Driving a LHD Stratos in the UK

[ProtoTipo]

'Not for me personally, but I was discussing this with Ken T. the other day.

Just how much of a pain is it, driving a LHD Stratos on British roads?


NOTE:
I don't want to discuss why there would be a preference for LHD, or not.

[john]

It's a pain when you are on your own!
Emerging from t junctions for one example. Especially with harness on when you cant even dodge forward for a better side view.
Odd positioning helps but confuses other road users.
I got severe and sustained abuse once when positioned right at a tee but signalling left. I think it was motivated by the little green eyed God though.

[Strat Fan]

'Not for me personally, but I was discussing this with Ken T. the other day.

Just how much of a pain is it, driving a LHD Stratos on British roads?


.
Not a big deal at all IMHO, I 've probably done more miles in LHD cars on the UK roads than in RHD now and I think there are advantages to driving the LHD version.
Cons of LHD-
Visibility up the road when turning left at a junction- (solution, simply pull up to the junction in a more perpendicular fashion rather than at 45 degrees)
Seeing past the car in front to overtake- (solution, plan the overtake from farther back or don't get too close to the vehicle in front in the first place)

Pro's of LHD-
Better field of view driving forwards- the RH A pillar doesn't intrude in to your field of vision and you can see all traffic coming the other way.
Better feel for where the side of the road is, especially on a country road with a wide arch Gp4 rear

[Guy Mayers]

Not a big deal at all IMHO, I 've probably done more miles in LHD cars on the UK roads than in RHD now and I think there are advantages to driving the LHD version.
Cons of LHD-
Visibility up the road when turning left at a junction- (solution, simply pull up to the junction in a more perpendicular fashion rather than at 45 degrees)
Seeing past the car in front to overtake- (solution, plan the overtake from farther back or don't get too close to the vehicle in front in the first place)

Pro's of LHD-
Better field of view driving forwards- the RH A pillar doesn't intrude in to your field of vision and you can see all traffic coming the other way.
Better feel for where the side of the road is, especially on a country road with a wide arch Gp4 rear

Pro's
less of a blind spot on the offiside if you can swivel your head enough to look through the back window.

Con's
Having to get out to pay tolls on the Mersey Tunnels or Midland Expressway..

Learning
To approach left turns to give you enough of a view.
That the rear view mirror isn't up and left anymore (which explains why you keep looking at that part of the car....) and the gearlever is to the right, not in the doorbin.
To get in the right side and not having to fake "looking for something" when you open the other door.

Converting (Hawk Specific)
Footwell is narrower on the left side of a RHD car so get used to driving in narrow footwear.
Rear bulkhead and upper seat belt mounts need moving across the car ideally.

Guy

[STR_Strat]

I did a road trip through Holland, France and Germany last year using mainly minor roads but with some motorways in a RHD LB, no issues other than as Guy stated having to get out at the toll booths.
Having said that even if you were on the right side I doubt you would be able to reach high enough, the Lack of window opening tends to restrict you anyway.
I have inertia and harness belts fitted, inertia belts help a lot.
I would build LHD next time;)

Dave

[Normb666]

Had a few LHD cars - Integrales, Superformance Cobra. Not so bad once you've got your head round it and you're no longer straddling the white line (you position yourself on the road where you'd normally be, leaving half the car on the wrong side...!)
Got pulled once in Widnes in the dark (definitely the best time to visit) cos the nice policeman thought I didn't appear to be paying attention. Of course he'd been watching my passenger and got a bit of a surprise when I got out of the nearside ;)

And a definite pro - it's great for kerb-crawling ;) :)

[ChrisC]

McDonald's is a nightmare.:)

[ProtoTipo]

McDonald's is a nightmare.:)

Yes I know Chris, but are there any drawbacks with a LHD Stratos?:D:D:D:p;)

[ProtoTipo]

Thanks everyone for the replies.
There's quite a few things I would never have thought of there.

I'm definitely going RHD, but there's certainly food for thought for Ken?

[renmure]

When I told my car fanatic mates I was having my car built LHD they said I was daft.
That may or may not be relevant to the LHD thing tho.
Mates eh! Pah.

[westonTB]

Love LHD although this is based on sixteen years of integrale driving, prefer it to RHD on every level, gear change, more thought for overtaking, anonymity and as Norm says... proximity to the curb always useful:D.

[hedge]

Love LHD although this is based on sixteen years of integrale driving, prefer it to RHD on every level, gear change, more thought for overtaking, anonymity and as Norm says... proximity to the curb always useful:D. Couldn’t agree more. Love the LHD in the Integrale. I’ll defo be going the same for the LB.

Cheers,
Hedge

[Guy Mayers]

Couldn’t agree more. Love the LHD in the Integrale. I’ll defo be going the same for the LB.

Cheers,
Hedge

Good man! It's the way to go!
Guy