Whatever happened to Miata camaraderie?

[GordonJ]

Hey guys,

I'm a brand new Miata owner (bought my first one just over a month ago now), but I've been raised with Miatas most of my life. My dad owned 4 over the years, and anytime we'd go for rides and he'd pass an oncoming Miata, they'd always wave to each other, or at least acknowledge each other with a smile or nod or something.

In the past month though that I've had a Miata, everytime I see another one, I always wave or acknowledge them...at least two dozen times or so in the past month, and maybe only like 1 or 2 have either noticed or returned the wave.
I haven't seen many new gen Miatas at all, so it could be they don't even realize I'm a Miata too...I dunno. Or maybe people just don't notice oncoming traffic as much as I do...lol. I used to wave at other Protege5s when I owned one before buying the Miata, and would likewise never get a response, but thats more understandable.

So do you guys wave? What are your experiences with fellow Miatas acknowleding you and vice-versa on the roads? I'm starting to feel pretty lonely out here...(ughdance)

[randyscycle]

Hey guys,

I'm a brand new Miata owner (bought my first one just over a month ago now), but I've been raised with Miatas most of my life. My dad owned 4 over the years, and anytime we'd go for rides and he'd pass an oncoming Miata, they'd always wave to each other, or at least acknowledge each other with a smile or nod or something.

In the past month though that I've had a Miata, everytime I see another one, I always wave or acknowledge them...at least two dozen times or so in the past month, and maybe only like 1 or 2 have either noticed or returned the wave.
I haven't seen many new gen Miatas at all, so it could be they don't even realize I'm a Miata too...I dunno. Or maybe people just don't notice oncoming traffic as much as I do...lol. I used to wave at other Protege5s when I owned one before buying the Miata, and would likewise never get a response, but thats more understandable.

So do you guys wave? What are your experiences with fellow Miatas acknowleding you and vice-versa on the roads? I'm starting to feel pretty lonely out here...(ughdance)

While I don't own a Miata, I understand exactly what you are saying. As a 20 year motorcycle rider, we too had "the wave" As more and more folks have begun to ride, it seems that has gone by the wayside. I get only a few return waves anymore. I guess its just because its become more commonplace to see bikes on the road, just like Miatas.

[Roywhitep5]

only prius drivers do that now. then they smell their own farts. this was all chronicalled on south park

[The Mad Swede]

Of course! I do the Miata wave all the time. It is not often returned though, which is kind of sad.

Sometime when I drive my beater, an –86 Nissan 200sx, I get a bit of a brain-error and wave at ”other” Miatas… this causes some confusion…

[phinz]

I wave usually. I get more wave enthusiasm from xB owners when I'm in the box, though.

[Rush]

.. You guys are lucky. The few EXTREMELY rare times over the years that I've happened to see another MSP, I've tried to wave or be friendly -- but have gotten nothing in response. EVER. Then again, I believe I only passed another MSP while driving .. maybe five times total? If that? So it's not much to go on.

In general, people either look at me with an annoyed expression (as in, GOD look at the STUPID GIRL behind the wheel of THAT), or just flat-out stare. So I've kinda given up on trying to be 'drive-by-wave' friendly. :(

[GordonJ]

Funny thing is, I get more waves and nods from guys in other sports cars like vettes and porsches than Miatas.

I guess it basically comes down to the individual owner and how much they really care about the vehicle they're driving, and how much they like to drive period.

[ZoomZoomH]

i get no love from rx8 drivers on the road :(

[BoOsTiN]

Same here. I get no love from fellow MSP's or Miata drivers.
I told my gf about the good ol days and the miata wave ( she drives the miata). She waves at every miata she passes and they all look at her like shes crazy.

[nate0123]

It's kinda hard to wave when the left hand is steering and the right is shifting (drive).

Although most of my driving is in the city. Maybe it would be easier on the highway.

[kcbhiw]

It's just a sign of the times and/or passion. I wave at both P5's and Miatas, depending on what I'm driving. Typically, I receive almost no resposne from the other P5's and around 50% for the Miata. Oh well :-/

[Captain KRM P5]

"its a jeep thing" those guys are rabid wavers. my brother just got his MSM tonight and he has gotten stopped for photoshoots, meeting up with other miata owners and just general shop talk. seems like around here there is plenty of roadster lovin

[GordonJ]

It's kinda hard to wave when the left hand is steering and the right is shifting (drive).

