Elise turning into a chav magnet?
Elise turning into a chav magnet?
Author
Discussion

wacattack

Original Poster:

576 posts

256 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
As the price for a S1 continues to drop (admittedly quite steadily) do you think it will eventually become financially obtainable for the Chav market?

My concern is that loads a chavs will start buying them and degrade the lotus brand.

Any thoughts?

S Works

10,166 posts

281 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Maybe, if they do it'll certainly see premiums going up as they start stacking them.

At a guess though the hothatch market will keep most amused - you can only get so much ICE into an Elise.

siwil1

1,022 posts

262 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Plus you can only fit in one other chav, they like to hunt in packs as there is safety in numbers.

It never really happened to other 2 seaters ie MX5 or early TVR's so I think we will be safe

Gooby

9,269 posts

265 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
There is a S1 going round here with neons, tinted windows and an halfrauds aluminium wing on the back. It has begun....

twpbugger

301 posts

254 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
I doubt it very much!! a lotus car may be relatively cheap to buy, but maintenance costs can be quite steep = tyres & servicing for a lotus are far more expensive than your normal hatch back!!

Chavs of today much prefer to spend their cash on body kits and as mentioned ICE.

Cant and certainly hope it doesnt happen!!

boobles

15,251 posts

246 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Gooby said:
There is a S1 going round here with neons, tinted windows and an halfrauds aluminium wing on the back. It has begun....



Get some pics of this one PLEASE.... yes yes bounce

riwiho

3,805 posts

246 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
After watching the used car roadshow last night I think the chav generation can afford it now.

There was a young girl on there with a Ford Ka convertible. She had spent 6k+ on extras (including body kit and lambo style doors!! WHY WHY WHY) so I think they can already afford a good S1. Happily though they seem to be transfixed with the cruising scene.

Fruitcake

3,850 posts

257 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
I've seen more than one chavved up Elise and if people will chav up supercars then I see no reason why the Elise will be spared.

However, I'd like to think the enthusiast to chav ratio will make help keep the numbers of Elise GTI 16v SRs to a minimum.

cej

961 posts

253 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
boobles said:
Gooby said:
There is a S1 going round here with neons, tinted windows and an halfrauds aluminium wing on the back. It has begun....



Get some pics of this one PLEASE.... yes yes bounce


OMG. Not so sure we want to see those pictures yikes

risotto

3,934 posts

243 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
From what I can gather, a lot of these kids spend a lot more than an Elise is worth on their cars. If they wanted to give it the Halfords treatment I'm sure they would have done so a long time ago.

Generally they don't seem interested in convertibles (with the possible exception of old Escorts).

I sometimes wonder whether they're that different to the rest of us anyway. It seems somewhat perverse that things like lurid paint, stripes, carbon fibre trim, aftermarket alloys, LED lights, loud exhausts, race harnesses, induction kits and the like are deemed to be cool on an Elise but are derided as chav tat when bolted to a Saxo.

Aside from some of the body kits and the ICE I think there's more common ground than some here would like to admit.

Janitor

2,372 posts

250 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
risotto said:

I sometimes wonder whether they're that different to the rest of us anyway. It seems somewhat perverse that things like lurid paint, stripes, carbon fibre trim, aftermarket alloys, LED lights, loud exhausts, race harnesses, induction kits and the like are deemed to be cool on an Elise but are derided as chav tat when bolted to a Saxo.

Aside from some of the body kits and the ICE I think there's more common ground than some here would like to admit.



Erm...

lurid paint (tick)
stripes (tick)
aftermarket alloy stalks (tick)
LED lights (tick)
loud exhausts (tick)
ICE (tick)

yikes

risotto

3,934 posts

243 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
hehe

cloverloti

80 posts

238 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Surely there is not enough space to get a big enough bass bin in an Elise? That would be a big reduction in street cred, man. No farting drum and bass, init!

Respec!laugh

kambites

71,701 posts

252 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Who cares (apart from the insurance thing). It wont make your car any less fun to drive and they'll all kill themselves the first time it rains.

Bing o

15,184 posts

250 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Burger Run, circa 2012:

ikemi

8,611 posts

236 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
I haven't ever seen a chav driving an Elise and I don't think many people associate the Elise or the marque of Lotus with chavs - I just don't think that small, 2 seater convertibles are suitable for the additional ICE installs and bodywork 'enhancements' ... From what I've seen the affluent chav chooses a Japanese 4WD turbo as the weapon of choice!

TheYeti

656 posts

247 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
risotto said:
From what I can gather, a lot of these kids spend a lot more than an Elise is worth on their cars. If they wanted to give it the Halfords treatment I'm sure they would have done so a long time ago.

Generally they don't seem interested in convertibles (with the possible exception of old Escorts).

I sometimes wonder whether they're that different to the rest of us anyway. It seems somewhat perverse that things like lurid paint, stripes, carbon fibre trim, aftermarket alloys, LED lights, loud exhausts, race harnesses, induction kits and the like are deemed to be cool on an Elise but are derided as chav tat when bolted to a Saxo.

Aside from some of the body kits and the ICE I think there's more common ground than some here would like to admit.



LOL!!! THAT is a very fair point!! LOL!!!

Hang on..........err.........my car is standard.................

I'll get my coat............

kambites

71,701 posts

252 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Got to agree. I don't have a particular problem with kids (or anyone else) 'customising' their cars. I mean I think they usually look ing stupid but then aren't all these things down to personal taste.

garylythgoe

831 posts

253 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
The main problem i have is the pumpin ch00nz in public or outside my house, or driving like dickheads around me or my family/partner!

garydvo

432 posts

269 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
quotequote all
Scoobys are cheap with some sub £2k.

Also Chavs both Girls and Blokes looks never give an Elise a second look.

The Elise is not a pulling machine they do not know the history of Lotus, remeber 45 single were common place when Lotus were at the peak, some 20 year olds have never seen a 45.

Some will slip through but be the exception.

As above who cares