I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of this
that they could relate?

--
Chris

"Chris" wrote

I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of
this
that they could relate?

My wife's Renault has a handbrake which is in a recess which was obviously
designed to be used from the left hand seat with ones right hand.

In a manual truck, where the gear lever is not central in the cab, a
linkage is used to get the movement from the gear lever to the box and this
can be heavy and problematic.

I believe some cars have a heater which puts out more heat on the left-hand
side.


--
Regards, Vince.

International Trucking Photographs-
http://200476.aceboard.net

"Chris" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of
this
that they could relate?


It's usually little things.

VW's obsession with keeping earlier Golfs "true" to their left hand drive
counterparts by not relocating the wiper blades. Some later BMWs too.
Mercedes came up with their complicated and fragile funky single wiper
system to avoid the problem.

And many machines with compromised brake servos because of the change from
left hand to right hand drive.

--
The DervMan
www.dervman.com

Chris ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a
modification (I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone
experiences of this that they could relate?

It's not unknown for pedals and/or steering wheels to be offset (often
uncomfortably so) in RHD, and handbrakes to still be on the "wrong" side of
the console. Then there's the odd case of failing to re-engineer the wiper
linkage, so the driver gets big unswept areas.

Now consider odd stretches of throttle and clutch cable - and there's even
been some cases of RHD cars glares at VW still having the brake servo and
master on the LHD side of the bulkhead, with a bar going across between
that and the pedal...

DervMan ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying :

VW's obsession with keeping earlier Golfs "true" to their left hand
drive counterparts by not relocating the wiper blades. Some later
BMWs too. Mercedes came up with their complicated and fragile funky
single wiper system to avoid the problem.

Whereas the Cit Dyane had wipers set up nicely for RHD - even when the
steering wheel's on the left...! (Unfortunately, the wiper motor blocks
half the speedo in RHD form... and the indicator lever gains a bend, to
avoid 4th gear...)

"Chris" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of this
that they could relate?

The mk2 polo had servo assisted stoppers in LHD form so had the option of the
G40 engine all be it in limited numbers.

"Chris" wrote in message
...
I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of
this
that they could relate?


I beleive PeteM had a LHD Mk2 Golf GTi that he reckoned was loads better
than the RHD ones he had. I'm sure he'll be along shortly to get more
technical about it than that :-)

--
Dan

Adrian wrote:

Chris ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a
modification (I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone
experiences of this that they could relate?

It's not unknown for pedals and/or steering wheels to be offset (often
uncomfortably so) in RHD, and handbrakes to still be on the "wrong" side
of the console.

What's the correct side? My current car is the Xsara Picasso (which I'm
thinking of replacing it with the new C4 Pic), and I notice that the
handbrake is close to the driver's seat, which seems sensible positioning.
Would it still be in the same place for a LHD model?

--
Chris

Chris ) gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying :

It's not unknown for pedals and/or steering wheels to be offset
(often uncomfortably so) in RHD, and handbrakes to still be on the
"wrong" side of the console.

What's the correct side?

Whichever side is easier to reach for the driver...

My current car is the Xsara Picasso (which I'm thinking of replacing it
with the new C4 Pic), and I notice that the handbrake is close to the
driver's seat, which seems sensible positioning.

Sounds like it's been moved, then.

Would it still be in the same place for a LHD model?

Probably not, in that case.

One thing I do know - It won't be a problem on a C4 Pic, that's for sure -
because it's automatic with an over-ride electrickery button on the dash!

Chris wrote:

I've seen a few references to how LHDs can be better to drive, simply
because they are usually designed as LHD first, and RHD as a modification
(I'm ignoring the issue of overtaking, etc.) Has anyone experiences of this
that they could relate?

Firstly, don't **** about with follow-ups, it's bad form to ask a
question in one group and to set follow-ups to another.

The answer depends on the car. Some had terrible RHD conversions with
long linkages for the pedals and steering which introduced a vague
feeling to all the controls. Some early Alfas were notably different in
feel between LHD and RHD versions and that coupled with low production
volume meant that some performance versions were offered only as LHD.