What's up with other P drivers and the 996 haterade?

It's a nice morning here in the Republic, so I went and did some chores in the 996. Red, aero, clean - not like you can actually miss seeing it. I'm on a small rural road, and see a Panamera coming and flick my lights, and wave - the guy is like a stone behind the wheel. Not a look, glance, wave, lights, nothing! Ok, so a one-off tube steak with no sense of camaraderie, it happens. I'm at a stop light in town, and there's a nice silver 991-ish car on the intersection on my right. I see him look at me, then I give a mere raise of the hand and smile. He looks away! Like I've got leprosy or something. WTF! Maybe it's the Boxster effect, I don't know but really - disappointed. I'm going to put it down to some of our new transplants from the land of milk and honey way out west. On the way home, I was at a light next to the ubiquitous pickup truck and the guy was checking out my car. Even this old codger gave me a smile and flick of the head. I smiled back and gave him a nod.

That isn't fun, the Pan doesn't surprise me. I had a 991 gt3rs flash me first, I was so giddy...that is a true Porsche nut. The had a 997 Turbo want to play with me on the freeway we were both all smiles. Too bad that isn't the daily experience.

A lot of the panamera drivers are just liking the luxury I think and not necessarily big porsche fans!

I think the "wave" all but died in the early millennium...... I haven't seen it but maybe a half a dozen times since 2000. I admit I often don't actually "see" a P car and generally don't give anything but a 911 a second glance........

Panamera sees any 911 and goes - I'm an idiot so I won't respond. LOL Driving home from work an old huge caddy with busted up everything, no hubcaps, two guys looking like the just broke out of jail, windows down and smoke coming out like a chimney, stopped at traffic light next to each other, they turn and look at my lowly 99 996, smile and give me a big thumbs up. Amazing.

The wave has been documented as a non-thing for Porsche drivers for quite some time. 911's don't even wave at each other; why would someone driving the Buick of Porsche wave? When I'm driving my Corvette, I don't expect someone in an Equinox to wave... If you enjoy camaraderie behind the wheel, buy a Corvette. In addition to everyone waving - from a granny rocking a '53 to Mr. Midlife Crisis cruising his showroom-new C7 -you'll also get to enjoy partially-buttoned shorts and rocking more gold chains than Mr. T. Oh, and you'll get to find out that the whole "Corvettes can't turn" thing is 40 years outdated...and you'll realize that beating on the car for which you can buy a crate motor starting at $1,500 and double the HP for $5K makes a lot more sense than ragging out the M96 you'd have to sell a ******** AND a kidney to replace. I love my 996, but there is some amount of liberation in being able to think, "Hm, that's a funny noise. Let's see if a monster burnout will fix it" rather than "Hm, that's a funny noise. I wonder if I can suppress the urge to sh*t myself while calling the flat-bed tow company I keep on speed-dial."

There's an MK1 996 aero in yellow that lives very close by. I gave the dude a full thumbs up and gawked as they're pretty rare to see. He pretended like my grey C2 was a Yugo, but I saw him again the other day while I was in my SUV.. so there's still hope. I'd love to check it out at a C&C. The 991s typically ignore me, boxster drivers have been friendly - including a veritable FOX in a red 987 (we made eye contact, emotions ran high). I don't even try to say hi to the Pan-Cay-Macan folks; seems like a different clientele. Though I do very much like the Panamera relative to the competition. The only solution with holdout 911/917 owners is to flood them with camaraderie such that smugness drowns in thumbs up & gracious nods.

My area is tight with P-Car comradeship. We are rural and rare so every P-Car gets noticed and gives a wave.

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'Buick of Porsches' baaaaahahahahahaaaa!!!! You win the internet today. BTW, I usually get a wave from many other P drivers out here. It's a Texas thang, we're generally pretty convivial. Now, if I were driving a lowly 996 down Rodeo drive in BH, sure, I'm the scum of the earth, but in TX - it's different.

I'm in Central PA and I don't see that camaraderie of which you speak...Maybe I need to move to another town.

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I'm in Central PA and I don't see that camaraderie of which you speak...Maybe I need to move to another town.

