Car model specific plates - owners trading up / down

[adamfawsitt]

Saw a Rangie Sport today with an M4 XXX plate on it and thought to myself there is a guy (or girl) who has graduated from the BMW bad boy image of an M4 to a family wagon, interesting. I often see M5 XXX plates on fairly modest cars and wonder what triggered the downgrade.

Is it just me?

[alscar]

Might just be you thinking it but I’ve seen quite a few examples of both up and downs.
One of my wife’s current cars has had the same number for the last 6 cars ranging from an X5 to a few Cayennes to various Audi RS models over probably 20 years and based on her initials ie XX XXX.
Wouldn’t like to say whether that’s up or down

[carlove]

I once saw an Audi A3 with the numberplate 'A3', the plate is now on a Volvo V60 from a reg check.

[Fady]

adamfawsitt said:

Saw a Rangie Sport today with an M4 XXX plate on it and thought to myself there is a guy (or girl) who has graduated from the BMW bad boy image of an M4 to a family wagon, interesting. I often see M5 XXX plates on fairly modest cars and wonder what triggered the downgrade.

Is it just me?

You do know that there is no restriction on placing M4, M5 etc. prefixed plates on any car? Many people simply purchase these because they are available in their chosen 3-letter prefix and have no interest in the connotations with a specific marque.

[SkodaIan]

I can't remember the specific plate now, but a few years back I saw a Toyota Auris with a plate which looked like it had been originally bought for a TVR.

It made me chuckle as the owner must have swapped from one of the most unreliable, but interesting cars you can buy to what must be one of the least interesting but most reliable.

[LunarOne]

I saw someone with M5 CAR on an old workhorse SUV many years ago. Some sort of Nissan Patrol or Mitsubishi equivalent if I remember correctly. Asked if they were interested in selling the plate. They weren't. I have no idea if they knew what an M5 was or not.

[pyruse]

I’m always a bit puzzled by car model specific plates. We can see it is an X5 or M4 or whatever; why do you want the number plate to have the same thing on it?

[adamfawsitt]

I don't get car specific plates either (although I have hankered after a 911 plate myself...) especially when they are on like an X5 which is surely not going to be a car model for life (which I think a 911 us hence the search!).

[Super Sonic]

Wanted H 22 ATR. It's on a 01 ATR which has never been mot'd. Assuming it's at Honda headquarters.

[NDA]

I've had a couple of V12's with a V12 plate... it's now on retention rather than putting it on an EV.

[Llew]

I've had a couple of V8 plates on V8's... I've also had "928 MTO" on a 928 which I quite liked. Car specific plates can be quite fun if they are clever, subtle and it shows the owner is an enthusiast.

Illegally spaced, 4D, weird fonts etc immediately rules them out.

I've currently got GR22 UFO on my Supra and had it registered to that plate. I thought the UFO bit was fun (they are rare because nobody buys them!), GR (Gazoo Racing) etc. Also when I sell it the plate might be a nice differentiator and make it slightly easier to sell.

[alscar]

adamfawsitt said:

I don't get car specific plates either (although I have hankered after a 911 plate myself...) especially when they are on like an X5 which is surely not going to be a car model for life (which I think a 911 us hence the search!).

I had 4 x 911’s and then got tired of having to deal with Porsche dealers.
I do still have a XX SOW plate on retention if that helps.

[alscar]

NDA said:

I've had a couple of V12's with a V12 plate... it's now on retention rather than putting it on an EV.

Although would look slightly ironic.
I’m keeping my V12 XXX in case I get a Vanquish.

[joropug]

Super Sonic said:

Wanted H 22 ATR. It's on a 01 ATR which has never been mot'd. Assuming it's at Honda headquarters.

Damn, I used to own H19 ATR (His, with a cap for photos)

[s94wht]

To the crappy plate thread with you, heathen!

[Super Sonic]

joropug said:

Damn, I used to own H19 ATR (His, with a cap for photos)

Nice. Engine bay looks clean.

[Jamescrs]

Many years ago I worked with a woman who had the plate X5 ... on her Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, she told me it was because her dream car was an X5, she had never owned one, she went on to say her partner had a plate starting M3 for the same reason

[sooty61]

I have an M3 plate with my initials on a Range Rover. I bought it for my BMW M3 and when I traded it for a 911 the dealer suggested I kept it so it has been on 2 911’s, a V8 Vantage, a 330 BMW and a Merc E350 Coupe. I really don’t care what anyone else thinks.

[Niglebick]

I hold ‘SAA 9T’- on a classic Saab 900 I’m slowly returning to the road..

[joropug]

s94wht said:

To the crappy plate thread with you, heathen!

I was 21 in my defence , the cap was blu tacked on !