just needs some protocol pointers.

CROC 411

 

Well, I'm new to the MINIverse and was thinking that I might be the only person in Memphis OBSESSED with my new baby (picked her up last Saturday and it PAINS me to have to park her...she needs to be on the road!!!!)
Was motoring around G-Town yesterday and I got my first wave!!!! It put the BIGGEST smile on my face and I felt less alone in my obsession!!!
Let those who merely bought a car be...they have NO idea what they missing out on...their loss!

 

Wow, I haven't read one of these threads for years. I am an old timer. 2003 S, and 49 years of age. I always wave, and I would imagine that less than 1/2 wave back. One guy that I literally pass going in opposite directions 1 or 2 times a day for 5 and 1/2 years has yet to wave at me first despite the fact I always wave at him. He clearly doesn't get it, and never will. My wife teases me about being the crazy guy waving at other MINIs.

Nobody has to wave, but if they do, you can forgive them for at least some of their other faults as human beings.

We are blessed to have the good taste to drive such a cool iconic car that just happens to get good gas mileage. Even when an old lady totally not cool person buys one for good gas mileage. It is all good. Just don't expect many of these people to get it.

jc

 

I wouldn't say it is an age thing at all, i'm "older" and so is my husband and we both wave all the time... i think it is a personality thing! Either your a happy, proud owner or not... it doesn't matter, i am a crazy waver!!!

 

My wife bought the R56 MCS because of the gas mileage & performance in SEP 07.

We didn't fully convert to a full fledge MINI COOPER LOVERS until some super nice veterans showed us the error of our ways.

We now talk to new MINI owners about loving their MINIs vice just driving. The "WAVE", COOPER Events, NAM, NEMINI, MINI Owners, Friends, MODs.

I went to MTTS 08 & Minis-On-Top 08 and met so many new owners, who didn't know anything about the MINI lifestyle but loved their MINIs.

People buy MINIs because they love MINIs...period. It's up to us to plant a seed...so they can sprout and become MINI COOPER LOVERS...and the MINI Evolution begins!

 

Didn't your wife win the Clubman? If so did you pick it up yet?

 

I got a wave today!!! Both of us saw each other coming and waved our hands off!! Made me giggle all the way home.

 

I got to be honest, at 55, most of the folks who wave back or flash their lights are folks inmy age bracket. It wasn't like this a few years ago. Also, down here it seems like every 5th car is a Mini. There are 7 in the complex where I live. I will keep waving, so if you see me, Please wave back....
Larry

 

I wave! I started waving when Lilli was still on the ship sailing across the Big Pond 'cause I figured I needed to start practicing early. I've had her 3 weeks (Hi, fellow week 23'er gemgirlpa!) and I've waved at every one I've seen. I haven't seen them wave back until yesterday but I like to think they DID wave and I had already zipped past.

So, yesterday I had a pre-birthday dinner with some friends and met my bf and son too so we're all in separate cars. Anyway, on the way home bf is first in his big red pickup, son is next in a jeep and I'm bringing up the rear in Lilli. I look in my rearview mirror and two cars back is another MINI! We all approach a stoplight and the other MINI changes to the right lane to make turn and I look over as they come up beside me and the guy driving is waving like crazy! Yay! I was so excited... it was my first real 'wave and be waved' ... that I called up bf on my MINI phone to tell him about it.

Then today I was driving back from my mom's on I-77 southbound and I see a MINI in northbound ... waving like crazy! What a cool birthday present! It was also a color I've never seen; sort of a bronzy-peachy metallic.

Hehe, that's all... just wanted to share.

 

I was next to a R53 last week at a red light and I waved and the other guy wouldnt even look over at me . I've been noticing a lot lately that nobody waves like when I first got my Mini in October. Two peole in my neighborhood just got Minis and when I wave they look at me like im crazy.

 

fantastic story - I have been getting some really frantic wave lately too, love it!
BTW- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

I generally wave unless I'm in the middle of shifting, and everyone waves back unless they don't see, but I can't ever remember anyone actually waving at me first.

I got to do my very first wave on my shakedown test run before taking official delivery of my car. I'm sure the other driver was frightened by the insanely huge grin on my face and the overly enthusiastic wave and probably just waved back out of self defense.

 

We picked up our baby yesterday. Passed 5 Mini's on the way home ... 4 of the drivers never looked at us ... they were completely oblivious. One guy waved after I waved first. I'm all for "Saving the Wave."

 

Waving while driving is a distraction to me. I get a lot of waves while riding my Harley around. I dont wave back unless I know the person.

 

Do I really have to start waving again?! I became disillusioned w/that w/my Jeep with so many Jeeps on the road in LI and people not waving back -- in lower NY State however pretty much everyone waved. It was a surprise to me when I recently read there's MINI Wave just like the Jeep Wave. I have to read-up on the MINI wave hierarchy...

 

The very day I bought my MINI, I was at a stoplight and I saw a MINI pulling up next to me. She stopped briefly, waved and turned the corner. I waved back immediately of course. It was sooooooo perfect!

Whenever I see another MINI passing, I try to see if they notice me. If they don't, I simply won't bother waving or smiling. I'm sure I've been that person a few times. But if they do...

 

Uh, waving is included in the HANDBOOK!! You didn't read that bit? Sigh....