LHD Gear change layout.
Discussion
Prompted by the column change post, I got to thinking about this. Every RHD vehicle I've driven ( apart from the infamous Diesel Morris J2 ,circa 1964, which had 1st & 3rd and 2nd and 4th reversed), excluding reverse which varies by make, has had an H or H based layout, with lowest ratio at top left ,furtherest from driver.
So does the layout get reversed on LHD ,or does it stay the same with lower ratios closest to driver ?
So does the layout get reversed on LHD ,or does it stay the same with lower ratios closest to driver ?
[quote = robinbanks] Is this a serious question?
Apart from dog leg patterns (and I can't think of any which are currently in production), it's exactly the same as you're used to.
[/quote]
Very series. If you had ever driven one of ye ancient J2 Diesel barges with a reverse box ( 1st was where third was on a car,etc) you'd know what I was referring to . This was the first vehicle I drove once out of my time. I spent eight hours a day in this and then jumped into my own car , to have to double check each change on the way home. iva cosworth spells it out just right, though I'd prefer to be in front ,rather than behind ,as in my experience the problems happened on up changes, where you might select 2nd in place of 4th with deadly deceleration.
[quote=R_U_LOCAL]In a left hand drive car, first is up and to the right, second is back and to the left, third is up two, across to the right and back one, fourth is up, up and away, fifth is inside left and sixth is centre forward.
Reverse is right back.
[/quote]
Sounds more like some Celtic Shinty arrangement. Every( well almost every except the deadly Morris J2) box I've met has been on an H or H+ one extra leg or part of, with lower ratios furtherest from the driver .
First ,third and fifth ( if box has one) are all ( on a floor mount change) toward the dash,second ,fourth and sixth ( if fitted) away from the dash. The lever is biased toward 3rd/4th ,where left force is needed to direct the lever to 1st/2nd, no force is needed for 3rd/4th, and right force is needed for 5th/6th .GOOD driving technique teaches that the angle of the palm of the hand directs the lever to the correct position . Palm right on the lever and the lower two ratios are selected, depending on the direction of movement. Palm central guiding lever up/down for the next two, and palm left for the two others. Most good driving instructors teach this as basics, and it works even on gearboxes where the spring is broken .
Reverse- it can be press down on lever and push left of 1st, or right of 5th. it can be pull a guide on the lower edge of the lever -the permutations are endless, depending on the maker.
That is WHY I suggested that reverse was left out.
For the sake of some of the more obtuse repliers, let me ask it in a simpler manner. On a six speed e.g. Range Rover, does the position of ,let's say first gear ,relative to the left hand door ( looking from the rear of the vehicle) vary between vehicles designed with the steering on the left and those with steering on the right.
Apart from dog leg patterns (and I can't think of any which are currently in production), it's exactly the same as you're used to.
[/quote]
Very series. If you had ever driven one of ye ancient J2 Diesel barges with a reverse box ( 1st was where third was on a car,etc) you'd know what I was referring to . This was the first vehicle I drove once out of my time. I spent eight hours a day in this and then jumped into my own car , to have to double check each change on the way home. iva cosworth spells it out just right, though I'd prefer to be in front ,rather than behind ,as in my experience the problems happened on up changes, where you might select 2nd in place of 4th with deadly deceleration.
[quote=R_U_LOCAL]In a left hand drive car, first is up and to the right, second is back and to the left, third is up two, across to the right and back one, fourth is up, up and away, fifth is inside left and sixth is centre forward.
Reverse is right back.
[/quote]
Sounds more like some Celtic Shinty arrangement. Every( well almost every except the deadly Morris J2) box I've met has been on an H or H+ one extra leg or part of, with lower ratios furtherest from the driver .
First ,third and fifth ( if box has one) are all ( on a floor mount change) toward the dash,second ,fourth and sixth ( if fitted) away from the dash. The lever is biased toward 3rd/4th ,where left force is needed to direct the lever to 1st/2nd, no force is needed for 3rd/4th, and right force is needed for 5th/6th .GOOD driving technique teaches that the angle of the palm of the hand directs the lever to the correct position . Palm right on the lever and the lower two ratios are selected, depending on the direction of movement. Palm central guiding lever up/down for the next two, and palm left for the two others. Most good driving instructors teach this as basics, and it works even on gearboxes where the spring is broken .
Reverse- it can be press down on lever and push left of 1st, or right of 5th. it can be pull a guide on the lower edge of the lever -the permutations are endless, depending on the maker.
That is WHY I suggested that reverse was left out.
For the sake of some of the more obtuse repliers, let me ask it in a simpler manner. On a six speed e.g. Range Rover, does the position of ,let's say first gear ,relative to the left hand door ( looking from the rear of the vehicle) vary between vehicles designed with the steering on the left and those with steering on the right.
VonSenger said:
Mate, no matter the explanation, it's a stupid question. Just put it down to a glitch in the matrix. We all have one from time to time.
I'd suggest a stupid answer. AND for robinbanks- who don't know about Range rover Boxes- STOP being obtuse ,and answer the the question. .
Claudia Skies said:
Never mind that.
Most of the world has the radio on/off/volume knob close to the driver. Not UK though.
Some makers have solved that problem and put the on/off button in the middle. Most of the world has the radio on/off/volume knob close to the driver. Not UK though.
Then I could add to the can of worms that this post seems to have opened by asking why there's not a standard placement all the major control functions -wiper/indicator /hazards / etc etc . or why a certain firm that seemingly ( IMHO) bought a deceased British car empire for technical features they had failed to master and for a brand name only make a version of that brand for UK use with the single rear door opening onto passing vehicles ,if parked correctly on the road. Or even WHY this model got UK type approval . But then, that would involve a lot more tongue in cheek questions ,so I wont.
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