left hand drive in UK

[classicsl]

I am thinking of buying a performance car that can only be sourced in LHD. this is really putting me off, does anyone have much experience of 'riding the gutter'!??

 

[blassberg]

only in a RHD on the continent.

Do you do lots of miles? Country lanes on a regular basis could be frustrating.

 

[classicsl]

mainly due urban driving, commuting etc...really like the car but well put off by LHD and.............legendary build quality lack of!!

 

[MondeoMan]

I had a Fiat Barchetta a few years back (LHD only), it took me an hour or so to get used to being in the gutter, but it took a couple of weeks to get the hang of changing gear. It was as if my right hand belonged to a learner! I'd certainly do it again though. With the top down, people often stopped and stared - because there was usually a Whippet sitting in the 'drivers' seat. :grin:

 

[mlc]

I really think that driving from the "wrong side" would be a problem, but I have never done it. I drive hire cars abroad several times a year and dont have to think about it, however I think that it is so natural to drive off with you on the centre of the road that driving a LHD in UK or RHD in Europe would be dangerous. I do recall that when I was at the AA it was said that 50% of accidents in Europe involving UK cars occured within 10 miles of the point of entry - because people forgot what they were doing.

Mark.

 

[chipray]

It may depend on how long you have been driving! After 40 years driving only rhd in the UK, I moved to France with my rhd 300TE and had no problems other than being in the wrong seat to collect tickets or pay for the toll roads. Now I have a left-hand-drive SLK320 which I bought and drove in the UK for a few days but couldn't wait to get over the channel. It has been five weeks now, and I'm really glad it is an automatic because I still feel I am sitting on the wrong side of the car at times. By the way, what is this performance car with lack of build quality?

 

[classicsl]

lancia delta....great performance mainly due to the fact that much of the car has fallen off improving accelaration and handling

 

[Kiwibins]

I have a 450SL LHD. No troubles adapting to dring the wrong way round. Probably helps that there are no gear changes to worry about. The only problem I had was trying to get out of a Sainsbury's car park with a barrier! More of a challenge really...........!

 

[angus falconer]

Alan Clark (former Tory MP) apparently used to swear by an early LHD 911 because he reckoned he could blast round the lanes much faster in a LHD being able to hug the hedges much more closely.

I LIKE Integrales - very cool machines

 

[chipray]

Delta Integrale HF Turbo 4x4? Found 1988 one for sale already converted to rhd with fairly low mileage. Google 'Lancia Delta' and go to the first site (Whalley) and check out the cars for sale. Personal issues with Lancias myself after losing bundles of cash on a Beta Coupé back in the early '80s, plus extremely heavy gearchange on this and other Lancias (earlier). Hope they improved that! This one must be a bargain if you are seriously considering even looking at it. If you must get lhd, at least try driving one on UK roads for a reasonable period to see if you can get used to changing gear and doing all those handbrake turns with the 'wrong' hand.

 

[classicsl]

the HF evo II is aparently the one to go for, but been put off from rhd conversions from most of the material i have read on here

 

[SLinKyjoe]

one of my collegues has some yank thing thats a left hooker. as we have to swipe into the car park he has to get out both ways and walk round. nuisance in the rain. same when colleting parking slips at meters etc. or paying at bridge toll booths. (and the M6 if you go on it)

the SLR they have promised me a go in is a left hooker too. the only person interested in shelling out £300K+ for it was put off beacsue of the left hand drive. they even insisted he go for a ride in it to really be sure. he still didnt buy it. altho he did put an order in for a right hand drive new one. due next year some time.

 

[davidsl500]

Biggest problem I found was joining Motorways and dual carriageways off the slip roads - just have to be a bit more careful.

Overtaking can be a bit more fun especially on windy roads but i used to find that you can look down the left hand side of the queue in front then "spot"the last car in the line coming towards you and pull out when it passes you.

Insurance companies can be a bit funny about left hookers of course.

 

[996jimbo]

The fact is you will get used to it.

I've been sorely tempted by Integrale's in the past but can't bring myself to get a left hand drive.

I'd be very careful about getting a RHD converted car - possibly they'd have to use HF parts which may not be up to Integrale standards.

For info, in case you haven't already found it:

http://www.carsfromitaly.com/lancia/index.html

Go on, I dare you!