Do you Wave ?? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

wild1poet2 · 09-03-2007, 03:16 PM

I've been wondering about this. Over the last couple months when I'm cruising top down and see a porsche coming the opposite way I've waved. First I just waved through the front windshield. I got few returned waves. It kinda baffled me. Even when I was on an empty coastal road with no other traffic porsche drivers would motor by oblivious to me ?? Curious, I then tried raising my hand up over the windshield in a wave. Now, they wouldn't miss it. I got more waves back but still a big percentage of non wavers. This really intrigues me.

I've been riding harleys for longer than I care to admit. When you are riding on some backroad it is a custom to wave at approaching riders. It's a sign of a community or brotherhood. Harley to harley ; always. Harley to other brand bike; depends on the rider. Lately, with the biker boom, I must admit it has become a bit of a burden. You're out running an errand in the burbs and every 20 seconds another bike comes along and wants a wave. "Hi !! " LOL

But on a day like today when we are light years from the nearest city, lost on some back country road, and another biker comes along, well, you exchange the "wave". If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand. It transcends social class. You'll see the most gnarly hard core tattooed bikers wave at some weekend warrior wannabe.

So I don't know why another porsche driver wouldn't feel a kinship with a fellow porsche owner ? Maybe they think its just a car ? Maybe a wave is too bourgeois? My study is not very scientific, just anecdotal.

09-03-2007, 03:19 PM

I wave just about every time. Just me, but then again im not old and hardened yet, lol. I take that back, I dont normally wave to front engine porsches, but if they wave I wave.

David N. · 09-03-2007, 04:05 PM

Typically useless to wave in LA. You better have a 911 here or forget it. I think when you wave to other Boxster owners you are just rubbing it in.

-David

Grizzly · 09-03-2007, 04:55 PM

I wave. Most Porsches other than 911s wave back. It's funny to watch the 911 owners go out of their way to not acknowledge you.

09-03-2007, 05:04 PM

I did a great 400 mile drive yesterday! Got a couple waves from a Boxster and an older 911. A Cayman driver blew me off.

I love waving to Farmers. They always wave back!

blinkwatt · 09-03-2007, 05:24 PM

Psh,wave,not around here. Porsches are rare around here,heck I haven't seen one on the road for more then a month now. But if I find a fellow P-Car owner we have conversations at intersections if possible. Mostly small talk about what shops work on the car,autocrossing and such. If I see one driving in the other direction I wave and 99% wave back. There is this one a-whole with a NICE Seal Grey GT3 who doesn't acknowledge anyone.

easyc · 09-03-2007, 05:37 PM

Here in Lexington, its a little different, as I know or have met a majority of the Porsche Owners in town... and the majority of those I haven't know me from being on the PCA board and newsletter editor. But I always wave... on the interstate I will flash from time to time.

kabel · 09-03-2007, 06:57 PM

I wave... and it never fails, when I'm driving the miata I see all kinds of p-cars, and when in the boxster I see more miatas than usual. I wave at both when appropriate.

mylamb · 09-03-2007, 07:38 PM

I usually do a double flash but rarely do I ever get a response... even from other Boxsters! I guess that's just not something most P car owners do. I did it all the time with my MR2 Turbo & my 300ZX and got a reply all the time. Go figure.

jwilson95 · 09-03-2007, 08:16 PM

Hey Wild1poet2-

I feel your pain as a former Harley and Jeep CJ owner who is used to waving at all other HD's (or usually letting the wife on the back handle it) and all Jeeps. I don't see a lot of Pcars here in VA, but when I do I give the double flash/wave depending on what comes instinctively quicker.

I get about a 50% hit rate.

Hell, I'll wave/flash at anything with a pcar logo- 911/boxsters/front engine/water cooled/air cooled even Cayenne's. I've got a few wave backs from Cayenne's, but usually soccer mom's/yuppies don't even notice. I usually wait to see if the Cayenne has noticed me first.

Most 911 guys, esp. air cooled tend to be uptight, snobs.