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I get that - I've spent a frightening amount of time in east Texas. It's different here; people in CA seem to go out of their way to avoid eye contact. I think that's the main reason people here are obsessed with sunglasses... It takes a while to overcome the urge to wave at anyone within a 5-mile radius of home after living in small-town TX; you do that here, they figure you're a child molester or retar- er, developmentally disabled .

Not everyone buys into the whole Porsche community thing. I definitely get waves from almost every other 996 driver I see, but Panameras? No way.

A few weeks ago I had this complete ***** of a yellow 996 Targa driver not pay a lick of attention when I waved from the P!g! It was a member of the forum too and after I bought him BBQ not too long ago! It's not just Panny, P!g, and P!gglet drivers. The newer the Porsche, the less likely you'll get a wave. This really seems to have started with the 996 as they were sold to more "normal" buyers and the enthusiasts got diluted. The older the car, the more likely it's an enthusiast driving, and the more likely for recognition.

I like my 996. No haterade here. But the waving thing sucks with you water cooled folks... It's an air cooled thing I guess. Most 996 drivers seen oblivious.

So long as teenage boys stare and do 100+ degree turns, it will all be good. I got the stare and neck swivel from a kid and his girlfriend just yesterday. Wannabe future 911 owner(s).

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36130_404460957582_505702582_4856367_7112705_n.jpg Just kidding - it's awesome that some kids still "get" cars. Last election day (our polling place is a middle-school), Mrs. 5chn3ll took the 996 to vote; when she came out, the playground side of the fence was lined with kids gazing at the car. They get it.

^ Good to hear. There's hope for the future. OP...Don't sweat it. Here in DFW, any acknowledgement from the Panny, Cayenne, Macan crowd is rare. I had a dude in a Macan ignore me even though we were both filling up at the same gas station with no other car. C'mon man!! I'm driving a Guards Red iconic member of the Porsche family and you're driving a silver Porsche station wagon, and he's ignoring my Unicorn? I had hurty feelings for days. T

I get a decent share of waves/lights. Not in the majority, mind you. Seems like I get more comments from car nuts in general. Offers to buy, had one just like it, want one someday, etc etc etc. Have gotten a wave or two from a Panamera and a Macan. No Cayannes yet.

I have an elderly neighbor who keeps offering to trade her Austin for my 996 or my Corvette. I need to research said Austin.

I only get waves from old guys driving old Porsches, but even that is rare. And, once on the 15 Freeway a guy in a Carrera GT gave me a wave (nope, not even an extended middle finger in that wave!). Bikers still do the wave, mostly.

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That's a wave hello, some beers, and a wave goodbye. From a fellow Pennsyltuckian

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C4 = the 996 of Corvettes! A buddy's truck broke down so I gave him a ride home in my C5. A couple Vette's went by the other way and we waved. My buddy asks if they were people I knew and I had to explain the wave to him. He didn't believe it so I didn't wave at the next Vette that came by letting them wave first. He couldn't get over it and still talks about it today. I have not had a single other Porsche driver wave to me here in So Cal.

I am going too fast to see or give a wave Nor, do I care. I love my car. Other opinions are not considered. LOL

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This is truly the worst sort of 911 driver!

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Had to make sure you were alive

If you want to get waved at, just go to Iowa. They wave at every moving vehicle.

I rarely get waved at in the 996 by other P peeps. My CJ5 gets all the CJ, YJ people to wave though.

996' and prior, I get waves. 997's are 50-50. 991 dont even look in your direction. The Pananera's, Cayenne's and Macan's are all to busy on their phones.

I stopped at a traffic light last week, and a guy in a brand-spanking-new white 991 cabriolet pulls up next to me. He looks over and says "Car looks great!" I give him the thumbs up and we are on our way. Not everyone is a tool.

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That, or they don't even know what a 911 is. (apologies to any Pan owners on this forum......)

