When to approach another owner?

C

cj10jeeper

Lifer
 Lichfield, England
Something I've been toying with some time and brought to a head on the Motorway services this week.

I saw a nice Z4 with an ///M front on it so spoke to the driver at the petrol pumps. Friendly enough, but it raised a series of thoughts.

When do Zed's become a car that it's accepted or indeed normal to speak to/approach fellow owners as a norm whenever paths cross?
Why do we feel uncomfrotable? Is it that so many are new and simply 'cars' rather than a passion/interest
Is it age related or rarity value?
Does a section of owners preclude conversation or set a tone almost by model?

Think if 2 E type Jags pulled up a conversation would ensue. As I think it would with Z3's or any one of a hundred other classics or unusual cars I can think of.
 
For a start I think the English are far more unfriendly than people in Canada or America. Ok, maybe unfriendly is a bad word, but certainly more reserved. I have been to Canada and America many times and got chatting with all sorts of people (I'll talk to anyone :D ) but less so in the UK.

I think E-Types are owned by a certain sort of people and both owners would be enthusiasts. Z4's are 10 a penny around here and as such nothing special at all to a lot of people.
 
sp3ctre said:
For a start I think the English are far more unfriendly than people in Canada or America. Ok, maybe unfriendly is a bad word, but certainly more reserved. I have been to Canada and America many times and got chatting with all sorts of people (I'll talk to anyone :D ) but less so in the UK.

I think E-Types are owned by a certain sort of people and both owners would be enthusiasts. Z4's are 10 a penny around here and as such nothing special at all to a lot of people.
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x2.... will said.
 
Under similar conditions like at the gas stations or a shopping parking lot I have been approached by drivers of other roadsters as well as Z4's and other cars. I have also been ignored by other Z4 drivers and drivers of the Solstice and the Sky are especially standoffish . I would think that means simply that they don't have a passion for the car they drive or cars in general. I would think anyone driving a classic would have that passion.
 
I had one bloke approach me in a petrol station, asking to do a swap with his Z3, to which I replied if it was an ///M I would think about it.

Also had an identical car pull up behind me once when filling up, but I just acknowledged the guy with a nod.

I would approach if I thought they were as keen as the rest of us. I guess looking out for some mods would be a good indicator, a stubby for example.
 
I always get questions and comments while driving, at the petrol station etc. Last week a guy accused me of adding fake ///M badges to a regular car. :D

I'm always happy to talk about my car and others, but I find that most Z4 drivers are not enthusiasts and I've only had a couple interactions with Z4 drivers in 4 years.

Every morning at my gym I see a blue ///M roadster. He/she always arrives after i do and leaves after me also. One of these days I'm goiing to wait for him/her. Wow, I'm a stalker! :cry:
 
i usually give them a nod or :thumbsup: when driving around. other than that, i get the typical "nice car" comment from passer-byers. very rarely have i gotten other z4 owners to approach me when out & about. i don't know why! but whatever. and solstice/sky drivers don't even bother to look at me nor my car.

other than that.. life is good*
 
mystik said:
and solstice/sky drivers don't even bother to look at me nor my car.
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I get the same reaction as I posted about that above and I am thinking they have come to realize that they made a big mistake. I have a nearby neighbor who has one and he was very entuastic about it a year ago but a number of problems, disappointing gas mileage and the serious lack of trunk/boot room has him thinking about making a change.
 
Being the contact HO that I am. If given the chance I will give someone a Nice car statement. If my car is there I will say something like Nice choice or a what color is that, type of an ice breaker type of statement. If they then start to chat, they then get my business card. Parked Z's Get a business card anyway. I get about a 40 percent positive responce.
 
For the most part. Sometimes I wish they would say just that instead of saying nothing at all. :oops:
 
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