A question for you guys that have driven cars from the left side. What order are the pedals in? Are they reversed Gas-brake-clutch-parking brake or are they the same as here parking brake-clutch-brake-gas? Also is the shift pattern normal or reversed? Just curious as I have never been to another country (Mexico excepted).
Pedal order is the same in a British or Japanese-Spec car as it is in an American/Canadian car.
What IS different is that the turn signal level is on the RIGHT side of the steering column while the windshield wiper lever is to the LEFT.
Hope this is of help to you.
Thanks Murry. That’s good to know. I don’t think I could drive a car with the pedals reversed, I’m too use to the way they are. If I ever do drive a car like that I will probably signal my turns with the wipers.[:D]
I think you could tell the American drivers of such cars-by the clean windshields! [(-D]
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
Years ago I had an employee that had an MG TD right hand steer. I asked him how he was able to pass, since he was on the right side? His response was to pull to the left and watch the expression on the passengers face…for clearance to pass.
[:O][:O][:)][:)][%-)]
Sam
I never though of that Sam. That would be pretty skechey.
But at least you can check your mailbox without haveing to get out of the car.[;)]
The gear shift is also the same regardless of which side the steering wheel is.
I had great fun one day watching my ex-father in law trying to get used to my mini… For some reason he kept trying to pull away from stoplights in 3rd gear…
About ten years ago I read an article in a car magazine that showed how left-hand
drive cars are re-worked to become right-hand drives when they are brought into
New Zealand, which only allowed right-hand drives on their roads. They gave a step
by step detail of such a conversion on a 1969 Mustang which was incredibly complex.
I own such a car so I know what’s involved…what a mess![banghead]
Pedals are the same order - from L to R Clutch-Brake-Throttle. Not common to find cars with a foot-operated parking brake here - we had a Citroen with one a while ago which was most unusual. It’s usually a lever next to the driver’s seat, either mounted on the transmission tunnel or the floor with a button on the end to release the ratchet.
Gears vary - especially when you have 6-speed boxes (as on many new diesel cars). These commonly have reverse as left and forward (often with a collar to lift or something similar) then 1-3-5 L to R at the front end of the gate and 2-4-6 at the back (6 at back right). On 5-speeds you’ll sometimes find reverse back right although manufacturers do tend to standardise - on most current Renaults it’s in the same place regardless of whether the car has 5 or 6 gears, presumably to avoid the potential expensive noises if someone tries to hook 6th in a car which doesn’t have it… Indicators tend to be left stalk, wiper controls right stalk although there are a few around where this isn’t the case.
If you want real entertainment, try an early-90s LHD Fiat Ducato van (or an RV based on one). Gearshift is a column change operated with the right hand (but with a conventional gate pattern - works perfectly once you figure it out), handbrake is on the floor to the left!
Interesting guys. Thanks for the info.