How many of you drive cars with the steering wheel on the "wrong" side? (Page 2/3)
maryjane FEB 25, 01:03 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:


Now you can fix the photo you posted there.


I already shined some headlights on that...
PK FEB 25, 04:02 AM
Thanks for the inclusion Patrick.

Fiero has steering wheel on the wrong side but apparently they were manufactured that way. I'm mostly on very narrow lanes. Single track lanes are not so bad where the options are on the road or in the hedge. But in the slightly less narrow roads you have to make sure that the car is tucked in well enough to the verge as your position relative to the road is so different to a ve-hickle with steering manufactured correctly.

After eerrm more than 20years of ownership this isn't really an issue anymore and is second nature even after its winter snoo.

Other than road position, overtaking is fun sometimes as restricted vision by sitting on the side closest to the verge.

A Fiero issue not completely related to LHD is Devon banks!!! These are large banks made of stone and covered in grass with hedges on top. They are mostly on single lane roads (roads is maybe an exaggeration). The combination of a very low fiero not visible above the hedgeline and LHD greatly restricting vision can make it ermm exciting!

There is a correction possible for the manufacturing error but I have never felt the need as it's part of the "experience".

Going slightly O/T I also have a LHD motorboike. Well it's USA spec....luckily the only problem there was headlight dip direction.

And finally... Some controls on "modern" boikes are the wrong way round and upside down. I have both designs gears on left, brakes on right and vice versa...and with the grrrbox on opposite side AND backwards...so press down to change up gear. Again after many decades it becomes instinctive.

And finally finally....I do still on the first...and maybe second occasion after winter snoo go back to the wrong door of the fiero after refuelling and then try and subtly shuffle round to the other door in the hope no one noticed.
theogre FEB 25, 09:49 AM

quote
Originally posted by IMSA GT:
I'm curious if anyone has reversed the gas and clutch pedal just for laughs.

Left side gas pedal is more common that many think.
Is use many "handicap" drivers in the US and OE gas pedal is blocked off for "normal" drivers.

You can't use a clutch w/ them and drivers license is restricted to automatic cars.
1 to Several "stamps"/restrictions must be "applied" to drivers license to use any "handicap" mods in most states.

Example: http://www.creativecontrols...com/products/lfa.htm
Steering wheel Spinners shown there and elsewhere needs license restrictions to. Most or all have easy to remove spinner knob for this reason so normals can drive and not get a Ticket. (Because is a "Primary" offense and cops can stop you just seeing a spinner in many states.)

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Raydar FEB 25, 09:49 AM

quote
Originally posted by PK:
...
And finally finally....I do still on the first...and maybe second occasion after winter snoo go back to the wrong door of the fiero after refuelling and then try and subtly shuffle round to the other door in the hope no one noticed.



Totally understandable. We are, after all, creatures of habit.

What I want to know is why manufacturers feel the need to place the fuel filler on the passenger side of the car.
And yes... I know that some cars are designed for those nations who drive on the wrong side of the car/road, but I don't think the G6 is one of those. (There may be a Saturn or a Saab based on the same platform, but still... ) Aside from that, there are a lot more of us than there are of you anyway.
That's truly the only thing I don't like about my G6. (Well... other than the lack of a manual trans.)

Interesting topic.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 02-25-2022).]

maryjane FEB 25, 12:12 PM

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What I want to know is why manufacturers feel the need to place the fuel filler on the passenger side of the car.



Dodge Dart II is like that.
williegoat FEB 25, 12:18 PM

quote
Originally posted by Raydar:

What I want to know is why manufacturers feel the need to place the fuel filler on the passenger side of the car.



The most reasonable explanation I have heard is that if you run out of fuel while on the road, you do not have to stand on the traffic side to refuel from a can.
hnthomps FEB 25, 12:26 PM
When I lived in Australia, I and my family mostly drove a Mitsubishi Pajero (US equivalent is a Montero I believe). This was a relatively large SUV and had an auto transmission. The steering wheel was obviously on the other side of the car than the US models, but it was no real issue to drive it. I just had to think about turns at an intersection. Even my 18 year old drove it one night for about 400 KM when we were returning from Cairns.

Nelson
cvxjet FEB 25, 12:31 PM
I drove my father's 1986 Cavalier wagon around Utah when NAS Alameda was (Base) closing interviewing for maint' worker jobs at the NPs and NMs (I could sleep in the back so easy to make time (No tent, etc)

It had the fuel fill on the right side- which is the WRONG side in US of A......I'd pull in...then realize and have to back out and turn around, etc...I suppose you could adapt if it was your regular car.

What I thought was stupid was that the Cavalier was COMPLETELY a USA car- why did they put it on the right side? (Drunk-Chimp engineering)
williegoat FEB 25, 12:42 PM

quote
Originally posted by PK:

Going slightly O/T I also have a LHD motorboike. Well it's USA spec....luckily the only problem there was headlight dip direction.

And finally... Some controls on "modern" boikes are the wrong way round and upside down. I have both designs gears on left, brakes on right and vice versa...and with the grrrbox on opposite side AND backwards...so press down to change up gear. Again after many decades it becomes instinctive.



I will never forget trying to ride an old '57 650 Trump and a 441 BSA. When I tried to put on the brakes, I ended up upshifting and when I tried to downshift, I stepped on the rear brake.

Controls in the US were not standardized until the mid 1970's, so when I was learning, there were many different configurations. Essentially, we went with what was most common, what was used on Japanese, German and H-D big twins. Interestingly enough, the H-D K model followed by the Sportster were patterned after the British bikes because they were targeted at buyers who had been buying the faster, more nimble Trumps, Beezers, etc.

H-D big twins had the throttle on the right (which makes sense), leaving the left hand for the tank shifter, so it was only natural and very easy to move the shifter to the left foot. Indian had a left hand throttle and right hand shifter and the common story was that they were trying to appeal to the military and law enforcement market by leaving the right hand free to use a sidearm while maintaining throttle control. I am not sure I buy that, but I have not heard a better explaination. Right or wrong, it didn't work. H-D killed Indian when they created the much faster Knucklehead.

Regarding right hand drive cars, when I was in high school, my next door neighbor had a RHD XKE. I never drove it, but it felt weird sitting in what should have been the driver's seat and having no control over the car. This sensation was heightened by the fact that the driver was a maniac.

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 02-25-2022).]

PK FEB 25, 02:33 PM
Fascinating post that WG. I learnt some boike info there.

And had totally forgotten about the ability to petrify passengers by putting them in the middle of the road without a steering wheel. ⊙īšâŠ™