[Hat]

there are thousands of classic minis out there, some of which are driven by enthusiasts, some by old biddies who've had the car for 50 years, some even by students. My question is - how do you determine the 'flashers & wavers' from the rest & what sort of percentage response do you get? can you tell who the flashers are in advance & therfore save the energy involved in waving for someone more deserving? or do you maybe all just know each other!

this is something us new owners are coming to terms with & as a general rule i find that if the car has some external mods - sripes, roof decal, spots etc, thewn you get a response to your greeting & if the car is standard, typically you don't (as i said its only a general rule).

just curious.


also, newbies - what sort of response are we getting from classic drivers these days? any proactive flashing from the oldies to us? i tend not to flash the oldies for fear of rejection - should i be making the first move?

[SoggyCornFlakes]

I always make the first move In general the Classics very rarely flash/wave back - occasionally but not frequently

[Oddball]

The Classic Minis just look at you as if you've gone out so I tend not to bother now, but even some of the New MINI's look at you strange. You sometimes get a good reation off the old ladies (in either MINI), they seen quiet chuffed that you flashed them

[AliceC]

As a Classic owner I can say with expert opinion, you never know who will flash you. A BINI, (please excuse me my pet name not an insult - BMW MINI shortened), has NEVER flashed me, yet there are loads of Classics who would think you are telling them something is falling off their car! And look at you like you are mad.

You tend to get more flashes around show time - especially big show like London 2 Brighton and such, but in general, because my poor old Cooper needs a good retoration, even Mini owners ignore me!

But as you can see by my post on here and my site - some of us want to bring the BINI into the fold and stop snobbery over cars!

[Hat]

good on yer! & top marks for coming on here in such an open fashion. lets hope the feeling spreads, there have been some real horror stories on here about vandalism of new cars at shows & meets. i think the victims of such behaviour will take some convicing

[AliceC]

Friendly banter fine - vandalism of cars is out of order. Period!

[dinger]

Quote: Originally Posted by AliceC

some of us want to bring the BINI into the fold

Why cant people call it a MINI as its the upto date version of an icon that had a 40 year run.

[AliceC]

BINI is MY shortened abbreviation of BMW MINI that's all - no insult intended. If everyone starts getting upset by things before we try to get on it'll never work!

[monsta]

Quote: Originally Posted by AliceC

BINI is MY shortened abbreviation of BMW MINI that's all - no insult intended. If everyone starts getting upset by things before we try to get on it'll never work!

I like to refer to my BMW MINI as 'the old bus' - he's getting on a bit now

[dinger]

Quote: Originally Posted by AliceC

BINI is MY shortened abbreviation of BMW MINI that's all - no insult intended. If everyone starts getting upset by things before we try to get on it'll never work!

There was none taken.

[crippsacars]

I'm a confimed Mini classic nut with 4 of the little rot boxes and my MINI One due Oct.

I see the new Mini as a very very different car to the classic original-park both side by side and you'll see how Un-mini the BMW version is , I therefore don't wave at new ones while out in a classic-although most classics do acknowledge each other!

However the MINI is without doubt the most fantastic new car available today-If it was made by Rover as was always intended rolling off the longbridge line and not hi-jacked by the germans then I'm sure more classic owners would wave at it.

I love both versions-but they are very different. What would issigonis make of the new one????

[dinger]

Quote: Originally Posted by crippsacars

However the MINI is without doubt the most fantastic new car available today-If it was made by Rover as was always intended rolling off the longbridge line and not hi-jacked by the germans then I'm sure more classic owners would wave at it.

I love both versions-but they are very different. What would issigonis make of the new one????

Then I dont think it would be the car as we know it.


What would issigonis make of the new one????......we will never know.

[RedMini]

We have 2 MINIs and 1 "real" Mini and only flash or wave if flashed or waved at.

In our experience classics will often acknowledge classics, particularly at times like just after L2B if you're still displaying a run plaque. Last time I took the classic out on a weekday 4 out of the 5 Mini owners I encountered in a 20 minute drive flashed.

MINI owners very rarely acknowledge us - most of them probably don't even realise that we're driving the same sort of car1

We have only ever been waved at by 2 Minis in 10,000 miles of MINI motoring - and one of those was from a very nervous looking individual when we were on the Cotswolds Run. He probably felt a bit outnumbered!

To be honest, the two sorts of car don't really mix, and our cars tend to lead separate lives - MINI events with MINI2, and Mini events with a local Mini club.

[jamer]

I give a thumbs up to every mini driver I come across & I don't even have a car.. yet.

[Dogtanian]

I have one of the last classic Mini's (and a new one on order) and I wave to every single old style mini I see - I'd say 90% wave back, if not 95%. At least 50% are happy to wave first too. No real pattern to it - but some people go to great lengths to wave and its ace

You even get pedestrians waving to you, quite surreal.

I've only ever had 1 New Mini flash to me though - was quite surprised, but I waved happily back.

I shall experiment tomorrow, and flash at every new mini I see in my old mini and see what kind of a responce I get. Hopefully noone will gesticulate at me.

Phil

[shiredweller]

When I was young I rode a 650 Triumph a lot. Guys on Harleys never waved at me. I never waved at guys on Hondas. There was a song on the juke box in the Mermaid Tavern in Astoria Or. about that same time that went " Everybodys got to have someone that they look down on". Thats just the way it is.

[CSW]

As I said in a previous post I'm trying to wave/flash all Minis. Response is low. Better from the classics but even some of them don't get it.

So long as everyone keeps doing it, great. The one's who don't will soon get it and start as well.

[steve5452]

My 1st car was a Silver Mini Mayfair, used to flash at other owners and had quite a good response.

Since then I have strayed and owned a Ford Escort, Toyota MR2, MGF, Astra Convertible. But in Dec I get my new MCS

Can you tell I am excited?

I will be waving and flashing at all new MINI's and maybe the older ones too depending on what sort of response I get from them. So if you are in the Woking area look out for a nutter in a EB/B MCS waving at you!

[Goonery]

I flash / wave at all MINI's, usually get a response too, funny thing is I'm getting flashed by drivers of 'lesser' cars, my guess is that they also have MIN's and just forget what they are driving. (or maybe theres something wrong with my car?

[steve5452]

Quote: Originally Posted by goonery

I flash / wave at all MINI's, usually get a response too, funny thing is I'm getting flashed by drivers of 'lesser' cars, my guess is that they also have MIN's and just forget what they are driving. (or maybe theres something wrong with my car?

or maybe they think that you know them