The ridiculousness of the new registration plate

Voodoomelon

Anyone hear the new Renault ads on the radio? This 131/132 registration thing has gotten out of hand, its absolutely ridiculous. I find it ludicrous that system this was brought to fruition, I liken it to the e-voting machines, mind-boggingly idiotic.

They're not even advertising cars any more, they're literally advertising the plate!
"Happy New Year!" they're saying, "Celebrate the new 132 plate!". Unbelievable.

"132 plates from only €149 a month". No mention of cars full stop, any models, specification, information on trade-ins etc. As if there was any doubt that the Irish motorist didn't care about the car itself and just the first two numbers on the plate, it's pretty bloody clear now.

I know everyone says we should have kept the plate as it was, but I would love to see the year removed from the plate altogether. Maybe then people would buy a car based on the specification and quality of the motor itself and not a stupid number.

It would also give the second hand market a boost. A huge chunk of profit (ex VRT & VAT) leaves the country with every new car sale, stimulus to the second hand market is as much needed to mechanics, motor factors and garage sales as it is to the main dealers.

The attitude towards motoring (plates, tax, poor servicing, no pride in upkeep) in this country is so backwards it makes me wonder where it all went wrong...

flutered

the irish are careless about lots of things, look back a few years at the rubbish and schit that was around the country, today look around any town center at 4am,the same applys to cars etc, we do not believe in looking after them properly, well most of us anyway.

PyeContinental

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I would love to see the year removed from the plate altogether. Maybe then people would buy a car based on the specification and quality of the motor itself and not a stupid number.

I agree with everything you say except this. In general I'm opposed to changing any well designed system just because people are stupid and irrational.

For some counterbalance, today I saw an SI reg (roughly 86 if I remember properly) light blue Toyota Starlet that looked like it was well minded and from the look of the elder gentleman driving it, perhaps by its original owner.

CiniO

Voodoomelon wrote: »

"132 plates from only €149 a month". No mention of cars full stop, any models, specification, information on trade-ins etc. As if there was any doubt that the Irish motorist didn't care about the car itself and just the first two numbers on the plate, it's pretty bloody clear now.

I'd say their marketing guys know what they are doing.
If possibly some researches say that people don't care about make, model and spec of car they are driving but about the first two or three digits on numberplate, then there's nothing strange that car dealers advertise those numbers not cars.

Surely if Joe wants to have 132 plate on his car and don't care about anything else, then why on earth would car dealers advertise makes and models... That would be stupid.

colm_mcm

I heard that ad this evening, and while it made me want to veer into a ditch, at least they're trying.

Tricky job for them considering the cut-price deals they were doing on scrappage.

Valetta

CiniO wrote: »

I'd say their marketing guys know what they are doing.
If possibly some researches say that people don't care about make, model and spec of car they are driving but about the first two or three digits on numberplate, then there's nothing strange that car dealers advertise those numbers not cars.

Surely if Joe wants to have 132 plate on his car and don't care about anything else, then why on earth would car dealers advertise makes and models... That would be stupid.

This is it.

Why get worked up over things that don't affect you.

Eric Cartman

CiniO wrote: »

I'd say their marketing guys know what they are doing.
If possibly some researches say that people don't care about make, model and spec of car they are driving but about the first two or three digits on numberplate, then there's nothing strange that car dealers advertise those numbers not cars.

Surely if Joe wants to have 132 plate on his car and don't care about anything else, then why on earth would car dealers advertise makes and models... That would be stupid.

looking at any boards thread about people with reg plate snobbery/envy ?

Supergurrier

Plate snobbery shocker

The 131 etc is stupid but in general I think the Irish plates are a good idea. I think its good to keep the year, not that I'm in anyway a reg snob its just a good system to be able to tell the year of a car.

At some point I would like to own a brand new car also so it would be nice to see the new reg on it.

For Forks Sake

Cecilia Prehistoric Mitten wrote: »

The 131 etc is stupid but in general I think the Irish plates are a good idea. I think its good to keep the year, not that I'm in anyway a reg snob its just a good system to be able to tell the year of a car.

This.

