Right hand drive C5
- Thread starter ZeroX
- Start date
Roscobbc
Moderator
LHD is nowhere near the potential issue that many people think it will be (before actually using a LHD vehicle).
There are advantages to LHD cars......parking closer to kerb. Traffic......being able to look up the 'inside' of a long line of vehicles when in heavy traffic when ordinarily you won't see past the vehicle immediately in front of you. Even overtaking isn't always the issue you might imagine.....simply tucking yourself close to the kerb enables a surprisingly panoramic view of vehicles behind you
Yes, overtaking means keeping a good distance behind the car in front.....and yes exiting a 'T' junction on a wet winter day requires sharper observational skills.
Coincidentally a rather nice C5 is being advertised on these pages......
There are advantages to LHD cars......parking closer to kerb. Traffic......being able to look up the 'inside' of a long line of vehicles when in heavy traffic when ordinarily you won't see past the vehicle immediately in front of you. Even overtaking isn't always the issue you might imagine.....simply tucking yourself close to the kerb enables a surprisingly panoramic view of vehicles behind you
Yes, overtaking means keeping a good distance behind the car in front.....and yes exiting a 'T' junction on a wet winter day requires sharper observational skills.
Coincidentally a rather nice C5 is being advertised on these pages......
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antijam
CCCUK Member
American LHD cars built after 1988 imported into Australia have to be converted to RHD for road use. Consequently there has developed a healthy conversion business in the antipodes and I believe several C5 'Vettes have been so converted. Done professionally it's obviously a very expensive job and usually adversely affects the cars value anywhere other than in Oz. Bonhams sold one in the UK about three years ago....
...see here, so they are about. You might have a hard search for another over here though.
As Rosco points out, LHD really isn't that big a deal. Drive one for a few weeks on UK roads and it quickly becomes second nature.
...see here, so they are about. You might have a hard search for another over here though.
As Rosco points out, LHD really isn't that big a deal. Drive one for a few weeks on UK roads and it quickly becomes second nature.
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Never had any issues driving a LHD C4, C5, C3, C2 myself, many passengers have mentioned it's scary being on that side of the car but that ain't my problem. There must be someone you know can let you try theirs?
That is perfect, shame I didn't see that at the time, that's exactly the time I was looking for one.
The main issue is insurance, my insurance is already very expensive and a left hand drive car makes it go through the roof!
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Odd that you flag up as "new user" if you have been a club member for a long time ??? Like the other guy`s have said , it no big issue driving a left hooker and you soon adapt . It is no different to taking your UK right hand drive car over to Europe . If you have done that then you are half way there .
teamzr1
Supporting vendor
Having been driving for 60 plus years and almost all of that with a manual tranny it would be very hard
esp like my C5 with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears to be shifting up/down gears with left arm
be real confusing to say the least
With RHD is at least the foot pedals with clutch with left foot ?
esp like my C5 with 6 forward and 1 reverse gears to be shifting up/down gears with left arm
be real confusing to say the least
With RHD is at least the foot pedals with clutch with left foot ?
antijam
CCCUK Member
I think you underestimate your own adaptability. Even with a multi gear manual box you'd be surprised how quickly using the other arm to shift becomes second nature...and yes, pedal layout is the same for LHD and RHD.
Roscobbc
Moderator
The normal way for us Brits is the same as you transatlantic guys.......but using our left or right hands. Perhaps it proves that people who are right handed have no issues shifting gear with left hands........or is it us Brits are are easily adaptable to a ambidextrous existence.........
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Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Must be a Brit thing ! Throughout all my years working on steam locos we had to quickly adapt as a fireman by using the shovel in a right handed fashion when standing on the left hand side of the cab on all Great Western Railway locos ( they all had the driver on the right ) and most others types fired in left handed fashion with the driver on left hand side of the cab . Every shovel full needed to be accurately projected to all parts of the firebox as necessary whilst rattling and bouncing about . On a shift that required a locomotive change you could find yourself swapping sides and hands twice in a day . All as easy as riding a bike after a bit of practice .The normal way for us Brits is the same as you transatlantic guys.......but using our left or right hands. Perhaps it proves that people who are right handed have no issues shifting gear with left hands........or is it us Brits are are easily adaptable to a ambidextrous existence.........
antijam
CCCUK Member
I don't think that's really how your brain works. Subconsciously you make gear selection 'left' and 'right' rather than 'towards' or 'away' from you, and this applies whichever hand you're using. Get someone to drive your car (or maybe theirs if you prefer) with you in the passenger seat. Get them to operate the clutch and you do the shifting - with your left hand. I'll be surprised if you don't automatically shift in the correct pattern even though you're using the 'wrong' arm.
DAN@ADRIAN FLUX
Supporting vendor
Hi.
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards.
Dan.
Well I joined in 2019, so a "long time" probably wasn't the right term to use.
I have never driven a left hand drive car and I am actually left handed so I don't think I would be able to drive one properly!
antijam
CCCUK Member
In my experience there are two main problems when driving an unfamiliar car in the 'wrong' seat - and shifting gear isn't one of them. The first is remembering to get in the 'passengers seat' to drive it and the second is positioning the car on the road. You adjust to both these difficulties after a few weeks at most. I'm left handed and haven't found that any problem when 'shifting' from one side to the other.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Like everyone else is saying , you will adapt and soon be second nature . As Antijam said , getting in the wrong door is the big mistake when your brain is on auto pilot and makes you feel a real `tit` at the petrol station !
