Right Hand Drive Cars

[automaton 3]

I've had a fair bit of experience with RHD in Australia and Ireland. You do get used to it quite quickly. I found shifting was no problem, but the damn turn signal lever was on the wrong side and kept hitting the wipers.

As for driving one in Canada, it seems silly to me...in particular on 2 lane roads, trying to pass would be adventurous to say the least.

[Antithesis]

I'll admit that my opinion here doesn't have a lot of factual or statistical background but the whole concept seems needlessly dangerous to me. Our road and traffic system is built around the driver being on the left side. It really seems to me to be a case of people going "Look at me! I'm special! I have something different!" ... like fotze's example with the names. Not to mention whenever I pass by these cars it always seems to be some ######-looking guy with frosted tips and layers of popped collars.

[StealthOiler]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I dont see how its not justified. Making left turns on a solid green is dangerous, and passing on a two lane highway is impossible. Given the demographic most likely to buy these cars its probably not a false statistic.

It's not justified because they've completely made up the statistics. For example, ICBC has even been caught using North American LHD cars in their accident reports and representing them as RHD imports.

They're also using ALL insurance claims to build the foundation of their reports. This means that a RHD import that was hit in a parking lot has been used to up their tally of RHD vehicles "causing accidents".

You would think that the two examples you provided would indicate a higher rise in accidents, but the real numbers don't indicate that at all. Plus you have to consider the intangibles (ie. I would argue that most people who import RHD vehicles are enthusiasts are better drivers than a lot of the LHD people in this country). No fact here, just an assumption on my part.

Just so you guys know I'm not pulling things out of my butt:



That's a binder full of statistics from the ICBC report. As I recall, the highlighted parts contain serious flaws (such as a LHD vehicle being used in the report).

[4X4]

I never even thought about how hellish it would be to pass on a highway.

One thing's for sure: I'll never buy a RHD car unless I live in a country like Japan, Australia, or England.

[Hack&Lube]

When I was in highschool, I thought this was the coolest thing, dreaming of the days when I could late model 90s Silvias and FD3S's and SW20s, etc. but now as I'm older it seems kind of dumb.

I would totally love a Mitsubishi Evo IV Rally though.



For those Calgary winters...

[FlamesKickAss]

the insurance co I work for wont offer physical damage for these vehicles because its not possible to get a proper value, can only get liability insurance. I would never buy one and think it is dangerous on our roads

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Im surprised how many junky vans and utility trucks have made the voyage.. Honestly whats the fascination with a hideous 20 year old mitsubishi van?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by valo403

My point? That just because something is manufactured elsewhere doesn't mean it fails to meet Canadian standards.

My point, because it's not crash tested here we don't know if it does meet Canadian standards. Therefore get it the F off my roads unless you're willing to spring for 2 extra vehicles to crash test first.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Nuje

Fair enough about the safety standards of some countries.

But I refuse to buy the argument that a car deemed safe by European Union, or Japanese standards, isn't capable of safely driving on our roads.

As far as daytime running lights....c'mon. Those can be installed on any vehicle, and if that's a law in Canada (which it is, for any 1990 or later model year vehicle) then equipping your car with it should be mandatory.

I'm not even talking about RHD specifically. What about cars from Europe? I wouldn't mind importing, say, a Renault Clio V6. While I can't afford it, it's foolish that I wouldn't have the choice if I did. Or what if someone moves here from Europe? While importing your car is not the logical choice, for an enthusiast, it's the only choice. For a car fanatic, it would be like telling someone that they can't take art from their house when they move here.

While I appreciate your point that Japanese and Euro safety standards should be pretty good, they are still made for the roads in those countries, not ours. Obviously RHD isn't as safe as LHD in Canada. I don't think I need to argue that one.

As for your V6 Clio, Europe is a place that isn't crawling with pickup trucks. Bumper heights are different, highway barricade standards are different, traffic light heights are different, sign heights, road compounds, all of it. There are just too many factors to blindly trust the safety standards of many countries besides the US.

[Rjcsjc62]

I think that I would go totally crazy if I were the front seat passenger in one of these. I imagine that I would be constantly kicking the floor boards and reaching up for a wheel.

[Hevishot]

As someone who has worked on his fair share of these RHD cars most of them are in pretty rough shape. To get parts is a nighmare even when you talk to a "supplier" .But if your willing to pay a little more you can usually get one thats not completely full of body filler and unsafe welds. Ive seen more than a few of these cars that should have fallen outta the Sea-Can and into the ocean but are driving on our roads. Just because you put lipstick on a pig doesnt make it pretty.

