1st gen Toyota MR2 driver. No wait, 1st gen Toyota MR2. Lots of waves. It’s sort of a niche car fetish, if you have to ask then you wouldn’t understand. We’re just happy to see others still on the road.
One of my more tragic claims involves a motorcyclist waving at another as they passed. Just as the pickup in front of him had to brake for some reason. Motorcycle rear-ended the pickup and his wife, who was a passenger, got catapulted into the bed of the truck where she snapped her neck and died. They were in their 60s. Funny how a mood can change in an instant.
When I had a 73’ VW Beetle (not *in *'73 - many years later) I would get the peace sign, not only from VW drivers but from people who I guess were former VW owners. And lots and lots of people stopping to talk to me in gas stations and parking lots.
I would have thought Mustang drivers would have a “secret sign” but if they do, I was not invited to join the club. I was always trying to think of something clever to start a trend but I’ve since gotten rid of it.
the worst is when you have a car which appeals to idiot teenagers. when I had my SRT-4, I dreaded encountering another one on the road. a lot of the times if it was being driven by some dumb kid, the convention was not to wave but to rev his engine over and over to show off the “PSSSHHHH” of his awesome blow-off valve. my return “wave” was usually a bird.
Having dealt with one mechanically, I give “New Beetle” drivers a look of pity.
Same with Beetles: the old ones are a sort of fraternity, the new Beetles and Mustangs have drivers who are part of an exclusive club called everybody.
When I had the Miata before I gave it to the kid, other Miata drivers didn’t wave per se, but they waved via the pop up headlights. There is a button on the dash you can flip them up and down quickly with.
Haven’t noticed any waves with the BMW or truck though.
I drove a Saturn SL back in the mid 90s. Apparently waving to other Saturn drivers was a thing. I’d wave back, but I never initiated. I vaguely recall it started with a marketing campaign, but I may be making that up.
ETA: The Great Sun Jester’s mention of the Mk1 MR2 made me remember my Mk3… How could I forget? I always waved to other MR2 Spyder drivers.
I just witnessed this yesterday with two young blonde girls driving red Mazda Miatas.
One was right behind me, tailgating and playing on her phone, of course. The other one about a mile up the road in the opposite lane, also playing on her phone.
When they looked up and saw one another driving the same car, they both nearly drove off the side of the road waving.
I’m not sure if they knew each other, or if it was just immense happiness of owning a beat up 90’s Miata.
I drove a Mazda Protege 5 and now I drive a Mazda 3. In neither car did anyone wave at me or I wave at them. I assume other Mazda owners share my antisocial temperment.
I think scooters are perfectly fine on city streets, but on a curvy rural highway a ~35 MPH scooter when everyone else is going 60 is asking for trouble because of the speed and mass differential.
it depends on where you are, I guess, but the highways (interstates) in Michigan have signs specifically prohibiting any motorcycle under 125cc. hell, my bike is 250cc and I wouldn’t dare take it on the freeway.
Well, my fellow doper, you may want to brush up on your knowledge of scooters. Scooters come in many “flavors.” I started off with a 50cc Honda Metropolitan. I stayed off of many roads exactly because of what you mention here. At my weight (125lbs give or take a couple) 40mph was my max speed. I sold that one and moved up to a Yamaha 125cc. Much better horse power - top speed 55mph, but that was pushing it. I did get to explore more roads/new territory with the extra power though. Then, I sold my beloved “Azulia” and bought my current scooter - a Vespa GT200, and my favorite baby so far. I can take it anywhere. Top speed? Not sure yet. I’ve had it up to 70mph and probably could have gone faster. I ride safely and keep up with speed depending on the road/road conditions/traffic…and so on. When I’m doing 60+ mph it cruises smooth and steady.
I enjoy riding. I want to do it safely while having a blast for as long as I can. By the way, curvy rural highways are my absolute favorite - and the area where I live in Oregon is full of it. I’ve put on 5000 miles on my Vespa in just over a year - most of it on mountainous 2 lane highways.
