Been taking a detour to work last couple weeks and consistently passed a BRG beauty with a young girl driving it. I kept waving, and finally after a week I've got her waving back. HA!

 

With my windows tinted I just assume people don't see my waves, its an astro black too, so it doesn't stick out like the electric blue or chili red would.
When I pull into a parking lot and another MINI driver is getting in/out of theirs, there's always a smile/wave exchanged.

 

here in jersey I've been consistently getting one wave a day sometimes 2 in my hour commute.

 

I was waiting at a light the other day, and a couple in the next lane rolled up just as the light changed. The woman passenger turned, grinned, and waved. I was a little surprised, but of course I responded in kind!

 

I drive by the dealership every other day so waving has gotten bothersome with all the minis around. Also, I see the same drivers every other day during my commute and it feels weird to wave at the same person all the time. Thank god for tinted windows. I think it helps avert would-be wavers. If you can't determine if I'm waving just know that I'm waving on the inside.

 

Rather than stop waving, why don't you adopt an alternative? Around here, it's actually more common to flash headlights. Some years back, Porsche owners developed a 3-finger salute, lifting those fingers from the steering wheel (and not to be confused with the "you're number one" salute).

If you have Xenon headlights, you'll need to have the lights on all the time to flash, of course. Bi-xenons, like the R56 MINIs have, don't use halogens for the high beams, like earlier cars. And you don't want to wear out the igniters!

 

I have had my MINI a little over a week & have waved a half a dozen times to other MINI drivers to no avail. Maybe it's just DC.

And, MINIstrater, I work in an urban environment & see some of the same "strangers" on my way to work as well. We still say "Good morning" or -- ironically -- wave to each other as we enter nearby buildings to our offices. So, it's not weird that you wave to people you see everyday. I'm sure they appreciate the kind gesture -- and being reminded of their membership in the cool kids club.

 

2 for 3 this week. The 1 was going opposite direction on Interstate so he might waved, too.

 

Cool, I'm in the dc area to. I haven't been waving much lately because most drivers don't return the wave, especially countryman drivers. I also end up waving to the same minis by my job though. It's nice to see some people keeping the trend going.

 

Well, you do have to admit that raising a hand in the air and wiggling it back and forth is extremely strenuous. I mean one wouldn't want to sprain a wrist or elbow or worse yet, be seen without a tough or determined look on the face.

I'm a male, 48, a veteran, overly street smart thanks to my upbringing, I drive a Cooper S Clubman named Pumpkinhead and I wave!!!

<=== and I do that too if the feeling hits me.

To all of you MINI owners out there reading this, wave back, it doesn't hurt!

 

I do the wave all the time too. Unfortunately I only get a wave back about half the time. I'm always like WTF?

 

I always wave. I get a few back here and there.

 

There are so many MINI dealerships here in NJ and the surrounding areas that your average non enthusiast is buying them for the look/MPG. Because of this I seldom get a return wave.

 

Not gonna lie, I tend to wave only to sports and not justa's. There are a ton of justa's in my area that are just their "cars" where as when I wave to fellow 's' drivers I see a higher return on the waves

food for thought, not that I dislike justa's.
~Mike

 

I see that, but I also have noted that, Justa or S, the likelihood of a return wave is in inverse proportion to how "stock" the car looks - this includes factory striped cars.

Plus, when it's 115 degrees out, and you (smartly) have tinted windows and the a/c blasting, sometimes you just can't see the wave....

C ya,
Dutch

 

I have a justa and it's more than just my "car".

Food for thought, not that I think you're a snob.
~Jim

 

Not many Minis in the area, but always wave when in mine, get return wave most of the time. Usually see others when I'm in my company truck.

 

I wave or beep my horn as I pass. If they're looking I wave, if not I just beep. Don't get much of a return around here. But I have to admit, sometimes I'm passing too fast to really see

 

Was driving on a back county road just outside the Ocala National Forest today and got a wave from a driver in a dark grey MINI. 1st wave.

 

Lots of MINIS out here in "The Hamptons" and none of them really know what they're driving. I flash 'em the high beams and the peace sign and most times get a startled look like, "where's the cop?".

I'm gonna keep flashing them. I did get a wave yesterday, but I wasn't out east.

 

I know what you mean--not all "Justa" owners consider them commuter cars. I know one I've had the pleasure of following on some spirited drives at MITO. I didn't even notice it wasn't an S for quite some time...

And like Dutch notes, the more customization, the better the odds that you'll get a wave back...

 

"Sports"?

 

He means MCS, instead of MC.

 

I try to wave at every one I see but Don't get many waves back.

 

I think Mike had a valid point. People that buy a MINI for commuter purposes generally will get a base model. Before my '07 MCS I had an r50 and it was more than just a car to me as well....but it is true that more people in MCS models wave back from what I've noticed. I haven't had many waves from justas whereas most S owners will wave or flash back. I'm glad that people are breaking the trend though! Making an observation doesn't make someone a snob