How do you look upon them?
My first foray into the kit-car world was with a Caterham. I had a spec in mind and 'Non-Q Plate' was right up there at the top! I
probably passed over a few higher spec'd cars just because they had a 'Q'!
No idea why... wasn't snobbery... just seemed best to avoid!
Five or so years later and it doesn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, the Procomp I have is a 'Q' plate and I almost consider it
a badge of honour! 
[Edited on 23/10/10 by scootz]
the lack of an emmisions test is a big plus!
quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason the lack of an emmisions test is a big plus!
plus i got a private plate for free with my q reg
my surname starts with the least used letter in the alphabet MR Q
I'll end up with a Q-plate (eventually!), and I really don't see what the fuss is about. I look at the car, not the plate. The only people I
have known to have an issue with them are those not in the 'know' about kit cars.
Just my opinion FWIW.
JB
There is an element of snobbery involved in the whole Q plate thing - your car must be a "replica" or a "kitcar" by those that
either don't know or think that Q plates are beneath them.
The biggest issue for some may be that you cant change the index number.
As already said, to have an omissions test that you pass for not blowing too much smoke is a large bonus for some.
My GTM Rossa was on a Q and it never bothered me.
Steve
[Edited on 23/10/10 by gottabedone]
Was overtaken yesterday by one of the most widely available kitcars - on a Q plate. Probably an ex-military example. Yes, it was a Land Rover!! Evidently fitted with a non-original engine, judging by the speed with which it passed me.
I have a Q reg on mine. Do I care? I can't see it from the drivers seat
I'm prejudiced against them for no good reasons.
One advantage is that you can then put on a personalised plate, not that you can see that from the driving posiiton either.
I think it is a qudos tjhing since a Q plate indicates home mades so lesser quality, some effort superior to mass produced cars, but alas many that
are not.
(I know that ^^^^ is not english but I am hungry and am going downstairs to eat - figure it out 
)
Mine's a kit not a replica and it has bits from the kit manufacturer, cortina bits, sierra bits, new bits and custom made bits. Q plate seems
quite appropriate really.
and, as the other Mr Q said above, it's as close as we'll get to a personalised plate!
Well I must be in the minority.
I wanted a year plate and would have kicked off big time if they had given me a Q.
Why so?
I've always associated Q plates with write offs.
I built my car to look like a Caterham, even with a lazer cut front grille. Last thing I wanted was a Q.
Would I buy a car on a Q? No, I don't think I would. It's a good job I'm one of the minority snobs
My bike is a Q plate, made up of various bits in 1994, its an early fox eye fireblade.
I did not care 7 years ago when I purchased it, £1000 less than equivilent model on correct plates, but I can only insure as third party due to its
history.
Could not care less myself
quote:
Originally posted by fesycresy
I've always associated Q plates with write offs.
I built my car to look like a Caterham, even with a lazer cut front grille. Last thing I wanted was a Q.
Would I buy a car on a Q? No, I don't think I would. It's a good job I'm one of the minority snobs
i dont care about my Q plate, and it annoys me each time I see "properly registered, not a Q plate" in adverts for kits.
Implying Q plates are not properly registered.
Grrrr.
Only reason i dont want mine registered on a Q is because the wife got me a nice private plate for it and i wont be able to transfer to a Q plate.
Not worth putting on my tintop as its specific to my kit once its built.
Other than that, it wouldnt bother me a bit.
If I was shopping for a kit car I couldn't care less if it was a Q or not. In fact my Striker is on a Q. I consider private/vanity plates just
about the worst ever waste of money, so being unable to transfer a plate would not be a consideration.
On a kit/special a Q plate is most unlikely to indicate anything suspicious with the history of the car, other than it being constructed from parts of
different ages/origins.
I would be a bit more wary of it on an expensive tin top where a Q would tend to indicate something unusual in it's history. On an old banger
then I wouldn't care so much, as long as the insurance companies weren't fussy.
quote:
Originally posted by daniel mason
the lack of an emmisions test is a big plus!
my sister has a private plate on her car.....it helps her to find it in the bluewater carpark 
quote:
Originally posted by MikeRJ
However, note that the emissions standards of newly registered cars are now printed on the V5, so a new Q registered cars will have to pass the relevant emissions tests for the age of the engine fitted.
quote:
Originally posted by Grimsdale
my 2000 registered Q plated car has the details printed on the v5, but only once has it been tested to the correct limits! most of the time it gets tested to 'visible smoke'.