Anyone here driven a LHD vehicle with a stick shift?

Currantly

Expert Member
Joined
Dec 24, 2014
Messages
2,769
Reaction score
2,478
How was it?

I was wondering today...how easy it would be to shift to changing gears with your right hand...seems so weird trying to imagine doing it...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3WA
It took me about 10 minutes and all was okay. Our small fleet of 4 4 x 4's had two imported chev's, one Landrover and one Ford. The Chevs were "LHD" stick shifts. It made no difference in our use - it is all about coordination. Something of course the auto driver will never understand.
 
How was it?

I was wondering today...how easy it would be to shift to changing gears with your right hand...seems so weird trying to imagine doing it...
Reminds me of changing gears for my parents as a child from the passenger’s seat, and then comparing the feeling to ‘play play’ driving/changing gears from the driver’s seat (obviously with the car off and without touching the accelerator).

Very easy. But weird, yes. My partner and I still do it to this day when helping the other while they’re driving and doing something else with two hands.

You’ll get the hang of it in no time.
 
Gonna be much weirder getting used to the rear view mirror being in the wrong place
 
Takes me about 2 days to get used to LHD and being on the other side of the road.
 
Drove a LHD in SA as a daily for 3 years, you get used to it very quickly.
 
How was it?

I was wondering today...how easy it would be to shift to changing gears with your right hand...seems so weird trying to imagine doing it...
I sometimes get one if Avis is being a pain with my upgrade due to stock. It’s ok, I actually prefer it as I’m left handed.

But for the most part I’ll make sure to get an auto at some point. Manual feels very 90s.

As for driving on the opposite road my brain sort of switches as I start and it becomes automatic. That said I drive outside the country about 12 times a year. You do get used it, just need to force it for a while first and then your brain sort of gets it
 
I drove a LHD Porsche 911 for a few years here in SA. The biggest challenge was not the gearshift, but at toll gates and parking garages where you cannot reach if there is no passenger to assist. I carried a set of braai tongs for such occasions.

When I lived in Germany I had a manual Audi. Today it is a quick flip of a mental switch to go from RHD to LHD.
 
First few hours I kept hitting my left hand against the door when going to change gear, but you adjust quick enough.
 
Gonna be much weirder getting used to the rear view mirror being in the wrong place
Last I checked the mirror was still in the middle? Regardless of the placement of the steering wheel.
 
No issues with the gear shifting, the hard part lining up the car with the side of the road you aren’t used to assuming you are still driving it in SA.

If you are also changing to the other side of the road at the same time then it’s no issue.
 
When I drove a stick shift in America it was really easy to adjust.

The only thing I did a bit in the beginning is bang my hand against the left door when I wanted to change gears and also stare to the sky on left when I wanted to check the rear view mirror
 
Drove my mates mustang in Canada, gears were easy, sometimes just a bit of a pause before thinking ah the other side.

What really got me was turning left directly into the oncoming lane
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X