Left, right, left, right........it's simple.
 

Just a little reminder, when you are describing a side of your car, or the location of components, always view from the driver's seat, or standing behind the car. ;)
You might impress people, knowing left from right. :D

P.S. I only posted this to get my count to 500. ;)

When describing engine components, we Yanks like to face the motor from the front and describe that way... ;) ...although describing locations as "passenger" and "driver's" side leaves no room for confusion.

Then again, we never did embrace the metric system did we?

If the good Lord had wanted us to use the metric system, he would have given us ten fingers....

Wes

Heh, tell that to a Brit!! ;)

I didn't know there is a left & right in metric. ;)
Could you elaborate ?

If you land lubbers used port an' starboard there would be no confusion at all - would there? - me 'arties - aye Jim lad etc etc!

Manny -

I was referring to G-benz comment, " Then again, we never did embrace the metric system, did we?"

I've never figured out metric revolution per minute myself.

By the way, congrats on the 500 posts.

Cheers,
Wes

I've never heard that Yanks name the sides of the car while standing at the front facing the engine. I have always been told left/right is determined from the drivers seat.

Same for river banks for boaters.

Now I know how to find my right or left
Now how do you differentiate between up and down???

jackd

Another variation.......
 

I believe rferencing to the passenger or driver side is probably the most unambiguous regardless of RHD/LHD make.

Anyone heard of the use of "nearside" and "farside" which I encountered in the UK. If I am not wrong, it refers to the side nearest and furthest from the pavement assuming the car is correctly faced on the correct side of the road......or is it the other way round?!:confused: :confused:

I think the best way to go is to think about who you're talking to first. If it's an american, just say driver or passenger. If they're british or whatever, say left or right. If they're a Star Trek fan or something, or have spent most of their lives at sea as in navy service, use port and starboard.

Or you could just play it safe and be more elaborate. For example, just tell everyone "left looking from back" or "the side closer to the wall in Daytona" (this would be the right side). You get the idea.

Of course, you could always do what I do and keep a micromachine in your pocket so you can SHOW them what side you're talking about ;) .

It's nearside and offside to be precise. Nearside is the side nearest the roadside, ie the left sitting in the car. Offside is the side nearest the centre of the road.

It's mostly the police that use these terms, I suppose to get round the left/right confusion illustrated in this thread!

How about Port and Starbord:p


My mother bought a pair of socks for my brother when he was spending time on a boat that said "Port" and "Starbord." I pointed out that now he had to put his socks on the right foot:eek:

How many more ways are there, to make a simple thing complicated ?
:D

'Up' a street is towards uptown, or uphill if it applies. Conversely for 'down'. 'Lock up' is what you normally do to secure your vehicle. 'Lock down' is what your vehicle does if your security has the 'trap-the-perp' option.

Steve