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Model specific boards => Golf mk2 => Topic started by: knobby on 25 March 2006, 17:14

Title: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 25 March 2006, 17:14
Hi Guys

well u can tell im back.. POST POST POST  :laugh:

So pros and cons to owning/driving a LHD. Was having a little chat today over the phone with my father and mentioned i might be looking at a LHD, he was carrying on about how hard they are to drive, and how hard it is to over take. I've never driven a UK car abroad (only my bike, doesnt matter wat side your on) but just wanted some opinions.

Cheers

Knobby..
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: jv on 25 March 2006, 17:21
MOST of the time, no bother at all. I even prefer it now! City driving is ok, motorways make no difference as you can see all around well still. However, if you live in the countryside and do a lot of fast single A road driving it may get on your nerves as you really can't see to overtake unless you stay well back.

Barrier car parks/toll booths are fun as well  :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 25 March 2006, 19:12
Guess where i live... in the country... the road i drive on to work has loads of long straights though so i dont see it being a problem.. i dont over take much anyway.. Never thought about the car park barriers.. LOL i bet thats funny. is it a get out of the car jobby or learn over... I think i'd get out make those ba$tards wait.. lol

The Rallye would be an everyday car for me. I just want one now... got my heart set on it.. Id like another MK2 Golf, but dont think i would be happy with an 8v or 16v.. i want the best... he he..

Knobby....
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 25 March 2006, 19:50
drive thru macdonalds would be a chore.......
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 25 March 2006, 19:58
I never go alone to MccyD's so I should be or there... Or i could always reverse round.. LOL :wink:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Veedubgt18v on 25 March 2006, 20:06
get one then you can scare people by having a passenger reading the paper while you drive on the motorway lol
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Martz on 25 March 2006, 20:29
As JV says, only down side is tolls and car parks etc. But better when abroad! :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: FBF on 26 March 2006, 14:30
i drive 2 left hookers. apart from already mentioned stuff like tolls, car parks and overtaking..  i can post a letter in a letter box without getting out of the car. when i park up i dont have to step out of the car and in to traffic, i can overtake on blind bends if they are left sweeping. (tbh the overtaking thing isnt much of a problem really.  unless you are 17 and driving like a prick.) i always hated the thought of owning a left hooker but in the end its made no diffrence and lets be honest would you leave this sitting at home cos you have to sit on the left???

(http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a16/FATboyFAT/G29.jpg)
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 26 March 2006, 14:39
Someone lives in the Guildford area  :wink:

Nice looking motor.. do you own a Rallye?


Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Chaswin74 on 26 March 2006, 16:23
I have both, makes no difference now, you'll have to give up drive through Maccy D's but that's a good thing!

Once you've stopped trying to change gear with the door handle it's fine, overtaking gets more interesting but occasionally you just have to wing it and pray - other than that you learn to look through the car in front rather than round.

Also you get to scare the living s**t out of the passenger as they sit in the middle of the road!

C
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Dizzie on 26 March 2006, 17:27
I've been driving the 1st LHD since I learnt to drive in Canada and that was in 1998! It's not much different really. I've overtaken a few things on long roads so that wasn't a problem. I've stopped punching the door when changing gear now and trained my right hand to change gear almost as well as the left one can.

On the plus side being sat on the left is suppose to be better weight distribution due to the gearbox, etc.

Saying all that I shall be converting mine very soon to RHD and putting another mk3 dash in when I also move the 20vt into it.
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 26 March 2006, 17:32
Algith Dizzie.. How are ya? Sold that car yet???

What you driving these days??

Knobby..
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Dizzie on 26 March 2006, 18:06
ntb, yourself? Nope. It's been broken for parts! Keeping the engine to go into the next car I've got. The other good bits are still about though. Vented wing ;)

Driving the F reg 8v gti as the daily round about. and the H reg Edition one which will recieve the 20vt engine soon as poss.
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: keefusg60 on 26 March 2006, 18:21
I prefer driving the LHD G60 now to RHD, just got used to it I suppose. People laugh at car parks when u have to get out and run back into the car. My 6 yr old gets some funny looks too when he's sitting in the front too!
Maccy D's drive- thrus are fine, just have to make sure u have a passenger!!
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Neaty on 26 March 2006, 19:11
as strange as this sounds i want a left hand drive car just for the novelty value!
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 26 March 2006, 19:14
Thats part of the reason why I want a Rallye now... Quite fancy p!ssing people off at the ticket machine... LOL...  Just gotta find one now..  :laugh:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Dizzie on 26 March 2006, 19:51
I heard a few people saying "There's a left hooker golf" the other day. It's also amusing when passengers go to get in the driver's side and you say "I'm driving!"
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 26 March 2006, 19:57
LOL... I've found a new mod for a LHD car....  :grin:

(http://www.ledsystems.co.uk/comersus/store/catalog/litter.jpg)
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: mk2g60syncro on 27 March 2006, 22:20
Hi Guys

well u can tell im back.. POST POST POST  :laugh:

So pros and cons to owning/driving a LHD. Was having a little chat today over the phone with my father and mentioned i might be looking at a LHD, he was carrying on about how hard they are to drive, and how hard it is to over take. I've never driven a UK car abroad (only my bike, doesnt matter wat side your on) but just wanted some opinions.

Cheers

Knobby..

I've only been stuck behind a lorry once in 18 months. I don't thrash mine so it doesnt matter if I have to wait a bit till the next straight. The 200hp and 4wd does help when overtaking though!  :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 27 March 2006, 22:30
Yeah whats these like on performance.. it doesnt really bother me.. I know spec's as standard say the rallye is 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and 135 top end i think, with 160 bhp. I've heard people rave about the mid range. My 328i couple had great mid range power, i think it was 280 Nm of torque. Cant find any details on the Rallye though..

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 27 March 2006, 23:17
I've only driven LHD in england once and it was a porsche so it was just pure fun  :grin: :grin: :grin:

I driven RHD in spain loads which is kind of the same thing - motorways aren't really that bad as long give yourself plenty of space to see ahead, bigs truck need a really wide berth . 

Its driving around town that can be a bit difficult, you have to pull out of parking spaces blind most of the time, barriers have already been covered but theres also the danger that your eyes won't exactly be on the road when theres a lovely pair of legs 1ft away from you walking along the pavement  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Why not get a 16v and turbo it  :cool:
http://www.venommotorsports.com/libraryforcedinduction.asp
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 27 March 2006, 23:23
Thanks for the advice... I dont have a problem getting one now.. Still need a drive though..

Its not about the speed for me.. Its more of the ultimate Mk2 Classic, Ive always wanted a Rallye, owned a couple of MK's in the past and feel now the only thing that can better them is a Rallye...

I WANT A RALLYE  :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: Mk1Mad J - 16v on 27 March 2006, 23:26

I WANT A RALLYE  :grin:
Quote


If you want rally then rally you must have  :cool: :wink:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: martinb on 28 March 2006, 11:56
apart from whats already been mentioned the only real problems i had when i had my lhd polo was i kept punching the door when a went to change gear with the wrong hand when i first got it and a few occasions when i got in the wrong side and then had to pretend to be looking for something in the glovebox in a dismal attempt to avoid looking like a muppet!!  :embarassed:  :laugh:

Soon got used to driving it though and i thought it was quite good fun!

LHD's cost more to insure though.....

 :smiley:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: martinb on 28 March 2006, 11:57
oh and i want a rallye too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 28 March 2006, 12:46
http://www.mobile.de/SIDhOGwK-zTY5brXlaR4P2mAQ-t-vaNexlCsAsCsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB11LsearchPublicJ1143549157A2LsearchPublicD1100CCarX-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1A1B20B27%81R-t-vCaMiMkMoQuSeUnVb_X_Y_x_ysO~BSRA6D1100B14E25200Cg60BEGCPKWA1HinPublicA2A0A0A0A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?sr_qual=EG&top=3&sprache=2&bereich=pkw&id=11111111202572770&

Any ideas what this ? Rallye??
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: takethefifth on 28 March 2006, 12:54
I would reckon a driver or something with a rallye body kit on...  A 90bhp rallye, you would be disapointed!  :grin:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: mk2g60syncro on 13 April 2006, 17:59
I have to admit to loving the boxed arched on the Rallye. But for me they just aint rare enough  :cool:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 13 April 2006, 18:10
A rallye aint Rare enough.. Are u complete mad  :tongue:

Maybe its where u live.. Ive only ever seen 2 on the roads.. One of them was one i went to see to buy the other was just one passing me..

Thats pretty rare!
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: illyun on 13 April 2006, 18:11
Nah... to me the Raylle looks like a Mk2 with a nasty bodykit.  I prefer my G60 Syncro - much more subtle and discreet, except when you put your foot down and all hell breaks loose  :evil:
Title: Re: Owning a LHD car... Pros / Cons
Post by: knobby on 13 April 2006, 18:15
a couple of Golf noobs maybe  :grin:

See i never liked the Rallye, thought the same as you.. They grow on you though.. with age and Mk2 experience  :smug: