Do we intimidate non-enthusiasts?
90% of Mini drivers don't wave personaly I don't wave either thats more of a Jeep thing. a quick headlight flash is more my stile for the Mini and I have noticed most will give you a flash back
4th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, NY
OK, Tonight my wife and I were out in my MINI. We are tooling down the road (yes tooling, it translates into motoring in a different dialect) and we caught up to another MINI. As we past my wife went to put the window down and wave. But, once again, nothing. My wife remarked "It's just another old fart" as she rolled her eyes at me one more time. .
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 53
Likes: 7
From: Dillon Beach, CA
I wave at other minis, and in the short time that I've had my car, I've had many wave back or flash lights.
I wave, I am a waver, I have been an avid motorcyclist most of my life and when on a bike, waving to another rider is part of the motorcycling experience. So it just seems natural to wave at another mini enthusiast.
Funny, took my girl for a ride on the bike down HWY 1 last weekend, and found myself waving at mini's while on the bike.
I wave, I am a waver, I have been an avid motorcyclist most of my life and when on a bike, waving to another rider is part of the motorcycling experience. So it just seems natural to wave at another mini enthusiast.
Funny, took my girl for a ride on the bike down HWY 1 last weekend, and found myself waving at mini's while on the bike.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 410
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From: St. Charles county (STL)
Wow! And you actually posted that! Simply amazed......
And that was your 11th post!
Last edited by LtRex; Jan 21, 2009 at 08:51 PM.
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 354
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From: San Jose, CA
That's nice but in California it is now illegal to flash your lights like that.
If an enthusiast is one who covers the car in badges/decals/and stripes to show some type of comradery...count me out
That is by no means an enthusiast to me... I see tons of stock Minis with all sorts of gaudy stuck on things...more money than taste IMO...
If i see one that is very clean (i mean taken care of...the opposite of what that little diagram in the owners manual shows about showing off your dirty car lol) and usually modified in someway ill most likely throw a wave, and maybe catch up to check it out, but other than that, ill act as if i didnt see ya haha
That is by no means an enthusiast to me... I see tons of stock Minis with all sorts of gaudy stuck on things...more money than taste IMO...
If i see one that is very clean (i mean taken care of...the opposite of what that little diagram in the owners manual shows about showing off your dirty car lol) and usually modified in someway ill most likely throw a wave, and maybe catch up to check it out, but other than that, ill act as if i didnt see ya haha
Not everyone has the mad modder bug, but that doesn't mean they don't love their MINI's.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 38,578
Likes: 2
It's all BMW marketing's fault. 
They hyped MINIs based on power and performance and that attracted certain types of owners and skewed the overall enthusiast demographic. Think of a classic Mini. It didn't matter how much hp you had...or mods!! In fact, buying a MINI for fuel economy and practicality seemed absolutely natural.....as it should for the MINI. I say we take back the MINI and reinstate once again into the realm of the normal where a proper Mini belongs!!!!
They hyped MINIs based on power and performance and that attracted certain types of owners and skewed the overall enthusiast demographic. Think of a classic Mini. It didn't matter how much hp you had...or mods!! In fact, buying a MINI for fuel economy and practicality seemed absolutely natural.....as it should for the MINI. I say we take back the MINI and reinstate once again into the realm of the normal where a proper Mini belongs!!!!
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 270
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From: Louisville , KY
Gee I am glad to know if I don't modify or butcher my cars I am not an enthusiast and that a stock MINI is just any car. Offense taken.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 410
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From: St. Charles county (STL)
Originally Posted by overheadcam11 
No offense to anyone, but I do not wave or wave back to any stock minis. I only wave to modded minis because those are the enthusiasts. Driving a stock mini is just like driving any other car and there is no need to wave.
Well being the curious guy I am, I kinda checked. OVERHEADCAM11 is a 17 year old kid, only been driving for less that two years so who is he to know what a true enthusiast is. Earlier this month he was asking how much a pulley install was!
