"The Wave/Finger" to new Defender?

[karlz]

Went to Kangaroo island over Christmas, and unbeknownst to me, all the KI people give each other the finger salute when passing each other in their car, similar to us Defender drivers.

Yesterday, I passed a new defender driver. There is not many of them on the road, and I saw the driver looking at me, but he neither gave me the finger or waved at me. He looked hesitant (or possibly thinking to himself whether or not he is worthy!).

Question. Should we acknowledge the new Defender drivers?

[carpdvl]

I've done it a few times to no avail. I'll keep doing it when the mood fancies me but anyone else in the know of the wave (pretty much anyone who has been in the car) laughs it up when I don't get any response so might have to temper it around the others [emoji23]

[Tombie]

For the record a lot of 2014/2015 Defender owners won’t acknowledge either.

The most waves Mrs Tombie gets in her 90 are from Discovery drivers

[scarry]

Its not really a Defender,so I doubt you will get a wave.[bigwhistle]

[Discofender]

I pass a very gloss black one most days on my commute home, I have never recieved a response wave so have stopped trying it. Puma owners always return in my exp.

Discofender

[Tins]

I can't see the buyers of the new "Defender" have any connection with the old ones. It's simply a fancy SUV to them. ( present company excepted )

Defender drivers never wave to me in my Disco, but just about fall out their windows waving at the 109.

[Gav 110]

Went to Kangaroo island over Christmas, and unbeknownst to me, all the KI people give each other the finger salute when passing each other in their car, similar to us Defender drivers.

Yesterday, I passed a new defender driver. There is not many of them on the road, and I saw the driver looking at me, but he neither gave me the finger or waved at me. He looked hesitant (or possibly thinking to himself whether or not he is worthy!).

Question. Should we acknowledge the new Defender drivers?

When travelling to my farm (and around regional WA) I find when off the main highway you will get a wave from most country dwellers
Soon as your on the main highway the waves are (very) few and far between, usually only from people who recognise the old 110

As for new Defenders, I haven’t seen (noticed) any in WA as yet
They probably drive straight by and because they have become very “metrosexual” I don’t see them

(Maybe metrosexual is the right word but to me it makes sense)

Gav

[Homestar]

I wave at Land Rovers up to and including D4’s - even in the Hilux - which really wields some people out. 😊

But not anything newer nor any of the pretend ones like an Evoque, etc.

[Tins]

On the highway ( not Sesame Street or the Pacific ) the truckies will wave to each other. Bus drivers wave to bus drivers. I nearly got RSI when I took a coach to the Olympics, there were so many to wave at. Except for Murray's. Those blokes ignore you.
When I had an MG the salute was two fingers politely raised from the wheel.

[scarry]

I took the sons LC 76 for a run quite a while back, the drivers always wave, very similar to 'real' Defenders,and Series vehicles drivers.

[Dave83]

Don't bother. They are Defenders by name only. I struggle to differentiate them from all the other generic looking LR's released at the moment. They all look the same.

[Tombie]

Don't bother. They are Defenders by name only. I struggle to differentiate them from all the other generic looking LR's released at the moment. They all look the same.

Spec savers perhaps.

[Dave83]

Nah my eyes work just fine.

[goingbush]

Never seen one, don't care If I never do, but I would not know if I passed one as could not distinguish one from any other blob shaped SUV , I cant even distinguish a D5 from a Territory, gave up waving to anything other than Series / old Defender ages ago , I wave at them but most Puma don't even bother waving back . TD5 are old enough now that only enthusiasts are driving them , thought it would be the case with Pumas too, maybe they are just snobs.

I get more way waves when I'm driving the '49 Dodge , Every single pre 1970's car waves back, bar none , no matter the brand .

[Samblers]

I can report that the situation within metropolitan Perth is for all pre-2016 Defender drivers to give each other the wave/finger, almost without exception, and even if trying to simultaneously execute a turn/gearchange manoeuvre, an attempt is made.

From the new Defenders... nothing. Trying to remain impartial here, but new Defenders and their drivers are... *different*

[wayfarer80]

I’m a new proud puma defender 110 owner in Perth and am loving the wave - reminds me of my days driving my kombis.

I have a question though - every wave I’ve encountered so far has been a full enthusiastic whole hand out of the window; not just a wave from the steering wheel. Is this protocol? Having been driving a sole less car for past few years with windows up almost all the time, I’ll have to adjust to full time windows down in expectation of wave duties!

[Dave83]

In my opinion it doesn't matter what the wave looks like. Most the time it's a two finger salute from the wheel, especially when it's a late pick up. Some days I'll give a whole hand. Depends on the situation and mood.

[one_iota]

I figure that the new-to -Defender crowd needs educating. So I flash my lights and wave. Those of us who will buy a new one and have been wavers will continue to wave...it's a tradition worthy of upkeep.