A quite rare experience for me last couple of days, had to take a LHD French registered Renault Laguna back to France that a errant punter had brought over here when she shouldn't have.
Now I get along with left handed cars just fine in the past, I enjoy driving something a little different and in some ways I prefer driving on the 'wrong side'. I never have that problem of trying to change gear with the door handle or anything like that, no the only problem I seem to have is when I get in or out of the vehichle.
I really struggle with the steering wheel getting in the way. I just can't get in without banging my knees on the wheel or looking like a contortionist trying to get out. It's not a Laguna based problem, other LHD cars are just the same.
My question to you all is. If you've driven a LHD car, how'd you get on with it and do you find it easier than RHD , do you prefer it?
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sorry mods this was meant to be in discussion.
{No sooner said than done. Kick ----> . DD}
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I find no difference at all, either with driving a left or right hand drive car, or driving on either side of the road. I frequently rent cars or drive those of my colleagues in Sweden, as well as take my own RHD V70 across Europe.
So, no worries at all with any combination of the driving - truly easy peasy - and never, ever, a 'wrong side of the road' moment, but nine times out of ten that I rent a car in Sweden, I put my laptop in the boot, and then go to climb in the front passenger seat! A certain expletive, followed by "I don't believe it", and a wry smile, then follows! Because it is so obvious, may be this moment is a key part of my switch over? Who knows?!
One bizarre thing - I always feel that I'm sitting closer to the driver's door in LHD VW Golfs and Volvo V40s compared to RHD models. I'm sure it's not true, and have no idea why!
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As I am so very very rarely a passenger in a vehicle the seat belt seems wrong.
When preparing to reverse I find the rearward vision alongside the B and C pillars is not great.
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Initial approach sometimes akward, have been known to almost open the wrong door, bbut soon manage to turn it to an act of chivalry.
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I don't usually have a problem not easier ot harder really. More often a little confusion when I get to the UK (went wrong way round a round-a-about at Heathrow). I guess the main thing I notice is that when looking in the rear view mirror I sometimes look to my left, i.e. out of the drivers window.
However, on one occasion when taking my hire car (a Laguna actually) back to Nice Airport, I dropped the family at the terminal and went to fill the car up with petrol. After paying I returned to the car and promptly returned to the passenger side. Rather than just laughing and going to the drivers side, I got in and pretended to fiddle around in the glove box for a minute before confidently getting out and returning to the drivers side. I must have looked an idiot :-).
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Back in 1985, my dad actually BOUGHT a brand new LHD Rover 213S (the original Honda Ballade one) from a Rover dealer in Bramhall, Cheshire.
This Rover dealer used to get all manner of unusual vehicles in stock, such as Wimbledon chauffeur cars (two-tone Montegos complete with Wimbledon livery IIRC...mmmm nice!!!).
This particular Rover 213S was one of two (a metallic blue 213S and a red 213 IIRC) which had been used as photo vehicles for French Rover brochures.
They were complete with yellow French headlights, which, apart from beam adjustment, went unchanged by my dad for about 2 years.
The reason for his desire to purchase this car: 50% discount off list price! Quite why they didn't export the two particular cars to france god only knows.
It gets worse: I actually learnt to drive in that left hand drive car, apart from my last two lessons and driving test, which were in a proper right hand drive car!!!
Where are you now B481 CON
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I actually prefer LHD as there is usually more room for my clutch leg between the steering wheel and the door in a LHD than between the steering wheel and center dash/console in a RHD. The greatest proof of this was when I test drove a MINI in the USA and found it quite roomy and comfortable to drive for my 6'5", too many stone frame, yet when I drove the same car over here my knee would contact the steering/console when changing gears. I found the same with the Golf and also my own E34 520. The LHD version of the E34 has more pedal box room too.
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