LHD in the UK?
Discussion
Dear pundits of PH,
I'm loosely contemplating buying a LHD V8V sometime next year (hopefully) and whacking an ESX supercharger in it. I'd obviously prefer to keep it NA, but unfortunately I can't resist the temptation of obnoxious amounts of "POWEEEEEER!" (in the words of good ol' Jezza). But anyway, I digress.
You see, being Swedish by birth, I find myself dreaming of regularly taking the old girl on epic road trips to the motherland and beyond. I don't know why, but blasting through an alpine pass in a RHD car simply doesn't compute in my head. I'd feel like a fish out of water.
So, how much of a mindf
ck is it to drive a LHD in the UK? Does it pose any practical issues in day-to-day use? I most likely won't use it on the motorways terribly often, as my very short commute doesn't require it. Apart from a few supermarket trips a week, it's main purpose would be continental cruising.
I'm familiar with driving both LHD and RHD, but on the right and left respectively, so I'm slightly worried that I'll get momentarily confused and shunt it. Anyone with experience?
Cheers
I'm loosely contemplating buying a LHD V8V sometime next year (hopefully) and whacking an ESX supercharger in it. I'd obviously prefer to keep it NA, but unfortunately I can't resist the temptation of obnoxious amounts of "POWEEEEEER!" (in the words of good ol' Jezza). But anyway, I digress.
You see, being Swedish by birth, I find myself dreaming of regularly taking the old girl on epic road trips to the motherland and beyond. I don't know why, but blasting through an alpine pass in a RHD car simply doesn't compute in my head. I'd feel like a fish out of water.
So, how much of a mindf
ck is it to drive a LHD in the UK? Does it pose any practical issues in day-to-day use? I most likely won't use it on the motorways terribly often, as my very short commute doesn't require it. Apart from a few supermarket trips a week, it's main purpose would be continental cruising. I'm familiar with driving both LHD and RHD, but on the right and left respectively, so I'm slightly worried that I'll get momentarily confused and shunt it. Anyone with experience?
Cheers
Pilsner said:
Dear pundits of PH,
I'm loosely contemplating buying a LHD V8V sometime next year (hopefully) and whacking an ESX supercharger in it. I'd obviously prefer to keep it NA, but unfortunately I can't resist the temptation of obnoxious amounts of "POWEEEEEER!" (in the words of good ol' Jezza). But anyway, I digress.
You see, being Swedish by birth, I find myself dreaming of regularly taking the old girl on epic road trips to the motherland and beyond. I don't know why, but blasting through an alpine pass in a RHD car simply doesn't compute in my head. I'd feel like a fish out of water.
So, how much of a mindfck is it to drive a LHD in the UK? Does it pose any practical issues in day-to-day use? I most likely won't use it on the motorways terribly often, as my very short commute doesn't require it. Apart from a few supermarket trips a week, it's main purpose would be continental cruising.
I'm familiar with driving both LHD and RHD, but on the right and left respectively, so I'm slightly worried that I'll get momentarily confused and shunt it. Anyone with experience?
Cheers
Not a problem whatsoever. I don't even think about when driving the Vette.I'm loosely contemplating buying a LHD V8V sometime next year (hopefully) and whacking an ESX supercharger in it. I'd obviously prefer to keep it NA, but unfortunately I can't resist the temptation of obnoxious amounts of "POWEEEEEER!" (in the words of good ol' Jezza). But anyway, I digress.
You see, being Swedish by birth, I find myself dreaming of regularly taking the old girl on epic road trips to the motherland and beyond. I don't know why, but blasting through an alpine pass in a RHD car simply doesn't compute in my head. I'd feel like a fish out of water.
So, how much of a mindf
ck is it to drive a LHD in the UK? Does it pose any practical issues in day-to-day use? I most likely won't use it on the motorways terribly often, as my very short commute doesn't require it. Apart from a few supermarket trips a week, it's main purpose would be continental cruising. I'm familiar with driving both LHD and RHD, but on the right and left respectively, so I'm slightly worried that I'll get momentarily confused and shunt it. Anyone with experience?
Cheers
HTH
freakynessless said:
LHD said:
Provided you don't drive like a dick you'll be fine.
Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
subway drive-thru?! In the UK? Where?!Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
http://www.freshsubs.net/stores/guisborough/the-tr...
LHD said:
Provided you don't drive like a dick you'll be fine.
Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
That's what reverse is for. Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
LHD is really not a problem - just take extra care at junctions where visibility to the right can be compromised. In some circumstances you will get a clearer view than RHD.
Oh, and it means you can exit directly to the pavement - none of this stepping out into traffic.
jeremyc said:
LHD said:
Provided you don't drive like a dick you'll be fine.
Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
That's what reverse is for. Subway drive-thru is a PITA though
LHD is really not a problem - just take extra care at junctions where visibility to the right can be compromised. In some circumstances you will get a clearer view than RHD.
Oh, and it means you can exit directly to the pavement - none of this stepping out into traffic.
I never had a problem with LHDs in terms of driving on the wrong side of the road (although I virtually never drive on the right). As mentioned the main problem is visibility for overtaking, but if you are motorway driving that won't be a problem.
I didn't find any major problems with visibilty with junctions, there was one near my parents' house that I did avoid where possible though. It is a narrow road leading to a T-junction with a fast rural road, with a large flint barn right on the corner of the junction to the right. When driving the Caprice I needed to have several feet of bonnet in the road before I could even begin to see what was approaching, so mostly I wound the window down and had to listen first! I did basically give up using that junction - another reason was that I was one of the first people on the scene after a high-speed fatal motorbike accident when I was young, with somebody pulling out in the same way in front of the bike.
I didn't find any major problems with visibilty with junctions, there was one near my parents' house that I did avoid where possible though. It is a narrow road leading to a T-junction with a fast rural road, with a large flint barn right on the corner of the junction to the right. When driving the Caprice I needed to have several feet of bonnet in the road before I could even begin to see what was approaching, so mostly I wound the window down and had to listen first! I did basically give up using that junction - another reason was that I was one of the first people on the scene after a high-speed fatal motorbike accident when I was young, with somebody pulling out in the same way in front of the bike.
I have both LHD & RHD vehicles & have driven both of them here on the continent as well. I actually find it harder to adjust coming back to the UK, when you get off the boat & hit the first bit of single carriageway, but this is regardless of L/RHD. With the type of vehicle you are looking at just adjust your driving style to allow enough room to have a safe look before overtaking, you can often see better looking up the inside on long sweeping left handers.
I wouldn't want to drive a slow LHD car in the UK but quick stuff is fine, just hold back a bit more when overtaking and then power past.
I reverse through drive throughs if I'm in LHD, it saves leaning across.
I used to keep a little picker behind the front seat for car parking tickets, one of those grabby arms, it saves getting out and running round.
I reverse through drive throughs if I'm in LHD, it saves leaning across.
I used to keep a little picker behind the front seat for car parking tickets, one of those grabby arms, it saves getting out and running round.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff