The Porsche salute

[RDM911]

My father bought his 70T in 1970. Needless to say I grew up with this car which by the way he still owns. I remember him flashing the lights and giving the victory sign over the steering wheel at oncoming Porsches. This gesture was returned. When I got my first Porsche (914) in high school, I followed this tradition. Now I own an 85 Carrera and I must say things have changed. I could not get an oncoming Porsche to flash the lights if my life depended on it. It happened to me again today. I have even ridden next to another Porsche without so much as a look or nod from the other driver. So is the salute outdated? Should I just stop acknowledging my fellow Porsche brethren?

[herr_oberst]

I'll wave to you. I get a lot in return, but not everyone.

Just a wave, I don't flash the lights.

[Por_sha911]

[id10t]

Originally Posted by RDM911

My father bought his 70T in 1970. Needless to say I grew up with this car which by the way he still owns. I remember him flashing the lights and giving the victory sign over the steering wheel at oncoming Porsches. This gesture was returned. When I got my first Porsche (914) in high school, I followed this tradition. Now I own an 85 Carrera and I must say things have changed. I could not get an oncoming Porsche to flash the lights if my life depended on it. It happened to me again today. I have even ridden next to another Porsche without so much as a look or nod from the other driver. So is the salute outdated? Should I just stop acknowledging my fellow Porsche brethren?

Older the car, the more likely the flash.

I had a new boxster owner pull up next to me when I was driving the 356 at a gas station and asked me "just what the hell is that model?"

I told him it was his car's great great great grandfather...

[sailchef]

I remember doing this when living in Vermont around 1977 with my first BMW. It was sort of a cult thing with BMW/Porsche, a sense of comaraderie.

[HardDrive]

Yup, older owners tend to be more involved.

Cayenne owners....don't waste you time.

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by RDM911

My father bought his 70T in 1970. Needless to say I grew up with this car which by the way he still owns. I remember him flashing the lights and giving the victory sign over the steering wheel at oncoming Porsches. This gesture was returned. When I got my first Porsche (914) in high school, I followed this tradition. Now I own an 85 Carrera and I must say things have changed. I could not get an oncoming Porsche to flash the lights if my life depended on it. It happened to me again today. I have even ridden next to another Porsche without so much as a look or nod from the other driver. So is the salute outdated? Should I just stop acknowledging my fellow Porsche brethren?

Keep trying. Maybe some more newbies like me will respond.

I think it just depends on the location and the driver's mind set. Wife and I took a Sunday drive (300+ miles) I "saluted" and got a couple of flashes in return and well as waves. Most of the time I just wave due to traffic, esspecailly if I've got someone reasonably close in front and I don't want to "upset" them.

[mreid]

See the right tire? This is the Porsche salute!

[strupgolf]

Kids today don't know road etiquite, at least the way I learned to drive. It was, and I still use it; when you see a car like yours, flash your lights, give a thumbs up or a V. If they don't, oh well. People in a $100,000 car won't be bothered with us.

[Tobra]

I get funny looks from people in boxsters when I wave in my 914

[Jrboulder]

Yeah, the whole flash thing is pretty much dead.

The true Porsche guys are still eager to start a conversation at stop lights though.

[LWJ]

I get the looks from aircooled. Water cooled? Nope.
Larry

[JQ911]

I either flash my lights, honk the horn or do a peace sign on 964s and below. I tried this on 993z and above and seldom get a response unless I assume they also own old air-cooled engines. I even wave on a VWs, E30 M3s, old Mercs or even muscles.

[GWN7]

Up here, flashing the lights means there is radar ahead.

[chapo]

I think in CA the Porsche salute includes a wave of the cellphone, followed by a tip of the Starbucks cup. What the heck, its a Tiptronic anyway.

[kinein]

i have saluted.but get very few.responss

[redstrosekNic]

When in my 924 last year, a 928 caught my eye; the driver was practically falling out of the car waving at me. It was awesome to see another enthusiastic P-car owner!

[pegasus9]

thing of the past for me,

mostly.

[look 171]

Flash your lights, get your ass kick around here

[Rick V]

It's funny, I always flick my lights not matter what model Porsche I see. I get a lot of flicks back when I am driving a 911 but very few when I am in the Boxster