Planet 9

All these threads about the pros and cons of installing front license plates in states that require them have me wondering, do most of you hate all license plates (i.e., the very concept of submission to government authority), or merely aesthetic-ruining front plates? It may sound trivial, but no one seems to argue about the necessity or the appearance of rear-mounted license plates. Why is the front of a car ruined by a license plate, when we routinely accept the rear plate? Do those of you (like myself) who have so-called "vanity" plates dislike front plates any less? Personally, since I am required to install front plates on my cars, I'd rather that they contained letters/numbers of my own choosing. Maybe I'm just splitting hairs (and I must confess that I am somewhat of a license plate hobbyist), but I'm willing to bet that there are a lot of forum members that don't consider any front license plate to be, by definition, an aesthetic disaster. What say you all? 987f p.s: The only person in the world not required to display any license plates, to my knowledge, is Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England.

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'07 Cayman, Cobalt Blue Metallic; Natural Brown leather; clear sidemarkers; Boxster S wheels; '06 SLK 350; '04 SL 500; '73 246 GT; '72 246 GT

I've never been crazy about front plates, though I have contemplated getting one of those custom, European-style long plates to mount on the front, which would seem to fill that area better than the standard US plates.

Right now, I just have the mounting backing with my Kansas Turnpike Pass activator mounted to it (see picture).

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The front of most sports cars is usually pointier than the rear, and mfgs. don't consider plate integration into their front styling....they just hang it off the front bumper. Compare to the rear, where the mount is permanent and integrated.

I don't like vanity plates b/c I already pay enough in reg. fees to the govt. (4 vehicles) and consider that if somebody ever wanted to tattle on my for something (say speeding), a random collection of #'s is harder to memorize. Also, the ones that allude to how fast your car is prob. don't help to generate a sense of forgiveness when you get pulled over!

My $.02, YMMV.

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'08 E90 M3 (replaced '07 Guards Red Cayman S, which will be fondly remembered)
'08 Miata GT
'08 Honda Ridgeline RTL
'07 KTM Super Duke 990
'07 KTM 300 XC-W

The rear has a well defined, integrated and obviously designed plate mounting area complete with lights. The front has a couple of barely visible dimples to drill out and mount an ugly plastic appendage. It doesn't take an art major to conclude at which end a plate hurts the design.

I don't have vanity plates because I prefer to be neither noticed nor remembered if I exercise my horses.

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Dan

Won't do front plates.. would rather pay the tickets. No vanity plates for me the more difficult to remember the better.

I seem to be a member of a very small cult, but I've never had any problem with putting a front plate on any of my Porsches. In fact, a Florida friend's CS doesn't look quite right to me without it's front plate. I can't quite understand how it's important enough to some to go without that they're willing to risk a ticket.

+1. I guess that doesn't say to much for how socially conscious our driving can be from time to time...

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2007 Cayman, midnight/tan
2007 Touareg V8, working man's Cayenne, tow vehicle
2007 Mazda3 hatch, ski car and wifey-mobile
1993 BMW 325is Spec E36 race car

I've gotten one $65, non-moving violation no front plate ticket in 25 yrs. of driving...and it was an add-on for a speeding stop when the cop knew we'd been driving much faster than he caught us. Small price to pay IMO.

I don't think the risk of getting pulled over for no front plate is much higher than my chance of winning the lottery.

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'08 E90 M3 (replaced '07 Guards Red Cayman S, which will be fondly remembered)
'08 Miata GT
'08 Honda Ridgeline RTL
'07 KTM Super Duke 990
'07 KTM 300 XC-W

Cayman looks better without the front plate.We are Required to have one here in WA but if a cop wants to give me a ticket for such a silly thing I will rip it up and say ,THANK YOU SIR MAY I HAVE ANOTHER . no wonder our jails are so overcrowded

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2007 2.7 Liter Sports Chrono SRP 4.1 Flash Remus Exhaust H&R springs 19" Gt-5 wheels de-snorked K&N air filter RS-60 style dash Infinity Basslink Subwoofer Motor Lux CF side vents and rear diffueser NR Auto Gt-3 style front bumper and GT-Rear wing Outlaw Crest

hahahaha LMAO

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-Chad-

2006 Black Cayman S, 997 European GT3 seats, GT3 Brake Duct Spoilers, European Clear Side Markers, Red Sport Taillights, Agency Power Exhaust + Tips, Escort 9500i.

