The front numberplate problem

[mr-lovebucket]

My S2 Elise has the front number plate stuck on very low, which sometimes makes pulling into sloping driveways or petrol stations difficult. I'm sure people must relate to this - that feeling of terror when (despite your efforts to go as slowly as possible) you know that the plate could hit the ground and then pull a big chunk out of the fibreglass when you reverse... I've been in situations where reversing wasn't an option and I've only been able to pray that i can make it...

Of course, I could take it off and stick it on higher, but then it will cover some of the radiator grill (this is mainly an aesthetic concern more than anything else - perhaps I shouldn't be so fussy!?). In any case, IMO, the small, sleek, low shape of the Elise is spoiled slightly by the big UK numberplate.

I've seen elises with smaller plates, and looked at ordering some (e.g. a 12"x3" plate from www.aplates.co.uk might do the job, as long as the letters are big enough to occupy all the available area). I'm guessing this must be a common problem so just wondered what other people have done? (I'm talking about people who are over fussy like me...)

[matrs]

Yes a very common problem, get a small plate from www.fancyplates.com/

[dhouthoo]

I've had the same problem. I even ripped off the front plate (attached with screws) on a driveway. I then bought a sticker, full-size and stuck it on a sort of black flexible light-weight roofing material I bought at a DIY store. I attached my home-made license plate with double-sided tape to the front clam. Not too high, not too low.

It is completely legal and the front clam is protected from small touch-downs ;-) Since then, I have never lost my front plate again. It has also proved effectiveness as it already survived a few touch-downs without damaging my front clam.

The only difference with you is that I'm based in Belgium, so my plates are smaller.

Dieter.

[bogie]

another place to try is www.gtgrafix.com - Ive had a 3/4 sized plate on for 4 years with no bother from plod ...just stick to the legal std font and it dosent look out of place at all....I still tend to mount it about 5mm lower than the bottom of the front splitter, so at least you get some warning if youre not going to make it up a ramp etc

[jondude]

I would have thought along dhouto's line is best.

Buy a stick on plate and put it on a nice rubber sheet backing, re-apply in normal place.

This will look totally legal from a distance ( I think ! ) and should, in theory, simply fold up if you ground it?

[hbaumhardt]

Legal plate and heavy duty Velcro. Plate scrapes, crunches and will ultimatley pop off with no damage to clam. Get out, reattach plate and life is good.