I prefer driving a lhd in the UK.

I prefer driving a lhd in the UK.

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Discussion

V8 ETE

Original Poster:

387 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Does anyone agree with me on this issue, people say to me lhd cars are difficult when overtaking etc.
I find it easier overtaking, parking, talking to people you know (when in a line of traffic), quicker driving in general (with less likelyhood of kerbing), the only downside being multi-story car parks and the seven bridge toll, but thats it! Plus as long as they keep thinking like that then a Corvette wil always be rare in the UK which suits me fine.

LuS1fer

41,783 posts

252 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
I've always said I prefer driving a lhd car. You can see straight up the inside of all the nurds who drive on the white line and it must look far more dramatic to sweep from the nearside to overtake. It can be a pain but then I can see further round right hand curves just as a normal driver can see further round left hand curves. We've got a rhd car and it's just not the same.

jaytee368

2,058 posts

251 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Yep, I've been in this club for a long time and I agree with you guys completely.

te51cle

2,342 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
I find LHD is easier in city traffic too as its easier to judge proximity to the kerb/parked cars. Overtaking on unfamiliar roads can still be a bit of a pain, but when you've got all that torque it ain't that hard ! I can also solve half your problems at a stroke - don't go to Wales !

Gixer

4,463 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Yep, I've always said that I prefer LHD as well.

As for the tolls, Dartford on the M25 for me. How hard would it be to put opening windows on both sides of a couple of the booths ???

How mny LHD HGV's drive on the M25 every day ?? not to mention toursists, smart cars and of course us vettes.

V8 ETE

Original Poster:

387 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
don't go to Wales !

Thats me stuffed then, i live there, there again i love hammering along the nice winding country lanes.

vetteheadracer

8,271 posts

260 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Toll booths in France have both lhd and rhd booths why can't we do it here? Same with car parks!

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
V8 ETE said:
As long as they keep thinking like that then a Corvette will always be rare in the UK which suits me fine.


I'm right with you there! But if they made it in RHD that's what I would buy.

te51cle

2,342 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
V8 ETE said:
don't go to Wales !

Thats me stuffed then, i live there, there again i love hammering along the nice winding country lanes.


I used to have to badge in to a car park once a week and didn't find stretching over to the machine to be a problem. One of my colleagues in a C4 used to put his badge on the end of a discarded radio aerial - extend it to reach the machine then collapse it to stow it back under the centre arm rest.

I've been to Wales many times, it rained on every visit !

LuS1fer

41,783 posts

252 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
That's because it never stops raining in Wales. We have to do that to keep the English out as they keep bringing their damn test cars here and blocking up the roads. If I get stuck behind one more Murcielago or 911 Turbo, I swear, I'll go mad!

te51cle

2,342 posts

255 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
That's because it never stops raining in Wales. We have to do that to keep the English out as they keep bringing their damn test cars here and blocking up the roads. If I get stuck behind one more Murcielago or 911 Turbo, I swear, I'll go mad!


Like it centurion, like it !!

Camaro SS

243 posts

253 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
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Why would anyone want a rhd american car, I.ve said it before etc LHD forever!

Camaro SS

243 posts

253 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
Why would anyone want a rhd american car, I.ve said it before etc LHD forever!

ZR1427

17,999 posts

256 months

Monday 2nd February 2004
quotequote all
I think part of the fascination of American cars with the owners is LHD ,ive never found any problem other than overtaking but then you just hang back and 'Gun It'
The advantage is you are less likely to kerb it.

jaytee368

2,058 posts

251 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
te51cle said:
One of my colleagues in a C4 used to put his badge on the end of a discarded radio aerial - extend it to reach the machine then collapse it to stow it back under the centre arm rest.

Excellent, excellent.
LuS1fer said:
If I get stuck behind one more Murcielago or 911 Turbo, I swear, I'll go mad!

Also most excellent.

LuS1fer

41,783 posts

252 months

Tuesday 3rd February 2004
quotequote all
Hypervalue do a very nice extendable magnetic pick-up - effectively an aerial with a handle. Cut off the magnet and you can stick a card holder on the end or even a small cup for tolls. Only a quid! I use mine for getting into the car park in work.

Dee Gee

285 posts

249 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
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Used to drive a Camaro in Lincolnshire. Apart from the usual Lincs CC potholes (and a new front shock absorber later), I found no problems. Needed the HP for passing but I agree with you all; no problems.

Gixer

4,463 posts

255 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
You thought the potholes were bad then, wait 'til you get back ;-)

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 4th February 2004
quotequote all
Looks like I'm in the minority here! There's no doubt you get used to LHD and it can be part of the "fun" of driving a Corvette, Mustang etc. However for me, given a straight choice between 2 otherwise identical cars LHD is less convenient than RHD.

When you look at the UK sales figures for LHD cars sold here "officially" they have not done well. eg Lancia Integrale, Corvette, Camaro, BMW Z8, some Porsches, Fiat Barchetta etc etc. Exchange & Mart prices confirm that cars are worth less in LHD than RHD.

Meanwhile the Chrysler Voyager and Jeep Cherokee have achieved good sales of their "American" cars in RHD. Even a few Ford Explorers and Chrysler Neons have been sold........!

LHD is a significant barrier to sales success in the UK market and I'm sure this is why GM feels it is "cutting its losses" by abandoning the few owners of North American vehicles in terms of warranty support and parts supply.

But that's just fine by me if it enhances the Corvette as something "different"! Yeee-haaa!