"The older the car, the more likely it's an enthusiast driving, and the more likely for recognition." I experienced a similar phenomenon with my CJ-7 from my college days and my LR Discovery. Back in college a CJ driver did not wave to a Wrangler driver because they hadn't felt the love, hate, and bloody knuckles of driving an AMC. Wranglers drivers were seen as not real Jeeps at the time and besides Barbie had a Jeep Wrangler (a Corvette too, for that matter). Now a days with the Discovery I get and give a wave to another Discovery but not a Range Rover, heck not even an LR3 or LR4. They haven't felt the pain yet to be able to commiserate. Here in Eastern NC there aren't too many P cars and even fewer 911s of any flavor. I think in all three examples (CJ, LR, 911) there is a sense of community built around the uniqueness of the vehicles and the trials and tribulations each one gives the owners. Personally with the CJ and LR I had to overcome the PO unattended mechanical issues. Thus far, on the 2002 996 PO issues are much less pronounced and I am grateful for it. I don't take personally any non-wave from a Range Rover when I am in the Discovery because I don't expect it; not the same community, not the same experience. Likewise I don't expect a wave from a Cayman, Boxster, Macan, or Panamera (if there were any around here). I expect some sense of community and camaraderie from 911 owners, if I ever find another one around here. In the meantime I will enjoy the overt displays of excessively load exhausts from young guys in Mustangs, Camaros, and Corvettes.

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Another brother in the ownership experience that it Land Rover Discovery .. D1, D2?

2004 D2 in Aztec Gold. In the driveway the gold Disco is a nice contrast to the silver C2 Cab. What else is nice is that I have never experienced the three amigos...

I own a vette and 996 and the vette gets the attention all the time. 996 one wave since my purchase. Two diff worlds of community.

Nice. I got an 2001 in Black. and may the rover god continuing smiling upon you. I fixed my three amigos and they haven;t re-appeared since. (knock on wood)

Spent my formative years with Jeeps and Harleys, everyone waved. I'm in my 60s now and just sold my last Harley. Two older air cooled 911s and back then a wave was the rule. I know times have changed the wave with the Porsche but if you want to talk about ''no respect" you should: drive a 944

I figure if I lavish attention on the Disco and don't let it see the attention the 996 is getting it wont get lonely and search out new friends in the form of the amigos...

So someone ignores you and you call that 'hatorade'? funny. I don't wave at Porsches when I drive my 997. In fact when I ride my Tuono I am mildly annoyed at having to wave at every passing bike. I am not antisocial or anything, it's just that when I am driving/riding/running a road race it's my Zen and I want to be with my thoughts. After the drive/ride/run is over, happy to socialize and share experiences, talk shop, whatever.

As mentioned above, it's not the car; it's the people. The newer generation of Porsche buyers are typically not car enthusiasts or Porsche enthusiasts. On our recent fall color tour in Colorado, I drove the 997 turbo with the top down. I gave a friendly wave to 4 or 5 Porsches and I got nothing in return. I did, however, get waves from a Corvette driver and a Shelby Cobra driver. The former were not car enthusiasts, the latter were.

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I come from BMW M3/M5 world. When the E9x M3 was the newest, we all waved to each other, just about everywhere (except on my road trips to SoCal, where snootiness is cynicism color everything). Sometimes the older-model M3 drivers would wave, but it was more the exception for a while, I think because they did not approve of the latest model looks and/or V8 vs straight 6, and/or many E9x M3 drivers didn't wave to them because new-car owners are often oblivious to older years of the same model. That changed when the F-series Ms came out. Then all of us naturally-aspirated M3s waved in solidarity to each other. In my E39 M5, I got a few waves from others, but more waves from E30 and E36 M3 drivers, maybe because the E39 M5 is possibly the best BMW ever made. (I say this having never driven the M1 or Z8, though.) NOBODY driving the F-series Ms waves to anybody (except maybe each other). New car owners in their own world. In my 996, I get more waves than not from other 996s and newer model 911s. Caymans and Boxters don't wave to me. Cayennes and Panameras I confess I hardly notice. Air-cooled 911s tend to not wave, but I figure that's just a car-class thing and I'm just not worthy in the lowly 996. Even at Cars & Coffee, snootiness trumps friendliness as the 996 isn't awesome enough for supercar aficionados or old and exotic enough for collector-car aficionados, but that's okay. I love my car. It's a beautiful red cab in better condition than most cars of any make that age. So I go about my business. This isn't the droid you are looking for. You can move along.

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my Zen, funny. really, really sorry to be annoying. whatever

Really great observations and comments. I got a thumbs up by a guy driving a flat black 993(I have no idea what version). Also got the once over by a grizzled "old" guy in a beat up four wheel drive pick-up. I looked over and up, he gave me the approval nod! I agree it depends on the people not the specific car. Some people are jerks wrapped up in the drama of their own lives, some not. I prefer the one's who will acknowledge other people for whatever reason, but can also accept those who do not. Acceptance makes my life less drama filled!