For those complaining about the current system (I think the 131/132 thing is stupid), but the fundamental Year-County-Number format is fine, how is it worse say than LIX541 or 8627EI (<- my first and second cars)

ION08

Voodoomelon wrote: »

132 plates from only €149 a month

Pretty steep. I can get a set at my local motor factors for €20!

CiniO

For Forks Sake wrote: »

This.

For those complaining about the current system (I think the 131/132 thing is stupid), but the fundamental Year-County-Number format is fine, how is it worse say than LIX541 or 8627EI (<- my first and second cars)

142-WH-428375

That's 11 characters... Good luck to read and memorise it in few seconds if someone just did hit and run.
LIX541 can be read and remembered in 1 second. My one need probably a minute.

dgt

I heard that ad earlier today. What a load of ****

Bohrio

Voodoomelon wrote: »

They're not even advertising cars any more, they're literally advertising the plate!
"Happy New Year!" they're saying, "Celebrate the new 132 plate!". Unbelievable.

Well its Renault, what else do you want them to advertise?

Imagine how sad for them that a bunch of directors probably they met up and asked themselves... for this year, we need to come up with an ad.. something that identifies us, something that makes us proud, a powerful message... and te best they could come up with was.. the license plate

Kenny Logins

I have wanted a 132 plate since I was a kid.

Lando Griffin

CiniO wrote: »

142-WH-428375

That's 11 characters... Good luck to read and memorise it in few seconds

Population explosion in Westmeath shocker........

Silvera

The only people who benefit from the new 131/132 system are garages and the govt.

The SIMI tried to sell this new system as being 'good for the consumer', but what is good about your new car only being "new" for six months instead of one year?!
Add to that the fact that new plates are (on average) now nine digits long (e.g. 131-D-23456) and less easy to recall in the event of a road traffic incident, burglary, theft, etc etc

I believe the old pre-1987 system was much better (maximum of six digits), or alternatively every driver could have been allocated their own personal reg plate (e.g. a Wicklow driver could be issued 'WW-3287') which they would transfer to each vehicle they own when updating/changing their car.

Silvera

I also agree that (most!) Irish motorists are careless when it comes to maintaining their cars (although things have improved in that regard since the 1980s when I was growing up...cars back then would be falling apart and/or never washed!).

I have a 2003 car which I've owned since 2005 (and which now has 114,000 miles). I keep it in tip-top condition (I'm just in the door from cleaning it) and I often feel like the 'odd one out' for making the effort to polish it, etc. Whereas in The North/UK, Isle Of Man, etc drivers who DON'T polish and look after their cars are the 'odd one out'?!

Frankie Lee

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Population explosion in Westmeath shocker........

Chinese hub obviously.

For Forks Sake

CiniO wrote: »

142-WH-428375

That's 11 characters... Good luck to read and memorise it in few seconds if someone just did hit and run.
LIX541 can be read and remembered in 1 second. My one need probably a minute.

When is Westmeath likely to register over 100000 vehicles in a year?

hoodie6029

UK around 20 million cars: 7 characters and a twice yearly plate change system that has worked for decades.
Ireland not even 10% of that number and on most cars 8 or nine digits and a system that is idiotic.
On point of principle I will not buy a 131 etc plate car or even accept one for free.

As one poster already said, good luck reading that in a hit and run.
Road safety, commercial acumen, common sense why should I expect any of things from the Irish establishment. I wonder why I stay sometimes....

mickdw

hoodie6029 wrote: »

On point of principle I will not buy a 131 etc plate car or even accept one for free.

So a 2012 car is the newest car you will ever buy?

_Kaiser_

mickdw wrote: »

So a 2012 car is the newest car you will ever buy?

Maybe he figures a climb-down/reversal to the pre-2013 system will happen yet.. not a crazy bet either I'd imagine.

CiniO

Lando Griffin wrote: »

Population explosion in Westmeath shocker........

For Forks Sake wrote: »

When is Westmeath likely to register over 100000 vehicles in a year?

Probably never.
But Mayo also never registered more than few thousand cars a year, and somehow I have 9 character number plate (xx-MO-xxxxx).

