autojack Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 I'm going to be moving to Melbourne from the US next year and I'll be bringing my US spec 1988 911 with me. If you have an LHD car, I'm interested in hearing about your experience driving it on the left. I'm aware that drive through windows and car parks will require some clever thinking. Will I get comfortable enough to daily drive it?Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 I've got one. I don't find it difficult at all to adapt to driving a LHD car here. It is a personal thing I guess but there's a few of us who regularly drive LHD cars without a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James P Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 LHD is not a problem here in OZ you don't even notice it after a while, all my current P cars are LHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Okrasa Kid Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 The Kid has two LHD rides.Like Gut I don't have any problems driving a left hooker in Oz.On another note bring lots of Porsche goodies with you when you return.I lived in New York 15 years ago and on our departure went a little bonkers in the P car departmentBrought back a 1962 356 Roadster, assorted engines, gearboxes, seats, etc etc.Stuff is expensive here and there's freight and GST to contend with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByronBayChris Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 I also have two lhd porsches. Once i worked out the lane positioning, it Was easy. It took me around 200 metres to be comfortable.Exxept for carpark check in boom gates. you will need to buy a plastic toy robot arm..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airhead Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 When overtaking on a two lane road don't have an ambitious passenger calling for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Awesome. You can chat to other drivers at the lights , and other benefits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KGB Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 It feels like someone else is driving it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeM Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 You can chat to other drivers at the lights I found that VERY strange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turboT Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 been driving my LHD as a daily for the last couple of months. I have now lost the ability to judge tight Left corners and gutter my Aussie RS4 whenever I get into it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skidmarks Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 I'm going to be moving to Melbourne from the US next year and I'll be bringing my US spec 1988 911 with me. If you have an LHD car, I'm interested in hearing about your experience driving it on the left. I'm aware that drive through windows and car parks will require some clever thinking. Will I get comfortable enough to daily drive it?Thanks!Piece of p*ss. Ive got a few that are socialist and it's no drama. And if you ever want to sell the thing, you've got a world market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBGr4 Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Congratulations on the move to Australia ! Ditto to all of the above comments about LHD and particularly the world market, having sent one to the US its totally viable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC 3.2 Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Plus the fact LHD is much more comfortable from a physical point of view than a RHD 911 with their strange pedal positioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autojack Posted 4December, 2016 Author Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Plus the fact LHD is much more comfortable from a physical point of view than a RHD 911 with their strange pedal positioning.Interesting, never heard this before. What's strange about the positioning? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911sies Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Interesting, never heard this before. What's strange about the positioning?Here's an old thread from Pistonheads discussing it. Pistonheads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonN Posted 4December, 2016 Report Share Posted 4December, 2016 Interesting, never heard this before. What's strange about the positioning?Nothing really, but the LHD fanboys like to point out that on rhd cars, there is a little offset of the seat/wheel/pedals. Most don't even notice it and there are cars that are far worse. There are 4 downsides to lhd cars. (started the thread with 2 and it became a "what have the Romans done for us" type of escalation!)1. Overtaking - you have to hang back further to see around the vehicle ahead and on tight roads, it can be pain. I have done this both with a rhd car in Europe and lhd car in the UK and for me, this is the biggest downer of the lot. In the mountains in Europe, it makes the difference between being able to pass busses, trucks etc or being held up. How much of a problem it is in Oz? not sure.2. Barrier gates - yes, you can always try reversing! I would love to drive through Macca's backwards!3. As Tom says, jumping from rhd to lhd regularly can be an issue. I used to do it, but some hate it.4. When selling, the market in Oz is very, very limited. In many cases, lhd cars sell for less than ones converted to rhd. You might even do better to export the car to sell it.On the plus side1. The cars are cheap. It is a good way into Porsche ownership at a reasonable price.2. Driving position (maybe )3. Individuality - in Japan, where most cars are lhd, driving a rhd car is a way of expressing your individuality with some serious status to those who do it. i think the same applies a bit over here.4. The look on other drivers faces when they don't see somebody in the "drivers" seat!5. Not sure if this is an advantage, but if you do get stopped by the Police, seeing them walk to the wrong side of teh car to speak to you is always good value and I found it was actually an ice breaker as they become more interested in lhd than what they originally stopped you for (at least in the UK!