Motoring next to other roadsters: Disdain or Delight?

I'll admit it, I'm a snob at times.

Especially when it comes to motoring.
It all started with my graduation gift. A shiny new Jeep Wrangler.

Other Jeep owners would wave, I'd wave back. It was fun.
Then along came the Suzuki Samurai drivers, they would wave, I would adjust my mirror.

Now when travelling in the Zed, I notice people in other roadsters noticing me.
If they wave, do I wave back? What's the qualifier?

I can appreciate a Miata. Inexpensive and fun. Sure, you get a wave.
An S2000? Whose waving? Let's race.
a Pontiac Soltace...? I'll fiddle with my radio, avoiding eye contact, then briskly accelerate away.

What's your take?

Life is too long - someone waves to me I wave back.

You return waves based on what they're driving? What an ass!
I never initiate waves, but I'll return any wave, even from an 8 year old driving a big wheel.

Now that you mention it, the Big Wheel could be the gateway roadster.
You do sit above the rear wheels.

Plus even a fat kid could make one go quicker than the Soltace.

Originally Posted by Pants

Now that you mention it, the Big Wheel could be the gateway roadster.
You do sit above the rear wheels.

Plus even a fat kid could make one go quicker than the Soltace.

Umm, a Solstice GXP is no slug. 260hp/260 ft/lbs without the available GM upgrade(290hp and 340ft/lbs with it). Don't underestimate them...

I had an 08 Solstice GXP. I sent the ECM to a tuner up north who flashed it for me. Netted me about 300 ft lbs of torque, according to the dyno runs I did. Was a nice fast car. But I got bored of it. Not sure why.

Originally Posted by Pants

I'll admit it, I'm a snob at times.

Especially when it comes to motoring.
It all started with my graduation gift. A shiny new Jeep Wrangler.

I'm guessing that's most of your problem right there.

I never realized affluency was a problem.

Thanks for pointing that out to me.
I'll learn and grow from your observations.

I would go with if they wave and I see them I wave back. I am a boater as well and while I consider the boat I have a premium boat, out on the water it's immaterial, we are all out there to enjoy so wave your ass off.

This has been discussed before and the results are pretty fair that if your going by at 60 mph it's first of all it's hard to spot the other car and it's gone past before you realize they waved or you could even wave. 2nd If you stop next too one, I usually smile and say hi. I am a rag top guy, not just a sports car guy. I see a rag top down I would wave if given the time to do so. I would consider it rude if another roadster pulled up and did not at least acknowledge presence if you do. It goes to character.

Best regards

Is the porcupine joke for real?

EB

Originally Posted by ebruder

Is the porcupine joke for real?

EB

That torch was officially passed to Audi owners in 2007.

I dont usually wave i flash my lights tho if ive got time.

Originally Posted by Pants

I never realized affluency was a problem.

Thanks for pointing that out to me.
I'll learn and grow from your observations.

Someone waves at me, I wave back. I've had bikers wave if they like the looks of the Z or if I give them room to pass. Older drivers of classic roadsters often wave. If I make eye contact with another roadster driver, I'll sometimes wave first. Unless it's a young woman - that can be taken wrong and I'm too old to try to explain!

Affluence is not a problem, the attitude it causes some to project can be, though. Snobbishness, for example. Keep learning and growning.

Originally Posted by DCBZ3

Someone waves at me, I wave back. I've had bikers wave if they like the looks of the Z or if I give them room to pass. Older drivers of classic roadsters often wave. If I make eye contact with another roadster driver, I'll sometimes wave first. Unless it's a young woman - that can be taken wrong and I'm too old to try to explain!

Affluence is not a problem, the attitude it causes some to project can be, though. Snobbishness, for example. Keep learning and growing.

+1

Nicely stated.

I just got a Z3 M roadster as my surrogate Ferrari F355 (my dream car that the wife thinks I'm an idiot for wanting). The wife wants me to get rid of the motorcycles and I see the roadster as the "next best thing" to that "in the elements" feel of the motorcycle.

Waving is a big part of the motorcycle culture. You see another rider, you wave. It's practically a given. Sometimes Harley riders are snooty if you're on a sport bike, but overall it's an appreciation that you share a common love of motoring on the wild side.

The wave says "I appreciate where you're coming from." A wave back doesn't have to be "Back at ya." If you don't like the other guy's car, your wave back could just be "Thanks, bro."

If you can't dig deep and find it in your heart to appreciate the other driver, then you're missing out on a big part of life.

I readily initiate waves/thumbs up to other Z3s and Z4s, although unfortunately they are frequently ignored or not returned.

Always return a good wave or thumbs up from anyone, regardless of their ride.

This discussion reminds me of the many, many days I've spent upland bird hunting over in neighboring Nebraska. Driving around those back roads with Wyoming plates it was the rare day some local rancher or farmer driving the other direction didn't wave at us. We always waved back. Of course, the waiving rancher/farmer simply was being hospitable or in a sense thanking us for coming over to spend some time in his neighborhood - undoubtedly also spending some money while we're at it. It's a nice feeling to have someone, a complete stranger, wave. So wave back!!

Originally Posted by scottyD

I readily initiate waves/thumbs up to other Z3s and Z4s, although unfortunately they are frequently ignored or not returned.

Always return a good wave or thumbs up from anyone, regardless of their ride.

Likewise, I'm usually the first to wave.

I give others the benefit of doubt; I figure they're checking out the car, and didn't see me wave until it's too late to respond, I'm guilty of that myself sometimes.

I wave to EVERYONE as I pass them in my neighborhood, I never know if they might be the one that would otherwise report me to the hoa for having too many sports cars in the driveway (and up to five at times in the garage).

Having owned British sports cars for over thirty (>30) years, there was a hierarchy of waving (protocol was printed in Road & Track quite some years ago: a Jaguar owner could wave to an MG owner, but the MG owner shouldn't wave first, and so down the line).

I lived in Louisiana for twenty (20) years too, and EVERYBODY waves to EVERYBODY ELSE down there (chill on the *they're all related* jokes...). Deep down, I'm a friendly person, and will go out of my way to talk to someone, so waving is no effort at all.

I even wave to the Miata drivers

Originally Posted by mark_m5

Sometimes Harley riders are snooty if you're on a sport bike, but overall it's an appreciation that you share a common love of motoring on the wild side.

How come when I ride my Harley the Sport bikes don't wave back? Me thinks it goes both ways!

I am delighted to see other Z3 and Z4 drivers and almost always wave. It's fun to see others "beamin' in their Beemers!" I drive a black Z4, so if you see me on the road, wave or you will hurt my feelings.