License plate mounting options (update: photos added)
 

Ordering the FR-S today the dealer offered the option of tie-mounting the front plate to the center of the wire grill instead of going with the usual drilled-hole bumper mount. I think aesthetically it might look better, but have some concerns about airflow disruption to the rad. Anyone with relevant knowledge care to comment? See photos in post 11 below.

There's at least one thread about using the front tow hook mount location. I've never done it myself, but it seems like a good option, probably better function and form to.

oh yeah you guys need front plates :D

im not mounting it on front. period...if i get pulled over i will just put it up in windshield

^ I would do some research and find out if that is also a ticketable offense first lol

i "CAN" get a fix-it ticket..25 bucks..but my friend has been driving his 2012 mustang without the front plate for 6 months now..cops in area don't seem to care..friends dad has a vette without front plate for like 2 years..nvr been pulled over..so i should be fine..i am NOT letting them drill holes into a First86 FR-S..

(not espousing what the law is) but I have been driving around with no front plates for a while and some places enforce, some places don't, some places it's legal, some places it's not – def good to get a sense of what your jurisdiction is like. I've heard of people saying that the windshield trick doesn't work, but maybe varies depending where you are

Personally I got tired of the tickets since I park on the street a lot so now I'm rocking a front plate with a tilty BYS bracket that sends air to the radiator:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...s/DSCN0564.jpg

But so much cleaner with no front plate arghhh

my state doesn't require front plates. :D

Neither does mine :party0030:



But I'm buying from a state that does.... Will be hell to pay if they drill holes.... Bet it's gonna be first time they see an Asian dude Spartan kick a new demo car in their showroom....

Thanks for hijacking the thread folks, I knew the "we don't need front plates!" brigade was sure to show up, and here they are on cue, but can anyone actually answer my question?

The tow hook option giving off-centre placement is IMO gag-inducing.

WingsofWar did an amazing chop with the lowered plate, looks much better. See original, then chop below it. Finally I have a BRZ shot with plate: it appears the BRZ has a smaller overall air opening for the rad at front, so the FR-S with the repositioned plate will give about the same open frontage, meaning there should be absolutely no overheating issues!

Attachment 6239


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Attachment 6238

I think you would be surprised how little air opening a car actually needs to stay cool. This looks good and I will try it on mine. If I notice the water temp getting warm then I will change it. Test it... On a hot day drive with the plate off for 20 mins and note the water temp. Then put your plate on and see if it changes if you drive the same route. If you notice any change I would not risk it, but I bet you won't. If somebody does not do this first I will and post the results. Note the ambient temp and humidity. Your local elevation, how you drove it and anything else that might be relavent

Personally I don't see an issue with air flow. I doubt the license plate will be a big issue.

That would be really appreciated, thanks. I most likely won't be getting mine until July/August so you may have a chance to do this first.

How much of a sticker are the cops in your area? There is a compromise. You can do a "Folded and Bolted" plate. It probably isn't legal, but it's more than not having a plate and seems to only piss off the worst of the cops (who'd bag you for no plate anyways).

Only picture I could find on short notice:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...u/000_2541.jpg

I do this on my STI, though I may take it back off now that I'm not driving it as much.

^ Interesting idea, but I have never seen it here and I can pretty well guarantee Toronto cops would go ballistic if they saw it. It also might interfere with the automatic license readers used for toll freeways here, which would make it a serious offense if you used such a freeway.

We will have an option out very soon. Here it is:

http://www.grimmspeed.com/catalog/pr...roducts_id=218

NOTE: Tell your dealer asap to NOT drill any sort of holes for your plate....just a sad thing to do to your baby.

Justin

Grimmspeed makes a very good tow plate relocation kit. I recommend them and +1 to what he said about drilling holes in the bumper.

That will probably be before me. I plan on waiting until I can see the BRZ and FRS in person before I even order. I think I want the FRS, but I cannot bring myself to order a car and wish I had gone with the other later one. I will probably be getting mine from the second batch, but still I will test and report. Not sure if anybody will care by then though,

i would say they go ballistic over doing such a thing because you pretty much 'cover' the year and date of registration stickers....

I mean you still have a plate, but it needs those stickers as proof it was registered and not expired.

Aren't those on the rear?

Regardless, I do believe there's something in the written law about folded or otherwise manipulated plates.

Personally, I'll be interested in picking up the license plate relocation kit from GrimmSpeed. I've actually been interested since I saw the front with plates.

I'm in the same boat about the drive - deal is contingent on test drive (which should happen in the next month). Here the BRZ is going to be so much more expensive I am not considering it. Anyway after looking at license-plated BRZs their airflow looks about the same as an FRS with lowered plate so I doubt very much there will be an issue.

Yup, rear only.

Lucky the side mount mod does not have to be a permanent change - my guess is that many trying it out will switch it back.

use zip ties. secure it to the bracing

It just looks bucktoothed or beaverish. A side-mount plate will look better, but the best would be not to have a front plate at all. Plates ruin the look of the front. Dammit Maryland...

A military friend of mine has their car registered elsewhere where only rear tags are required. Their car sports a vanity euro-style slim plate in the front. I wouldn't mind a slim plate. Everything's bigger in America, dammit.

^ Side plates look ugly as hell, and I bet a poll would show most would agree, at least in NA. Might be semi-passable on a huge boat like an ancient Caddy, but a small sports car? No thanks.

http://www.washingtonvotes.org/2012-HB-2269


Looks like WA is trying to remove the front plate too. :thumbup:
Should be perfect, that is right around the time that I will be buying my car.:burnrubber: So no drilled holes for me!!!:bow:

Agreed