Car Camaraderie

[Blazing Saddles]

I'm trying to work out the line for when it becomes acceptable to wave, or otherwise acknowledge someone who has the same car as you on the road.

I remember my Dad telling me stories about his old Triumph Spitfire and how everyone always waved back with any sort of sports car. No-one (surprisingly.....) waves at me in the BMW, however every other Elise owner waves back.

It's not just a Lotus thing though, because when i had a Lotus Excel some years ago, no-one did anything - although i did get let out of junctions, unlike in the BMW...

So is camaraderie model specific, make specific, or just British sports cars?

[Disco You]

As soon as you have something uncommon/ interesting I'd say.

[Horns]

I get waved at both in the Saab and the camper. Unfortunately I tend to forget which one I'm driving, and occasionally wave at people driving the other, which causes some confusion.

[danjama]

I give a quick double honk at fello 90s jap car owners. Especially mx5 and mr2 owners.

Same for more exotic metal.

I also try and catch the eye of people who you can tell love and look after their car, and just give a smile or nod.

We have to stick together with the way things are getting for us enthusiasts.

[smartphone hater]

Certainly not just British sports cars, many different car makes & model owners do it also. Recovery vehicle drivers do it as do removal men so I don't think there's any specific criteria involved.

[scottyrocks]

Uncommoness and enthusiasm are the keys, afaic. When the BMW-MINIs were new here many of us waved at each other. These days, no one does. There are too many of them on the roads. Then again, where I live, unless you're a true enthusiast, people are generally unwilling to make eye contact with anyone.

[adsvx220]

I thinks it's cars with a good following. When I had my old Mini Mayfair other mini owners used to wave back aswel as some BMW mini owners. Same in my VX220 other VX owners used to wave back and sometimes the odd wave from the Elise driver. When in my Caterham I get waves from anything interesting from old MG's, Triumph's aswel as ferraris and old jags and Astons when the sun is out.

I quite like it as you feel there are other owners of interesting cars that respect you.

I also get waves from normal cars when I'm in the 7 aswel as people taking pics from the back seat.

Adam

[rb5er]

Impreza drivers wave at me in the RB5.

Mixer drivers wave at me in the mixer lorry.

Never had it happen in any other vehicles.

[gimmeshelter]

I used to get waved at when i had my 2cv,also when we had our Smart car. Sometimes i used to wave at these when i was riding my bike.
It's just a good feeling to interact with a stranger for a second, because you share a common bond though.

[spud989]

It's just simple maths, isn't it? There's nothing to stop a car enthusiast owning a BMW, but the percentage would be expected to be lower than the percentage of Lotus owners who are enthusiasts? You don't find many people buying an Elise/Exige/Europa just because it was cheap or reliable or whatever justification the majority of the motoring public have for whatever car they choose.

[g3org3y]

Blazing Saddles said:

No-one (surprisingly.....) waves at me in the BMW, however every other Elise owner waves back.

You need an old BM.

E30 owners wave at each other ime.

[billzeebub]

Interesting or uncommon certainly. For me the more compromises it looks like someone has made to own the car they want the more I smile inside, and sometimes facially. In the Corrado VR6 I always wave at other owners and it is usually reciprocated. It is such a rare car these days that such episodes are few and far between. There is a keen owners club scene, I get so many positive comments when out and about in it. Contrast that with the reaction when I am out in E36 M3 Vert or the E36 328 Vert. The other day I was driving into my village in the 1999 328 Vert Edition (Velvet Blue Individual Paint/Champagne Individual Leather), with not another car in sight, when exactly the same car as mine drove the other way (even down to having the Hardtop fitted, original spec intact inc wheels etc), I slowed ready to acknowledge the rare occurrence and the other driver was oblivious. Certainly don't think many E36s have yet entered the hands of enthusiasts from my experiences..unlike the classic E30 predecessor

Edited by billzeebub on Sunday 10th March 16:19

[y2blade]

Us Audi drivers exchange "Coffee bean shake" waves.

[solid61]

Ive had plenty of waves from other w129sl owners when im out in mine,bit strange cos it isnt exactly old or rare,got a friendly wave from a fellow fiat stilo owner the other day,now that it strange even though it was a 3 door in the same colour.

[iva cosworth]

I would like to exchange waves with drivers of my 2 unusual cars but

1 the Cosworth is broken

2 hardly ever see them out n about anyway

3 Only owned the Fiat since Dec 1st and all the ones i see is during the working day at the wheel

of a truck

Just have to get out more i suppose

[rehab71]

In the 6 months we've had our MX-5 I've waved at other but do far not a reply

[loose cannon]

Tvr owners usually have a wave to each other

[sunbeam alpine]

Us Alfa drivers don't wave much - it's one hand less to push with

[_Al_]

I've had some waves in the MR2, which surprised me, but never any in the MX5, which surprised me even more.

[SebastienClement]

Rover / MG owners seem to tend to. I've had more people come over to talk in car parks in the last month (since owning my 75) that in the rest of my driving career.