How long to learn to drive stick shift again - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TX76513 · #1 05-25-2004, 04:22 PM

I bet there would be a learning curve (at least for those on this side of the pond)

G-Benz · #2 05-25-2004, 04:39 PM

I can drive a stick...the right-hand drive would be my downfall there!

What model MB is that?

TX76513 · #3 05-25-2004, 04:43 PM

04 Vito (soccer mom mobile)

Just tried to visualize the left hand shift idea - let alone the right hand drive which would be another issue:p

schwarzwagen · #4 05-25-2004, 04:53 PM

I wish Britain would just admit defeat and convert over to LHD. There will come a time when manufacturers are not going to want to make specific cars for the RHD market. Margins are getting more squeezed by the minute...

I hear ya narwhal on the clutch part. One side of the brain doing both tasks; could get messy.

TX76513 · #5 05-25-2004, 04:55 PM

Guess I would give it a try.........never been in an accident in England

yal · #6 05-25-2004, 06:37 PM

Actually driving RHD stick is easier than you think because everything that could confuse you is in the same place. For example the gears are all in the same place and the clutch is in the same place.
The only adjustment you really have to make is shifting with the left hand, remembering that you are going the opposite direction on the 'right' side of the road, and that you are on the right side of the car (you would be suprised how easy it is to forget this).
The first thing that REALLY throws you is the mirrors, all of them! I drove like I had no mirrors for the first few days I drove my sisters car, she lives in London.

Britain won't switch over until the rest of its x colonies do, and even then the English will keep at it. Right now they have a lot of company, South Africa, Japan , Kenya and Australia to name a few.

jjl · #7 05-25-2004, 08:57 PM

Seems normal to me..YOU guys need to change to rhd!

Since most people are right-eyed, it makes sense to drive on the left - easier for overtaking (passing).

chazola · #8 05-25-2004, 09:10 PM

here here! hehe.

I still go to get in on the right-side of my car sometimes... old habits die hard.

I didn't find adapting to driving on the right that hard, more the wheel being on the left. I still look over my left shoulder when I reverse though.
Shifting with my right hand still feels less natural than with the left for some reason, even though I'm right-handed.

crash9 · #9 05-25-2004, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yal

The first thing that REALLY throws you is the mirrors, all of them! I drove like I had no mirrors for the first few days I drove my sisters car, she lives in London.

Lived outside of Dublin for about six months. Never could feel comfortable with it. The shifting was not a problem, but you’re right about the mirrors. I always had a tendency to pass to the left – a ditch, and turning corners – tended to head to the wrong side. Just have to be very cautious, but I could just never really relax and enjoy driving.
Didn’t they start this for sword fighting right handed from a horse or something?

chazola · #10 05-25-2004, 10:04 PM

I believe it came from the idea if you passed your enemy you'd be sword-hand to sword-hand (assuming your awfully polite enemy was keeping to his side of the road too and was also right-handed). If he was from France he'd be riding on the wrong side of the road though and all sorts of troubles would ensue, namely shouting about 'silly English k-niggets' and catupulting livestock at you.

The Warden · #11 05-25-2004, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by chazola
If he was from France he'd be riding on the wrong side of the road though and all sorts of troubles would ensue, namely shouting about 'silly English k-niggets' and catupulting livestock at you.

Your mother was a hamster! ...and your father smelled of elderberries!

#12 05-26-2004, 03:58 AM

thank god mines an auto, but reaching for the ladyfriend could be rather funny....I'd keep sticking my hand out the window...hehehe
hopefully not to bang my hand into the window....for when I forget to roll down the window....

wbain5280 · #13 05-26-2004, 06:52 AM

Like riding a bicycle. RHD does not compute.

TX76513 · #14 05-26-2004, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wbain5280
Like riding a bicycle. RHD does not compute.

With that said then in England you would peddle a bicycle backwards to go forwards

chazola · #15 05-26-2004, 10:12 AM

yea, don't you know we all peddle backwards? get to places much faster that way.

trust me- you get used to switching sides.

Strangely, I've heard more stories of Americans going to Ireland/UK and getting in accidents than the other way around, so maybe switching to the right is harder than the left, or maybe these people have been trying to negotiate remembering how to drive a manual and... doh!