Does anyone in CA wave at other Porsches?

[motion]

Everytime I read a post about flashing or waving, I start feeling guilty about not doing it myself. I usually wave if I see another guards red Cab, which is every couple of days or so. These damn 911s are everywhere down here!

[widebody911]

I always flash or wave, unfortunately even when the other party isn't looking!

On my way to school last night, I saw 3 911s, one being a guards red cab piloted by a nice looking blonde lady. I got waves/flashes (lights only) from all 3.

I've found the 99X guys and Boxters people to be generally unaware of the waving thing.

[red911]

I totaly agree with Thom about the 99x and boxter guys. Even when you flash they apparently dont understand.

Bill
83SC

[pbs911]

Richard, I have never been waived to by any P-car on the road here in the area surrounding Newport Beach. Usually the P-car enthusist will approach you to talk Porsche when your parked. I waved / flashed a few but always feel like an idiot aftwerwards because I never get a response. I think Thom's experieces are different because Nor Cal folks are just more friendly.

In our neck of the woods I would have to say that the Porsche is more of a "I make more money than you" or "Yes girls,I am compensating for inadequacies in my anatomy."

[Kevin Reilly]

I wave/flash to all, though to be honest I'm starting to consider skipping it with Boxsters....the reply rate with them is really, really low.

I've had very good luck with other 911-types, though the other day a 996 guy stared at me without a clue after I flashed AND waved. Didn't bother me...his loss, not mine.

[Gspin]

I always wave to 911's though I find the newer the car the less they reciprocate. Maybe they don't get it or feel we have nothing in common, they may be on to something? As for Boxster owners that's a lost cause. In addition, If I was going to spend 50k on a car I would buy either a used 993 or Z-06. BTW, notice how the days supply of inventory is building on the Boxsters at you local Porsche dealer. I think the bloom is off the rose.

When it's all said and done take the effort to wave to nearly all 911 owners and those in 914's. These owners know what we are thinking.

[Kurt B]

"but always feel like an idiot aftwerwards because I never get a response"

I KNOW exactly what you mean, which is why I don't bother either.

People in CA don't wave. They just don't. I will nod at a 930 out of respect (especially if it's tricked out), but generally, everyone in so cal is in their own world.
Besides anyone trying to get my attention while I've got "Seasons in the Abyss" by Slayer blasting 40' in all directions isn't going to have much luck.

[makaio]

I wave to all Porsche's, even when I'm in my truck. I concure with the 99X & Boxster coment. Most of them don't get it.

[bento]

always, regardless of what type of porsche it is, assuming that the person look like they are into their car. You guys should read the letter of the month from the newest 911 and Porsche World re: proper waiving protocol. It's pretty funny (and unfortunately true)

db

[Vol]

I wave at older cars... I don't really bother with 9xx cars except a 996 stunned me the other day by waving at me first! Just when you think you can safely dismiss an entire demographic segment they come along and blow your theory!

It absolutely makes my day when I wave and get a response from another old car owner. I was in SoCal a few years back and was shocked when I waved at another 70-71 911 and the guy was oblivious. I was crushed. Just more fodder for the NoCal/SoCal debate :-)

Vol

71T 3.2

[kstar]

I got a friendly flash from a nice 993 recently here in SoCal - made my day!

I almost always get a flash or a return flash/wave from the early cars; never had a flash or a wave from any of the water pumpers.

I typically flash all 911s (yes, even the water pumpers) and try not to get too discouraged or feel too silly if I am ignored.

At least Porsche made it a little easier to distinguish 996s from Boxsters with the new 996 headlight treatment.

Best,

Kurt

'72T MFI 3.2

[steve911]

I wave and flash - same drill: the newer the car, the less likelihood of a wave. When my 6 year old is with me, the other car gets a double wave - HE knows the protocol!

[Don Plumley]

I usually flash, unless it's a obvious poser (lots of those here in SoCal - you can tell, the rearview mirror is pointed back at their face). I wave to older cars, try to pull along side them on the freeway, probably look like a lunatic trying to check out their car...

