Sports car etiquette

[lordxenu]

I guess I'm a result of the new generation, I don't really wave to people or anything. (21 years old :p)

The other day I had a guy in a '70s 911 Carrera convertible sit there revving his engine next to me...I figured he was just showing off that he had the faster car (doesn't help he had like 4 women slowing him down in the thing...I probably could have taken him :p)

I just figured he was being a dick so I ignored him, but maybe that wasn't the case at all...I mean after all we both had eye catching vehicles.

I'll have to keep this in mind when I'm driving around town...I hardly go anywhere in mine with the top up, I get kinda claustrophobic when the top is up on these cars

[mdrburchette]

Revving the engine only means one thing: The gauntlet has been thrown! My 10 year old would be prodding me to beat em to the next stop light.

[lordxenu]

Revving the engine only means one thing: The gauntlet has been thrown! My 10 year old would be prodding me to beat em to the next stop light.

Heh, I just got my spider, and racing it is the last thing on my mind....although I've been known to take a corner at 50mph or so :p

Especially when I had just gotten finished taking my dad somewhere to pick up a car and he's right in front of me.

Right now I'll just settle for the looks people give me when I pass them by

[rocky]

I'm really fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there are plenty of vintage automobiles that are driven year round. Most drivers in classics will wave or honk to others in our classics. Having said that, I have noticed the friendliest ones are the more mature drivers in cars that have more patina. You won't get much of a wave from folks driving a trailer queen Ferrari, though, there are some exceptions.

Greg
'77 Spider
'74 AR GTV

[ga.spyder]

I live in a rural area and everybody waves to you.Whether I am in the Spider or my 4x4,doesnt matter.Exception...the Miata people.But,who cares!They cant even figure out how to put their top down
Craig

[mdrburchette]

Now that I think about it, you're right, Craig. It's the same around here. I can wave at the farmer on the John Deere or the guy in the Chevy pickup truck or driver of the Buick sedan and they all wave back, but the people in sports cars are notoriously snobby. Oh well, I'll keep on doing it until they get the idea.

[narfire]

In the Okanagan here it seems with the older convertables(tr's mg's heely's ect) we get a wave and a smile, even a fair number of thumbs up.
The beemers, miatas, solctices.... nope nota thing, initiated or returned.

[ga.spyder]

All kidding aside,I think the owners of the mass produced cars will never ''get it''.No matter how good ,fast,or reliable those cars may be,they will never be Classics.The owners of the classic cars realize the struggle to keep the cars roadworthy,and the joy in driving them.
John brought up the sport bike vs. Harley rivalry.On our fast ,curvy mountain roads.....Harleys are called 'Roadblocks'
Craig

[joelbert2k]

This is just too weird to be a coincidence, but on my way home from work today I got a thumbs up from a passing Miata and a wave from an MG just a couple of blocks later.
I waved back of course!

Guess which car had the top up

Joel

[mdrburchette]

How'd you get a wave from a Miata? Were you wearing a skirt? I sometimes get a wave when I do.

[radiopilot]

For what it's worth... I only give waves to classic cars, whether they are American or European and of vintage heritage.

The Mercedes/BMW/Miata/Jaguar/Corvettes (those newer than '90's) can all take a walk... they neither wave or acknowledge you are sitting next to them, and if they notice you there they give you the snobby nose bit...

What I'd like to see is what their cars will look like in 28-35 years time... you think they're going to be classics or even look 1/4 as good as the car I'm driving now? Why then when we're on the road people gawk/stare at my Fiat but don't give a glance to the guy driving the BMW or Mercedes... hahaha in fact they were looking at my car all the while the Miata was next to me...

Nick

[danaspider]

Denise, it is still out there. Don't hear much of the horns, like in the good old days, but it is the nod and single hand lifted from the whell wave. May be because it hurts too much for us old folks to wave with great vigor.

You can really have fun, by flashing your lights and Porsches, but don't turn your head. Makes them think you are some really rare Porsche thecan never obtain.

Even as I type I am giving you a nod and wave.

By the way does anyone own a newer convertable? Do the tops actually do down on those things? And whenn they do putthem down they drive with windows up and the wind deflectors in place. Ahhh the foolish ones they are. It is like me in winter all bundled up without a hat and the bald head radiating heat to the sky. Never will understand it all.

Drive on.

[joelbert2k]

Denise, it was not just a wave but an actual thumbs up
I was amazed as well, and it was an NB. I would have expected it more from an earlier NA.
Joel

[mdrburchette]

I got a big surprise today as I was driving down the road in poor pitiful Juan, my red and black Spider. Amber and I ended up beside a school bus at a stoplight and one of the middle school kids yelled out the window "Hey, I like your car!". I gave him a toot from the horn and 20 little hands came out of the windows to wave and give a thumbs up. You could hear them all complimenting us on our ride while we pulled away.

[Gunsmith]

My daughter is in middle school and our Fiat is a legend there. When ever I pick her up in it all of the kids come out and oogle over it and get their picture taken next to it. One of the boys and one of the girls even knew what it was when we first drove it there to our amazement. They are very disappointed when her grandmother picks her up in the Jeep. My daughter always tells everyone the Fiat is the best car ever!