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I hope in the not too distant future to spend a lot of time on the other side of the channel. I will be making frequent and probably extended returns to the UK. I will need a new, to me, car and plan on a largish diesel estate. German, Swedish or Japanese. The question is whether to purchase in France or England. I am told that second-hand car prices are higher in France. On the other hand the specification may also be higher. In the UK for example the Avensis diesel estate does not have cruise control, nor, I think, sat nav. (Though the petrol equivalent does.) Both are standard in France, where admittedly they are more use. However, the other aspect of the equation is whether it is easier/safer to use a left hand drive car in the UK than to use a right hand drive car in France. I have coped with the latter and had no problems for a good many years. Almost always with a passenger whose view of the road ahead was certainly of value at times. But the heavier traffic in England particularly on single carriageway roads must be more difficult to cope with from the left hand seat. Any views?
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Had left-hand drive cars for the last 7 years and found it hard to drive for the first 10 miles and then no problem. To start with I was driving in the middle of the road(!), but within no time I had got used to it. Overtaking is a bit more difficult and sommetimes impossible, a lot of the time I stay a long way off so I can see or I follow the car in front (probably not a good idea!)
Recently I got hold of a right-hand drive car and the switch between the two (using them both a lot of the time) is easy to the state that I no longer notice any difference apart from the odd grabbling for the gear stick.
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Your worst nightmare - multi-storey carparks with a ticket-accepting exit barrier if you're sat on the wrong side of the car.
That one thing alone would stop me.
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Perhaps a RHD version of a tall vehicle such as an SUV or MPV would be the best compromise. The French seem to have less of such vehicles so you'd be able to see over the top of their cars as you drove around over there negating the visibility downside of driving on the wrong side.
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A McLaren F1 would give a good compromise on seating position!
:-)
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Tyre Tread - You just beat me to it, but I don't think they do a diesel or an estate, with or without the multinational assistance Supraman specified! [with multiple emoticons]
Jack
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Which is why I said it would give a good compromise on "driving position"
You could always fit a diesel engine and body mods are not impossible although may prove expensive!
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I've had 3 lhd cars in the last 10 years and they've been fine. Ticket barriers are easy because you can lower the electric window and lean over far enough. Overtaking is no problem as long as you leave a sensible gap to the car / lorry in front.
Resale value is likely to be lower and insurance may be different but these things may or may not matter to you.
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I have a lhd sports car which is no problem at all. I tend to avoid multistorey car parks in it but if I do find myself at a barrier I get out and walk round :-)
I also drive a punto as a daily driver so find switching between the 2 no problem at all.
I'm pleased to say I have never bashed my knuckles while groping for a gear stick.
JaB
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It depends really on what you'll be doing in your car, for example, if you're going to do much motorway driving over there without a passenger I would go for a LHD, if not I dont suppose it matters too much.
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Ticket barriers are easy because you can lower the electric window and lean over far enough.>>
Blimey, you must have extremely long arms.....:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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>> Ticket barriers are easy because you can lower the electric window and lean over far enough.>> Blimey, you must have extremely long arms.....:-)
Mr Tickle replies....
If you have the correct change / ticket ready, you can take off the seatbelt, lower the window and slide across easily (previous LHD car was just over 6ft wide!) and be through in no time.
I've seen lots of people who struggle to find the ticket, money, open the window and even then sometimes have to lean right out of the window or open the door at barriers in a right-hand-drive car! If this is you, don't get LHD!
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I find driving a LHD car in UK a real pain unless you have a passenger.
You need to leave a bigger gap than normal when following a van, SUV or bigger. That restricts your overtaking opportunities and, even if your positioning on the road makes it obvious you want to overtake, someone invariably passes you and dives into your gap.
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