...Other day I was driving up the windy road into our neighborhood (Ridgeline), and since I was first at the light, drove pretty hard up to the speed limit. Then I saw a 80's Targa in my rearview, so I slowed down, they pulled up beside me, and a nice lady gave me a wave first! Made my day.

About the Boxter - there was a complete gaggle of them out at the Autox in Irwindale last Sunday. So you never know when there is a real enthusiast in a wasserpumper.

Back in the Mid 80's I had a 320is - I flashed every BMW I saw. Now that was a waste of electricity.

Don

[Brian993]

I usually pull out my hanky and wave. In Ma. waving is just not hip I guess. But if I bump into another porsche owner in a parking lot or something we can usually get a good conversation going. But it's like anything else, there are jerks involved to. If I see a nice blonde chick driving a 993 I might wave, flash my lights and honk my horn. Besides hasnt this subject been covered before?

[speeder]

I wave back to people in other cars who wave at me, regardless of what they are driving, (Yugo, Hyundai, whatever). I must confess that I do not pay attention to other Porsches when driving; they are common here and most people prefer a certain sense of privacy in their cars, including me. If I am sitting in traffic next to a cool car, (Porsche or other make), and windows are down, I will complement if it doesn't seem awkward.

As far as the 996/Boxster thing goes, I do not believe that it is a requirement that only a certain type of enthusiast who understands the history of Porsche has the right to drive one; a lot of these people are first-time owners who would not assume that they have something in common w/ others on the basis of choice of car.

Don't mean to sound harsh, but if only real enthusiasts bought new Porsches they would have gone out of business a looong time ago.

P.S.: If you want to experience the old-fashioned light-flashing and waving every time experience, drive an Alfa. I had one for years- now those are enthusiasts!

[Zeke]

Once upon a time, when 911's were brand new to the marque and not too frequently seen, the 356 folks ignored them. Or was it the other way around. Then there was the issue of the 928 and the 924/944. The 911 crowd ignored them. There has always been descrimination towards the 914 by other P car owners and the clubs didn't want them around. It seems to take a few years for the new models to be homolgated into the group.

BTW, When I lived I Alabama for a year, flashing headlights meant that the flasher had just passed a cop (or a county mounty/city kitty) and you were headed right for him.

In SoCal these days, if you wave, it is taken as a gesture of uncertain meaning. In fact, there is now a CA law that prohibits people from using hand signals thru the open window. You MUST use your turn signals, which no one does. Bottom line, unless you know that no one else can see you waving and you know the person you are waving to is going to understand, you might want to keep you hands (and your lights) to yourself in SoCal or risk getting shot. We have a freeway shooting about once a day around here. If the bullet misses the car's occupants, its not even reported in the news. Its not even news, its just life in SoCal. If I forget to wave, it might be that I have something else on my mind.

[Doug Zielke]

Denis sez:
"If you want to experience the old-fashioned light-flashing and waving every time experience, drive an Alfa. I had one for years- now those are enthusiasts!"

LOL!
I had a couple of Alfas so I know all about the frantic waving.
Except....it's probably that their electrical systems have expired, and they're trying to get you to stop and help.

[jkeyzer]

I go out of my way to wave/flash the older cars. If I see a pre-73 on the road somewhere it really makes my day, especially if it's a Tangerine Targa, which I do see every once in a while around here.

[89Targa]

The flashing light/wave thing was invented by the 356 guys back in their hayday. The early 911 folks were good about keeping up the tradition, but then it started to die in the 1970's. I can remember being at PCA meetings in the early to mid 1980's with the "older" members remembering the good old days when Porsche owners acknowledged each other. They would complain about the newbie SC and Carrera owners who "didn't understand". Funny how history repeats itself. We now say the same thing about the 996 and Boxster crowd.

[motion]

Milt, my man, I'm reading your post the 2nd time and cracking up with tears in my eyes! Ahhhhh LA. Isn't it great? I'm in OC, and everything north of Irvine is LA as far as I'm concerned. Great poetry there, though. A true LA person dodging bullets and living to write another day. Kurt B? Chime in anytime now. You can say what you want about the "Orange Curtain", but hey, I'll live to enjoy my car another day (God willing).