LHD

[StoutBench]

A question I posed on another thread but I wanted to hit a larger audience. I love American cars and have been lucky enough to drive a RT10, C5 and owned a Monaro (I know technically not American but American Heart/soul/

How do you find LHD in the UK? I've always thought it would be a right pain when driving fast with over taking and passengers being in the centre of the road. Visibility must be challenging when overtaking? I guess rolls and bridges where you pay such as Bristol and the Severn bridge historically whilst rare are a challenge?

Reason for asking is I recently bowed our of a Shelby GT350 auction due to LHD and always wanted a C6/C7 but LHD makes me worry.

I do also do a roadtrip deep into Europe every other year so actually LHD would be a winner here.

[Ritchie335is]

I think it depends on where you do most of your driving, and if you regularly encounter situations like tolls etc which would quickly become tiring. I’ve been daily driving a LHD SVT Lightning for the last year or so and I became used to it really quickly, I don’t even think about it now. There’s only been a couple of occasions where it’s been an issue. Occasionally an overtake takes more planning than usual but it’s no real issue. There is also a local road in my village, this goes down hill with multiple cars parked on the LHS, effectively making it single lane with passing places. I do tend to avoid this road if I’m going down it, as if I need to pull in it can be tricky to see to get back out. Fine going up it tho.
What I did before I bought the truck is think about the LHD for a couple weeks whilst I was driving to try and see where there were any situations where it might cause an issue. Not much at all.

[MrSmith901]

I have a lhd car. It's pretty much a non issue in my opinion. When you are traveling down tight or narrow roads it actually helps as you are able to place the car with more accuracy. Yes, it might stop you making the odd overtake on b roads, but how many times do you actually need to do that these days?

If you get a corvette, be sure to join the uk corvette club!

[croyde]

Just in to say, not had a problem with LHD over here.

Citroen DS and a Mercury Grand Marquis.

RHD on a European roadtrip last Winter, I found toll booths a pain. Solo, and a very low sports car, so had to get out every time.

No tollbooths here apart from that one on the M6.

Enjoy

[newsatten]

As long as you’re not a McDonalds aficionado and use Ringo to park you’ll be fine!

[Getragdogleg]

I've got and have had many lhd cars over the years and the only hassle I've had thats mildly annoying is car parking where you take the ticket out the machine when you enter, solved by having a passenger or leaning over and stretching then trying to get back in the seat to go through the barrier before it drops!

The rest of the time its hardly noticeable. Im driving loads of rural lanes in west Cornwall so if it was going to be a pain in the arse id have experienced it.

[StoutBench]

Thanks all, definitely something to consider. Not as big a problem as I'd made it out to be. I do a fair bit of driving in Europe with a RHD always with the missis so she takes care of the rolls.

[Panamax]

Can you survive with LHD? Yes
Is it worth it for a car you really want, and can't get in RHD? Yes
Is LHD a pain for overtaking? Definitely. (Unless you're on the Continent.)

As soon as new RHD Mustangs went on sale in UK it completely killed the market for equivalent LHD imports.
Anyone seen an LHD Corvette C8 in UK? I very much doubt it.

[StoutBench]

Panamax said:

Can you survive with LHD? Yes
Is it worth it for a car you really want, and can't get in RHD? Yes
Is LHD a pain for overtaking? Definitely. (Unless you're on the Continent.)

As soon as new RHD Mustangs went on sale in UK it completely killed the market for equivalent LHD imports.
Anyone seen an LHD Corvette C8 in UK? I very much doubt it.

Resale is a bit of a concern tbh. Thinking along the lines that unless you get something really special like a fast back Mustang then most buyers wanting to scratch the American itch will buy the RHD newer cars. Again probably over thinking.

[SRT Hellcat]

I have been daily driving a F150 Lightning for 22 years and LHD is not an issue. Just remember to get in the drivers side when you go to get back to the car. I have done that a few times in the early years and went to get in the passenger side.

[roscobbc]

StoutBench said:

Panamax said:

Can you survive with LHD? Yes
Is it worth it for a car you really want, and can't get in RHD? Yes
Is LHD a pain for overtaking? Definitely. (Unless you're on the Continent.)

As soon as new RHD Mustangs went on sale in UK it completely killed the market for equivalent LHD imports.
Anyone seen an LHD Corvette C8 in UK? I very much doubt it.

Resale will be a bit of a concern if you are selling a LHD personal imported Mustang......with the used market seemingly awash with 'official' RHD cars any LHD car will need to be keenly priced.......or a non-UK availability model (like a Shelby version).
Older 'classic' Mustangs that have been converted to RHD will be few in number.
Being as the only RHD Corvette you'll be likely to buy is a C8......the used price will surely be the main stumbling block for many potential buyers.