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I can't argue that - If I was picking one out, it probably wouldn't have been a C4, but a '96 (last production year) with 30K miles on it is worth just about as much as a non-special-edition C4 can be worth. It's also the first year for full OBD-II in a Corvette and Chevy actually had their sh*t together; the amount of programming you can do via the OBD-II port is impressive. However, THIS C4 was my mom's - her lifelong car dream was a 'Vette; my pop bought it for her in '96, and she owned it until she died. Now I own it. After some tasteful upgrades, it makes PLENTY of power and gets it to the ground - and I like to imagine Mom riding shotgun when I'm cruising the C4, though I'm pretty sure she's pissed every time I ax or drag it.

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The 'Vette tends to get much more attention from women; guys seem much more drawn to the 996. As Mrs. 5chn3ll and I have been happily married for 21 years, it doesn't really matter to me either way, but if I'd purchased a 911 to impress women, I think I'd be disappointed. More people than you'd imagine don't know a 911 from a Camaro; EVERYONE knows a Corvette when they see one. Ultimately, I give zero ****s; the fun part about owning both of them is found in the driver's seat.

The most waves I've given or received were from other English sports car owners back in the mid 60s onward, when I owned an AH bug-eye Sprite. Back then the waves were to commiserate a fellow driver who always seemed to have an issue with their sports cars.(Lucas electrics, dead batteries, weak drum brakes and substandard reliability). Today I believe Porsche wavers are few and far between as mentioned in other posts, but it's nice to get one once and awhile.

When my pop bought his Arnage, he took me for a drive, then pulled over so we could swap seats. The dude watering his lawn in front of the house we pulled over in front of got down on his knees and did the "I'm not worthy" bow to the Bentley - I've definitely not had that reaction in any other car. That car is a mind screw - nearly three tons, but a twin-turbo 6.8-liter V8 can huck 3 tons of Bentley down the road at an astonishing rate. 0-60 in as close to five seconds as matters is VERY strange sensation in an enormous luxo-barge.

"The 'Vette tends to get much more attention from women..." I can see how the vette would get more attention from women, after all, as I said before, Barbie had a vette too...

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Not a chance. Not even close. I guess I"m not a car enthusiast because I think the waving stuff is stupid. Porsches are not some cult machine like they were in the 70s. Anyone who can afford a $300 a month note can buy a 996. They are not rare, difficult to buy or drive, or really anything special. I can't believe how easily you bunch get your feelings hurt by this nonsense.

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Was that supposed to be a Corvette burn? If so, I don't think I'll need to head over to the burn unit just yet. Oh, and here's Barbie's pink 911. Maybe if she and Ken fall on really hard times, she'll have to downgrade to a pink 996. Or a pink Discovery.

Nice! LOL

IDK, the local 997 Turbo's in my town still wave at me in my 996.... Its the 1,000 Boxsters in my town that get no attention

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Like the 996, the C4 is a great car. A couple years ago I had a low mileage '96 Collector Edition, LT4. Super clean car and all original except I put in the ZF Dr shifter which made a big difference. The LT4 motor was pretty strong and the car was quite fun to drive. The only reason I sold it was because it was too nice! Didn't want to leave it parked anywhere or rack up too many miles. Very cool that yours was your mom's.

When I had my C3 Vette, you quickly figured out if someone was A Corvette Guy or A Guy with a Corvette.

Too funny - if not for the GS plate on the throttle body, I thought I was looking at my own engine bay.

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I'm so hurt, Quad. Just kidding.

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Some folk have a need to display their indifference, or man card. It's like being affected by something will cause your outie to become an innie I guess.

I drove up next to a white Cayman and started to wave, but the guy driving gave me a wink instead. Go figure.

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Ahhhhh poor baby, no one with a Porsche notices you don't worry give us your facebook account and instagram and we will give you likes.

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Don't have either one. Sorry to disappoint. (not really)

If I had to wave at every Pcar I see around here I'd need elbow surgery...

