MX-5 OC Forum

 since joining the forum and discovering "THE WAVE", i have made every effort to do so, with little or no response on most occasions.

 i do believe that if enough of us continue the practice it will become more commonplace ( though my wife thinks it a little strange that i should actually want to wave to all and sundry )

a nod or a friendly "nice car sir/madam" when sitting in traffic seems to get a better response, as happened to me today on my way to work, although i did get my wrist slapped for not having my roof down ! ( the lovely lady said i should be a 'topless tart' ! )

it's little things like this that restores my faith in fellow 5ers

So far it would seem the answer to the original question is acknowledgement of fellow 5 drivers is a disired practice for members of the MX5OC but for others who may have bought the car and have no wish to join the club and may either be unaware of it or have no wish to join in (everybody to their own). Even for those of us that agree that comradery which is brought about by the 5s it would seem the style and vigour of the wave varies a great deal. 1) a small wave by raising the fingers while the hand still on the wheel. 2) a flash of the lights to a 5 in oncoming traffic. 3) striking up conversation while stuck in traffic. 4) a more vigourise wave above the windscreen. It would seem that the type or style of acknowledge is as individual as the people driving the cars.

Then again there has only been 5 people in this thread so we may find ourselves in the minority even with in the MX5OC, still if you see a Blue Mk 2.5 on a 05 plate and some silly bu**er was waving that may be me so give me some encouragement and belief in 5 owners and give even a small (but safe) wave back (please)

Waving is great and getting a wave back makes my smile broader (driving the mx5 makes me smile anyway).

Being lucky enough to own a mk1 I will also pop my lights at other MX5 drivers as it can be seen from a greater distance than a wave.

And do please remember that just because it is October that is no reason not to 'go topless' despite what my wife thinks.

To wave or not to wave that was the question

whether it is nobler in the car, to suffer the scourn of outrageous ridicule

or to take arms and produce a sea of waves

Any Administrator reading this post then just delete the whole thread if you like, as what started out as light hearted banter has attracted someone who just whats to contribute in an unpleasant or insulting way, I know you have done your best to control it and deleted his postings but I still get the email sent when a posting is made as will other who have contributed. Its a shame I was enjoying the banter but I think its out weighed by the down side

Just keep going mate, don't let one AH ruin an amusing thread

ignore the *BLEEPER*
Keep waving, Shoey!

My experience driving around the North Wales coast is that Mk1's (who always have the hood down unless it's chucking it down) will always wave or flash but Mk2's are not that dependable and I have yet to have any form of acknowledgement from a Mk3.

Keep waving or flashing. It's the MX5 way of saying high.

Rod  

 Absolutely keep going, one misguided soul cannot and should not detract from the enjoyment of the masses.

I have been an owner for just over a year and use it daily usually with the top down unless it is actually raining when I set off or I can see it coming in front of me, mine lives outside and the soft top needs replacing so over trhe winter it has a hard top on, it came off in March and won't go back on until November, you get some funny looks at 7:00 am in March!. I started off loath to engage in such an open and public display of camaraderie but eventually brought myself to lift my hand off the steering wheel and acknowledge other MX5 's through the windscreen, open waving above the windscreen is reserved for those I have just passed. My experience driving around mainly East Yorkshire is that unless it is clear blue skies and warm virtually no one has their top down and as to waving, forget it. I have managed to eventually get a response from two regulars I see, both males of a certain age (hoods up usually) one Mk1 and one Mk2 and I even once got a very enthusiastic wave from a Mk1 as I was overtaking it on the M62 (top down and male of a certain age). As for Mk3's forget it they seem to be in a world of their own although I have met some very nutty Mk3 members through the Yorkshire Ridings area who will wave enthusiastically at everything on a Sunday run out but will they on a cold Wednesday morning in March?

I will keep on acknowledging all MX5's when I can and hope that I can convert a few more to waving back especially the young ladies, it has been a very long time since a young lady has recognised my existence whether it be in an MX5 or not! Ooops am I allowed to say that these days? 

Lovely day here yesterday so after work (finished at noon) roof down, knew my son was playing rugby up ay Keilder so taked SHMBO into the car to go up and watch and went for a bit blast to blow the cob webs off, country roads and loads of twisty bits not much else on these roads, half way there saw a Mk2 heading towards me in the distance so I prepared to wave, now normally this would be no bother but what if I was to wave with no reply in front of the wife well then Id look a bit silly, been married for almost 30 years but you know what its like still try to impress the Mrs, Anyway gave a wave inside the windscreen type and then the response, driver gave a wave similar to mine but his female passenger replied with vigour, hands above the widscreen I think if she hadnt had her seat belt on she would have stood up and all this at speed probably 60mph both so closing at 120mph, restored my faith in the wave. Asked my wife why she didnt wave and she asked at what, when I told her at the other MX5 she said she didnt see it she was looking at the scenery (which was good). I told her if there was another MX5 I would give her an MX5 alert so she could play her part. Ill have to buy her a headscarf or something as I got the blame for the mess the run put her hair in. Sons team won 13 - 10 so a good day was had by all. Honestly great roads and a good drive and the wave from a fellow MX5er topped it off

 I don't know if it is only the Tyne Tees area but I find few MX5 owners ever wave back and rightly or wrongly I now don't bother unless the other driver waves first.I have owned a Mk 2.5 and now a 3.5 and it has been the same with both models.The only thing I can think is that there are a lot of non members with no knowledge or interest.A shame but I can't see the situation improving.

