GR86 Are you a flasher?

[Silver Fox]

Or a waver? Or a 'nodder'?

So in gleeful anticipation of us all receiving our cars over the coming months*, what will you do when you spot another GR86 in the wild?

When driving a more unusual, sporty or enthusiasts car and encountering another one I tend to give a quick flash of the headlights (sorry highway code) and perhaps a small wave or thumbs up.

Results vary. For my Italian cars I used to get very positive friendly responses. 911 owners can be either really friendly or antisocial snooty MFs. (An old mate of mine worked out using a complex formula that 911 owners only liked other 911s if they were older than their own, but I was never convinced)

When I had my GT86 other owners were generally enthusiastic wavers. I do recall cheerfully waving at an older lady in a GT86 when I owned mine, and receiving a look of concern verging on terror. It took me way longer to realise than it should that this was probably because I was driving my partner's Mazda 2 at the time.

Anyway, if in xxx months in your own GR86 you see a reasonably well-dressed greying man in a silver one waving at you, don't be scared it's probably only me.

*Optimism is a good thing, honest

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

I do the nod on the bike, to the point I even do it to other bikes when I'm out walking and they even nod back!

 

[Nick]

Or a waver? Or a 'nodder'?

So in gleeful anticipation of us all receiving our cars over the coming months*, what will you do when you spot another GR86 in the wild?

When driving a more unusual, sporty or enthusiasts car and encountering another one I tend to give a quick flash of the headlights (sorry highway code) and perhaps a small wave or thumbs up.

Results vary. For my Italian cars I used to get very positive friendly responses. 911 owners can be either really friendly or antisocial snooty MFs. (An old mate of mine worked out using a complex formula that 911 owners only liked other 911s if they were older than their own, but I was never convinced)

When I had my GT86 other owners were generally enthusiastic wavers. I do recall cheerfully waving at an older lady in a GT86 when I owned mine, and receiving a look of concern verging on terror. It took me way longer to realise than it should that this was probably because I was driving my partner's Mazda 2 at the time.

Anyway, if in xxx months in your own GR86 you see a reasonably well-dressed greying man in a silver one waving at you, don't be scared it's probably only me.

*Optimism is a good thing, honest

I'll likely flash, wave and nod! There won't be many of us, so the chances are pretty low of spotting another apart from at car meets. Way back when I owned a Fiat Barchetta they were few and far between due to it being LHD only, and owners would always acknowledge each other. Other cars since, less so, F-Type owners used to give me nothing but a look of disgust when I flashed them, maybe they didn't like that I also happened to be driving one!

 

[ZN8]

Nod up for your mates, nod down for fellas you don't know.

 

[v8s]

Apart from meets I think it is very unlikely to see another out and about, 400 spread across the UK, square miles per car is going to be pretty big, will flash or wave though.
Always wave to fellow mx5ers of any vintage.

 

[connorolewio]

I believe there will be another 86 up here in Aberdeen.

I'm afraid to say there's a high chance of me chasing them down if I do see them ...

Apologies in advance.

 

[KobayashiMaru86]

There's only about 4 in Wales. Will be a pretty small chance.

 

[sim61]

I currently drive a car that is one of about 400 in the country. I have had the car for over four years now and have seen only two others out on the wild. Both were stationary in car parks and without any occupants so I was unable to congratulate them on their choice with a flash of the headlights, a wave, or a nod.

I did see about eight or ten matching cars at the Peugeot Sport Annual Festival at Prescott Hill a couple of months ago, but that doesn't really count does it.

Prior to buying my car, if I recall correctly, I saw it about twice.

So, outside of meetings, I would say that its pretty unlikely we will see another GR86 out in the wild.

 

[AndyRC]

JRT in Hull have 4 customers with confirmed orders , three of us are definitely on the forum and are within a 5 mile radius of each other, so East Yorkshire could be a GR86 “Hot Spot” @Adam map should help the “GR86 Spotters” a GR Zoo Anorak for the first to spot 100

 

[vinny85]

 

[Silver Fox]

F-Type owners used to give me nothing but a look of disgust when I flashed them, maybe they didn't like that I also happened to be driving one!

Ah, probably because you had to demonstrate the 'special flash'; part of the battery of Masonic greetings that all Jag owners are required to adhere to...

 

[Conscript]

I usually just raise a single finger. Enough to acknowledge them if they are the sort to reciprocate, but not so enthusiastic to cause myself embarrassment if they aren't

Apart from meets I think it is very unlikely to see another out and about, 400 spread across the UK, square miles per car is going to be pretty big, will flash or wave though.
Always wave to fellow mx5ers of any vintage.

This is a good point. They sold a lot more GT86s, but even so, not that many in the grand scheme of things (about 7000 IIRC), and they are still a fairly rare spot for me. I know of only a couple locally, and I don't see them that often. The chances of seeing another GR86 in the wild will be pretty slim.

 

[Dal3D]

When I get my GR86, then I'll gladly wave at other GR86, GR Yaris and GT86 when driving my GR.

I think it's a much more common thing to wave at a similar car when that car is either niche or low volume in production.

When I'm driving my Focus RS, I'll often do the same thing for other Ford RS cars and nine time out of ten they'll be a wave back. I tend to be the "wavee" when an ST passes and waves so I'm a nice chap and wave back.

Back in the noughties when my club ProjectPuma used to organise Puma drives of 20 - 30 cars all over the country (driving meets, not car park ones - much more fun to drive fun roads!) it used to be brilliant when we were all in convoy and pass through some little village with a random Puma going the other way. The poor sod must have wondered if he was on Game for a laugh / Candid Camera* as the 30th car went by waving like mad

*insert other prank show of your generation

 

[LukeC22]

The MX-5 squad are very avid wavers/flashers etc. so I've become used to it and I think it just happens instinctively now.
Not sure how many others we'll see around but I'm sure the handful of GT86 that are around will give us a thumbs up or similar. I'll probably still wave at MX-5s and they'll think I'm a crazy person.

 

[RedGR86]

The MX-5 squad are very avid wavers/flashers etc. so I've become used to it and I think it just happens instinctively now.
Not sure how many others we'll see around but I'm sure the handful of GT86 that are around will give us a thumbs up or similar. I'll probably still wave at MX-5s and they'll think I'm a crazy person.

Hello!
I tend to acknowledge all other 5s on the road, nod, wave or flash depending on what I fancy in that moment.

 

[BOOSTFAN]

The MX-5 squad are very avid wavers/flashers etc. so I've become used to it and I think it just happens instinctively now.
Not sure how many others we'll see around but I'm sure the handful of GT86 that are around will give us a thumbs up or similar. I'll probably still wave at MX-5s and they'll think I'm a crazy person.

Its sort of mandatory with the MX5.
In 3 years I have never come across an another FK8 on the road!

 

[PVGR]

I think we should all buy random zoo animals and hold them up when we see each other