I did that for a week when my MINI was in for service. I was driving a BMW 325i, and people were giving me strange looks. I thought, "Well, it's still a BMW."

 

He he

I wave at all - MC, MCS. however, my fiance has gone from not knowing a thing about MINI's to being a total MCS snob. She is able to point them out acroos 6 lanes of traffic with the sun in her eyes while on her cellphone AND today remarked "Look - pepper white MINI, hold on, its only a regular Cooper, no scoop!" I think it's cute watching her explain to her motor mechanic brother what a supercharger does (based on the crappy explanation I gave her) :-)

 

Even better: I had a friend who said she was waving frantically at me and couldn't figure out why I wasn't waving back. Then she realized it wasn't me.

 

Since we're discussing, let me say something that could be a rant, but isn't really, so here's as good a place as any to vent.

We must, as MINI enthusiasts, take care when defining who is...and isn't...motoring on the proper MINI spirit. I suggest giving people the benefit of the doubt. Why? Well, we really haven't defined well what a MINI enthusiast really is, have we? Is it somebody who is into mods? Is it every owner? Is it someone who dreams about MINIs? Is a definition even required or desirable?

I used to participate in my local MINI club. I was a charter member. But the group (great folks, btw) seemed to become obsessed with modding, and performance driving, and then even more modding. I'd go to a meeting and you couldn't even have a dinner conversation that was about anything but mods and going faster. After awhile I, a hard core Mini/MINI enthusiast, found I had nothing to say. The Cooper owners one by one found reasons to get MCSs. No one knew what to say to Cooper owners. We just weren't into the club "thing." Anyway, all that was going on but I thought I'd stay if only to represent the lowly Cooper and it's many benefits, but time/schedule constraints tipped the scale and I, sadly, dropped out. Don't get me wrong...there are some fantastic folks in that club. Awesome enthusiasts and voices of reason...but the overall culture had skewed and, as I said, life intervened.

There's nothing in the world amiss w/ discussing and obsessing over performance mods. These are folks who contribute A TON to the MINI community. That must continue with abandon, I think. So my point is that we.....as enthusiasts.....need to create and foster a community that understands our cars better, in a more mature, holistic fashion. That MINIs are as fantastic as milk run and commuter cars as they are in the Targa Newfoundland...and all points in between...is something we need to "get" and get very well. We should try to engage owners... even those who bought MINIs "just to get from point A to B", although I doubt there are truly any who spend time in the driver's seat that think that. We have to build this culture and, I think, seek to do it deliberately. Why? Because the spectrum of MINI enthusiasm is so huge. A good thing...even amazing...but a lot to get one's arms around! Let's remember...Mini heritage can be found as much in it's role as a people's car as it can be as a Monte winner.

So when you see a Cooper owner (or any owner) not waving...think. We can build a great and vibrant community if we keep the door open, not so much so if we close it off.

Finally...let me say NAM is one of the finest examples we have of a MINI community fully intact, embracing the fine points of our little cars in all it's various incarnations. NAM.....good job!!!

 

I've not noticed a trend on who waves more, but I'd say clubs may be weighted towards the MCS. However, I'm a huge MINI (and Mini) enthusiast and run a large club (Sunshine MINIs), yet I have had two MINI Coopers with never the serious thought of getting an S. We have many members, some of them my closest friends, who talk constantly about modding their MINIs, and it honestly makes me a bit sad.

Many Coopers have shown they can keep up with the Ss in the turns. At a recent track day, a stock MC beat every MCS there.

I'll keep waving from my commuter JCW MC.

 

wow this thread was high, dipped low and is starting to get higher....I would kind of agree that on avg, if you look at the streotype, those with the MCS are supposed to be more enthusiest. I can say this and I myself do own a MC and not S.

Does this make you less of a man or gal for owning an MC? No, it was your choice but I agree, the MCS does give you lots more mods and people who want power and speed, went for the MCS, thus are more into the moding world or more likely, thus being more in tune with the culture of waving.

Now, I being a MC owner, wave to ALL coopers. Its soo exciting to get a wave back. Not many do :(

 

That is so true...makes my day!!

Thing is...you get (not give up) certain things when you drive a Cooper, although I'm sure not every Cooper owner out there understands this. One's level of motoring engagement is tweaked "just so" and it is a thing of refinement, beauty....and preference. But then all this has been discussed over and over my more articulate and qualified voices than mine.

 

I couldnt agree with you more. I honestly feel like a little school girl everytime somebody waves back.

I know for a fact, im the one who always honks and wakes 1st. Only once, did somebody do it to me first and it made my week!!

but I dunno, maybe everybody else is like this, maybe not but I LOVE finding other mini owners. I honestly just have an eye for them so in case I see them, I drive or pass by with a honk honk and wave

 

I get way more waves here in L.A. County than I do in OC.



I've had my Cooper over three years now, so you can imagine how many hand-greetings that's been!

 

My 03 MC all black gets all sorts of looks and waves. It has a smile of its owen. The new GPS should worn you of a close encounter
rottenron

 

Before I even read where you were from I knew it had to be CA. There are some crazy drivers out there.

Wave or don't, just be polite and don't cut people off.

Here in the Shire both wave equally, and I wave to both equally, as long as I see them which sometimes I don't. Nothing personal, honest! But sometimes I just don't see other MINIs.