I'm a waver... Sometimes I wave even when I'm not in one if my MINIs ...

Motor on!

 

It seems a bit similar when I ride my motorcycle. It seems not as many wave as you might think, and then you've go those with ego issues who think Harleys/cruisers or sportbike brand X is better than anything else so won't wave to anything else. But overall when I wave there if the person 1) sees me and 2) isn't engaged in dealing with traffic/curves/lights/etc then I'll get a wave back.

I'd imagine the same with MINIs, perhaps with a slightly lower rate of return due to the aforementioned folks who just get one for the mileage as a runabout. You don't see that quite as much on motorcycles due to the additional training/risk/image involved. I'll likely be waving if I see one and am able to at the time.

 

My husband and I are "old school" on this. He started with a '53 Healey, when he was still kid. I'm a little younger, but both of us wave to "same kind." That's MINIs when we're in the MINI, and Porsche when we're in the 356. And we just bought a 911 yesterday, so we'll be waving to them, too. Luckily Arkansas is very friendly that way!

Sometimes we forget and wave when we're in the "wrong" car.

 

I always wave. I also will always speak with other Mini drivers in parking lots, at gas stations and when out and about. It is part of the fun. It is such a blast seeing what other people have done to their Minis. I learn things and often help others who haven't heard about how to correct issues. Things like repairing door brakes, power steering issues, strut tower reinforcement etc.

This little car has been the biggest motoring experience of my life. Non stop enjoyment.

 

This happens a lot. I'll be driving in my wifes Ford Taurus and I'll wave not even thinking I'm in a different car. I wonder sometimes if the other MINI driver knows I must have a MINI or if they think I'm a crazy person.

 

Doesn't matter. MINI people like to wave, and it's a good idea to keep crazy people happy!

 

Still find most will wave back; a few will beat me to it and wave first.
Gen 1 owners seem more responsive than those with the newer MINIs.

 

Wah,..not where I'm from. I try to make eye contact and don't even get that.

I think it's time to move.

 

I just got my first Mini wave in almost 10 years! I was so shocked I didn't even wave back until I passed him a little later.

 

Woot! Woot! There's hope for me then! LOL

There's definitely a lot more Mini drivers on the road nowadays, so maybe the chance of a wave now is higher!

 

Really? Seems like I get a wave back from almost every MINI driver here in SoCal. Actually, it seems like "S" drivers wave 99% of the time, while Justa drivers wave about 25%...

 

Ten years, anandastar! Wow!

Sporty, I suspect the chances of a wave are actually less with so many more MINIs. Back in the day--50s and 60s--sports cars and foreign cars were so rare that people waved in a sort of "us against them" pact. Over time, sports and foreign car owners began to wave only at their own marque, and I suspect that will disappear eventually, expecially in areas that have a lot of them.

Don't forget, too, that people are a lot more paranoid about breaking anonymity in heavily populated areas. Rural areas have always had a wave of some sort, even if it's just lifting fingers off the wheel to acknowledge oncoming traffic on lonely roads. That's not the sort of thing one does on the 405...

 

I'm an "S" driver, so I'll keep trying!

It's fair for me to say I'm new to driving a Mini, so hopefully I'll notice more waves with time. I'll get it rolling with a "beep beep" as I see other Mini drivers! I definitely notice them everywhere now that I'm driving one too!

 

So true with all you said and that makes!!

I used to live on the East Coast in a smaller town and moving there from Southern CA, the first time the guy mowing his lawn stopped and waved at me as I drove by...haha...I was completely confused at who he was waving at. So cool though!

I'm just loving my Mini and having so much fun, I'll get the waves going! Just not on the 405!

 

Seems I get more waves from Countryman and Justa drivers than MCS/JCW drivers.

No idea. I wave, though. Usually.

 

I drive both but I've been ignored by busy city Minis for so long I don't wave 95% of the time because if people even notice they pretend they don't. I grew up in the country where people pretty much always waved when driving by each other. Driving in the city has become an act of aggression to the point where, as sad as it is, I flip people off way more than wave :(. Although don't think I have ever flipped off a mini driver, more likely a Prius trying to ram my butt or a cutlass Sierra just popping across traffic like there wasn't anybody else around or a "city" pickup passing on the right side parking strip because you are only driving 35 in a 25 zone. Nobody even signals for turns here either. Sorry about the rant.

 

anandastar,
Have noticed what you describe but since visiting here, I've begun to think it's because we are just a justa with a ctv!!