Discussion
...because sadly only about 1 Corvette in 1,000 is sold into RHD markets so they can't justify engineering the thing in anything other than LHD. I'm sure they only bother with UK at all because some GM suit knows they sell lots of cars (Vauxhall Corsas) in UK and UK is part of Yoorup so even if the sales volumes are small they add a few incremental numbers. Utter waste of time in corporate reality.
Anyone seen an XLR yet? (More than a mile from Park Lane. Test drives don't count!)
Anyone seen an XLR yet? (More than a mile from Park Lane. Test drives don't count!)
Denby said:
Why this obsession with making vettes RHD! They are LHD and there really is no problem with that!
Because it is the wrong side!
Everything from car park barriers to overtaking is a nightmare and judging the offside of an expensive, low and wide car is difficult on narrow UK roads, sitting on the left.
They would sell thousands of the things in the countries mentioned if RHD was available. It is short-sightedness of the worst kind.
>> Edited by Denby on Tuesday 25th October 11:56
Actually, there are valid counters for most of the above :-)
Carpark barriers. Fair enough. Either have a passenger, a 'shop' extension arm grabber or get out, walk around, walk back, get in... but yes, something of a shortcoming.
You don't need to judge the off-side. You can see exactly where the gutter is. If need be you can judge the left much better than in a RHD.
Overtaking in a Corvette is eaaaasy, LH or RH. If they weren't so powerful, it'd be an issue, but it's not, really.
As to selling thousands... well, when they're selling millions elsewhere, it's not worth their diesel! The Japanese market isn't about V8 cars. Australia? Maybe, but the population is much smaller than the continent. The UK? Erm...
I guess it's a perspective thing :-)
My driving instructor (many moons ago) put it best - don't judge distance on the side you can't see - judge it on the side you can. By the time you've reached a 'gap' you know whether your car will fit through. If you don't, it doesn't matter if you're on the LHS or the RHS, you're going to scrape the one side you can't see!
If I'm driving a RHD car along a narrow road and I have to dodge in to avoid oncoming traffic then I'm overly cautious about the near-side of the vehicle. I don't want to scrape it against the wall I can't judge. If I'm in a LHD then I'm right next to the wall and can pull over with much more certainty of not dinging against the side.
I used to think the same thing you do about LHD. I was then forced to drive one, having moved to the US. When we brought her back I realised that my prejudices were completely unfounded.
Now, you're right, though. Try selling that to someone who's used to driving a RHD car. Not easy.
Pulling out on blind left-hand corners is more difficult. Pulling out into traffic on a motorway is easier. Swings and roundabouts :-)
My driving instructor (many moons ago) put it best - don't judge distance on the side you can't see - judge it on the side you can. By the time you've reached a 'gap' you know whether your car will fit through. If you don't, it doesn't matter if you're on the LHS or the RHS, you're going to scrape the one side you can't see!
If I'm driving a RHD car along a narrow road and I have to dodge in to avoid oncoming traffic then I'm overly cautious about the near-side of the vehicle. I don't want to scrape it against the wall I can't judge. If I'm in a LHD then I'm right next to the wall and can pull over with much more certainty of not dinging against the side.
I used to think the same thing you do about LHD. I was then forced to drive one, having moved to the US. When we brought her back I realised that my prejudices were completely unfounded.
Now, you're right, though. Try selling that to someone who's used to driving a RHD car. Not easy.
Pulling out on blind left-hand corners is more difficult. Pulling out into traffic on a motorway is easier. Swings and roundabouts :-)
Have you ever driven in Europe in a hire car? LHD
The biggest problem will be getting used to right hand gear shifts in a manual. To be honest you will think about your driving for a couple of weeks until you get used to it and then it becomes 2nd nature.
Taking it easy in the 1st couple of weeks of ownership of a new car is no bad thing..........
The biggest problem will be getting used to right hand gear shifts in a manual. To be honest you will think about your driving for a couple of weeks until you get used to it and then it becomes 2nd nature.
Taking it easy in the 1st couple of weeks of ownership of a new car is no bad thing..........
Chris Graham has a coupe advertised....
www.chrisgrahamcorvettes.co.uk
Victory red with cashmere leather interior - Automatic - 6 Litre 400hp - Z51 performance suspension & handling pack - Head-up display - Polished alloy wheels -
£42950.
www.chrisgrahamcorvettes.co.uk
Victory red with cashmere leather interior - Automatic - 6 Litre 400hp - Z51 performance suspension & handling pack - Head-up display - Polished alloy wheels -
£42950.
vetteheadracer said:
Have you ever driven in Europe in a hire car? LHD
The biggest problem will be getting used to right hand gear shifts in a manual. To be honest you will think about your driving for a couple of weeks until you get used to it and then it becomes 2nd nature.
Taking it easy in the 1st couple of weeks of ownership of a new car is no bad thing..........
Have to agree.
I've driven a RHD car in the US, a LHD car in the UK and "correct handed" cars in each country. I can honestly say I don't even think about it any more. I jump in and drive whichever side of the road as needed.
I had the Camaro in UK and found it very easy to adapt. You need to hang back when looking to overtake so that you don't expose too much of the right hand side. So I agree that having plenty of power is the key. I did write off one shock absorber in potholes in Lincolnshire but I probably would have had the same problem with my RHD cars. that was just poor roads.
In sum, LHD is easy.
I do agree though that the economics to convert a thirsty V8 for a declining market won't make corportae sense given the dire starights of GM finances.
Never had a problem with LHD really.
You can usually tell a LHD car as it's invariably correctly placed in the centre or nearside of the road lane as the driver uses the kerb and gutter as a reference rather than the white line. The latter tends to place most cars far too far out in the road to maintain their "line of view" past the burgeoning numbers of vans, large cars, MPV's and the like. This positioning actually impedes those RHD drivers behind who are trying to overtake and have to move into the opposite carriageway to get a look.
Meanwhile, the LHD driver has a clear view up the inside, a better view out of right hand bends and the power to flick out to overtake, often in 4th or 3rd, 2nd only being necessary for "blitzkrieg" manoeuvres.
The real bugbear of LHD is poorly designed 45 degree exits when turning left off a roundabout where the pillar often contrives to blindfold you to traffic from the right. Then you're pretty much stuffed as drivers behind fail to understand that you just can't see.
In actual driving, galloping along lickety-split and good timing will generally see the overtaking manoeuvre performed seamlessly in one action. Always works in my Z28. Again, from experience in the C5 Z06, the deficiency is less marked as you overtake 3 cars at a time and not simply one so all the RHD in the world won't make up for the shattering mid-range performance that car was capable of. If anything, LHD hones your anticipation of the road ahead so you consider not just the immediate stretch but as far as the eye can see, planning being all that is required to make electric progress.
You can usually tell a LHD car as it's invariably correctly placed in the centre or nearside of the road lane as the driver uses the kerb and gutter as a reference rather than the white line. The latter tends to place most cars far too far out in the road to maintain their "line of view" past the burgeoning numbers of vans, large cars, MPV's and the like. This positioning actually impedes those RHD drivers behind who are trying to overtake and have to move into the opposite carriageway to get a look.
Meanwhile, the LHD driver has a clear view up the inside, a better view out of right hand bends and the power to flick out to overtake, often in 4th or 3rd, 2nd only being necessary for "blitzkrieg" manoeuvres.
The real bugbear of LHD is poorly designed 45 degree exits when turning left off a roundabout where the pillar often contrives to blindfold you to traffic from the right. Then you're pretty much stuffed as drivers behind fail to understand that you just can't see.
In actual driving, galloping along lickety-split and good timing will generally see the overtaking manoeuvre performed seamlessly in one action. Always works in my Z28. Again, from experience in the C5 Z06, the deficiency is less marked as you overtake 3 cars at a time and not simply one so all the RHD in the world won't make up for the shattering mid-range performance that car was capable of. If anything, LHD hones your anticipation of the road ahead so you consider not just the immediate stretch but as far as the eye can see, planning being all that is required to make electric progress.
vetteheadracer said:
Have you ever driven in Europe in a hire car? LHD
The biggest problem will be getting used to right hand gear shifts in a manual. To be honest you will think about your driving for a couple of weeks until you get used to it and then it becomes 2nd nature.
Taking it easy in the 1st couple of weeks of ownership of a new car is no bad thing..........
That's so NOT the issue. Position of the stick takes about five seconds to get used to - less for those who used to play Pole Position and TX1 in the arcade as kids.
It's all the other things that make it tricky... the occasional toll booth, most car park entrances, the drive-thru Macdonald's!
Then there's not-quite-wide-enough-for-two-cars country lanes.
And then there's overtaking. Sure, UNDERtaking may be easier if you're into that sort of thing on motorways. But, no matter what people here say about overtaking being possible and safe, it's still harder. Drive the same (A & B road) route across country in a RHD TVR or similar and it will certainly take you less time than in a LHD 'Z'. That's not a comment on the Z06 but on LHD in the UK.
I think I'm still going to do the 'Z' thing, though.
Denby said:
Someone who understands at last!
Denby, why not ask Lee to take you out in the black C6 they have in the car park under the showroom?
But make sure you get out to the edge of town, rather than just doing London traffic, in which LHD will be a cinch.
It'll tell you how well you can handle the LHD and the width, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by how quick the auto boxed drop-top can be!
Try this:
CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 EURO SPEC. , Automatic, 2005 , 5,000 miles. SAT NAV.Z51 SUSPENSION.THREE YEARS WARRANTY. £37,995
www.americandreamsc5.co.uk
CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 EURO SPEC. , Automatic, 2005 , 5,000 miles. SAT NAV.Z51 SUSPENSION.THREE YEARS WARRANTY. £37,995
www.americandreamsc5.co.uk
I have driven a Vette for 9 years and one as a daily driver for 4 years. My buddies on this list are talking b*ll&cks. It is more difficult, one of the reasons why I go to France every year to enjoy driving on the correct side.
BUT it aint that dificult and should not put you off. And yes if they were RHD there would be more on the UK roads than any other sports car, bad.
The only thing that is easier is dispensing with the moron hugging the outside lane.
BUT it aint that dificult and should not put you off. And yes if they were RHD there would be more on the UK roads than any other sports car, bad.
The only thing that is easier is dispensing with the moron hugging the outside lane.
Snip''
And yes if they were RHD there would be more on the UK roads than any other sports car
Snip''
Sorry even as supporter of the vet I don’t see this as a good thing.
I quite like the fact that its different and that there are not that many cars around, that I can drive along and my car still turns heads.
btw I never have problems in overtaking, car parks and tolls are a bit difficult but its not impossible to reach if you hop up on the centre mound, and this small the struggle is worthwhile
Sam
And yes if they were RHD there would be more on the UK roads than any other sports car
Snip''
Sorry even as supporter of the vet I don’t see this as a good thing.
I quite like the fact that its different and that there are not that many cars around, that I can drive along and my car still turns heads.
btw I never have problems in overtaking, car parks and tolls are a bit difficult but its not impossible to reach if you hop up on the centre mound, and this small the struggle is worthwhile
Sam
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