Ive had a bit think and I believe there is a hierarchy involved here and its to do with the enthusiam for the car, the following remarks are just a generalisation and only based on observation and my own opinion from these, so anyone that feels Ive not done them justice please forgive me

Mk 1 owners - Mk 1 cars are older and use as a normal car can be expensive because of the age of car for the normal motorist so these cars tend to take a bit more loving and looking after and because of such prime examples tend to be in the hands of the hard core enthusiast, they tend to be a bit more passionate about there cars, more likely to be in the owners club, knowledgable their cars, tend to the dirty bits as well just making it shiney, This makes the owner more likely to be part of the MX5 community as he shares information with others. Downside of this is sometimes they can only see a Mk 1 as the only MX5 and there is no others newer Mks are just pretenders to the throne, some will consent to wave to newer Mks but others may see newer Mks as not the real thing and choose to ignore the pleasantries as belonging soley to the issue of their Mk. The majority will wave but a few prefer not to or keep their wave for their own model. possibly 60% wavers

Mk 2 owners - Mk 2 cars are still not old enough to to warrant the care and attention that may be required by the Mk1s although this category does contain some enthusiasts it also contains people who just wanted a car they can run without too much hassle (nothing wrong with that), not everyone feels they need the benefit of an owners club for back up help and advice but do like to keep their cars shiney, the majority still having the work done by the garage and not too many dirty bits tinkered with. this group as a whole are less hard core than the Mk1s and are sometimes looked down on by both Mk1 owner because they are new kids on the block and not veiwed as elitist as the Mk1s. possibly 35% wavers

Mk3 owners - Mk 3 cars are reasonably new and as such tend to be run a normal car these owners tend not to be MX5OC members (barring a minority that had moved up from older Mks), these owners probably wonder why people with an old MX5s are waving to them in a outdated car. Most of the owners probably not owned a sport car before (that is not a reason why they cant own on now) but are unused to the cameraderie that goes with owning such a car. this group tends to look down on the others as Mk 1 & 2 are less expensive cars and not as prestige as the newest Mk. possible 20% wavers.

Social hieracrhy

1) Mk 1s - the originals cars

2) Mk 3s - the more expensive cars

3) Mk 2s- the inbetweeners (not in the film sense)

 As a Mk2 owner and former Mk1 owner, I broadly agree with that analysis.

I now know my place in the social hierarchy of the Club - the lowest of the low, unloved and unwaved at by anybody

 I go by the rule 'always wave'. If you wait for the other person, then you've passed each other. Wave at everybody ('5's obviously), coming or going, even if they're overtaking you, or you, them.

But I will concur that it does seem to be the (new) MK3/3.5 owners that are the reluctant ones.

Hey Stu...

This should cheer you up and put faith in the wave.

I ALWAYS wave....and it does eventually pay off: This happened to me Sunday Oct 15th...so happy was I, that I had to make a video post:

...almost for words. Something spectacular happened today...

My first report failed as I was so excited, I pulled over to tell you about it, not realising I had pulled in front of someone's drive (didn't realise it was a drive..more like a farm-track). Anyway...first fail:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvAJ2jglxFY&feature=player_embedded

So finally...pulled over again...here is my special report 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnifV2eMuRU&feature=player_embedded

I dont have an mx5 YET, but I will sure as heck wave at every mx5 I see when I do.

I have experience of riding motorcycles where the code is a nod, here I nod all the time to every motorised 2 wheeler I see, (where its safe and possible depending on where I am). On a dry bank holiday Monday its like Im a nodding dog sometimes! - but generally I get a bout a 50-60% return-nod rate. Which isnt bad - I think that the reason why people don't respond sometimes, is because they are concentrating on the road (just the same as in my case above) and dont see you, or possibly, are 'too cool for school' to nod if you catch my drift. 

I'm no mx5pert but I concur with the earlier post about the age of mx5s and the probability of waves due to enthusiast spirit. There will be a heck of a lot of mk2s and mk3s (not all but a lot) who are driving their convertable sports car, because it is just a convertable sports car to them and not shared community beacon of motoring experience and fellowship. They may not be aware of the concept so dont do it - Geoff we need a full 'save the wave' campaign - plaster the internet with your banners!

I think another reason why people may not even when they know of the concept is because of the fear that someone may not wave back and they will feel silly/embarassed.

This will be compounded by a general lack of waves which generates less waves, I think conformity comes into it (in a good way), if everyone waves without fail we will reach a critical mass where everyone does all the time!...if we keep waving.

ianandjan - videos had me chuckling - good on you! keep waving.

Now all I need is an mx5 so I can wave - do you think if I sand on a street corner and wave at mx5's all day people will get the concept eventually?

Sorry for the ramble