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Thread: Vanity plates (car registrations)

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2018

    Location: Forest of Dean

    Posts: 643
    I'm Gary.

    Default Vanity plates (car registrations)

    I rather suspect this may kick up a poo storm but here goes anyway

    For the life of me I simply cannot fathom out the attraction of personalised/private/vanity plates on cars, I accept it's a matter of taste and what people choose to spend their money on is their business but the whole concept bewilders me.

    The two main categories appear to be-

    The owner's name or initials - Why? You already know your name, as do your friends and family and I'm sorry but nobody else cares. Would you wear a Tshirt with your name written on it? Hardly.

    The make or model of the car - Again why? The car has badges on the front and back letting everybody know what it is and the manufacturer spends millions on advertising and brand awareness, so why stick it on the number plate? Those with an interest in cars will know what it is anyway and, again, nobody else cares.

    A possible third category is business related plates, this I can possibly understand as I assume the cost of the plate can probably be offset against tax, however just look at that Pimlico Plumbing guy if you want to see everything that's wrong about that lol

    I've asked the same things on several car forums over the years but usually just get back defensive abuse in return, or the standard "it's up to me what I spend my money on & I don't have to justify it to you" I fully accept that fact but it would be nice to hear why somebody thinks the whole world might want to know their name or what car they drive.

    Anybody?
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  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2008

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 7,103
    I'm Rob.

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    There appears to be a secret language relating to these plates. Some are so tenuous as to make no sense at all. Sometimes I can see what they have tried to spell, but often it looks like nonsense.
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  3. #3
    Join Date: Jun 2014

    Location: Chorley Lancs

    Posts: 14,597
    I'm Steve.

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    I see that several people on here have posted pics of their motor with the number plates blanked out, and I assume this is to do with security, so I don't know if I should mention any specific reg numbers - but I'm going to anyway.

    Years ago Anita bought a registration number (for her Escort cabrio so it was a while ago) and it read S13 XYA. She had plates made with the spacing altered so it read S13XY A, which sort of worked if you squinted or simply couldn't spell. Not my idea of money well spent (a couple of hundred), but hey, it's her money. After a couple of weeks I got pulled over on my way to taking the dog to the vets. I was told to get it sorted straightaway. Then the next day Anita was stopped (different copper, but he was aware of the previous day's stop) and gave her a right old bollocking, but fortunately no ticket. Plate is now "on retention" or whatever it's called, and has been for many years.

    But now I see plenty of motors with plates whose spacing frankly takes the piss, generally prestige cars like Range Rovers, X5s and big Mercs. May sound a bit racist but I do also detect a pattern. Where are the police with these ones? Maybe it's a Masonic thing

    I know someone called Claire who bought a plate for her latest car, and it read C7 URX: now the guy that flogged her that must have been one hell of a salesman, because there aren't enough drugs in the world to make that anything other than what it is.

    I did occasionally see a plate which just read "U2" - now that would be worth a bob or two, and would be an easy sell to a U2 fan, as they all have more money than sense, even when they have no money
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  4. #4
    Join Date: Nov 2011

    Location: Seaton, Devon, UK

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    I'm Adrian.

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    I think there is an 3rd category, which may be one of the biggest which is primarily to loose the age of the car. I have had a couple of plates in the past both I sold for more than I paid for them after a few years, one was FSU 853 (Irish plate) brought for £99 sold for £800, the other had my wife’s name SUE in it, brought for £300 and sold for £1000. I have one plate which came on a car that I purchased about four years ago, when I sold the car I kept it on retention. See if you can work out what it is S18ERO.
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  5. #5
    Join Date: Jun 2014

    Location: Chorley Lancs

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    I'm Steve.

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    Did you wear a big Mexican hat while driving it?
    I just dropped in, to see what condition my condition was in

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  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Much Wenlock

    Posts: 1,522
    I'm Gary.

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    I have no excuse.......vanity!
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  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    I agree it's pretty pointless (although) harmless, and holds no interest for me, but if some folks are into it, then I guess it's their money. One thing, in terms of that, is that some of the rare plates created, which relate in some way to lots of people (common initials, etc), are very desirable and can fetch significant sums at auctions!

    Therefore, if you're looking for a 'sensible' reason to own a private car registration plate, then as an investment, that might be it.

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  8. #8
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Yorkshire

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    I'm Andrew.

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    It's pretty sad when you've got to use your number plate to remember your name.
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  9. #9
    Join Date: Feb 2013

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    I'm Grant.

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    investment wise its a pretty sound buy, as long as its a decent one. they continually go up in value. i guess its easy to remember than your new number every year or 2 as well. Obviously to make the neighbors think you've just splashed out 60k for a new car when in fact you splashed 20 on a secondhand one.
    I'm not good ar reading these things and getting any sense out of them in general, although the better ones are easier. You get the odd funny one too, but in general they leave me a bit smug i didn't, wouldn't, couldn't. NNP 4ME
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  10. #10
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

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    Quote Originally Posted by struth View Post
    investment wise its a pretty sound buy, as long as its a decent one. they continually go up in value.
    Exactly!

    Quote Originally Posted by struth
    Obviously to make the neighbors think you've just splashed out 60k for a new car when in fact you splashed 20 on a secondhand one.
    Now as far as that risible and insecure idiocy is concerned, anyone guilty of such should be publicly stripped naked, butt-whipped, and their teeny-weeny, baldy 2" wieners ridiculed by everyone!

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    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


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