So everything is possible.

Atlantic Dawn

The 120k Dublin import plates will be fun, will need lettering on the plates really tight to fit.

CiniO

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The 120k Dublin import plates will be fun, will need lettering on the plates really tight to fit.

Few months back I made calculations in other thread, and it showed that 10 characters number plate might not be possible to create with legally required plate and character sizes.
11 character is completely out of the question to fit on a plate.

At the time of writing that then, I don't think any 10 character plates existed, but maybe they exist now.
All we need is more then 10,000 cars regsitered in any 2 letter county during half a year.
This probably already happened, and if not it will happen soon.

F.e. 131-KE-12345

For Forks Sake

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The 120k Dublin import plates will be fun, will need lettering on the plates really tight to fit.

Was that not only last years imports, thought it reverted back again this year ie, you won't see a 131-d-12xxxx?

CiniO

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Was that not only last years imports, thought it reverted back again this year ie, you won't see a 131-d-12xxxx?

There isn't any 11-d or 12-d with 12xxxx as well.
I think latest year that is getting 12xxxx is 10 or even 09.

For Forks Sake

CiniO wrote: »

.

At the time of writing that then, I don't think any 10 character plates existed, but maybe they exist now.
All we need is more then 10,000 cars regsitered in any 2 letter county during half a year.
This probably already happened, and if not it will happen soon.

F.e. 131-KE-12345

No county anywhere near close and only 12 days left before they change to 132 : Scroll down... http://www.beepbeep.ie/stats/

Kildare only on 2k

Voodoomelon

Cecilia Prehistoric Mitten wrote: »

The 131 etc is stupid but in general I think the Irish plates are a good idea. I think its good to keep the year, not that I'm in anyway a reg snob its just a good system to be able to tell the year of a car.

At some point I would like to own a brand new car also so it would be nice to see the new reg on it.

I agree that it makes it easy to tell the year, but any car advert, new or second hand will state the year and you can further inspect the year on viewing the car.

I believe publically displaying the year disrupts sales patterns and encourages irrational buying. Introduce some ambiguity into the mix by not having the year displayed and I believe you get a (marginally) better informed buyer who is on the look out for a good brand and spec in the newest year they can afford, instead of "I need a 2009 reg or a 2012 reg because the neighbours/friend/parents/colleagues have one".

K.Flyer

It was an Epic fail from SIMI who convinced our stupid government that the 13 plate would create a massive downturn in vehicle sales because some people would deem it unlucky.
Well SIMI we got some news for ya!!
The money did not magically appear in all our pockets to rush out to prop up your sales figures.
And the reason the government went along with it was because they knew they were going to empty our pockets even further.

Busted Flat.

I think the new number plates are first class, if your car lasts for the next ten years, it will be a reminder of the bolixoligy that we are enduring under the present leadership of our country.

Kenny Logins

mickdw wrote: »

So a 2012 car is the newest car you will ever buy?

The newest I've ever bought is 1981.

True story.

Ferris

I had a golf when I lived in the north which was a particularly nice looking car. Got loads of compliments when i came home.

When I brought it in in 2004 and put poxy Irish plates on it nobody could believe it was a 98. The compliments stopped. Kinda says it all.

Busted Flat.

Ferris wrote: »

I had a golf when I lived in the north which was a particularly nice looking car. Got loads of compliments when i came home.

When I brought it in in 2004 and put poxy Irish plates on it nobody could believe it was a 98. The compliments stopped. Kinda says it all.

Are you sure it was a Golf, or did it just sound like a Golf.

Tigger

As a motor enthuasiast I love the plate snobbery and the massive depreciation associated with it
2 years ago I bought a 6 year full dealer history car with all the toys and leather that had done 100,000 km
It cost 40k plus new I paid 7k
Why? because the tax is 900 and the plate was an 05

Long may it continue

goz83

Years on plates ruin the real value of a car i think. I have an fto. They stopped rolling them off the lines in 2000. Mine is a 97 midel and it looks brand new. Unfortunately, people too often see the plate....even though i've taken steps to obscure the view of it

Tigger

Silvera wrote: »

I also agree that (most!) Irish motorists are careless when it comes to maintaining their cars (although things have improved in that regard since the 1980s when I was growing up...cars back then would be falling apart and/or never washed!).

