Is the Jeep wave dying?

[KenB]

Got the most exuberant wave ever the other day. The bride & I were headed down to the local wildlife refuge to cruise some back roads. Met this old, multi colored pickup on the highway, and the guy driving it literally had his head and shoulder out the window, a big grin on his face, and waving like we were long lost relatives. We waved back, of course, and my usually very reserved wife says, "Damn, honey, I thinks he likes your Jeep."

 

[IOPort51]

For those who don't know:
The Jeep Wave the definative guide!

The Jeep Wave: An honor bestowed upon those drivers with the superior intelligence, taste, class, and discomfort tolerance to own the ultimate vehicle - the Jeep. Generally consists of vigorous side-to-side motion of one or both hands, but may be modified to suit circumstances and locally accepted etiquette.

I loose points for chrome, I can live with that but what about stainless steel?

 

[wilurb63]

I think it all started when the factory stopped making jeeps after the 1986 year model. Oh my, look what happened.
Wilurb 1979 CJ7

 

[LongHorn]

IMHO it started going down hill fast as the sale of hardtop started out pacing soft tops.

 

[BajaEdition]

I do not think the jeep wave is dieing, I think so many guys are just not informed.
in the old days we were a click
now days some of the biggest demographics of jeep ownership are non traditional element. As mentioned we all used to be proud to be part of the group. Now days many young girls want the Jeep because of it's cute factor, and guys want to look tough.
Just look at how many older 100 percent stock jeeps there are out there. I mean would a REAL jeeper be seem in a 98 TJ with stock rims and tires. I see street queens every day out here. And lets look at that, I am in the L.A. area and am overrun with jeeps. Most have never seen anymore than the grass in the front yard at wash time.

SO why do I not think the wave is dieing?
well just about every really classic or built jeep waves at me. afcourse I am running classic or built jeeps.

 

[LongHorn]

I do not think the jeep wave is dieing, I think so many guys are just not informed.
in the old days we were a click
now days some of the biggest demographics of jeep ownership are non traditional element. As mentioned we all used to be proud to be part of the group. Now days many young girls want the Jeep because of it's cute factor, and guys want to look tough.
Just look at how many older 100 percent stock jeeps there are out there. I mean would a REAL jeeper be seem in a 98 TJ with stock rims and tires. I see street queens every day out here. And lets look at that, I am in the L.A. area and am overrun with jeeps. Most have never seen anymore than the grass in the front yard at wash time.

SO why do I not think the wave is dieing?
well just about every really classic or built jeep waves at me. afcourse I am running classic or built jeeps.

Yeah, and most of them are driven, by classic but not built Jeepers.

 

[BrockGrimes]

The reason we had been a click was the ruff leaf spring ride that made it a jeep.
It's being built with to many do-dads and is a comfortable ride, and people like the look.

 

[scrambler]

I owned a jeep for a couple years before I read about the jeep wave, although I always waved at fellow jeepers before. It does seem that the new jeeps don't know what really means to own a jeep and don't know proper jeep etiquette. Out here in Idaho though most people will wave back in any car..... still humble country folk for the most part

 

[jeepcreep]

I get a wave from all fellow CJ owners and older jeeps, newer jeeps only if they are lifted. That doesn't stop me from waving to them, we have to teach and they have to learn somehow.....

 

[coldwater]

I'm starting to see an arrogance factor growing around older jeep guys, at least around my area. The more modded the jeep, the more arrogant the owner, to the point of just being unfriendly. I'm pretty sure that won't help bring along the understanding to new owners. It's gotten to the point that new, or newer jeeps are just disregarded as non jeeps, and made fun of by what has become the "upper crust" of jeepers. These new Jeeps, will be classics one day, and will be no less than our current CJ's we enjoy so much. Hell, I get a better recption by new jeep owners than i do CJ owners with my nearly stock 7 on most occasions. Tough guy CJ owners will pick it apart for not having this better part, or that that killer upgrade, like they have. while the new owners simply admire the fact that It's so simple, plain, old, and pretty cool. Seems to me, It's somewhat of an unfriendly atmosphere, unless you're in the click, so to speak. To me, If it has the JEEP name on it, It's all good. Bone stock, or modded, as long as Jeep stays in business, and sells their vehicles. Sooner or later, those fancy new Jeeps will get old, and cheap, and some gear head will get his hands on it and rough it up. Circle of life I guess.

 

[BigMeat]

I've only owned my jeep for about a month. Since I started even looking for a jeep I was browsing forums and doing my research. It seems the wave is a hot topic but I can see why, its tradition, nostalgia what have you. I try to do my part. I wave to all of em regardless, soccer mom, lifted, old, new, even at the risk of being creepy without actually being. It is true though, CJs and built jeeps seem to be more inclined to wave back. If you see me and I don't wave I have the sun in my eyes or I am getting yelled at by the wife for missing a turn.

 

[BajaEdition]

I'm starting to see an arrogance factor growing around older jeep guys, at least around my area. The more modded the jeep, the more arrogant the owner, to the point of just being unfriendly. I'm pretty sure that won't help bring along the understanding to new owners. It's gotten to the point that new, or newer jeeps are just disregarded as non jeeps, and made fun of by what has become the "upper crust" of jeepers. These new Jeeps, will be classics one day, and will be no less than our current CJ's we enjoy so much. Hell, I get a better recption by new jeep owners than i do CJ owners with my nearly stock 7 on most occasions. Tough guy CJ owners will pick it apart for not having this better part, or that that killer upgrade, like they have. while the new owners simply admire the fact that It's so simple, plain, old, and pretty cool. Seems to me, It's somewhat of an unfriendly atmosphere, unless you're in the click, so to speak. To me, If it has the JEEP name on it, It's all good. Bone stock, or modded, as long as Jeep stays in business, and sells their vehicles. Sooner or later, those fancy new Jeeps will get old, and cheap, and some gear head will get his hands on it and rough it up. Circle of life I guess.

I had a forum for about 3 years, Adventure4x4.net, I embraced newer 4x4s and we encouraged everyone to go out andd wheel them. We may not have had the most difficult trails there were to go down, but then we always seemed to have a run going. Problem was, I saw it as a place to introduce new jeepers to the way of life and teach them about tread lightly and access issues, the main membershio of the forum, as they grew in 4x4ing, started to get clickish and not want to deal with newbies. As they got better and better they forgot just 2 years ago they to were afraid, and had not the knowledge to wheel more than a fire trail.
Well experiment over I closed the site. In retrospect I should have just cleared ranks. It was a good group before the guys went click, then it was just as you said, If you do not have a modded jeep to this level you are not going with us.
I always respect the lowest denominator, after all we could be that 4x4 if we have just started a build. And I have seen guys with stockish jeeps out wheel guys with built rigs by just pure experience.