Saw a MINI Cooper SE at...

My best sighting yet. Saw a 2022 BRG with white roof/mirrors, and we got to travel together for about five miles on the Crosstown highway in the south metro (Twin Cities). Exchanged waves and smiles. I wish there was some special SE-related hand gesture :).
 
My only disappointment with my first MINI is the lack of fellow MINI owners returning my exuberance. I wave at every MINI I encounter, and am met with only blank stares. They're all ICE's, maybe that's why they don't return my waves. Or maybe the "rules" haven't reached them. Or maybe they're just zombies. Regardless, I have yet to see another SE in the waves of Teslas in my area, but am looking forward to a fun run later this month where there should be at least ONE other SE owner to fist-bump! :cool:
 
drdunkyn said:
Or maybe the "rules" haven't reached them.
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It's this. When I got my first MINI in 2010, the dealer told us all about waving. Nowadays it's not mentioned to new buyers at all, unless individual motoring advisors take it upon themselves to do so. Even MINI's official Save the Wave page is broken.

I remember hearing MINI was planning to revive the quirky marketing, but I haven't seen evidence of it yet. At least they try to keep some community spirit going.
 
It's a sign of the times. In the "old days", if you were driving a "sports car" (loosely translated then as "foreign"), waves were standard practice. Now, most people don't even wave to their neighbors. Everyone is isolated, tucked away in their own electronic cacoon.
 
revorg said:
It's a sign of the times. In the "old days", if you were driving a "sports car" (loosely translated then as "foreign"), waves were standard practice. Now, most people don't even wave to their neighbors. Everyone is isolated, tucked away in their own electronic cacoon.
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The 2024 SE should have LED hand-waving pixels built into the windshield and the camera should be progammed to recognize other MINI Coopers and activate the electronic waving automatically. A dashboard switch could enable the driver to choose whether to wave at all MINI Coopers or only at MINI Cooper SEs (Bimmercode would be required to turn this feature completely off). MINI/Great Wall Motor--get on this mod right away!
 
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In latest episode of White Roof Radio they talk about the subject of waving and what it was like in the very first days of MINI. I just got a Gladiator (not even a Wrangler), and I can't believe the number of people who wave at me. Especially here where every 10th car is a Jeep. I was a Miata owner for many years and didn't get a whole lot of waves, or maybe I wasn't paying attention.
 
insightman said:
The 2024 SE should have LED hand-waving pixels built into the windshield and the camera should be progammed to recognize other MINI Coopers and activate the electronic waving automatically. A dashboard switch could enable the driver to choose whether to wave at all MINI Coopers or only at MINI Cooper SEs
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I would suggest the switch be on the steering wheel. We want instant response, without having to fumble around for the right switch!
 
revorg said:
I would suggest the switch be on the steering wheel. We want instant response, without having to fumble around for the right switch!
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If MINI/Great Wall Motor can't program the camera to automatically start the electronic wave, then you're right, the activation switch should be on the steering wheel. A steering-wheel switch would make the electronic wave more effective than me when I can't instantly decide which hand to wave or how close to the windshield to extend the hand I eventually choose.
 
drdunkyn said:
and am met with only blank stares.
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Owners of the (Canadian-market) smart fortwo 450 (2005-2006) were a very social group, always acknowledging fellow 450 drivers like Jeepers and riders of American bikes do. When the 451 replaced the 450 in 2008, that pretty much disappeared.
 
somebody on the CA Mini FB group had a pic of a Mini wave using this:
221ee8cf-7849-43c3-8d98-8ced462e2005.0c5bfaf425bd9667fd80c8bceaadafb7.jpeg


Unrelated: I saw my first Lucid Air on the road this past weekend.
 
Today is a great day for me :) I literally ran into 5 Mini Cooper SE within San Francisco city limit today! First I saw a white one on 19th in early afternoon . Next I ran into a chili red one 4pm on Geary Blvd. After that, I saw a midnight black one on San Jose Ave around 5pm. Lastly, I saw 2 silver grey one separately on Monterey Blvd around 6pm ( two different ppl driving at separate time!) I think a lot of SE were delivered to new Bay Area owners recently! Note: I wasn’t driving distractedly as I was a passenger on hubby’s vehicle [emoji594] my eyes were eyeing Mini on the road
 
drdunkyn said:
If you venture across the bay you might see a gray SE driving very politely on 680! (fast, but polite!)
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I can’t wait to run into you and indeed I love that color too. I am still patiently waiting for mine to arrive[emoji173]️ I was so surprised that I ran into that many today. I live on the peninsula and As of yet I have not seen any SE in San Mateo County.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
insightman said:
If MINI/Great Wall Motor can't program the camera to automatically start the electronic wave, then you're right, the activation switch should be on the steering wheel. A steering-wheel switch would make the electronic wave more effective than me when I can't instantly decide which hand to wave or how close to the windshield to extend the hand I eventually choose.
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Yeah, but it's not about the automatic reflex. It's really about a human connection. MINI owners should embrace the car they decided upon, and own that! I've always loved these little cars, and now that I own (the best) one, I want to bond!! Maybe they're jealous of us? Silent and efficient...I would be jealous too...
 
Yoyo_boba said:
I can’t wait to run into you and indeed I love that color too. I am still patiently waiting for mine to arrive[emoji173]️ I was so surprised that I ran into that many today. I live on the peninsula and As of yet I have not seen any SE in San Mateo County.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
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I have high expectations for the NorCal Mini club, just got my official member tags and stickers (they are a little tacky), but can't wait for the upcoming drive.
 
Yoyo_boba said:
I can’t wait to run into you and indeed I love that color too. I am still patiently waiting for mine to arrive[emoji173]️ I was so surprised that I ran into that many today. I live on the peninsula and As of yet I have not seen any SE in San Mateo County.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
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There’s a BRG and one or two Moonwalk Grey SE’s I see around Menlo Park with some frequency. I parked next to the BRG one the other day while downtown. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a few more around town in the future, you know how people love their EVs around here :)
 
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