Bangkok Matt

Hi folks,

I haven't been a member here for very long but I been here long enough to make an observation. Before I continue I should say that I've spent a lot of money on my car but it's all gone on performance and I haven't made any cosmetic changes (apart from changing my rear spoiler). That's my choice though. I have no objections to cosmetic changes if it floats your boat.

What have I observed (I hear no-one ask)?

It seems that anyone who has made any mods to their Scoob (that isn't a PPP) gets slated and called a chav. Put afterburner lights on? CHAV! Got a few stickers? CHAV!! Got gold wheels? CHAV!! You want neon? Go for it! Sorry, I meant CHAV!!! I've seen newbies (and I know I am still one) make posts and they've been shouted down as chavs when it's not neccessary. A recent post saw someone give their 0-60 time in a non-turbo car (it was a question as to the accuracy of published 0-60 times) and they got patronised very heavily. I cringed at some of the replies.

We have great cars. I love my car, you love your car. We don't need to slate people because they like something different. I love this site but I hate the fact that people patronise others with "lesser" cars and that anyone who likes to make their car different is labelled a chav.

I know I'm a newbie and therefore have no right to vent but I wanted to say that. Roll on lots of people calling me a chav (although as I said there's nothing chavvy about my car - it looks like a normal bug-eye WRX (apart from the spoiler) but has 450bhp. Cosmetics are not my thing but if you like making your car look different go for it.

Can't we accept that some people are individuals and like to make their cars look different? It doesn't (neccessarily) make them chavs. So what if they like clear lights or funky paint jobs? They have a Cusco twin plate clutch and want to put a Cusco sticker on, let them. Why is that Chavvy?

Sorry for the mini rant but I don't understand why some people get a hard time. Each to their own and all that....

scooby-tc

iTrader: (2)

Chav

Brun

Should this not be in NSR Newbie???????

Bangkok Matt

Ha, knew that was coming!.

Bangkok Matt

Good point, yes it should.

Sorry mods, please move it to its proper home if you have time.

By the way, I have a name. I'm Matt, nice to meet you Brun.

Schumacher

-Schuey

Brun

Bangkok Matt

I'm the only chav in the village!

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

There are a lot of people here who see the Impreza fast becoming the 21st century XR3i as early models become very affordable to what some might call the "chav brigade" It's a trend that a lot of us are sad about but it's inevitable! The Impreza has become so well known to "Joe public" as a boy racers delight that it is the obvious choice when compiling a "Are you a Chav" survey! I recently heard of such a survey in some paper or mag. which asked "Do you dream of owning an Impreza" Ten years ago it would have been an XR3i or an Escort RS Turbo?
JohnD

ScoobyDoo555

Au contraire - you have JUST as much right as anybody else to express your opinions on this board.

I HATE anybody who imposes their "veteran" status on newbies. As for it being sad about its popularity - WHY?! It is, after all, just a car. It a serious case of car snobbery IMHO.

In fact, ALL IMHO

Dan

Bangkok Matt

HI John,

That's a very good point and I do understand some of tha chav comments and they are fairly frequently justified. I just think that sometimes people are too quick to shout "chav" and it's as if you can't make any cosmetic changes to your car without being labelled as one. It's the same car underneath and if you want to personalise it a little then go ahead - we don't want them all to be the same after all.

That's by the by but what upset me recently was the guy asking about 0-60 times and he just got made to look about one inch tall. Your car is rubbish - wait 'till you're as fast and as good as us was the message I got. That's not how we should treat newbies. Far from us labelling them as Nova boys/chavs we'll get labelled as snobs.

Let's extend the Scooby hand of friendship. Sticker your car up if you want. Let people do what they want and don't shout them down - you don't have to do it to your own car. If non-Scooby owners are asking let's encourage them, even if their plans for their car don't match your own opinions. Each to their own.

Sorry, a newbie overstepping his mark here and I'm possibly being a little idealistic but I intend to be around here because I like it. I may as well make my feelings known now. Live and let live.

Vipa

A funny thing happened on the way to the Metro Centre......

I am 38 years old and am the proud owner of an 05WRX, it is the first brand new car I've ever bought and by far the most powerful. My car has clear lights... am I a chav? Well.... take off the suit, take off 20/21 years add a bit of hair, remove about 50lb and the answer is...... yeah.... probably.