I guess that's part of the point. I sometimes forget that on here, I'm talking to city folk. Where I live, we have a billion Ford trucks, so if I were to wave to them, I'd have a sore arm as well. But when you are driving down a country road, and there's a ranch on the left side with longhorns, and a farm on the right side with soybeans and wheat, the nearest Porsche dealer is a good 40 miles away, and seeing a brand new Panamera is like seeing a Skoda on Pluto. So, I waved. Was disappointed. I've gotten over it, thanks to the good will and generous support(ahem) of the kindly city folk who post here. Now, I'll have to excuse myself, I need to go put some hyd fluid in my tractor gearcase so I can auger a few post holes.

In NJ I'll see a handful of Porsches on my way to work. However 911's are not as common as other models. The majority of Porsche owners are not car enthusiasts. They just see it as a luxury brand. Same is true with BMW. I asked a BMW salesman how many M3's they sell and he said "not many". We see these companies through enthusiast glasses.

I've got a 997 I don't get waved/flashed by anyone either. It's still new enough that owners of aircooleds, 996's and Boxter/Cayman's probably think I'm just a snob and won't wave back. And owners of 991's don't wave at mine because they are snobs (JK, for the most part). I drive by high school kids waiting for the school bus, and college kids' apartments, every morning and never so much as get a head-turn let alone a wave. Even on the rare occasion one of them isn't staring at their phone, there's like zero recognition or approval. Probably if I were driving one of those Asian jobs in Fast and Furious it would grab their attention. If I see a 996 or an aircooled or a 944/968/928 I usually flash my highbeams at them, and usually get one back. Those people are enthusiasts, and I think they appreciate that someone in a "newer" (mine's 12 yrs old!) Pcar gives them props. If I don't flash at them first though, they wouldn't flash at me.

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As soon as I saw the title of this thread I just skimmed through it to wait for your response! He's right though, in the old days driving a Porsche (especially the air-cooled models) meant knowing how to operate a manual transmission, putting up with marginal ventilation systems, and being a part of a company that creates fewer cars in a year than the domestics do in two weeks. But now it's a grown up company with all types of vehicles so a bit of the camaraderie has worn off. With that I still try to wave if I have a chance. Have about a 50% success rate. The most surprising was when driving the CTT we got a wave from a woman driving a 991 GT3. Yes unicorns do exist!

I vote for a thread title change: "What's up with other P drivers and the 996 indifference-ade?"

Highbeams schmighbeams. Do that in this part of the country and people will think you're warning them of a speed trap or wildlife on the road. And if it's night, they might evenl think you're blinding them for ill-adjusted highbeams of their own.

Washed, cleaned and drove the 996 today. Happy to report 3 996 sightings with 2/3 waving. Also got a thumbs up out the window while overtaking a 1/2 ton truck. A new hope. Maybe someone clever can throw a 996 behind the jedi?

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So true. I just bought my first Porsche, people think I hit the lottery. I don't tell them it cost less than a lot of the newer cars in the parking lot. I love to see where it gets parked by the valet. Most times its right in front next to a Bentley, S class, or some exotic. If we went by price, I should be around the corner next to a used Volvo. I've never gotten waved at, but I've only had it 2 months.

Just got a thumb up from a 997 cabrio 4s

Corvettes, motorcycles and Jeep CJ owners wave. I wave at other Porsches and typically get no response. But it doesn't bother me, I'm still having fun. They're the ones with the stick up their ***. 996's appear to fall into Corvette C4 territory; unloved among their peers, typically because they've never owned one... or several. I loved my C4 Corvettes. And some Harley guys don't wave when I'm riding one of my bikes that isn't one of my Harleys. It's idiotic, but not disappointing. It just is what it is. It has zero negative impact on the fun pedal to the right.

I gave someone a one-finger wave yesterday. Do I get points?

Cuda: Did they deserve the one finger salute? If so, then you should be awarded 10 points!

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True story. People I work with were looking at me strange when I first got mine. We are a small company who has a reputation for underpaying talent, so it actually was a little awkward. I found myself constantly joking that a new loaded Prius would have cost me far more than my 10+ year old thing. It was amazing how receptive people suddenly were to the car once it was put in perspective that way. Suddenly people wanted to have a look or a ride. One guy admitted he initially wrongly thought it was a Ferrari and was wondering what the hell I did to get a massive raise... go figure.

I was out for a quick ride yesterday and got the low wave from a motorcycle!!