Whats up with waving back or even a nod.Waved at 5 MX’s today & only one wave back
Some MX-5 drivers are aware that it’s a thing, and wave or flash back.
Others aren’t - and don’t.
Simple really.
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Some are concentrating on the road ahead, rather than waving. Even if we have no immediate issue to deal with, other drivers going the other way might well do. Motorcyclists are the same; some give a return nod, many don’t.
I sometimes fail to recognise an MX-5 coming the other way until it’s too late to acknowledge its presence, but in fairness I do sometimes wave to Honda S2000 drivers by mistake (they never wave back back, though).
In early days I too mae my mistakes, found myself waving at cars I thought were Mk1’s (they had pop up headlights) only to realise they were Fords. So, I learned to discriminate, and tried waving at MX5’s instead. Up here (the midlands) you are very lucky to find anyone waving back, or waving at you before you acknowledge either. An Area trip to the west country saw a different picture, I still remember a female standing on her car seat so she could wave back at our convoy as we passed. On another trip to the chip shop for everyone in our cabin I also had a wave from two females in an MX5 going round an island, while I waited to let them pass. Which convinced me there was more camaraderie in the West country than up here. Eventually I gave up altogether, I will still acknowledge anyone who waves at me, but the mass of traffic around here means you rarely see an MX5 till it’s going past you. The habit exists only between Club members, who are few in comparison to those who are not. Having said that, I often see MX5’s around me, but none appear to be members, or want to be’s either. Waves always achieve a glassy stare, or total disregard.
Comparisons are often made between Mk1 (BMC) Minis, who always waved at each other, but I haven’t noticed that old habit passed to BMW versions. Overall - we live in an insular world it seems.
I still wave when I’m in the Exocet much to the bemusement of mx-5 drivers it has an mx-5 heart so it still counts.
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It’s not compulsory.
(My usual response when this pops up…as it often does.)
Generally I find Mk1s closing in on each other tend to do it more.
Maybe they are just amazed to find one not yet dead.
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Many people just don’t look at what sort of cars are coming towards them or who is driving, it’s not unfriendly or hostile in most cases.
I doubt if my own wife would spot me and wave, and if she saw me waving at her it would probably be too late to respond.
If I spot you coming the other way I will wave, but on busy roads it isn’t always possible to recognise a MX-5 in time.
Waved at one last week, so I thought, bloomin’ Fiat…
After 11 years of ownership i don’t wave any more, i just lift my hand while it’s still on the steering wheel and if i get a response then i will wave so they can see me waving in their rear view mirror, if they don’t respond…sod them.
[quote=John M]
You could even be asked later “So - you go round trying to pick up women do you”
Don’t forget to factor in that 1 in 4 drivers have defective eyesight.
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On the way home from work today I saw 3 5s. An NB (wave), an NC (wave) an ND (no wave). At least they all got a wave from an ND (me).
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It’s all a bit fiddly . When I had a Caterham you’d greet any other Seven as if it were the second coming, you’d also exchange waves with Westfields, older 911s , TVRs etc and nearly always get them returned. Except from Morgan drivers , obviously, who often mistook me and /or my car for something unpleasant on their shoe .
I’ve had an ND for 9 months and still haven’t resolved the wave issue - the problem is that MX5s are not exactly rare , range from sparkly new ones to basket cases and not every owner is an enthusiast (unlike with a Seven ). And there is no feeling more traumatic than unrequited wave syndrome - this leaves you feeling like some tragic , needy no mates when your wave is ignored.
I’m also from Yorkshire and try to avoid all that hipster metrosexual huggy kissy nonsense they indulge in down south - and that’s just t’bloody men tha knows …
So I might do a pre-emptive wave to someone in an identical car but otherwise I’m a strictly reactive kinda guy when it comes to waving
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I have another car which I have owned since 2002. I’d definitely wave if I saw one coming the other way. But so far, there has never been one!
Out in my NB yesterday I saw a couple of other MX5s too late to wave back but also was ignored by two others - both driven by females.
Haha, are we not encouraged to wave at our Fiata brothers and sisters? My wife finds my waving at MX5’s a bit odd, but last week I received a big “roof open” wave from a 124 which made my day!
I will also try and gauge whether a wave to the old school sport car’s will be appreciated, Triumph’s and the like.
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I reckon the wave response ratio is about 1 in 20. I tend not to these days, as over the years you realise the response is going to be poor, but would always wave back. So I suspect a lot of the times both drivers are waiting to see who waves first and then you are passed and gone, moment missed!
I imagine most other waving car owners drive something a lot more classic and cherished, and a lot of (most) MX-5s aren’t are they. Hence the poor response.
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I am waving now  always wave , always will top down always all regards RichyÂ
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i live in the west country and i’m blanked more often than not. its like H1S VRB says some wave some dont. dont forget an mx5 is literally just a2b for some as would an aston martin be my mrs for instance is mystified by my adoration.