[gaz26]

Will the 13 registration number plate due for 6 months from March in the UK impact on new car sales? Will they be less attractive on the secondhand market in 2 /3 years time??

[kolais]

Would love to hear opinions as well, 'cause I put a fairly generic 10 plate on a last month's built F20 and I noticed some confused faces as the dealer's when I handed the certificate over to them

[iBeech]

13 plate will no doubt result in lower sales. DVLA have given the option to go for a 62 plate instead for no extra charge, however that will just devalue the car.

For some people will feel that simply because the car was SUPPOSED to have a 13 plate, theres other powers at work.

It wouldn't bother me though, plus i have a cherished plate on. and it could make the 13 plate rare

[iBeech]

13 plate will no doubt result in lower sales. DVLA have given the option to go for a 62 plate instead for no extra charge, however that will just devalue the car.

For some people will feel that simply because the car was SUPPOSED to have a 13 plate, theres other powers at work.

It wouldn't bother me though, plus i have a cherished plate on. and it could make the 13 plate rare

[BGM]

i opted for delivery pre-march as i didn't want a 13 plate, not that i am superstitious myself... but i'm sure people will be when i go to sell it on.

[JonF1982]

So seriously, people are not going to buy a car because the number plate as a 13 on it!?

I weep for the human race…

[elstoof]

Took me a good few posts to realise this thread was about superstition... Amazing. I guess you won't want to an M135i either, or any older plate like Y413GFO or whatever.

I think the only plates that would bother me when I get my new car is LN13 COK, or NOB or something.

[elstoof]

In any case, the kind of person who'd be scared of a 13 plate wouldn't even make it out the house to view your car when you come to sell it anyway.

[eezzee]

I think it's highly unlikely that it will have much of an impact,

[Dim73]

Originally Posted by elstoof

Took me a good few posts to realise this thread was about superstition... Amazing.

This makes two of us!!!

[mowflow]

My dealer seemed to think it would have an impact and thought DVLA might scrip the 13 plate. I thought this was happening when I noticed the shot of the new M3 on the front of autocar (or whatever it's called) this month had a 64 plate on it.

On a bigger point. I wonder if BMW have thought about how the 4 series will do in the Chinese markets. I believe 4 is an unlucky number in Chinese culture and which is quite heavily superstitious. I remember many years ago Apple did a computer called the Power PC 4400. They had to change the name for the Chinese market as they couldn't give them away.

[pauloT]

Well my new 114i Sport will have a 13 plate, hadn't even thought about the superstition tbh. Tho my b'date is also a 13 so bet my folks could argue its unlucky!

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by mowflow

On a bigger point. I wonder if BMW have thought about how the 4 series will do in the Chinese markets. I believe 4 is an unlucky number in Chinese culture and which is quite heavily superstitious. I remember many years ago Apple did a computer called the Power PC 4400. They had to change the name for the Chinese market as they couldn't give them away.

I have noticed. The problem is that 4 and death is pronounced quite similarly. I have managed to offend people in chinese restaurants several times by missing the correct tone while trying to order something with 4 on the menu, ending up wishing them dead by mistake.

[elstoof]

Do Audi's A4 sales suffer in China?

[ovekvam]

Originally Posted by elstoof

Do Audi's A4 sales suffer in China?

I don't think I have even seen an A4 in China. The popular model is A6L (long version).

[elstoof]

They do an A4L just for the Chinese market.

[neilwilliams]

DVLA will give the option of 13 or 62 for new cars registered between 1st March 2013 and 31st August 2013 just in case. I can't say it would bother me but I can understand that it would bother some. from 1st September 2013 the 63 plate will be available.

From a value point of view, those on 62 plates could see a slight reduction if selling privately as people argue over dates, and the price guides will not indicate the difference. Overall I doubt we'll see any real difference as all makes and models would probably see similar percentage changes.

What is interesting in the UK is the increase in sales in January - could it be people who are superstitious are brining forward their purchases?

As to Autocar, they have a tendancy to put a fake plate on their photoshop creations that indicate a release date for a model.

[orcomma]

4 sounds like death in Cantonese, that's why Nokia avoided 4xxx series phones. BMW sell the z4 though.

And dvla won't let you opt for 62 plate, as it would cause issues with their computers

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...er-plates.html

A variety of ideas have been discussed. One option was to allow worried motorists to get a 62 plate.

This was ruled out by the DVLA because of the difficulties it would cause their computer systems.

[elstoof]

Perhaps dvla could issue a well timed slap across the chops to bring people to their senses? Save a lot of hassle.

[eezzee]