Mazda man

Just saw this pic and it looks like the number plate mount will be in front of the grill. Its a shame because it will block quite alot of the grill reducing air flow.

RotorMotor

Ahhhh! That's terrible. In California, it's they're pretty strict about having a front license plate since they have all of the cameras that automatically take pictures of your front end if you run a red light. I think I'll have to put mine on the dashboard....

zoom44

check here for other discussions about this problem
and here
and here
and here
and here
and here
and these are just the threads about this subject. do a search and you will find just as many threads that started on a different topic but include posts about the plate positioning. mazdaman since your in scotland can you just get stick on numbers or something like that?

wakeech

i've already said this (possibly in every post zoomy linked to), but maybe there could be a braket which would allow relocation of the plate to the side (right or left, depending on whether the car is LHD or RHD) of the grill, below the headlight and above the oil cooler ducts??
Aftermarket, aftermarket, repeat after me, aftermarket, aftermarket, and just hope for the best, after market...

zoom44

if you are just going to throw it on the dash, remember to move it once in awhile so you dont have to figure out how to explain the not faded area to the nice policeman. "really officer, it just broke yesterday and i have the part on order with my dealer!"

wakeech

or make sure you're vigilant with your silicone vinyl sealer of choice.

Mazda man

Im sorry zoom44 for bringing up this topic yet again but this pic was the first I have seen of the new 8 with a license plate. Yes I can stick on a number plate e-type styli but even so where do I stick it?

zoom44

i'm in a really good mood thanks to bugers new silver rx8 pics so i wont make the reply to that i normally would.:p :D

Ozone

Neither my 93 Rx7 nor my 99 Isuzu have front plates and I've never been hassled about it, not by CHP nor meter maids, and I live in California. If the looks of the front plate bothers you...leave it off.

Puppy1

I have never had a front plate on my current car, and was only ticketed once in conjunction with a parking ticket.

RotorMotor

I've been pulled over once and my sister has been pulled over twice. It's not that big a deal. They give you a fix-it ticket and you have to go to the police station, have an officer sign the ticket verifying that you have the license plate properly mounted, and then go to the court house and pay a $15 processing fee. But, getting pulled over is a major hassle and something I'd just like to avoid all together....

Buger

Here is the somwhat unusual plate location of the last 7. It does leave most of the intake area open but messes up the curves.


Brian

Brian_RX

Is it legal to put some tiny holes on the plate that the cold air able to get through?

Zio

just drop it below the grill

BryanH

I've seen some cars in California with their front plates cut at the top and bottom, to resemble the European "short and wide" license plates. This allows a lot more options for cleanly mounting the plate as it doesn't take up so much space. Dunno if it's legal but I don't see why not since you don't need registration tags on the front plate.

max_stirling

Actually, the front end and the air intake of that model RX-7 was designed with the placement of the plate. Supposedly, the plate causes turbulance and a venturi effect directly behind the lower edge of the plate. As the air is squirling behind the plate, it squirls directly into air intake and intercooler ducts. Mazda used to have a nice graphic for it on their Japanese website.

Cheers

Buger

Somehow it doesn't surprise me Mazda would actually study the turbulence and venturi effect of their plate placement and make charts of it.

This is the company that used mathmatical equations, computer modelling etc. to ergonomically design the "freestyle" doors on the Rx-8.

Brian

Canuck69

Here atleast we don't have to worry about that front lisence plate at all. So we are in the clear. If you Yankees want to keep complaining about the front air damm to lisence prolem, send all of those pretty RX-8 up north, trust me we don't mind :D

WankelWannabe

Ontario requires them.

Quick_lude

Yeah what are you talking about.. Ontario (the most important province in Canada :p ) requires them..

unemployedpimp

its a rigth hand drive , maybe the u.s. version wont have it