I was having a chat about this today with my wifey, we were on the way to the Metro Centre in Gateshead and on the way called into Team Valley as I needed Halfords.... Now last time we were there was about 2 years ago, it was about 10pm so all the shops were shut, we had called in on the way back from something or other as there is a McDonalds there and we were starving.

We pulled into the retail park and....... I've never seen so many Skylines, Type R this and that's etc... etc... gathered in 1 place must have been at least 100 cars and double the number of "chavs."

Now when I was 17 it was me in my mum's VW Polo, Gaz Preston in his dad's Cortina and about 5 or 6 others in thier mums and dads cars, then slightly later on it was the same crowd but now earning money/wealthyish parents so we had our own cars, I had a Fiat Mirafiori, Gaz had an Escort (RS Mexico I think) and the others I can't remember BUT we all used to hang about together in the same car parks! The thought never occured to us to carry out the kind of mods they do today! but think about it... we were just the Chavs of the 80's..... what goes around comes around!

The point to all this drivel you ask?

If I had my time over again but shunted forward 20 years so I was thier age now.... Would I be down thier with them with my "2 Fast 2 Furious" Saxo or Corsa?....................... Damned right I would and I would suspect that most others on here who have accumulated enough years and money to afford the kind of car we drive would be too!!

And to be honest... if I thought I could get away with it and didn't think my wife would forever more call me a "w@nker"................... I'd have a flame kit on my WRX without question! (I draw the line at under car blue flourescents though and I hate Burberry!)

The point is that no... we shouldn't scourn those who want to express a little individualism! That just makes us look like geriatric snobs and t@ssers!

Now... all this must make me a 38 year old Chav wannabe?????????

Innit!

Paul

Bangkok Matt

Hi Dan,

Thanks for saying that.

Exactly what my post was about! Agreed.

Matt

Bangkok Matt

Hi Paul,

You make a very good point. When I was 17 I was driving my dad's Scorpio (I didn't have my own car). I loved it! I was obsessed with Cosworths then, absolutely obsessed - but of course I couldn't afford one. Had I been able to I would have had one and I would have most probably been chavving it up with the best of them (even though chavs hadn't been invented then).

Just because these people can afford the older cars now - it isn't the cars fault. You would have done it too and most of us would have been just as chavvy 15 or 20 years ago (of course it was a better quality of chav in my day, all fields etc.). I'd like to see us lose the snobbery.

Laugh at others if you want, but nobody is making you do anything to your own car. And let's not put newbies down, even if they ask a seemingly chavvy question.

Danny B

Cars less than 5yrs of age are exempt from being classed as Chav, I think where the Impreza is getting a chav reputation is easily affordable (now at least) older classic shape models that are stickered up, noisy, and usually driven by young blokes in their early twenties wearing a baseball cap.
At least I think so...

Alas

Do what you want with your own car. Free choice & all that but just 2 things.
1. I don't like cars with strange/daft/extreme/trendy bodykits etc (delete as appropriate) and have the right to say so as do others who like theirs cars modded.
2 I don't see how I am a snob for disliking the above. Am I a snob because I don't like burgers? If someone asks my opinion about this type of thing I'll tell them.

And agree as has been said before - whether newbie or not all have the right to state their opinion. Just don't expect agreement
Alas

Alas

Forgot to say. Quite let down as when I saw the title I thought "Well there's an Olympic sport I'd go and watch"
Alas

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

My problem with most "cosmetically upgraded scoobs" is it's just a copied look. It's un-original, it's all been done before.

All that's been dones is bolt on a combination of off-the-shelf parts.

This IMO is NOT customising. It's the modern equivelent of fluffy dice and tiger skin seat covers. In other words - tacky

If you really want your car to be a "one off" and "individual" car, the bodywork would be modified yourself (or get a pro to do it) to your own designs and ideas. creating your own flared arches, bumpers, skirts, bonnet boot etc. It should be a work of art, subtle, but different, would flow, and suit the cars lines, and not stick out like a sore thumb. People who make and create their own one off body and styling parts deserve every bit of credit and admiration.

