Would a reg plate that implies thrashing a car put you off?
Discussion
Last year I saw a BMW 440i for sale. Really wanted it but it was a long way away and I couldn't get the logistics of viewing it sorted before someone else bought it. Decided to try to keep an eye on it in case it comes up again at some point. The online information disappeared, suggesting that someone had put a private plate on it. I've now managed to get a partial reg number from the VIN. This brings me to my question...
The three digits I know are "WOT" which, in petrolhead terms, mean "wide open throttle". Should I assume that someone who purchases a plate featuring this abbreviation is a boy racer who's proud to have a reg plate which implies thrashing the car to within an inch of its life, and possibly drives it accordingly, or am I overthinking it?
The three digits I know are "WOT" which, in petrolhead terms, mean "wide open throttle". Should I assume that someone who purchases a plate featuring this abbreviation is a boy racer who's proud to have a reg plate which implies thrashing the car to within an inch of its life, and possibly drives it accordingly, or am I overthinking it?
It could be William Oscar Tomlinson's car or belong to somebody that owns World Of Turbans. Dingu said:
Probably overthinking. On the other hand it’s a lot of money and if others are available you could go for one of those.
That's the thing. I have a very particular exterior/interior colour combo in mind and they don't come up often, so I need to kep my eyes peeled in case it reappears.Jamescrs said:
I wouldn’t have looked at a plate featuring WOT and thought wide open throttle and I’ve been into cars for about 25 years. I’d consider the car based on all the circumstances not on that plate alone
Nor would I, but I googled combinations of the bit of the reg I had and the car to see if I could find it and stumbled across YouTube videos of people doing a "WOT pass", which is basically a car passing the camera person flat out. Turns out it's an abbreviation quite common to boy racers."Wide Open Throttle" would imply a proper enthusiast imo. Though a non-private reg or one that was just the person's initials/surname would be preferable.
I'd be more worried if it were someone who has intentionally and provocatively misspelt "What!?" or has a second car with a private reg engine "xxxx MY G".!
I'd be more worried if it were someone who has intentionally and provocatively misspelt "What!?" or has a second car with a private reg engine "xxxx MY G".!
MitchT said:
Last year I saw a BMW 440i for sale. Really wanted it but it was a long way away and I couldn't get the logistics of viewing it sorted before someone else bought it. Decided to try to keep an eye on it in case it comes up again at some point. The online information disappeared, suggesting that someone had put a private plate on it. I've now managed to get a partial reg number from the VIN. This brings me to my question...
The three digits I know are "WOT" which, in petrolhead terms, mean "wide open throttle". Should I assume that someone who purchases a plate featuring this abbreviation is a boy racer who's proud to have a reg plate which implies thrashing the car to within an inch of its life, and possibly drives it accordingly, or am I overthinking it?
I believe you mean teenage terms, not petrolhead terms. You mention the car being thrashed, or driven as Inteded depending on how you look at it. The three digits I know are "WOT" which, in petrolhead terms, mean "wide open throttle". Should I assume that someone who purchases a plate featuring this abbreviation is a boy racer who's proud to have a reg plate which implies thrashing the car to within an inch of its life, and possibly drives it accordingly, or am I overthinking it?
Why are you looking to purchase the 440i instead of the 420i?
I'm assuming you're not interested in economy so isn't performance part of your decision making?
Perhaps the seller had the same decision making choices as yourself.
DaveH23 said:
Why are you looking to purchase the 440i instead of the 420i?
I'm assuming you're not interested in economy so isn't performance part of your decision making?
Because I want to scratch the BMW petrol inline-six itch while there's still the opportunity. Because the 440i is actually very economical on a run, but very fast when you want it to be, so I can want a sensible balance of both and get it from this car. I don't have an issue with someone enjoying the performance, it was more that someone might be implying that they enjoy juvenile antics with the engine bouncing off the limiter.I'm assuming you're not interested in economy so isn't performance part of your decision making?
NE14 ABJMitchT said:
Because I want to scratch the BMW petrol inline-six itch while there's still the opportunity. Because the 440i is actually very economical on a run, but very fast when you want it to be, so I can want a sensible balance of both and get it from this car. I don't have an issue with someone enjoying the performance, it was more that someone might be implying that they enjoy juvenile antics with the engine bouncing off the limiter.
The easiest way to tell if it's been abused is to look at the brakes and tyres. A heavy right foot will mean the rears will need to be changed a lot more and a set of front pads before the 40k mark is another sign it's been driven harder than normal.Sometimes and MOT history can give you an idea but mostly you'd need to see the paperwork.
Another tell is the adornments on the car. Carbon fibre stick on aero and black roundels would suggest a poorly looked after vehicle.
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