Do Mini people still wave at each other??
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: The Nexus: I-95, I-20, I-40, I-85....etc.
I have found that it is really quite random who waves back and who doesn't. I almost ALWAYS wave. I get a wave back very few times. Many times, I'll be behind a MINI and I'll speed up just to wave at them, but then they either:
a) ignore me
b) look at me like I'm crazy
c) wave back just to get rid of me
d) wave because they love their cars!
I usually honk (friendly honk), because then, if they don't acknowledge it, I don't feel like such an idiot.
There is a MINI dealership literally 5 minutes from my house, so there are a ton of MINIs around here. It sucks, because people just buy the cars because they get good MPG. I feel very few people are buying them these days because of what they are... Which results in less people feeling passionate about their cars, and less people waving.
But to me, it's worth it for just that ONE person to whom you wave, and they jump up in their seat, smile like crazy, and wave back. I had that happen one time... made my week.
/semi-rant.
a) ignore me
b) look at me like I'm crazy
c) wave back just to get rid of me
d) wave because they love their cars!
I usually honk (friendly honk), because then, if they don't acknowledge it, I don't feel like such an idiot.
There is a MINI dealership literally 5 minutes from my house, so there are a ton of MINIs around here. It sucks, because people just buy the cars because they get good MPG. I feel very few people are buying them these days because of what they are... Which results in less people feeling passionate about their cars, and less people waving.
But to me, it's worth it for just that ONE person to whom you wave, and they jump up in their seat, smile like crazy, and wave back. I had that happen one time... made my week.
/semi-rant.
About everything stated.
4th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 500
Likes: 2
From: The Woodlands, Texas
I do pretty well getting wave backs. They have to be looking and see you wave and most times I get the wave back. Driving the other car when I forget and wave the returns are not as frequent.
Bill
Bill
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Mobile, AL
Don't give up! You'll get a wave soon and you'll have a huge grin too!
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: UT, USA
I'm hoping that's the case! Unfortunately, I think because the MINI scene over here is so small, I have no reason to hope :(
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Olympia, WA
I decided to take a round about route to work this morning so I could drive longer (and faster). Saw a little red mini with a white top and flashed my lights and waved like a nut....the driver grinned and gave me cheers with her coffee. I was happy. I seem to be a little goofy about this car.....:-) .
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 116
From: Mount Doom, Mordor
I changed the oil and filter. It was the first time doing the DIY oil change on this car, thanks to finally getting my garage set up and organized well enough to work in it last month. I've had the tool for over a year to get the oil filter loose.
C ya,
Dutch
C ya,
Dutch
1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
YESSS!!! Finally got my first WAVE!!!
So.. it's been almost a month since I got my 2012 HT PW/B justa..
Everytime a MINI passed by me, I was a little hesitant to wave at them..
But tonight! after work, I was stopped at a red light and there was a PW Cooper S with stripes and checker side view mirrors making a right turn towards me and the driver waved at ME!!!! OMG!!! I got soo excited and waved back at him/her (didn't get a good look at the driver since it was too dark.) If you were driving a PW Cooper S in Commerce area (slauson and Telegraph to be exact) and waved at a PW Cooper,Thank you!! You really did make my DAY!!!
So.. it's been almost a month since I got my 2012 HT PW/B justa..
Everytime a MINI passed by me, I was a little hesitant to wave at them..
But tonight! after work, I was stopped at a red light and there was a PW Cooper S with stripes and checker side view mirrors making a right turn towards me and the driver waved at ME!!!! OMG!!! I got soo excited and waved back at him/her (didn't get a good look at the driver since it was too dark.) If you were driving a PW Cooper S in Commerce area (slauson and Telegraph to be exact) and waved at a PW Cooper,Thank you!! You really did make my DAY!!!
3rd Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 292
Likes: 0
From: UT, USA
I'll have to try that! I feel like other MINI owners just stare at me funny when I start waving..
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: On the road with my border Collie Katie
Don't give up. try wave, honk, lights, smile, hand brake turn then bump em.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 105
Likes: 2
From: Passaic County NJ
I had a bunch of pre-thanksgiving running around to do today and even though it was raining I wanted to take the Mini out and I usually don't see too many Minis around here. Today I saw 6 and waved (really waved) at each of them and I was pleasantly surprised to get not only a wave back from all but one but it appeared most smiled or laughed and one in a nice red one was honking and waving all the way down the street in the opposite direction. I guess the silliness of the whole Mr Bean thing helps. I've been getting a lot of wave, honks, smiles and a lot of picture takers 
I'm just glad to make everyday driving a little more fun for a few people.
WAVE ON!!!
I'm just glad to make everyday driving a little more fun for a few people.WAVE ON!!!
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,054
Likes: 10
I had a guy in a brand new E-series Merc pull up next to me yesterday. I had the windows down, enjoying the cold air and he rolled down his windows to say hi. He apparently used to race Alpha Romeo's and the burble of my R53 and aftermarket exhaust on a cold day reminded him of those days. A man of good taste! :D
)
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: D.C. Metro
I got 3 more waves on the way home this afternoon! I'm actually getting a good percentage of return waves now...Based on my continued success rate I can only conclude:
1- because Cary is yellow, he's hard to miss.
2-I'm pretty enthusiastic about my waving, so a stark-waving lunatic is hard to miss
3- there's just a lot of really cool folks out there that share the MINI passion and camaraderie.
I like to think it's the third!
1- because Cary is yellow, he's hard to miss.
2-I'm pretty enthusiastic about my waving, so a stark-waving lunatic is hard to miss
3- there's just a lot of really cool folks out there that share the MINI passion and camaraderie.
I like to think it's the third!
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, IN
We were traveling side by side, with a lady in a MCS, yesterday. She looked, and I smiled and waved. She turned away. 
A mile or so later, we were side by side at a stoplight, and I unleashed my "secret weapon"... Turning to my backseat, I told my six year-old son, "It's okay to wave at the lady in the MINI."
He began to wave a like a maniac (MINIac)...she had no choice at that point.
I *think* I may have detected a hint of a smile.
A mile or so later, we were side by side at a stoplight, and I unleashed my "secret weapon"... Turning to my backseat, I told my six year-old son, "It's okay to wave at the lady in the MINI."
He began to wave a like a maniac (MINIac)...she had no choice at that point.
I *think* I may have detected a hint of a smile.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Mobile, AL
I'm sure the college kid driving it was very emotionally attached to their job and the provided vehicle...who wouldn't want a giant Red Bull can stuck to your car!?
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
I always wave, along with a light flash if it's safe to do so. When I'm not driving the MINI I always call them out, "MINI!", to whomever is (or isn't) in the car with me. The S.O. gets pretty annoyed with me to the point that she now races to beat me.
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
The second time I drove my car, passed another Clubbie on the way to the grocery store. Naturally, I waved like crazy, and the guy looked at me as if I was. Then a few days later a lady in a pepper white hardtop made my day by giving me my first MINI wave.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, MA
since being back in a mini i make a point to wave to everyone i see. Even when i had my STI i would get the urge to wave at a mini when i would pass them...I will say, i get fewer and fewer waves now then i did with my 07 S
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Mobile, AL
Glad to see your motoring in a MINI again! The STI was also on my short list of possibilities. I've heard that waving is less and less common but I really hope it is somehow revived. I love the MINI community and enjoy seeing another enthusiastic MINI owner enjoying their drive!