Although most of my driving is in the city. Maybe it would be easier on the highway.

Well its not an actual "wave", like you're waving goodbye to someone at an airport or something.
Just basically raising your four fingers off the steering wheel while your thumb stays wrapped around it.

[nate0123]

I'll try it when I'm out today... see what kind of response I get :)

[ZoominMX-5]

Ive owned two miatas. Around here in SC, noone really knows or cares what the miata wave is.

But when im on my motorcycle, every cycle rider, from full gear clad liter bike riders to tattooed cruiser people wave at me. I dunno maybe people love motorcycles here

[SilverBulletES]

Yeah, that's one aspect I miss from having a bike. Cruiser, crotch rocket, Goldwing, dual-sport.... I could get a wave all the time on my Beemer from fellow motorcyclists. Well, 50% of the time.

With the Miata now it's very rare, although it has happened. Maybe because with the price of a used Miata now, there are a lot of people driving them just because they're dirt cheap. The general rule of thumb for me to try a wave is whether the driver puts the top up with less than ideal weather. I hardly ever put my top up.

[MiaTurbo]

it's hit or miss. Nothing to get worried about. just drop the top, and drive happy :)

As far as getting waves from others, I find that I get quite a few waves from bikers down at Deal's Gap.

[TougeSpeed]

Originally posted by GordonJ
I'm a brand new Miata owner (bought my first one just over a month ago now), but I've been raised with Miatas most of my life. My dad owned 4 over the years, and anytime we'd go for rides and he'd pass an oncoming Miata, they'd always wave to each other, or at least acknowledge each other with a smile or nod or something.

i totally know what your saying.

i'm actually growing up with a lil mazda family myself. My dad owns a 2004 mazda speed miata while he passed down his 95 miata to me.

Whenever i'm driving i notice other miata drivers as well, i wave and they wave back. but i never get it from any of the lady miata's? wierd....

[GordonJ]

I've actually taken to waving at almost any other roadsters. I haven't seen ANY new gen MX-5s, and most older Miatas don't wave back, so I'll wave or at least nod at S2000s (often give a thumbs up) and Solstices, since I see many more of them. Most of the S2000 guys wave back.
I still think its mostly the more casual miata drivers just not recognizing the new gen Miatas.

Hopefully when Spring rolls around, there will be alot more on the road...

[nate0123]

Seriously, how could anyone not recognize the new Miata? The styling is so derivative of previous generations, it's immediately recognizable even if you were seeing one for the first time.

[GordonJ]

Seriously, how could anyone not recognize the new Miata? The styling is so derivative of previous generations, it's immediately recognizable even if you were seeing one for the first time.

I think you'd be surprised...

I've had probably a dozen or more comments from people...almost all of them start something like "Nice car! What is it?"

Of course, they're not Miata drivers...but still....

[PlatinumMSP]

i get waves from almost every car that is yellow.... most msp's try to race me when i catch up to them... and then i wave when i beat them... lol

[phinz]

I think you'd be surprised...

I've had probably a dozen or more comments from people...almost all of them start something like "Nice car! What is it?"

Of course, they're not Miata drivers...but still....

+1

[Rickman]

I wave, but I usually only get waves back from NB owners, and then only about half the time.

The NC owners I see never wave.

[miataguy2cyprus]

most miata owners know each other in nicosia (my hometown) so yes i wave and i have 90% response.

[GordonJ]

I saw my first red NC on the road today. It was a younger looking girl (she was actually pretty cute;)), we passed each other head on and I waved pretty clearly. Nothing. Thats only like the 3rd NC I've seen since owning mine, too.

Not to sound sexist, but I've given up on waving to chick drivers. They're either always on a cell, or just don't notice.

[The Mad Swede]

Not to sound sexist, but I've given up on waving to chick drivers. They're either always on a cell, or just don't notice.

Or they think we are hitting on them…

I told my Girlfriend about the Miata-Wave. However, she has a hard time telling which car is which (she doesn’t really care as long as they are fast enough) so she waves to anything she thinks might be a Miata (boxters, Z3s, Z4s, Miatas and S2000s). They ALL wave back to her.