Car Kinship by Signal: How Jeep Waves, Miata Winks, and Other Gestures Bind Enthusiasts

Car owners acknowledge each other with brand-specific signals—Jeep waves, Miata headlight winks, Porsche etiquette, Subaru badges, and even Jeep “ducking”—a mix of inclusive and exclusivist norms that turn ownership into a nuanced social ritual, where misread signals can earn a chilly rebuff or a friendly nod.