Interesting question! Here are my scientific (ahem) observations:

I tend to give a simple wave to most any Porsche including Boxsters, Caymans, Cayennes, etc. It is sort of a social experiment to me. I sometimes acknowledge other sports cars, especially Corvettes (I've owned five over 30 years and still like them). On the infrequent occasion I wave at an especially nice one, I sometimes get acknowledgement back from them.

For Porsches: I'd say that more around half of the 911s respond. Guys in Cayennes occasionally respond, women never do (I don't think they even notice another Porsche is around or are just really really good at that ignoring-a-guy thing). Boxsters seem to work hard to ignore your existence. Caymans respond about as often as 911s. Panameras are probably the most likely to not wave back (men and women) even though they tend to see you.

 

wave

 

I rarely even try. Most of the 911's (and other P-Cars) for that matter in Atlanta are just people wanting a "cool car" and not enthusiasts. That being said, if I see someone in traffic who either looks like an enthusiast or tends to notice me, I'll wave.

To that point, I've encountered a couple nice 911's on the local highways and not once have they ever even acknowledged my existence.

 

Wave unless I have a drink in hand then it's cheers

 

I try to wave at all 911's, 994's and 928's, and I rarely flash.

(Off topic, but regarding the previous comment about flashing to warn about LEO, if you get caught doing it, it is considered obstruction of justice; I noticed people rarely do this anymore, and I wonder if it is due to a "crackdown" on this practice?).

I stopped waving at Boxters or Cayman's since they never respond (Sometimes I see women driving these cars, and I get the feeling they don't know/or care about such things).

Sometimes I wonder if the other driver even sees me, considering the raked angle of windshields. I often don't see the other driver myself, and I wave just to not be impolite, but never know it it has been acknowledged.

If someone is next to me and looks over, I will usually nod.

 

I agree that about 1/3 of the 911 drivers wave back. The older the 911, the more likely the wave back. Same is true with 924 and 944s. 928, Boxster, Panamera and Cayenne drivers never wave back. Occasionally, I get a wave from a Cayman driver.

Never wave at Vettes and they never wave either.

Lambo, Maserati and Ferrari drivers almost always give a wave back.

 

I'm a recent 997.2 CS2 owner so I haven't started waving other owners yet. Maybe I'll start. I had 2 Boxsters and an S2000 previously. Boxster owners almost never waved back. S2000 owners almost always flashed a "V" (for vTech) back when I did the same. The S2000 owners were a small, tight-knit community.

 

Just a thought: It makes sense that almost everyone on this thread is a waver, we are social enough to be on the forum after all. If there are any non-wavers, especially ones who don't return a wave when they see one, I'd be interested to hear why you don't bother. Of course, you probably wouldn't bother to reply to this either!

 

Wow. I thought that once I sold my Harley and retired from the Harley message boards I'd seen the last of the "Do you wave" threads. Apparently not! What's next, "Where do you put your gas cap when you refuel"?

 

Funny you should bring that up! Does the 911 really not have a hook for that thing??

 

I'm serious, btw... <---n00b

 

Not a hook for the gas cap itself. A hook for the retaining line that the gas cap is attached to. However, I place the gas cap between my butt cheeks, because I like to watch the flames come off it when I talk. Doesn't everyone?

 

Works for me

 

Same here in Vancouver! Plenty of great cars but I never get a wave or a smile back. Guess they are just too cool.

 

I'll wave if I see one but most times I don't notice them until it's too late because I'm fixated on trying to avoid traffic a-holes and the other Porsche has already passed by probably thinking to themselves that I'm a snobbish 997 owner.