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 5December, 2016 Report Share Posted 5December, 2016 2. Barrier gates - yes, you can always try reversing! I would love to drive through Macca's backwards!2. Driving position (maybe )3. Individuality - in Japan, where most cars are lhd, driving a rhd car is a way of expressing your individuality with some serious status to those who do it. i think the same applies a bit over here.2, Easy. Extendable mirror stick + clamp + parking card , whatever. (selfie stick , whatever they are) Or you lean over, unless you are a midget!2. If you wear jackboots or similar stylish urban wear , you can come unstuck in the heat of the downshift moment in a RHD version. Very dangerous!Plus nowhere to rest the left foot on long drives.3. My understanding is that LHD = "euro" , thus more prestigious. Maybe things have changed since last century? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autojack Posted 7December, 2016 Author Report Share Posted 7December, 2016 Thanks a lot for all the replies, I'm feeling more confident now! I understand that I'm going to have to switch my headlights to ones that aim left rather than right. Any tips on how to go about that? Just buy a set of appropriate ones when I get there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tazzieman Posted 8December, 2016 Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 Just buy a set of appropriate ones when I get there?Seems like a good idea, unless you can get them cheaper overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
privatepang Posted 8December, 2016 Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 Thanks a lot for all the replies, I'm feeling more confident now! I understand that I'm going to have to switch my headlights to ones that aim left rather than right. Any tips on how to go about that? Just buy a set of appropriate ones when I get there?You actually only have to swap the lenses and not the whole headlight. I did this when I brought my ex oregan car back from Vancouver. No issues.From memory i bought my lenses from 911uk and they were fairly cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANF Posted 8December, 2016 Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 Depending on where you intend to move to, you will most likely have to wait until the car is 30 years old (ie 2018) before you can register/ use it LHD is Aus. You will also need new tyres and may be other small stuff as well. Good luck with the move! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autojack Posted 8December, 2016 Author Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 Depending on where you intend to move to, you will most likely have to wait until the car is 30 years old (ie 2018) before you can register/ use it LHD is Aus. You will also need new tyres and may be other small stuff as well. Good luck with the move!New tires? I hadn't heard that before. I believe I also have to certify that the A/C refrigerant has been removed, but naturally that has all leaked off already In Victoria it has to be 30 years old to register an LHD car, but I confirmed with Vicroads that it's OK to import and store it until then. But also, if I join a car club, apparently I can drive it in club events before it hits 30 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve88 Posted 8December, 2016 Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 New tires? I hadn't heard that before. I believe I also have to certify that the A/C refrigerant has been removed, but naturally that has all leaked off already In Victoria it has to be 30 years old to register an LHD car, but I confirmed with Vicroads that it's OK to import and store it until then. But also, if I join a car club, apparently I can drive it in club events before it hits 30 years.We just imported two early 911`s from America . Please make sure your shipping company send though the certificate of the de-gas on the AC to the correct people . They questioned the people who de-gassed ours but the paperwork was there to prove it had been done to code . Welcome to Australia where your car will have to be pressure washed by customs as it will contain " Foreign matter toxic to the natural environment " the water which then flows down a drain into our water systems . Viva La Nanny State. P.S for RWC so far its only been headlight lenses and install lap and sash seat belts to the rear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT Posted 8December, 2016 Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 New tires? I hadn't heard that before. I believe I also have to certify that the A/C refrigerant has been removed, but naturally that has all leaked off already In Victoria it has to be 30 years old to register an LHD car, but I confirmed with Vicroads that it's OK to import and store it until then. But also, if I join a car club, apparently I can drive it in club events before it hits 30 years.you can get a club permit (up to 90 days) in VICmy car's 29 years old and on club plates LHD no probs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autojack Posted 8December, 2016 Author Report Share Posted 8December, 2016 you can get a club permit (up to 90 days) in VICmy car's 29 years old and on club plates LHD no probsCool. I'm not going to be moving until the end of September next year, and with shipping time the odds are I won't have the car ready to drive over there before year's end anyway. Then it'll be 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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