Acknowledged 996's 997's

So far I've acknowledged about four 996's 997's with headlights or a raised hand the last one being at close range at a width restriction and have been blown-out every time very embarrassing, so from now on I'm not playing!

Go back 25 years and I couldnt pass another 911 without getting a wave of the hand or light flash...it was kind of accepted. But in those days a) there were very few about so seeing one was a bit special and b) the cars themselves were more special relative to most things on the road. Now there are just too many of them... particularly 996s

Funny you should raise this as I have been thinking the same, and know how stupid you feel too. The camaraderie doesn't seem to exist anymore with Porsche ownership. I thought it may have been because the other driver thinks I'm some grinning nutter :dont know: I passed a cracking 997 Turbo the other day on the M25 in slow (of course) moving traffic. The driver looked across at me like I was a piece of proverbial poo. I know mine is worth 70k less but come on. Until recently I used to ride superbikes, and I should think that close to 95% of other sports riders would tip their head or raise their fingers in acknowledgement (not the V).

We've just had a thread about this and I will continue to just straighten the hand at the top of the steering wheel :thumb: However, I am notorious for being totally focussed on the road ahead and not really noticing any more detail than the fact that a car of unknown make and model is coming the other way I am the opposite of a 'rubber-necker' - I have driven quite obliviously past accidents that have closed 3 lanes of a motorway for half the day and only found out about it on the News when I got home!

I've noticed the same with Porsches now, it's a shame really, I guess it's because there's more of them around and less enthusiasts are driving them. I always used to get a wave when in my TVR(s) and also in my old Mini (real not sausage) when I were a lad.

I acknowledge other Porsche drivers and I'm pleased to report that most do wave back. There will always be a level of snobbery or ignorance - but so what; if you ignore everyone then the whole thing will die out.

Acknowledged a white NB 993 on Kings Rd yesterday. Should have known better...

I will always stick my finger up to any Porsche (exc Cayenne)

Passed 2 Porsches last Saturday, first one a blue 997 and got a good response, then a few miles along a white 2.7 RS look a like (I think) but got no response back, I was disapointed but hey ho. :dont know: I will continue to acknowledge.

I was given a wave by a chap in a burgandy coloured 993 the other day, Unfortunately, by the time I noticed him and his wave, it was too late for me to wave back. He probably thought "***** in the 996!" If you are on here then plaease accept my apologies. Anyway, being a water-cooled chap with dodgy lights I was impressed to get a wave from an air-cooled chap with round lights.

That's it another negative response today in Cookham I'm playing hard to get from now on only responding if the other driver makes the first move.

Maybe I can speak on behalf of the non-hand wavers here! Firstly, the cynically remarks about 'not as many enthusiasts driving Porsche's anymore' or somehow intimating that it's 996/997 drivers who let the side down are to me just more of the usual rubbish posted by airheads. The simple fact is, I just find it a bit naff. Sorry! It doesn't matter in the slightest what the car is. That's a complete red herring. To be honest, if I was to make some acknowledging gesture, probably with a nod and a smile if we made eye contact side by side at the lights or something like that, it would be towards some guy in a really old classic 911 that is in pristine condition becasue I would be showing my appreciation that the car is looking so well and fair play to him. I'd respond the same seeing any number of old classics, from Beetles, to Mini's to Jag E-types to Mk 1 Cortinas. I love the 'petrolhead' passion in people who preserve these cars. I hang out with Porsche Club members from time to time and we are a little band of Porsche 911 ethusiasts but we know each other. and wave each other as friends. I don't really get the hand wave or flashing lights at a complete stranger. I'm not sure what's it meant to mean. I like your car? I like you? Me and you are one? It's not as if we're members of some religious sect or the freemasons. But if someone did it to me I'd always respond. Some people are just more publicly demonstrative than others. Perhaps it's a generational thing and people today have a different approach to how they connect to others. Perhaps life is busier, the roads more intense, cyclists a little more unpredictable! Perhaps it's just the scale of life. People in small villages say hello to each other as they pass on a footpath. We don't do that in big cities. It doesn't mean people have become any less friendly. So lets not get into another air-cooled versus water-cooled nonsensical cul-de -sac.

My first car was a 2CV that cost me £50 - and I had to weld a new floor in to it! I'd never had a car before and found it really odd that other 2CV drivers kept waving at me. At first I thought that there was something wrong up the road or police ahead - not that it would've mattered too much in my 2CV!. I have to admit to being a total fraud and wasn't really in to all that 2CV club bit - I only had the car because it was all I could afford. So years later I expected a similar reaction whilst in my Porsche - but alas, no!! Lost count of the number of times that I've waved and then wished that my car had been fitted with an ejector seat or instant total black out windows - to avoid the crushing embarrassment that follows a NWPO. (Non-Waving Porsche Owner, of course!) :grin: