[nmottram]

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but less and less other drivers seem to acknowledge an on-coming mini. I always give a new mini a flash but in the last 3 or 4 months the proportion of drivers flashing me back or waving has dropped off. Maybe its because people are getting bored or is it that a different breed of owner is starting to dominate the new mini ownership stakes. Let's face it, most of us are enthusiasts on here and will always flash back. Maybe the mini is starting to become the middle class housewife's choice bringing with it a new population of mini drivers who couldn't give a stuff if they see another mini!

[Jazzy Jase]

You're not the only one.

Have a look in this thread to read other peoples experience: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthrea...threadid=25000

[HarryHBMCC]

I went 2 for 2 yesterday, though I knew one of them (another mini2 member) so that one is pretty much a given.

Harry

[MiniMan7]

Theres not to many Mini's around here, so waving is always a must when we see eachother.

[NordS]

Yep, definately dropping off. I get strange looks from the other mini drivers now!

[mini1_driver]

yes i agree I think the type of owner is changing. People take themselves too seriously. Less people are waving and quite often will even look the other way when they pull up at lights! somoene wants to tell them to stop taking themselves so seriously and have fun. After all they are driving the best car on the road so why not smile!!!!!!!

[FNIVME2]

We have noticed the same things here in
California. If they do acknowledge you they look at you like, what is your problem.

Went 0-3 yesterday.

Makes me wish their MINI could be taken away since they are deficient in the art of MINI.

[retroom]

I waved at another MINI today. We were both at a stop light going different directions. She smiled and waved also.

I've only been ignored by one MINI driver, it was right behind me and when I went into the turn lane I waved when she drove by but she didn't even look at me.

retroom

[GadgetGav]

I think it's a time in market thing in the UK and an attitude problem in CA..! The trend in New England seems to be more acknowledgement from what I'm seeing. Maybe that's just because there's more MINIs around...

[Dark Silver S]

Never mind 'em. Wave anyway, and give 'em a big grin! (I wave at idiots who honk, too.) Don't let the souless ones bring you down.

[yidaho]

I saw a MINI today whilst driving along the A31.. I was on her outside, so pulled in behind and flashed my lights.. and the silly bint pulled over! Oh well...

[mrhollio]

In the last 3 days I have had 2 pull up right next to me at the intersection and not even look one high school girl obviously too busy talking on the phone and one 30 something woman appearing too scared or too cool to even turn her head!

At the other end of the spectrum there is a guy who works in a shop near my house and he waves at me everytime I drive by and honk! (of course his MCS looks just like mine)!

whatever.... I still wave

[anthonyyule]

im a firm believer that it is a new breed of MINI owner.
i think that is therein the problem.
in a society dominated by 'must have' products, impulse buying, and fashion fads,....its unfortunate for us enthusiasts that the MINI falls into all 3 catergories. i can almost suggest that the people who dont ackowledge us also dont know just how well their car handles, where the engine is made, what all the fuss is about, etc, etc......

shame,. i KNOW that we couldnt keep the car to ourselves for ever, but if we couldnt do that, could the newbies not be 'educated' at the dealer in the community that is new MINI ownership. when i had my old mini, it was par for the course, if you saw another mini, you flashed your lights, waved your hands, tooted your horn, and generally looned about. maybe, just maybe, some of the bad feeling between old mini drivers and us, is that they are also tired of trying to get acknowlegment out of the the new MINI drivers.

just a suggestion, and rant over.

but, maybe a liscenced welcome pack by a well known and loved MINI community website, slotted inside each new MINIs handbook would be a good way of educating the masses.

what do you think?????

[SuperMINI03]

From what I have noticed, it is more of the MC people that don't acknowledge me. The MC owners on the websites like this one are enthusiasts, and will acknowledge, and most MCS drvers on the web sites or not seem to acknowledge, but mabye it's just me.

[MoonPie]

We either get the enthusiastic waver with big goofy grins mirroring us, or the "I don't see you waving at me you fools" people.

Lots of MINIs in this area...lots in our suburb alone...I think the craze is wearing off...but it's nice when people walk by the car while parked and point, smile and talk.

[2nd Mini]

It's a principle of social psychology that the vision of a group varies inversely with its size. That is, the larger a group, the more diluted the original goals or ideals which hold it together become.

We might just be experiencing this.

I do need to admit that I'm not experiencing it. Virtually every MINI crazy I see returns my wave.

Bob

[monkeynut]

I notice that a lot more people flashed and waved when I had my old mini. Don't think any new mini driver has acknowledged me. Sad really, cos they are fantastic cars.

[lordcroker]

Well, i've read this thread after an experience I had, and thought I'd see what you folk have to say about what happened to me.

I'm a driver of a classic 96 Cooper, somewhat modified and rather quick, but standard in looks to remain anonymous.
For background info I have no real love or hatred for the new car... I can take the **** out of it with the best of them, but basically it's a nice driver, if a little large for my tastes.

If someone in a MINI acknowledges me, then they'll more than likely get a polite response, as long as they're driving courteously and I notice them.

I occasionally get challenged to a traffic-light Grand Prix - if so I will indulge. If I'm driving solo I usually startle people because I can match the pace of a standard S, but I always see this as "friendly" competition.


Yesterday however I was DISGUSTED by the behaviour of the driver of a black/white MINI COOPER on the A23 through Purley.

He wanted to try his luck at the lights... OK - I had a 24 stone biker sat in the passenger seat weighing me down so I wasn't sure how it'd turn out. My weight penalty balanced the two cars, and as there were parked cars on my side of the carriageway I went to back off and hand him the win as soon as I went into 2nd....

This, however, wasn't enough. The "gentleman" in question decided that he was justified in veering into my lane and lifting off to try and force me either to a halt or into the kerb.

I have witnessed some utterly stupid driving in my life, but this is the worst I've ever seen.

This driver really seems to have it in for ANY classic mini he meets, and by his actions is likely to polarise opinion in that area between drivers of the new car and the old.

I've never posted on here before. I could complain all I want on the classic mini boards, but then this would never get back to the guilty party, and things would never change.

You lot, as members of a web board, are keen enthusiasts. Whatever car you like I have respect for that. Please do what you can to temper the feelings of anyone you may know who may act in such a way. I am a very experienced driver, but I was left shaking. What if this ******* next picks on a classic mini being driven by a seventy year old woman who's owned and maintained her car since it was new 20 or 30 years ago?

The thought chills my blood.


I invite any thoughts or responses on this thread. I will not be posting elsewhere on your board as I feel it would be inappropriate to do so.

A concerned mini owner.

[DEye]

Sadly I guess Idiot know no bounds -
you're just as likely to find one driving a MINI as anything else... and they ( the Bad ones) will have us all tared with the same brush !

[chughes163]

In Oxford its really bad - no one waves! however in a town called Abingdon 6 miles down the road it seems more mini-friendly and most people wave/flash.

I think the majority of owners in oxford are split into these groups:

1. House Wives who like the looks of the car but know nothing about it and dont want to be associated as being in a club - very tacky.

2. BMW Plant workers - most of these guys must get sick to death of the mini and are forced to drive one too - so i can see why they dont want to wave! everyone deserves a break from work!

3. Poser's who dont like the idea of waving - might hit their hand on the windscreen on the way up and break a nail - Perish the thought!

4. Miserable sods