Imported right-hand drive manual cars are surprisingly difficult to drive.
Published on: 12.26.2019
Imported, right-hand drive (MT)
Recently, when driving a BMW 320i (MT), I was told that "I guess right-hand drive manual imports are crazy busy turning at intersections!I often feel that "I'm not a good person.
Before, I didn't have time to feel that...I was more conscious of operating the clutch and driving smoothly, so I didn't care that much.
But now that I am much more used to driving a manual and can drive without being particularly conscious of it, I am much more concerned about the maneuvering when turning at intersections.
Because right-hand-drive, manual imports are "notWinker left hand + gear operation left handBecause when you're turning through an intersection, the controls are concentrated in your left hand.
For right-hand drive domestic cars, "Right hand for blinker and left hand for gear operation.", so the work to be done by both hands is relatively distributed. Also, in the case of left-hand drive imported cars, "Blinker is on the left and gear operation is on the right.Since it is a "one-stop shop," it is also dispersed as well.
On the other hand, when it comes to right-hand-drive imports, when turning through an intersection, "Left hand for blinker, left hand for downshift, right hand for steering wheel operation while left hand for upshiftAnyway, the left hand is busy.
When the intersection is stopped at a red light, there is still plenty of room. You can put on your blinker while stopped, and since you don't have to downshift, you can just start normally when the light turns green, but in any case, turning right or left at an intersection while driving is...
My husband said, "If you buy an imported car with a manual transmission, it must be left-hand drive.I've been saying all along, "I'm sorry," and now I can see it in my mind's eye.
Next time I buy, I'll buy a left-hand drive.
I told my husband, "Lately, I've been thinking that I'd really like to drive on the left side of the road in an imported manual car.
That's right. I really think so. I don't know about now, but when I first went to the dealership to buy a manual Boxster, they told me, "You know, we're going to buy a manual Boxster.I don't know what I'm going to do, right-hand drive or left-hand drive.When I was worried, Mr. H, the person in charge, said, "If you order a right-hand drive MT, you have to get confirmation from your boss. He said, "If you want to order a right-hand drive MT, you have to check with your supervisor.
I don't know about now.
This was the first time I had ever heard of this. I see.
When the 718 Spyder and GT4 were previously announced, "I cancelled it because I could only select right-hand drive.I was just "huh" at the time. At the time, I just said, "Wow," but for those who are used to operating a left-hand drive manual car, it must be a little uncomfortable.(Porsche Japan, please allow us to choose right or left for hobbyist cars.)
Next time I buy a new 320i, I definitely want to buy a left-hand drive one, but I wonder if there are any left-hand drive MT cars on the used car market that I would like.
Follow me if you like this blog!
Comment ( 8 )
Trackbacks are closed.
Mina.
I use a FIAT 500 right manual transmission (I had an Italian car purchased all the way from England, insisting on right-hand drive) for my daily use.
I am not concerned about operating the shift knob and blinker with one left hand, nor about the narrow foot space that is often mentioned, but Mina's opinion is very persuasive, having experienced both right and left MT. Also, I have seen or heard somewhere that since the clutch is on the left foot, it is better to operate the shift knob with the right hand, which is on the diagonal, for better balance.
In theory, I know that the original left-hand drive is better, but considering the road conditions in Japan, I intend to use a right-hand MT in my imported cars for the time being. However, this may be a matter of getting used to it.
I think there are few left-hand MT balls to buy a new car from now on at a domestic dealer, but I think there are still more left-hand MTs for used import cars. When I look for a car I want (in my case, a 5 to 20 year old NA engine, MT), I find that most of them are left-hand drive, and I often feel disappointed that I am not eligible to buy one, and relieved that I don't have to spend a lot of money. I am afraid that my wallet will become tighter if the ban on left-hand drive is lifted.
Mr. Ishi.
Right-hand drive or left-hand drive, you may have a preference.
I guess each person feels differently.
I used to be left-handed (I changed it to right when I was little, but I still get lefty), so I guess that's part of it...
>I looked for the car I wanted (in my case, NA engine, MT, about 5-20 years old) and found that most of them were left-hand drive.
