RE: Personalised plates: Tell Me I'm Wrong
Discussion
Chris it's your personal opinion, so it's neither wright or wrong. Each to their own. I was never really bothered one way or the other. If the plate suits the car or the owner well then fine. I don't think plates that refer to the owner but you can't really tell what it means are very good, but if the owner is happy with who cares. I've just recently bought a personal plate for two reasons, one because it fit my car and me, an MX5, MX51 ROB. Two it was half the price of all the other ROB plates so I should be able to make a profit on it if want to sell.
"I'm a bit torn on the matter to be honest. I was never really into them, however, on the right car the right plate looks quite good.
Here in NZ we're allowed ANY combination of letters and numbers upto the six-character maximum so long as it's not offensive (You couldn't have F**KER for example, although I have seen BUGGER). Obviously you're not allowed any combination that's already been taken. This generally means there's a much greater selection of sensible plates without having to use numeric characters to make up letters (11 to represent N or H for example) like you have to do in the UK.
I got mine as a bit tongue in cheek, but my car has kinda become known for it. Also, in NZ the plates are taller and narrower than UK/Euro plates, so I wanted to fork out for a Euro-format plate that better fitted the plate recess on the rear (would have had to trim/bend a standard issue plate), and it was only another $50 to get the letter combination of my choosing.
The front is a half-scale (illegal) replica of the rear plate, because a full size plate looks comical on such a small car.
If I'd had to have a plate like EX1GE, or LOTU5, I wouldn't have bothered.
Here in NZ we're allowed ANY combination of letters and numbers upto the six-character maximum so long as it's not offensive (You couldn't have F**KER for example, although I have seen BUGGER). Obviously you're not allowed any combination that's already been taken. This generally means there's a much greater selection of sensible plates without having to use numeric characters to make up letters (11 to represent N or H for example) like you have to do in the UK.
I got mine as a bit tongue in cheek, but my car has kinda become known for it. Also, in NZ the plates are taller and narrower than UK/Euro plates, so I wanted to fork out for a Euro-format plate that better fitted the plate recess on the rear (would have had to trim/bend a standard issue plate), and it was only another $50 to get the letter combination of my choosing.
The front is a half-scale (illegal) replica of the rear plate, because a full size plate looks comical on such a small car.
If I'd had to have a plate like EX1GE, or LOTU5, I wouldn't have bothered.
Edited by Esprit on Saturday 18th May 02:49
Kermit power said:
On the whole, I don't find them particularly offensive. I do, however, wonder at the sort of person who has bought everything they could possibly imagine buying, to the point where they have cash left over to spend on a number plate when the car comes with one for free.
I paid a fair amount (into five figures) for mine and it's worth perhaps double what I paid for it now, so some can be an investment...
This subject is definitely a hot potato, or should that be 11OT POT80... I've always thought that a plate with a couple of initials and/or digits can really enhance the look of a car, especially if said car is something classy like a big old Bentley, Jag or Roller. In these cases I feel the plate kind of completes the overall package and doesn't appear awkward in any way, to me at least. You just can't have a Bentley Turbo R on a standard plate. Old plates (e.g. three letters and numbers) that are passed down through generations are fine with me too. They have a timeless quality about them and look great. See, this just looks classy imo...
rol_phantom_9_1920_01 by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
Names are definitely not my cup of tea especially when people try and make them out of letters/numbers that obviously don't belong. For me words in most cases detract from the overall look of the car (which is ironic as I bought a plate like this in the past with a view to selling it on, but it remains on my dear old mum's car ten years later!), even if they're car related. I feel they're just a little bit flippant. But, to each their own I'm not judging and some plates I have seen have definitely made me chuckle, I just personally wouldn't have one.
A few years ago here in Hong Kong the transport department introduced a scheme whereby you can apply for almost any combination of letters, numbers and spaces (up to eight places) for your plate and then you go and bid on it at auction of a starting bid of about 500 quid. The money, I believe, goes to the community chest, so it's a great scheme, but it has also paved the way for some truly ridiculous and banal stuff as you can imagine.
http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/common/pvrm_aucti...
However, as imported classic cars become increasingly popular here, a clever and tasteful thing that a few people have started doing is registering plates that reproduce the original UK ones that the cars were originally issued on for that authentic look. I think it's a neat touch, such as on this DBS
Aston Martin DBS by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
And this rather famous Esprit
Lotus Esprit Turbo by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
This also gives you the opportunity to recreate the old UK press car plates like Porsche's 911 HUL and Aston's AML 1. Which is pretty cool in my opinion. So, personal plates, for me at least, can be hit and miss but I think the roads are a more interesting place with them.
rol_phantom_9_1920_01 by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
Names are definitely not my cup of tea especially when people try and make them out of letters/numbers that obviously don't belong. For me words in most cases detract from the overall look of the car (which is ironic as I bought a plate like this in the past with a view to selling it on, but it remains on my dear old mum's car ten years later!), even if they're car related. I feel they're just a little bit flippant. But, to each their own I'm not judging and some plates I have seen have definitely made me chuckle, I just personally wouldn't have one.
A few years ago here in Hong Kong the transport department introduced a scheme whereby you can apply for almost any combination of letters, numbers and spaces (up to eight places) for your plate and then you go and bid on it at auction of a starting bid of about 500 quid. The money, I believe, goes to the community chest, so it's a great scheme, but it has also paved the way for some truly ridiculous and banal stuff as you can imagine.
http://www.td.gov.hk/filemanager/common/pvrm_aucti...
However, as imported classic cars become increasingly popular here, a clever and tasteful thing that a few people have started doing is registering plates that reproduce the original UK ones that the cars were originally issued on for that authentic look. I think it's a neat touch, such as on this DBS
Aston Martin DBS by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
And this rather famous Esprit
Lotus Esprit Turbo by Rupert Procter, on Flickr
This also gives you the opportunity to recreate the old UK press car plates like Porsche's 911 HUL and Aston's AML 1. Which is pretty cool in my opinion. So, personal plates, for me at least, can be hit and miss but I think the roads are a more interesting place with them.
Edited by rupertprocter on Saturday 18th May 06:22
Edited by rupertprocter on Saturday 18th May 06:23
Hi Chris,
Your thought-provoking piece invites readers to find views to be wrong – or not? Some rhetorical observations for your consideration:
1. An ambivalent position is presented throughout – understandable for subject matter connected to issues of taste, where polarisation of views readily arises?
2. Hence, your strong dislike of ‘personalised’ registrations is a valid view but no-less-so than the alternative of a strong predilection for them?
3. Indeed, taste is not a matter for dispute at law, though incorrect spacing of numbers & letters on registration plates can be. Possibly ironic due to each & every registration mark being literally unique, whereas alterations to character size & spacing may make them more, rather than less, memorable?
4. Against this, ought to be consideration of whether or not fairer, simpler, more efficient & cheaper administration arises from compliance with character sizing & spacing regulations?
5. The car as “always the star” is as good a starting point – some cars are clearly ‘high profile’, others are anonymous, ‘Q-cars’ – either extreme is again surely a matter of taste?
6. Some of us like the names we were given by our parents – even to the extent of wanting to ‘advertise’ this – whereas others do not (in extremis prompting change by Deed Poll), again something that could be seen as merely a matter of taste?
7. The likes of The Princess Royal may consider certain names to be obviously ‘naff’ but, equally, the owner of such may actually have a very dry sense of humour?
8. Personalised registrations that often appear on ‘volume prestige’ cars (e.g. Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus) may be added as a ‘finishing touch’ by those who must ‘keep up with the Joneses’ – but that does not render the notion of a ‘finishing touch’ invalid to others who are not as insecure psychologically?
Conclusions?
(i) Non-prefixed or suffixed combinations with ‘random’ letters & numbers appear to be the most anonymous so, possibly, also the most ‘tasteful.
(ii) ‘Period’ registrations cannot be wrong for older vehicles and have obvious appeal to ‘marque purists’ of whatever sort?
(iii) ‘Number plate spotting’ can alleviate boredom in young children [“are we there yet”] on long journeys.
(iv) The most remarkable registrations I have ever seen were both coincidentally ‘Vee-eight’ ones – the owner of the TVR Chimaera I saw at a car show with the mark ‘V8 NUT’ must have a great sense of humour and made me wish I’d thought of the idea first; on another occasion I was a lowly bus passenger on a rare trip to London, when I spotted the shortest and most impressive registration I’ve ever seen – simply ‘V8’ on an Aston Martin V8 saloon – inspiration in ‘PH-terms’ ever since to attempt a lottery win!
(v) Many of the more tasteless registration combinations scream ‘show off’ – something that can either be regarded as a useful ‘ice breaker’ or, alternatively, a good signal to avoid being caught in the kitchen at parties with such an individual?
(vi) Apparently ever-growing demand in post-war years has meant that prescient selection makes ‘personalised’ registrations not a bad long-term investment, so even the most tasteless individual may be making sound financial provision for his/her legatees?
Your thought-provoking piece invites readers to find views to be wrong – or not? Some rhetorical observations for your consideration:
1. An ambivalent position is presented throughout – understandable for subject matter connected to issues of taste, where polarisation of views readily arises?
2. Hence, your strong dislike of ‘personalised’ registrations is a valid view but no-less-so than the alternative of a strong predilection for them?
3. Indeed, taste is not a matter for dispute at law, though incorrect spacing of numbers & letters on registration plates can be. Possibly ironic due to each & every registration mark being literally unique, whereas alterations to character size & spacing may make them more, rather than less, memorable?
4. Against this, ought to be consideration of whether or not fairer, simpler, more efficient & cheaper administration arises from compliance with character sizing & spacing regulations?
5. The car as “always the star” is as good a starting point – some cars are clearly ‘high profile’, others are anonymous, ‘Q-cars’ – either extreme is again surely a matter of taste?
6. Some of us like the names we were given by our parents – even to the extent of wanting to ‘advertise’ this – whereas others do not (in extremis prompting change by Deed Poll), again something that could be seen as merely a matter of taste?
7. The likes of The Princess Royal may consider certain names to be obviously ‘naff’ but, equally, the owner of such may actually have a very dry sense of humour?
8. Personalised registrations that often appear on ‘volume prestige’ cars (e.g. Audis, BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus) may be added as a ‘finishing touch’ by those who must ‘keep up with the Joneses’ – but that does not render the notion of a ‘finishing touch’ invalid to others who are not as insecure psychologically?
Conclusions?
(i) Non-prefixed or suffixed combinations with ‘random’ letters & numbers appear to be the most anonymous so, possibly, also the most ‘tasteful.
(ii) ‘Period’ registrations cannot be wrong for older vehicles and have obvious appeal to ‘marque purists’ of whatever sort?
(iii) ‘Number plate spotting’ can alleviate boredom in young children [“are we there yet”] on long journeys.
(iv) The most remarkable registrations I have ever seen were both coincidentally ‘Vee-eight’ ones – the owner of the TVR Chimaera I saw at a car show with the mark ‘V8 NUT’ must have a great sense of humour and made me wish I’d thought of the idea first; on another occasion I was a lowly bus passenger on a rare trip to London, when I spotted the shortest and most impressive registration I’ve ever seen – simply ‘V8’ on an Aston Martin V8 saloon – inspiration in ‘PH-terms’ ever since to attempt a lottery win!
(v) Many of the more tasteless registration combinations scream ‘show off’ – something that can either be regarded as a useful ‘ice breaker’ or, alternatively, a good signal to avoid being caught in the kitchen at parties with such an individual?
(vi) Apparently ever-growing demand in post-war years has meant that prescient selection makes ‘personalised’ registrations not a bad long-term investment, so even the most tasteless individual may be making sound financial provision for his/her legatees?
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