Still wavin'/flashin'-

wild1poet2 · 09-04-2007, 12:03 PM

oops... I just noticed I accidently posted this in the performance section !! LOL

I don't think waving adds much to performance..........

Frodo · 09-04-2007, 12:31 PM

It may be a generational thing, but doesn't the quick double flash imply that someone is running radar behind the flasher (ie up ahead for the flashee)? Ever see anyone's brake lights come on as they pass, following flashing? Could get confusing...

Come to think of it, I don't see people do that anywhere near as often as I used to. It would be a shame for the custom to disappear---it's saved me on a number of occasions.

racer_d · 09-04-2007, 12:45 PM

I wave.. mostly to the aircooled porsches. The watercooled guys just don't seem to "get it".. I will always return a wave from another Porsche though.

Jeph · 09-04-2007, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grizzly

Most Porsches other than 911s wave back. It's funny to watch the 911 owners go out of their way to not acknowledge you.

911s wave back at me. Then as they pass I yell "SUCKER! It's only a Boxster! I'm poor!"

kabel · 09-04-2007, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeph

911s wave back at me. Then as they pass I yell "SUCKER! It's only a Boxster! I'm poor!"

BwaaaaHaHaHa! ROFLOL!!!!

rgriffin · 09-04-2007, 05:30 PM

It's disappointing...
I had a z3 and pretty much all z3s would wave or flash lights.
With my boxster, or other porsches for that matter, a wave is VERY infrequent.
Is it that because Porsches generally cost more and hence have more snob owners? I think we should spread the word to wave at each other.

racer_d · 09-04-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgriffin

It's disappointing...
I had a z3 and pretty much all z3s would wave or flash lights.
With my boxster, or other porsches for that matter, a wave is VERY infrequent.
Is it that because Porsches generally cost more and hence have more snob owners? I think we should spread the word to wave at each other.

In fact, it is just the opposite.. in the 1950s til early 1980s, having a Porsche was a bit cultish. You depended on one another, much like cyclists do, should you break down far from home. I would tie in the dying of the wave with the incredible popularity of the 944 series cars and the explosion of the "yuppie owner" in the 1980s. They "diluted" the enthusiasm by making the cars not about the enginerring pedigree and racing sucess, but rather as a symbol of being "rich enough" to own a Porsche... and this has continued with the Boxster and 996 series cars.

Aircooled Porsches are just a different breed. I will wave to the older cars (heck, even 928/944 series cars are "old" enough) but despite driving one, I stereotype the new Porsche owner as not a real "enthusiast", even if they are. Hence, if one waves to me I will wave back, but I rarely initiate a wave when I see another Boxster.

zackwatt · 09-04-2007, 06:04 PM

I wave. I even had a new 911S wave to me. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Jeph · 09-04-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgriffin

It's disappointing...
Is it that because Porsches generally cost more and hence have more snob owners? I think we should spread the word to wave at each other.

I've said this before, most Porsche people buy Porsches because they can. They're buyers, not drivers. The true fans and people that appreciate what the car is capable of would typically wave. This is my theory.

Enthusiasts. These people share a mutual respect for the car. A fellow in an '05-ish Acura TL gave me a wave recently while I was driving my '96 TL. His car had custom rims and I bet he noticed my non-stock, clear front corners (exactly the kind of thing enthusiasts notice -Thus, a wave). Normally you wouldn't expect a couple of Acura TL owners exchanging a wave, but in this case... it was so.

It's a nice little pleasantry and a bit of an indicator of the level of interest the other person has in their vehicle... Or sometimes they don't just see you.

This topic has been discussed here before.
http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9522

nola911 · 09-04-2007, 06:37 PM

I seem to get waves from other brands more than the porsche owners. This includes classics, other convertibles, and basically cars all over the spectrum. As mentioned, it is the guys who truly love their rides who wave, not just the rich one's who can afford their ride.

The other day a 2000-2006 CL 600 was coming up fast in the rearview. I could tell he was just a little bit lower to the ground than normal.. He honks, waves with 2 fingers and continues rapidly.