Indeed... yes...! Most of the cars of that time seem to be left-hand drive...!
I always feel that cars are so expensive and costly these days;
I have driven right-hand drive MT Caymans and 911s in succession, and I have never found them difficult to drive.
In terms of steering operation, I feel that the right hand can be devoted to steering.
> When turning at an intersection, "use your left hand for blinker, your left hand for downshift, your right hand for steering, and your right hand for steering wheel operation.
> In the meantime, the left hand is busy shifting".
So, why don't you think carefully about the process of operation?
Let's say you're busy with blinkers and downshifts.
I think you don't have to downshift so much from the front.
Or maybe it's too late to put on the blinker?
I think you spend too much time with your left hand on the shift lever instead of the steering wheel even when you are not shifting.
This seems to be a checkpoint in this area.
I have again tried to be aware of this, but in my case, the start of braking and the timing of blinker are close to each other, and downshift is just before turning, so there seems to be no particular busyness caused by the overlapping of the two.
The latter half, "right hand controls steering wheel while left hand upshifts," should not be a problem since the left and right sides are separated, and it seems to be a psychological "busy" thing.
There may be cases where lane change and downshift overlap, but since it is not good to change lanes immediately after putting on the blinker, it may be considered just fine to downshift during the pause for breath after putting on the blinker.
Incidentally, although there are many right-hand drive, MT cars in the UK, I remember that all the cars I drove had their blinkers on the left.
PorscheDreamer.
Thank you for everything.
Well... now that I think that might be true, I'll be more conscious of that next time!
In my case, the best feeling I get from driving a Porsche MT and a BMW 320i MT is.
The 320i's lack of low-speed torque (is there too much Porsche? ^^^;)
If it were a Boxster, I would have slowed down and gone in 3rd gear where I could have gotten by just fine.
With the 320i, if you go in third gear, you have to go in second gear because the car immediately rattles and looks like it's going to be hard to keep up.
That makes me feel kind of moody and busy.
In the case of Porsche, in addition to being left-hand drive.
It has enough torque to provide a safe and comfortable ride, which may make for a more relaxed and comfortable driving experience.
I don't think the 320i is a car with no torque at all.
After all, once you get to know Porsche, you can't help but feel dissatisfied with that area ^^;
Hello mina. I always enjoy looking at your site.
For me, the tightness near the center tunnel when I place my left foot on the footrest is worse.
I've only had the car for 6 months, but the hairs have peeled off a little and become thin because I rub them every time I operate the clutch (crying).
I am a man and my shoe size is only 23.5cm. I heard that if you have big feet, your foot hits the clutch every time you take your foot off the footrest, so I guess left-hand drive is a must for MT foreign cars.
Naya.
Thank you for everything!
I see...yes, that's right...
That cramped footing is also quite a challenge.
After all, left-hand drive imported cars can do that without any discomfort, can't they!
Hello! I always enjoy looking at your site.
I currently own a 981 Cayman right-hand drive MT. Some time ago I decided to switch to a left-hand drive MT Boxster and test drove it, but I am not used to shifting with my right hand and was afraid that I would lose the handling of my left hand. I have experience with left-hand drive AT.
I think it's just a matter of getting used to it, so I think I can get used to it with practice. Like Mr. PorscheDreamer, I have never found it difficult to drive my current right-hand drive MT Cayman, so if there is a right-hand drive, I would choose the right-hand one even if it is a MT. (On the other hand, I don't think I will choose left-hand drive in the future.)
I applied for the 718 Spyder yesterday and had no hesitation ^_^.
Mr. Ryuichi
Thank you for visiting my blog!
As I wrote this article and looked at your comments and messages
I was reminded that it is already different for each person as to which is easier to drive, MT left-hand drive or right-hand drive....
On second thought, I'm left-handed to begin with, which I corrected to right.
I still use my left hand a lot, so maybe that's part of it;
Thank you for your valuable comments!
>I applied for the 718 Spyder yesterday and had no hesitation ^_^.
Oh yes!!! Congratulations ！！！！！ I'm looking forward to the delivery date now!