But poeple who just order a load of bolt on stuff from a catalogue should be shot down in flames

Most "chavvy" scoob mods I belive, is casued by the "look at me" part in many people's inner child. A poser. Which is fine if you want to look like a tool. But I think they should be reminded and informed that they look like one whilst driving it

I will except subtle bodywork changes, and minor tweeks like coulor keying amd different wheels. But anything more like daft light converiosn and bodykits do deserve the label to some extent

Each to thier own in the end of the day.

Bubba po

I wouldn't dream of using veteran status to put down a newbie.

SiDHEaD

I thought it was just lexus lights and flamers that were chav??? Think all other mods on scoobs are safe.

Of course pslewis will chav @ gold wheels

Bangkok Matt

Hi Ali,

I agree that it's not "customising" but then not everyone can afford to truly customise. It's not my cup of tea at all (like I say, my car looks standard. Ignore the chavvy headlights - we have no choice here.)

Nothing wrong with not liking burgers, but "If someone asks my opinion about this type of thing I'll tell them" - that is fair enough, no one can argue with that, but most people on here don't ask but they get told anyway, slagged off and made to look small. That's what I don't like. (I used your quote but I hope you realise it's not you I'm referring to) Ask about clear (Lexus style) lights? You'll get slagged off. Ask about stickers? You'll get slagged off. There's no need in my opinion. You don't have to like them but answer the question without making the asker look like a plum.

Too much to ask?


Absolutely! I'm happy to say what I think and I'm also happy to hear what anyone else has to say - I wouldn't want us all to agree. That would be incredibly dull.

Bangkok Matt

Ha!

stevie boy

couldn't agree more matt,

the point of bolting on bits being the done to death look, its a brave man who takes an angle grinder to their brand new car or to a daily driver where its just not practical for most people. or maybe modifying in that way just doesn't appeal to them? fair enough respect to the people that do, but why slate peole that go down the more conventional route?

EACH TO THEIR OWN

stevie

Sticky Stuff

Bugger me, a reasonably serious discussion thread on SN that hasn't dissolved into a load of bolux.

An excellent initial post followed up by (mostly) serious and well considered opinions. A thread worth reading, for once

I thought it was gonna be some new kind of event, but had a vision of some guy on a motorcross seeing how many he could clear

Bangkok Matt

Give it time, give it time.

Ha!!

StickyMicky

nuff said.......

TAINTON

Quality thread started by Matt and as Sticky said some serious feedback.

I myself maybe classed by some as a chav ie : Gold Wheels, Graphics, Afterburner Lights etc etc but I didnt want to go the norm and get sti lights just because everyone told me too. I wanted something which looks nice in my eyes and that of my family.

Im 27 this year, partner is 29 we have 2 kids & baby daughter, I only use the car if required, stick to my speed limits....have the occasional blast on the 60 roads (dont we all?)

Does that make a chav? if so then so be it

Gangsta Smurf

you gotta laugh at all the sad tw@ts that are hooked up to this site now. Everything other than standard is 'chav' lol!! New sti's are given huge spoilers and totally uneccessary oversized scoop, huge bucket racing seats, bling bling crystal lights, flared arches and big wheels - they look agressive and have a road presence - of course the youth of today are going to want one. They have serious power also and are not subtle about their intentions.

Part of the reason mitsi are failing to sell their cars is because they look boring. You should be proud that scoobs are becoming a legend and are the car of choice for the youngsters of today.

Well done to subaru for keeping the cars looking agressive and ensuring that the 21+ year olds of the future are going to want to buy the cars.

Go and buy a ******* mondeo or a subtle car if you want to moan about young people buying 'your' cars and changing the look to suit theiur individual tastes.

These cars are only £26k new and most people under 20 who go straight into a decent job are on near enough that now anyway.

Moaning boring old farts

Alas

Glad you cleared that up for us sad, boring, ******* mondeo owning, moaning farts. Here was me thinking I knew what I liked but hey, I don't. Don't you love a balanced thread
Alas

Gangsta Smurf

I was using the mondeo as an example of a subtle family car ...

Can you not see how it could be slightly frustrating that when a young person buys a scoob it is immediately labelled as a chav car by the annorak and fleece wearing 'scooby elders' who can't bear that their cars are being made more interesting and individual?????

Apparently my WR1 is chav because it has some stainless mesh on the front of it, and is a different colour to sonic blue, black or white. What on earth does a bit of mesh do to make the car chav?????

Most of the people on here don't even know what chav means.