I have a 2003 car which I've owned since 2005 (and which now has 114,000 miles). I keep it in tip-top condition (I'm just in the door from cleaning it) and I often feel like the 'odd one out' for making the effort to polish it, etc. Whereas in The North/UK, Isle Of Man, etc drivers who DON'T polish and look after their cars are the 'odd one out'?!

I say this all the time but if I'm out with my tools on a sunny day I'm servicing or doing preventative maintaince
Yet everyone asks " what's wrong with it" or " is it broken"

Busted Flat.

goz83 wrote: »

Years on plates ruin the real value of a car i think. I have an fto. They stopped rolling them off the lines in 2000. Mine is a 97 midel and it looks brand new. Unfortunately, people too often see the plate....even though i've taken steps to obscure the view of it

Well you know if you are living in certain areas, you do not pork your 97 reg cor at the font of your house, if you have no rear entrance, you would pork it outside someone else's house.

AugustusMinimus

A car is a car.

Who gives a flying **** what's on the number plate. I don't.

_Kaiser_

AugustusMinimus wrote: »

A car is a car.

Who gives a flying **** what's on the number plate. I don't.

Unfortunately you (and most people who post here) are in the minority.

Year doesn't bother me either, but I do have a D-reg bias.

Bruthal

mickdw wrote: »

So a 2012 car is the newest car you will ever buy?

Most will get newer than that, eventually.

Wibbs

Tigger wrote: »

As a motor enthuasiast I love the plate snobbery and the massive depreciation associated with it
2 years ago I bought a 6 year full dealer history car with all the toys and leather that had done 100,000 km
It cost 40k plus new I paid 7k
Why? because the tax is 900 and the plate was an 05

Long may it continue

This in a big way. The plate snobbery can be daft, but it was a clever idea changing from the old system as it certainly drove new car sales for the gullible, keeping up with the Joneses types. I knew a woman who had a very nice, low mileage, like new secondhand car, but ran up a big loan to buy a brand new, but very much inferior car with a new plate and she was so proud of the number plate. Daft. Like you say T, great for those who see this as daft, don't give a toss about the numbers and get a lot more car for their cash.

sebastianlieken

Meanwhile in Northern Ireland, my numberplate is UKZ3480

No obvious year can be derived from my numberplate (it's an '07), yet because I keep it in good condition and keep it very clean, I often get questions and comments on buying a brand new car

ando

Silvera wrote: »

I often feel like the 'odd one out' for making the effort to polish it, etc. Whereas in The North/UK, Isle Of Man, etc drivers who DON'T polish and look after their cars are the 'odd one out'?!

Yep I get that feeling too when on my driveway washing the car... I dont think I've seen anyone on my street washing their cars themselves!

Cookie_Monster

ando wrote: »

Yep I get that feeling too when on my driveway washing the car... I dont think I've seen anyone on my street washing their cars themselves!

you ever seen anyone on your street washing their house either :pac:

mickdw

CiniO wrote: »

Probably never.
But Mayo also never registered more than few thousand cars a year, and somehow I have 9 character number plate (xx-MO-xxxxx).

So everything is possible.

So you have one of those second class import plates

wildefalcon

I like the Belgian system - the plate is allocated to the owner, not the car, so if you trade your car you keep your plate.

Big C

Myself and the parish priest have the only two 131 plates in the town, but my ash tray is now full, can't wait for my new 132 plate

Zubeneschamali

Voodoomelon wrote: »

As if there was any doubt that the Irish motorist didn't care about the car itself and just the first two numbers on the plate, it's pretty bloody clear now.

The whole point of the new plate was to spread the idiots into two bunches instead of one. It's hardly a surprise that the car ads at new-plate time are aimed at idiots.

Zubeneschamali

wildefalcon wrote: »

I like the Belgian system - the plate is allocated to the owner, not the car, so if you trade your car you keep your plate.

Same in Switzerland.