tampadave Posted November 1, 2013 Report Posted November 1, 2013 I think the problem is with the people that think their MINI is just a car for commuting. It pains me that their MINIs don't know love. You're probably right. I have 159 miles on my '14 Roadster S - a two-week Florida vacation interrupted my break-in period - but I can honestly say my MINI is more than a "commuter car". There is a major difference between driving and motoring, one that becomes more obvious each time I fire up the turbo and hit the streets of Northern Virginia. And when the top goes down ..... yikes! 2014 Roadster S: Pepper White; Black Seats; 6 Speed Manual; JCW Ext. Package; Chrome Driving Lamps; City Pack; 17" Cross Spoke Challenge Wheels, etc. Ordered: Aug 17th. Name: "John Bull" (the British Uncle Sam)
mbabischkin Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I'll keep trying. Do people recognize the Roadster as a MINI, or are they largely ignorant of the "wave"? Ignorant and/or lazy... In 4 months back here I've gotten maybe 3 waves... 10 years ago as the club was starting you would be waved at from 90% of the MINIs you saw - however there were a lot fewer MINIs around, and a lot of those who bought a MINI back then were an enthusiast of some sort or another... Now, with 5 dealers within 50 miles of each other and a tremendous secondary market the MINI is a lot more mainstream in the area. There's a lot more commuters, students and other folks who view their MINI as just a car and not an entry into a community. As a result they typically don't know, and more likely don't care about the wave... 10 years ago there wasn't much of a difference between a MINI owner and a MINI Enthusiast - the same can't be said now. The reality is that today at least in this area, the wave is more MINI enthusiasts recognizing each other and less MINI owners recognizing each other. That being said, yesterday I got a wave from a White Countryman with Black stripes on Telegraph Road just south of Van Dorn St... I totally wasn't expecting them to wave back... [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
mbiedzinski Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I get waves in my Roadster, but usually because I initiate them. Been keeping an eye out for you in the neighborhood too, but no sightings of John Bull yet!
Stephatron Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I got a very exuberant wave from a black Cooper S with white stripes on Henderson Rd tonight around 5/5:30.. SHE initiated for once. She was very happy. She had a vanity tag. I was flying so I didn't pay much attention.
GreenCactus Posted November 2, 2013 Author Report Posted November 2, 2013 I got a wave tonight from a red hardtop on River Rd just north of Potomac. We both waved at the same time.
tampadave Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I get waves in my Roadster, but usually because I initiate them. Been keeping an eye out for you in the neighborhood too, but no sightings of John Bull yet! I'm out there, so keep looking! Surely, we have to be the only Roadsters in the Centreville area. Had my top down all day yesterday - what a great day for motoring! I had coffee at Starbucks last night (by Kohl's in Fair Lakes). While sitting outside enjoying a cigar and espresso, I watched a few cars pull up to my parking spot to check out the Roadster. It's so rare, I actually think people stop simply to find out what it is. As an aside, I must say my Roadster has the best manual transmission I've ever driven. 2014 Roadster S: Pepper White; Black Seats; 6 Speed Manual; JCW Ext. Package; Chrome Driving Lamps; City Pack; 17" Cross Spoke Challenge Wheels, etc. Ordered: Aug 17th. Name: "John Bull" (the British Uncle Sam)
tampadave Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 Ignorant and/or lazy... In 4 months back here I've gotten maybe 3 waves... 10 years ago as the club was starting you would be waved at from 90% of the MINIs you saw - however there were a lot fewer MINIs around, and a lot of those who bought a MINI back then were an enthusiast of some sort or another... Now, with 5 dealers within 50 miles of each other and a tremendous secondary market the MINI is a lot more mainstream in the area. There's a lot more commuters, students and other folks who view their MINI as just a car and not an entry into a community. As a result they typically don't know, and more likely don't care about the wave... 10 years ago there wasn't much of a difference between a MINI owner and a MINI Enthusiast - the same can't be said now. The reality is that today at least in this area, the wave is more MINI enthusiasts recognizing each other and less MINI owners recognizing each other. That being said, yesterday I got a wave from a White Countryman with Black stripes on Telegraph Road just south of Van Dorn St... I totally wasn't expecting them to wave back... I think you've hit the nail on the head: Enthusiast vs. Owner. 2014 Roadster S: Pepper White; Black Seats; 6 Speed Manual; JCW Ext. Package; Chrome Driving Lamps; City Pack; 17" Cross Spoke Challenge Wheels, etc. Ordered: Aug 17th. Name: "John Bull" (the British Uncle Sam)
marcimpala Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I must say I've been getting a healthy number of waves in the Gaithersburg MD area but y'all are right, you can generally tell the "point a to b" owner vs the enthusiast.
