Manual Car Differences?

Trev · #1 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 03:25 AM

In the United States, we drive on the right side of the road and the left side of the car. In Europe, you drive on the left side of the road and the right side of the car. For manual cars in Europe, do you shift with your left hand? I imagine it would be a little tough for righties.

BigEars · #2 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 03:45 AM

Yes, you are correct. The gears are changed with the left hand, as well as the CDs. It's not that hard really since it's not really a fine motor action, more a force thing.

ini5 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 03:55 AM

This will sound odd but, I learned to drive that way....let me try to explain here....

I first learned to drive in the states (where I am now, anyways....) with an automatic, then with a manuel, but when I was about 16 I was dating someone that we used to cruise around town and whatnot in, so when we were eating (mostly fastfood, yes let the american fatness go on now) I would shift with my left hand. It just became natural to me, that and I am semi ambadextrious depending on what I am doing, maybe thats why its natural either way.

Trev · #4 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 03:58 AM

Yeah, I'm sure a lot of people did. Being a right handed person, I just imagine that it would be difficult shifting with my left hand, as I hardly use it for anything.

BigEars · #5 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 04:04 AM

I'm sure that if you look at what you do as you go through your daily routine that you use your left hand more than you realise. Generally people use it for the strong stuff, lifting and carrying, and opening doors. If you had to drive that way, you would get used to it pretty fast. Though the CD player might phase you more!

Trev · #6 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 04:08 AM

Yeah, I'd figure that. I don't know of many other differences in Europe, but I am pretty sure with proper practice, you can overcome it.

ptyEvoIII · #7 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 04:07 PM

Hi Trev! I think I could answer your question because I live in Panama, and we drive just like in the US, more of that I´m "righty" All my live I have drived LHD cars because is the usual, like US, but I bought and evo3 (RHD only) in march and the first time I drove it was when I bought it...never had driven a RHD car then, and all my friend just where afraid of the same issue you do... bottom line

never failed or misshift any time, was all so natural, and pretty much straightforward, I believe is some kind of myth I (personally) never encounter...We even joke about it, when some JDM car owner talks with other JDM car owner we ask: "you don´t have any problem driving the car the wrong way??", or "hey dude, I don´t know if you notice but your car came faulty from factory, it has the steering wheel in the other side"

nevertheless, till today, many people tell me that driving a RHD is sooo difficult, and never had driven one...

I say, if you wanna know if its difficult, drive one...the only way to know

Trev · #8 (**permalink**) 11-29-2007, 11:51 PM

So if you know how to drive one well when you drive on the left, you had no problem driving one on the right? I still can't believe that, good job

.

ptyEvoIII · #9 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 04:00 PM

yes! I think is a matter of you concentrating on the shifting, so you don´t mess that up...nevertheless the lights and wiper level is another history...jajajja

motorhead · #10 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 08:10 PM

Its all about practice and concentrating. Maybe try it in a place w/o anything to hit, kind of like when your learning to drive to start with, this is just another way. When you visit other countries that are "wrong side" if you have a valid us drivers lic. you can still drive aboard, but you get some type of special permit (I forget the name of it). Maybe think about that for your next vacation, might be a good learning experience!