South Africa is another important country.
Here's some info on why some countries started out driving on the left and other (late developing ...) countries started driving on the right.
Why do some countries drive on the left and others on the right? - World Standards
I have no explanation as to why hot and cold are randomly on the left or the right. Nor why we seem to have so many different light bulb (globe) fittings nowadays.
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Not driving on the right side of the road is easy to get used to, easiest is to start by following the car in front .
And hoping he/she's a local
I learned it in one of the other important countries, Malaysia.
Left hand stick shift is a bit more tricky but can be mastered in a few hours.
A different 'get used to' experience is when returning home from a couple of weeks with a US automatic transmission to a normal stick shift.
Found my car at the airport parking lot (~20,000 cars), got in, drove off to the pay boot and stalled it there because I just used the brake and forgot about the clutch...
The typically VERY sensitive US-style brake pedal is also something to get used to, the same model in Europe will need more pressure.Leave a comment:
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I guess having the pedals the same would help, but it just seems like it would be really weird shifting left-handed.Originally posted by GerardV View Post
Too funny!Down Under, we drive on the correct side of the road, as they do in the UK, India, Japan and other important countries.
They did try to change it here once, starting out with trucks over 10 ton first, but that was not a great success.
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Same here! I've owned nothing but Toyotas since 1985. My first was a Toyota truck, with a 4-speed manual transmission. Then I progressed through multiple RAV4s, each with a 5-speed manual transmission. I was planning on buying yet another RAV4, but they stopped offering it with stick shifts, so I've pledged to keep my current one until it disintegrates. (Of course, being a Toyota, it has never had anything mechanically wrong with it. Oh...wait...I DID have to replace the pad on the clutch pedal once...)Originally posted by Qqmike View Post
Honestly, I've seen some glimpses of that myself, but I can't bring myself--yet--to think of dumping my beloved stick shifts. In fact, I've been planning on buying the revamped Mazda M5 Miata, with a 6-speed stick, when it's available as I want it (no leather, convertible hard top). But...we'll see...until I hit about 60, gave in and bought a Honda Civic with automatic trans. As you age, even in good, strong, healthy shape, sh*t happens, often. It doesn't take cancer or dreadful RA or a broken limb or hand. All it takes is a mis-step or getting out of bed wrong, twist something, pull a tendon in feet or hands, and shifting a car becomes an inconvenience, even painful. Or emerging from various medical procedures: much easier, less stressful to have an automatic to drive home.
Definitely more fun.Fact is, they are making even compact cars like the Corolla and Civic with more power now, so you get a good feel, even at low-end torque speeds with an automatic. More fun, though, to drive a 5-speed.
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It's definitely a different, uh, rhythm, fer sher...Originally posted by DoYouKubuntu View PostI always wonder how weird it must be to work the stick shift with your left hand.
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Ha! Me, too, preferred 5-speed Toyotas, until I hit about 60, gave in and bought a Honda Civic with automatic trans. As you age, even in good, strong, healthy shape, sh*t happens, often. It doesn't take cancer or dreadful RA or a broken limb or hand. All it takes is a mis-step or getting out of bed wrong, twist something, pull a tendon in feet or hands, and shifting a car becomes an inconvenience, even painful. Or emerging from various medical procedures: much easier, less stressful to have an automatic to drive home. Fact is, they are making even compact cars like the Corolla and Civic with more power now, so you get a good feel, even at low-end torque speeds with an automatic. More fun, though, to drive a 5-speed.DYK: As a person who chooses to only drive vehicles with manual transmissions,...Leave a comment:
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It does take some getting used to it. But at least the pedal layout is the same. Down Under, we drive on the correct side of the road, as they do in the UK, India, Japan and other important countries.Originally posted by DoYouKubuntu View PostI always wonder how weird it must be to work the stick shift with your left hand.
They did try to change it here once, starting out with trucks over 10 ton first, but that was not a great success.
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They don't just DRIVE on the wrong side of the road, they even put the DRIVER on the wrong side of the car!Originally posted by SteveRiley View Post
As a person who chooses to only drive vehicles with manual transmissions, I always wonder how weird it must be to work the stick shift with your left hand.
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Don't tie 'that country' with a nationality, this particular picture was taken in a hotel in Montrose, Scotland and when I went looking for the hotel manager to ask for clarification I ran into the Dutch owner...Originally posted by oshunluvr View PostBTW, patiently waiting for Feathers and Nickstone to chime in on the "tools" remark...
Yes, stupidity knows no borders
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Wow. What an IDIOTIC thing! I can't even find words to describe how STUPID I think that is.Originally posted by Teunis View Post
BTW, why is everything reversed on that side of the pond? Hot water on the right? Weird!Leave a comment:
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Three years, in fact. The car was going so fast that it plowed right through the fence and struck the building in front of mine. The headlights from the car, now being mere inches away and no longer burdened by a wall, provided more than adequate illumination for the two individuals fornicating in the first floor bedroom.Originally posted by oshunluvr View PostHow long has it been since someone drove through your fence!Leave a comment:
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BTW, patiently waiting for Feathers and Nickstone to chime in on the "tools" remark...
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Uhhh, you should get out more.Originally posted by SteveRiley View Post
While that is unarguably a very stupid thing, it can't be the stupidest thing you've ever seen. For example: How long has it been since someone drove through your fence!
On the plus side to the above referred plumbing device: You could wash your your hands in hot water while simultaneously pouring yourself a glass of cold water...
...very carefully, of course.Leave a comment:
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