[Nuje]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

While I appreciate your point that Japanese and Euro safety standards should be pretty good, they are still made for the roads in those countries, not ours. Obviously RHD isn't as safe as LHD in Canada. I don't think I need to argue that one.

Nope. I'll entertain an argument about the RHD. It's definitely not my preference, and I don't see myself driving any 'wrong-hand drives' in my life deliberately. I believe that they can be more unsafe, and it all depends on the driver. It's not ideal, but as a driver, you should know that you should exercise the most extreme caution when passing, and use patience when turning left, regardless of any road-rager that may be behind you.

The unfortunate part is, the demographic buying many of these cars, aren't the best drivers for that application. I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers were sort of bad, but I believe that if those same kids were driving domestically available cars, they'd be just as likely to get into a stupid crash.

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

As for your V6 Clio, Europe is a place that isn't crawling with pickup trucks. Bumper heights are different, highway barricade standards are different, traffic light heights are different, sign heights, road compounds, all of it. There are just too many factors to blindly trust the safety standards of many countries besides the US.

Heard this one before. The biggest problem here would be pickup trucks, but no small car you can buy here will fare well against them. As far as all of the other different stuff, I've never heard of anybody in Europe preventing importation of North American cars, citing anything of that sort. They have you retrofit the lighting to EU standards, and that's about it.

I believe that the only reason they have any laws to prevent importing of foreign vehicles is because the car companies want to make more money. Ultimately, it's a very similar argument that comes up here often concerning the CRTC, and their sim-subbing of Superbowl commercials, and various blackouts for various reasons. An organization paid for by our tax dollars, exists only to force us to spend more money, by making it illegal for us to go elsewhere with our business.

If they were to allow any EU approved cars in Canada, even if they threw a LHD only rule on it, I don't imagine that any safety issues would arise. This is a RHD only problem that exists (and the government is exaggerating), yet they're attempting to ban all imports newer than 25 years old as a result. That's wrong.

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Bump...I'd rather resurrect this thread, than start a new one.

Has anyone on CP imported a car from Japan? I am in a position where I can get one of my dream cars, and it is only available in the JDM as a RHD.

If anyone has any advice to impart, I would be grateful.

TIA

[getbak]

A couple of weeks ago, as I was sitting at a red light waiting to make a right hand turn, someone in a RHD car drove past and he had a dog sitting in the left seat.

Freaked the hell out out of me.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

When I was in highschool, I thought this was the coolest thing, dreaming of the days when I could late model 90s Silvias and FD3S's and SW20s, etc. but now as I'm older it seems kind of dumb.

I would totally love a Mitsubishi Evo IV Rally though.



For those Calgary winters...

So I've seen a few of my dream cars from my high school days is actually in Calgary, but the guy wants almost $11,000 for a 15 year old car?
Ouch.

I'd want it in White with Rally trim and decals.

http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...AdIdZ350348033

I wouldn't drive a RHD car anyway, it's too weird. I think they had a few LHD models in Europe though.

[Northendzone]

it would also seem weird to have the wife lean over from the left - as I am used to her coming from the right........

I'd never buy one, but I'd like to try driving one.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

it would also seem weird to have the wife lean over from the left - as I am used to her coming from the right........

I'd never buy one, but I'd like to try driving one.

Wives can be difficult to drive, it just takes practice.

[onetwo_threefour]

nvm... didn't see how old the earlier posts were

[Erick Estrada]

Only in Canada would we gladly accept cars from the junkyards of Japan to be used on our streets. Sure once in a while you can find one in good shape but most of them are pure garbage with the odometers turned back. Nothing better than a kid talking up his low mileage 40,000 km Skyline then you ask him about the seats that look so worn out they would look too worn out in a 250,000 km car.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

When I was in highschool, I thought this was the coolest thing, dreaming of the days when I could late model 90s Silvias and FD3S's and SW20s, etc. but now as I'm older it seems kind of dumb.

I would totally love a Mitsubishi Evo IV Rally though.



For those Calgary winters...

I always wanted an EVO myself so I bought one. A 2008 EVO X MR the first time they were available in Canada. It was a fun car and I still kind of miss it but I'm getting too old for hardcore cars like that.