He is just like most every kid his age. He has a cool car and will butcher the crap out of it as he learns his way around the car. In the mean time, he should not act like a snob, cause everyone knows he is just a kid.
No offense to anyone, but I do not wave or wave back to any stock minis. I only wave to modded minis because those are the enthusiasts. Driving a stock mini is just like driving any other car and there is no need to wave.
Well being the curious guy I am, I kinda checked. OVERHEADCAM11 is a 17 year old kid, only been driving for less that two years so who is he to know what a true enthusiast is. Earlier this month he was asking how much a pulley install was!
He is just like most every kid his age. He has a cool car and will butcher the crap out of it as he learns his way around the car. In the mean time, he should not act like a snob, cause everyone knows he is just a kid.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,223
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From: DC
How do you know what's under the hood of that sleeper?
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: DC
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 410
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From: St. Charles county (STL)
And what about those aluminum spoilers that they screw into the trunk lid of their Civics! Ground affect kits that are not painted and remain white, that is another cool look!
And as for when I was his age, I had a 67 Chevelle SS - BONE STOCK ! None of the other kids would wave!
And as for when I was his age, I had a 67 Chevelle SS - BONE STOCK ! None of the other kids would wave!
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,223
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From: DC
And what about those aluminum spoilers that they screw into the trunk lid of their Civics! Ground affect kits that are not painted and remain white, that is another cool look!
And as for when I was his age, I had a 67 Chevelle SS - BONE STOCK ! None of the other kids would wave!
And as for when I was his age, I had a 67 Chevelle SS - BONE STOCK ! None of the other kids would wave!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,150
Likes: 2
From: Burlington, New Jersey, USA
Just to point out something.
It's not a matter of you waving, but why do others not wave back?
And yes there are two types of MINI owners, Those that own a MINI and those that just own another small car.
It's not a matter of you waving, but why do others not wave back?
And yes there are two types of MINI owners, Those that own a MINI and those that just own another small car.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Louisville , KY
OK, Tonight my wife and I were out in my MINI. We are tooling down the road (yes tooling, it translates into motoring in a different dialect) and we caught up to another MINI. As we past my wife went to put the window down and wave. But, once again, nothing. My wife remarked "It's just another old fart" as she rolled her eyes at me one more time.
No big deal, I am use to going past other MINIs and not getting a wave or anything like that. And it's not just "Old Farts" either. So I got to thinking about this and noticed that when I get a wave it's from another MINI that has decided to "Stand Out".
What do I mean "Stand Out"?
My MINI has custom stripes, modified exhaust, rally window clings that almost cover the drivers side passenger window and I have a grill badge on the grill. Not that I think this is attention grabbing but it does "Stand Out" from the crowd.
These other "Non Waving" MINI drivers don't have anything other then stock on their MINI.
So, tonight it came to me as I passed this other MINI that my MINI might be intimidating him/her. And I guess the question is , How do they perceive us enthusiast? Are our MINIs intimidating?
Not that it matters, but I hope so .
No big deal, I am use to going past other MINIs and not getting a wave or anything like that. And it's not just "Old Farts" either. So I got to thinking about this and noticed that when I get a wave it's from another MINI that has decided to "Stand Out".
What do I mean "Stand Out"?
My MINI has custom stripes, modified exhaust, rally window clings that almost cover the drivers side passenger window and I have a grill badge on the grill. Not that I think this is attention grabbing but it does "Stand Out" from the crowd.
These other "Non Waving" MINI drivers don't have anything other then stock on their MINI.
So, tonight it came to me as I passed this other MINI that my MINI might be intimidating him/her. And I guess the question is , How do they perceive us enthusiast? Are our MINIs intimidating?
Not that it matters, but I hope so
.
No one was waving at my Ford Anglia either.
but why do others not wave back?
I wave at everyone. Modded or stock. I'm an equal opportunity waver.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,337
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From: oh10
Yah, how that would qualify as 'ricer' is beyond me. People throw that around way too often without having any idea what it means.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,150
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From: Burlington, New Jersey, USA