Responses from other MINI owners on the road..

[Will]

How many of you get mixed reactions from fellow MINI owners? I mean everytime I see a MINI I wave, give them a big smile or a nod at the light. But it seems that not everyone is as excited about their MINI as those of us here. The other day at the light another MINI was stopped at the light waiting to cross my path. As he passed in front of me he didnt even look over :eek2 !!

Surely these people didnt wait 3-6months for a MINI just because they thought it was just another fuel efficient vehicle.. Maybe they got them used from Carmax or something?? :confused:

What has been your experiences with other MINI owners? Has the majority of them been in love with their MINI's like us or is it just another car to them? Maybe the guy I ran into was having a bad day...

[weezer2282]

I've had some mixed reactions too. Sometimes when I'm driving around my neighborhood area and I see a MINI then we'll exchange waves. A lot of times when I'm just driving around San Antonio I'll want to wave, but they won't even look so there's no point. I have noticed that guys driving MINIs tend to wave more than women driving MINIs. I don't know why but many female drivers don't even bother to look most of the time. I think some people might be buying MINIs because they are hip and fashionable like the Beetle was a few years ago, but they aren't as enthusiastic about them as us. I think we need more cowbell....er waving! :D

[k-huevo]

Ok Will, not everyone has your level of commitment. You’ve created a club/website to celebrate the joy of all things MINI and I thank you for that. I know it’s hard to believe that others can’t have the same attachment to this vehicle as the rest of us faithful do.

In the other driver’s defense I have to admit there are times when I’m wrapped-up in the driving moment and don’t recognize another MINI until it’s too late.

Having spent way too many hours and days in the Mini Center service department I’ve seen the ballistic tirades from the disheartened unfortunates who see the MINI as a bane of disappointment rather than a boon of joy. So, sadly not everyone shares our Camelot view of Minidome.

[leonsrocketcar]

Werd, K-huevo.

[scuderia]

I try to wave everyone driving Minis, so little responses.

k-huevo, sorry to hear that you are having or had service problems.

Ok Will, not everyone has your level of commitment. You’ve created a club/website to celebrate the joy of all things MINI and I thank you for that. I know it’s hard to believe that others can’t have the same attachment to this vehicle as the rest of us faithful do.

In the other driver’s defense I have to admit there are times when I’m wrapped-up in the driving moment and don’t recognize another MINI until it’s too late.

Having spent way too many hours and days in the Mini Center service department I’ve seen the ballistic tirades from the disheartened unfortunates who see the MINI as a bane of disappointment rather than a boon of joy. So, sadly not everyone shares our Camelot view of Minidome.

[Jakedog]

It's definately a mixed group. I live pretty close to the Mini Center and see a ton of them in my neighborhood (mostly women and they drive slooowwww:confused: ), but very few wave. People who drive a regular Cooper are definately less prone to wave than the S drivers. Among the older drivers anyway. The high school kids are always ready to wave. They also seem to have at least 6 passengers cramed in. It reminds me of my high school days driving a Bug.:thumbsup

[chefrichie]

I usually wave...or honk...or flash lights... whenever I can. I must admit there have been a "few" times that I've blasted past someone and only spotted them after it was too late for a greeting...There are definitely some who are Freaked Out Obsessive Motoring Enthusiasts and others who ain't. I'm a proud card-carrying F.O.O.M.E., but I guess I can sort of understand that not everyone can or will join us!

I do think that more people waved back in '03 when you RARELY saw another MINI. I can remember when I would be lucky to see another MINI once a week...now I see several every day!!!

Motor on...and keep wavin' cause every wave you get back makes the ones you don't get bearable!
-r

[weezer2282]

I am still in Austin and have been here for the past week. I noticed that the MINI drivers in Austin wave a lot more than in San Antonio. One guy on 290 was all the way on the opposite side of the highway and stuck his whole arm out the window to make sure I saw him wave. Tonight, someone in a black convertible honked then pulled up beside me at a light and waved. Earlier today someone gave me a peace sign as they passed. I've noticed a lot more MINIs up here and the people seem to be generally a little more friendly.

[scuderia]

Yesterday, on Bitters and Huebner, ZIPITY honked at me :)

[nuclear kitten]

Yea, yea, old thread but still fun conversation and I am new...forgive me. I am female and can tell you some women do not even look because some guys do wierd things like follow you home when you wave (no joke it has happened to me)...LOL I still like to wave at other Mini drivers, or at least give a big grin. Well then there is the fact that it is hard not to grin while driving the Mini so how would you tell if they were smiling at you or just smiling with joy? :confused:

I also ride a Harley behind my hubby, lots of motorcycle riders wave at each other so it was a habit before I bought the MCS.

[Will]

Welcome to the boards.. Glad to have ya :)

You bring up a good point about it being hard not to smile while in the MINI.

[vietxgrlxk]

haha most of the things you guys said are true. i'll admit, i sometimes do not wave to other mini drivers because i'm busy doing something else or i am just zoned out but after hearing all the unfortunate mini non-waving moments i'll definitely try to wave next time around.

i remember when i didnt see that many minis around, thats part of why i chose to get the mini. it was different, not a lot of people had it, and i was tired of the typical asian person car like a honda, acura, or toyota. but now there are so many of them .. i mean i'm glad there are more mini drivers but i see at least 10 per day and i'm 20 mins from the dealer.

anywho...
jakedog, maybe the women in your neighborhood are all the older crowd? i can't seem to drive 45 on the regular streets and 60 on the highway. i guess i'm the little college girl in her astro black mini zooming by other mini drivers? or just drivers period :P

to utsa attendees:
i always see this black mini type s with it's aero kit looking super clean everyday parked in the same parking lot [lot 5] in front of the convocation center and i know its a guy that drives it, he waved to me before but i never seem to run into him anywhere on campus. maybe you're on here? well if you are, hello my name is karen.

[Will]

I think I've seen that black MINI too. I live really close to UTSA. Except I dont recall if it had an Aero Kit or not. BTW welcome :D

[k-huevo]

I go to UTSA (I’m in the BB lab right now), have an aero front bumper cover, the color is black with a white roof, and I put a card on all the MINIs I see in the lot (including that new black jcw with the aero kit). The part about always clean car wouldn’t be me. I’m the out of place looking old man in the hounds tooth checkered pants.
Anyway, welcome to the club Karen :thumbsup.

[vietxgrlxk]

so you're the guy that put the card on my car! once school started it was impossible for me to go to the wash tub all the time to get my car washed, i don't know how he does it! and thanks for the welcome messages. i'm off to school now, i'll check up on the site later.

[weezer2282]

so you're the guy that put the card on my car! once school started it was impossible for me to go to the wash tub all the time to get my car washed, i don't know how he does it! and thanks for the welcome messages. i'm off to school now, i'll check up on the site later.

Don't worry...mine gets pretty dirty too! :thumbsup