Ripped from drive.com....
Sydney's fashion-conscious drivers have embraced the new European-style plates with open wallets.
Sales have exceeded the Roads and Traffic Authority's expectations, with more than 1000 sets distributed in the past six weeks &ndash and another 500-plus on order.
BMW drivers are the biggest fans of the new number plates, according to the RTA, with 19 percent of all plates sold appearing on the German cars.
British maker Jaguar ranks second, accounting for 14.7 percent of sales, ahead of Mercedes with 13.5 percent.
More than four out of five sets of these plates are fixed to European makes.
The biggest surprise is Holden's ranking, the sixth most popular brand with a 5.8 percent share. The RTA said most Euro plates were fitted to the European-built Holdens such as the Astra and Barina.
The plates don't fit the local hero, the Commodore.
France's Peugeot and Renault were seventh and eighth most popular, with Swedes Saab and Volvo completing the top 10. The oldest car with the new plates is a 1948 Austin.
The new Euro plates literally stretch far and wide. Anecdotally, European cars are most likely found in the eastern suburbs, but the plates are most popular in North Ryde. That suburb has a massive 10.2 percent share of the Euro plate market.
Baulkham Hills was second on the list with 2.5 percent ahead of Sydney, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst.
The RTA says it came up with the idea for European-style number plates (the size, style and font are identical to those used on the Continent) after consulting the car industry and customers.
"We noticed many European cars were advertised in Australia with European number plates, presumably because they ... looked better," an RTA spokesman said.
The Euro-style plates start at $180. General issue plates can be bought over the counter while customised Euro plates cost from $350 and take up to two weeks to make.
They can be ordered by phone (132 213) or over the Internet (www.rta.nsw.gov.au).
Sydney's fashion-conscious drivers have embraced the new European-style plates with open wallets.
Sales have exceeded the Roads and Traffic Authority's expectations, with more than 1000 sets distributed in the past six weeks &ndash and another 500-plus on order.
BMW drivers are the biggest fans of the new number plates, according to the RTA, with 19 percent of all plates sold appearing on the German cars.
British maker Jaguar ranks second, accounting for 14.7 percent of sales, ahead of Mercedes with 13.5 percent.
More than four out of five sets of these plates are fixed to European makes.
The biggest surprise is Holden's ranking, the sixth most popular brand with a 5.8 percent share. The RTA said most Euro plates were fitted to the European-built Holdens such as the Astra and Barina.
The plates don't fit the local hero, the Commodore.
France's Peugeot and Renault were seventh and eighth most popular, with Swedes Saab and Volvo completing the top 10. The oldest car with the new plates is a 1948 Austin.
The new Euro plates literally stretch far and wide. Anecdotally, European cars are most likely found in the eastern suburbs, but the plates are most popular in North Ryde. That suburb has a massive 10.2 percent share of the Euro plate market.
Baulkham Hills was second on the list with 2.5 percent ahead of Sydney, Elizabeth Bay, Potts Point, Rushcutters Bay and Darlinghurst.
The RTA says it came up with the idea for European-style number plates (the size, style and font are identical to those used on the Continent) after consulting the car industry and customers.
"We noticed many European cars were advertised in Australia with European number plates, presumably because they ... looked better," an RTA spokesman said.
The Euro-style plates start at $180. General issue plates can be bought over the counter while customised Euro plates cost from $350 and take up to two weeks to make.
They can be ordered by phone (132 213) or over the Internet (www.rta.nsw.gov.au).