I HATE front plates. Thank goodness we are not required to have them in North Carolina. However, the local Mercedes dealer insists of drilling holes in the front bumper of all his cars and mounting his dealership tag.

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Porsche Cayman 2.7
Mercedes E320 Bluetec Diesel
Ducati Paul Smart LE
BMW R1200GS

+2 I've had to pay two fines in 25 years of driving.....well worth it not to have a front plate.

It's quite interesting that all members of the EU require front plates, in a large, standard rectangular format. There is no debate about it. It's placed on the car upon first registration. In most European countries the plate is permanent, and the plate number goes with the car, not the owner, much like the numbers on a boat or an airplane's tail number. That being said, the Europeans don't go to any great lengths, as US manufacturers do, to design the front bumper to accommodate a plate. However, new thinner mounting brackets (like the Cayman's) conform to the contours of the bumper and give the front plate a more integrated look. It must not bother the Porsche stylists too much, or they would design the front end with a recess of some sort which would approximate the rear-end design. In any case, just as we must have certain windshield stickers affixed, I can certainly live with the front plate requirement. I think that a front plate is just as much a representation of use and function as mud splatters on the lower fenders and black stains on the tailpipes. We may not always find them to be pretty, but they demonstrate that the car is being used as intended. I am probably in a small minority on this, however. 987f

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'07 Cayman, Cobalt Blue Metallic; Natural Brown leather; clear sidemarkers; Boxster S wheels; '06 SLK 350; '04 SL 500; '73 246 GT; '72 246 GT

I actually use my front plate as a "feeler". Even though I have been driving low front end sports cars for the last five years, I have no clue how far the front end of the car extends when parallel parking, or approaching a curb. There are no reference points. No problem when backing up, though.

987f -the minority is growing. Also when I had my 911s and lived in VA, I couldn't pass the annual state inspection without the front plate on the car, and in MD the front plate was required for the intital inspection to register the 911s in MD.

On the CS, I used the dealer mounting frame, bent the license plate slightly and framed it with a curved metal frame using black plugs. It conforms to the bumper curve.




just like the endless badge or debadge discussion, who cares - do what you want

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Ted
07 CS Meteor Grey

It's the aesthetics for me. Fortunately I live in a rear palte only state

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EJP
E.J.'s Cayman S Gallery

How much does he pay the buyers for that advertising?

I once had a dealer try to sell me a car with their decal taking up a good portion of the rear window - I told him to remove it unless he was going to pay me for the advertising, or give me a much better deal on the price!

(needless to say, they removed it )

BOTH.

I hate government!

I hate wearing a reflective front stamp that allows radar or laser to better tag me.

I hate the looks of it.

Moreover, I love the way the C/CS looks without a front license plate. It seems so much more functional and aerodynamic and 'environmental green friendly' [for all that hogwash and brainwashing that is worth!] to allow the clean lines of the Caymen to cut through the air. I'll bet it is good for 1 more mile per gallon!!!

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When we get on the subject of dealer advertising, that's an entirely different story. I always order my cars, and never allow any dealer advertising on them. I am amazed that the vast majority of people accept this advertising without complaint---sometimes as many as three or four different places on the car. Some even seem to consider it a badge of honor. One local dealer used to bragg in its commercials: "If your car doesn't have the (blank) name on the back, you probably paid too much." License plates are a necessary evil. Dealer advertising should be the dealer's problem. 987f

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'07 Cayman, Cobalt Blue Metallic; Natural Brown leather; clear sidemarkers; Boxster S wheels; '06 SLK 350; '04 SL 500; '73 246 GT; '72 246 GT

Not one thin dime!

I remove EVERYTHING that says anything about the dealer . . . decals, plates, stick-ons . . . everything. In fact I think BumperPlugs got their start because the Charlotte Porsche dealer insisted on putting holes in the front bumpers of their Porsches. (They no longer do that.) Now BumperPlugs sells them for the Mercedes as well.

I agree with 987f. If you want me to advertise you need to pay me.