I know that there are many other threads discussing whether other MINI drivers wave at you. But as a question specific to the Roadster:


I very often received MINI waves when I had my R57 Cabrio S, but I've noticed I now almost never get a wave from other MINI hardtops whether I'm driving my Roadster with the top down (which is +75% of the time) or not. I'm wondering with so few Roadsters sold, maybe other MINIs aren't quickly recognizing a Roadster on the road as a close family cousin?


Conversely, I get many more waves, nods, or other recognitions from most other non-MINI convertibles. Today for example, no waves from 7 other MINIs I drove past in west suburban Chicago, but I received a wave (or nod) from 2 Mustang convertibles, a Camero, vintage MGB, new Beetle, a Jaguar, and a Saab convertible. (Of course, it was a perfect day for top-down motoring...and the half-smile from a young lady in her Beetle may have just been due to the sun in her eyes)!


Is anyone else starting to feel a closer bond with other non-MINI convertibles?

 

Roadsters - drop heads - rag tops - whatever you go by, there is a feeling of fraternity (sorority? (the young lady with the smile)). My first two cars back in the '60s were British roadsters. Anybody with wind in their hair regardless of marque had a wave for their fellows. In those days it wasn't always a wave though, quite often, a fist raised on high in a sign of solidarity. Obviously BMW is morphing the MINI into an everycar for everyman and the mystique is loosing it's cachet so the current MINI driver sees nothing unique in being a MINI driver.
If you get a general MINI wave great but ALWAYS recognize topless motoring and feel pity for those who paid the extra for the privilege but never take advantage.

 

I wouldn't overly think about it. It is hard to tell and as you mentioned a nice top down day bring peoples mood more in favor to a wave...

I don't get a lot of wave from MINIs in general. But I don't think it's because I drive a roadster or that it's not as iconic as the hard top. I just think a lot of the newer MINI customer aren't too aware of the gesture. Knowing little about MINI if it had not been for NAM I don't think I would have known about the wave much.

The best exchange have had were one time with an obvious MINI hard top young fan, and the other was from a group of ladies in a MINI convertible as we crossed each other. So it's hard to draw conclusions. But generally speaking response is pretty mute. The least amount of waves I've received were from MINI suv owners. I think they're a totally different type of buyers and account for maybe half of new MINI sold these days.

 

75% of the time? WOW, KennyR, I didn't realize the weather in Big Rock was so fantastic. I'm moving!

To your point, I've never receive a wave from a non-MINI when driving my Roadster.

 

Probably should mention that this is our 3 season car (everything else is 4 wheel drive)...it's stored with my Harley from December to March! Still, anything above 45 degrees is top-down weather for me.

Sent from my iPad using NAMotoring

 

You should try the 4th season . . . everybody gets so jealous and condescending when you drive top down in the winter, as if our joy to drive top down when the weather is cold has anything to do with their impractical views of convertibles or their impression we're showing off our privilege . . . mean while you'll get ladies walking with thongs and wearing short skirts on snowy days

This is pretty much the face I get from people . . .





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