TGGRRR (Ali) Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I must say I've been getting a healthy number of waves in the Gaithersburg MD area but y'all are right, you can generally tell the "point a to b" owner vs the enthusiast. I can't tell you how many times I sit on 14th street in rush hour with a MINI right next to me and the owner won't even turn and look to see the wave. I hate it, I sit there whining "But you're in a MINI, why won't you look and wave?" It makes the traffic better when you find a friend and chat about your awesome cars!!! Tigger 2006 the cabrio and Riversong the 2014 Countryman
Drillslinger Posted November 2, 2013 Report Posted November 2, 2013 I get that a lot too. I wave but either get odd looks or else ignored :-(
FAST060 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Posted November 4, 2013 I know it wasn't you but SMOKIE and I got a :top: double thumbs up :top: from a pedestrian just past the Army Navy Country Club in Fairfax on Saturday. Not sure where he was coming from cause I'm pretty sure there were only trees in that area. :stupid: Thanks for the love, nonetheless!:rock: https://www.instagram.com/smokiendabandit/ 2009 MCS, HzB/B, CWP, PP, "BLUR" MOTORING ID: SOAR143 - MINI Community Service 2013 JCW GP, Thunder Grey, "SMOKIE" MOTORING ID: FAST060 2014 MCS Clubman, Highclass Gray, "THE ADMIRAL"
jcooper Posted November 12, 2013 Report Posted November 12, 2013 Saw this Ghostbusters MINI near Ashburn this past weekend. Awesome!:rock:
SneakyBaron Posted November 12, 2013 Report Posted November 12, 2013 Saw this Ghostbusters MINI near Ashburn this past weekend. Awesome!:rock: That's awesome
TGGRRR (Ali) Posted November 12, 2013 Report Posted November 12, 2013 That's awesome :top: Tigger 2006 the cabrio and Riversong the 2014 Countryman
tampadave Posted November 15, 2013 Report Posted November 15, 2013 Ghostbusters theme? MINI owners are definitely "not normal". And that's awesome for a conservative guy like me - I think it's great to associate with people with a flair for life. Nobody in my circle of friends would employ a Ghostbusters theme on their vehicle, paint their wheels neon, or display helipads and British flags on their roof. 2014 Roadster S: Pepper White; Black Seats; 6 Speed Manual; JCW Ext. Package; Chrome Driving Lamps; City Pack; 17" Cross Spoke Challenge Wheels, etc. Ordered: Aug 17th. Name: "John Bull" (the British Uncle Sam)
ErinKC Posted November 15, 2013 Report Posted November 15, 2013 Saw this Ghostbusters MINI near Ashburn this past weekend. Awesome!:rock: Oh!! He is on the Countryman group on facebook. There is this really awesome picture of him in front of a spooky house on the page. But here is a bunch of MINIs decked out like the gb mobile. http://www.gbfans.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=31818 [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]
omgMINI Posted November 15, 2013 Report Posted November 15, 2013 Ghostbusters theme? MINI owners are definitely "not normal". And that's awesome for a conservative guy like me - I think it's great to associate with people with a flair for life. Nobody in my circle of friends would employ a Ghostbusters theme on their vehicle, paint their wheels neon, or display helipads and British flags on their roof. +1! :top:
Wizzer Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Just poking my head in to say Hi. Sorry I haven't been online as much as I should be. 2013 has been a rough year. The Pod says HI too: Steve "Wizzer" P. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]2009 MINI Clubman S R55 "BATTPODD"
minime331 Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Steve hello!!, thought we lost you. STella- 14' Focus ST Roush CAI, Cobb access port stage1 tune, custom Ptuning 3" exhuast, Levels FMIC, Turbosmart BOV, rally armor mud flaps, more to come.
Wizzer Posted December 11, 2013 Report Posted December 11, 2013 Steve hello!!, thought we lost you. Never! Just been a rough year with work schedules and travel and such. Will try and do more to be around now that the year is wrapping up. Steve "Wizzer" P. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]2009 MINI Clubman S R55 "BATTPODD"
FAST060 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Posted December 13, 2013 BANDIT spotted the Wiz Pod at Alamo Draft House tonight/this morning! :waving: Hope you enjoyed the picture! 6hrs of film is plenty! https://www.instagram.com/smokiendabandit/ 2009 MCS, HzB/B, CWP, PP, "BLUR" MOTORING ID: SOAR143 - MINI Community Service 2013 JCW GP, Thunder Grey, "SMOKIE" MOTORING ID: FAST060 2014 MCS Clubman, Highclass Gray, "THE ADMIRAL"
Wizzer Posted December 18, 2013 Report Posted December 18, 2013 BANDIT spotted the Wiz Pod at Alamo Draft House tonight/this morning! :waving: Hope you enjoyed the picture! 6hrs of film is plenty! yeah, that POD gets around (: :itsme: Steve "Wizzer" P. [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]2009 MINI Clubman S R55 "BATTPODD"
LostDenverite Posted December 20, 2013 Report Posted December 20, 2013 Got a wave from a blue MINI (hyper?) with a handicapped hangtag as I was leaving Liberty this afternoon approx 4PM. Probably not one of us that far north, but heck, Cambo and I were that "far north" just yesterday, so who knows :-))
Minierik10 Posted December 21, 2013 Report Posted December 21, 2013 got a wave from a white one on Crabbs branch today i waved back but was too late i think was in a red and black one 2010 Mini Copper S *Stg 2 Battle Tuned* 2006 Jeep Liberty Renegade
