Well I've been snubbed by every 2nd gen I've met in the wild, my stance,I'll wave, but when a 1stgen waves back I'm and if they miss me I am and I do ; I don't feel disappointed or sad when I get snubbed by an R56, in fact I almost expect it, not sure what's going to happen if I do get a wave from them. It's a MINI so I'll wave, even when the MINI SUV and clubman come out. Just won't see me owning one is all, it's tastes don't suit mine as well as the R53(I'm allowed opinion) and I cannot recommend MINI I'll do what I can to keep this labor of love for life but the MINI company ended the continuation of any future love affairs with the MINI cars (and this is a non generational customer service and build quality and repair work issue).
I spot the differeance at ~1/8 of a mile. The bodyshape is MINI but something looks off (you say MINI and an R53 is in my head, Mini isa classic) then I confirm with the first piece of trim I see
I really wish I had those odds, away from dealers I couldget about 1 in 3, right now I think I'm about 1 in 75 returned, all to many locally it's just nother car, no matter the generation.

 

Sounds like you are overly pessimistic. I doubt I have seen 75 Minis in a year. And I live in the heart of Houston, Tx.

 

I live right in the middle of 3 dealers, I can easily 5+ a day, and average a wave once every 3 months or so. My MINI spotting today was a CR/W MC Driver on his cell phone

 

Since I got my MINI in '03 I've found that none of the other MINIs in my area would even bother to return a wave, so I've given up entirely. I expect the 2nd gen owners to be no better.

 

I'm with Motor On... I spot quite a few MINIs when I commute and I rarely get any waves (1st or 2nd gen). I still wave. On the off chance I get a wave back, it makes my day when I do get that wave back.

 

I wave from my R56 as often as I did from my '03, and the response is as it's always been....some people love it, and some are oblivious...

Have y'all seen the new Mega Rolls?....Six rolls in the cart is the same as twenty-four......I definitely wave at those people

 

Guys, that Cottonelle is some major stuff. Don't joke. We Cottonellers on the www.northamericanwiping.com boards also wave to each other while on the bowl.

Seriously, I do wave at every mini I see, or at least hit a double-beep on the horn if I'm passing from behind, especially if it's a cutie driving. I get waves all the time. There's a lot of minis on the roads these days, but stuff not enough to start picking and choosing.

 

I give every MINI the Peace Sign Being an Old Fart, it's a generational thing I guess

 

Wave at all of them.
And I get a wave back more often than not.

I like to think that when they don't, they were distracted with something else (I too have failed to wave back because I didn't catch the other MINI until it was too late), or they just don't know about the wave. How is a new MINI owner going to learn about the wave unless others have waved at them a couple of times? That's how I learned after buying my used MINI -- after a few times of being waved at by others who probably thought I was a jerk for looking confused and not waving back, the lightbulb went off. So, I say: wave and educate those new drivers.

 

If I noticed that someone else bought a roll of $26,000 butt-kleenex, then yes I would wave.

 

We use Charmin Ultra, but I'll wave anyway.

This thread is so high school! Should we let Suzie eat with us? What about Jimmy, he doesn't wear Nikes?

As far as the "effort" to wave, well, don't use up too much of your energy!

As far as "well, everyone else stopped doing it, so I'm gonna stop too", a lot of people have stopped saying "please" and "thank you" and not enough people use their turn signals anymore. Maybe we should stop ALL common courtesies and pleasantries.

 

Concur w/mcw.

As for me, I hardly ever wave at other MINIs...

I give them the ole' thumbs up. Every single one of them. Every generation. From pure stock to totally modded. It says more than just "hi"--it conveys a shared sense of being part of the MINI fraternity. And eager2 is right...gotta educate those that don't "get it" yet!

 

I wave at all MINIs ....even sometimes while driving my wife's Lexus RX330. Old habits die hard.

dean.

 

Wave at them ALL, including classics!

Can't forget that if it wasn't for them, there wouldn't be us!

 

Yay!

As a Classic owner ('67 S), I rarely get out much to wave at anything, let alone a R56 or R53. My son and I did see an R53 pulling out of the petrol station the other week that we honked at, I'm not sure she saw us though...

If I ever saw any MINI, new or old, I'd wave for sure...

 

I kinda know what you mean by the 2nd Gen people not seeming to care as much. There's a guy with an R56 who comes into my work to by some random crap now and then. Not once did he ask or acknowledge my car in the lot. We all think he bought it because its a "neat little car".

 

 

Heh, yep! I feel it adds a lil bit to the post

What can I say...I'm a visual person!

I agree, it can be a bit disappointing sometime, but they may feel the same way and not be waving b/c of that...can we say circular ?


Oh, and ... :impatient

 

Definitely agree - we're all driving a MINI, whether it's a first generation, second generation or a classic.

 

Click on the attached picture, post #4

 

Hmm, I choose to wave to them all. And the fact that youd compare R56 owners to Honda's proves youre a bit ignorant. Someone should take your keys away and give you a Trabant as a replacement car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:impatient

 

I'll wave at any Mini or MINI I see. Even if I'm driving my wifes "Pippin" with "HIPYMOM" on the license plate.

If I see you in the Southeast Phoenix Valley, I'll wave (unless I have my head up my @$$ for some reason).

 

I've found non-wavers among both MINI generations, and, gladly, plenty of wavers, too. Keep in mind that many R56 owners are not necessarily new to MINIs...many first generation owners are now driving R56s. It's best not to make too many assumptions about the enthusiasm of owners based on model, mods, or even if they wave or not.

 

When I see another MINI down the road coming towards me, darned if I can tell the generation.....up close and if stopped, then yeah I know the differences, but on the road driving by me, i can't tell/.......but I wave just the same

 

Saw 2 today, one waved and the other never got close enough to warrant a wave.