[Aqualung]

I just got to the UK yesterday and hopped into my hired car (no, not a MINI). I found the transition pretty easy, I haven't driven over here in 15 years or so (and even then, not extensively).....drove around Maidenhead, Wokingham, & Windsor and then down to Stonehenge (about an hour southwest). I find the roadways well marked, and the roundabouts well designed.

I think the biggest drawback to a RHD in the US or vice versa would be trying to get in/out of gated things, in addition to toll booths as was mentioned previously. Tho' w/ the MINI it's fairly easy to lean over ;-)

[seneville]

Quote: Originally Posted by BruceK

The only thing that is completely weird to me is driving an older RHD car that still has the turn signal lever at the 3 o'clock position. Apparently, some time in the late 1970's and early 1980's most car manufacturers began building only one kind of steering column for both LHD and RHD cars they made: one that had the turn signal lever at 9 o'clock. Must have made manufacturing sense to just make one part, and it seems most of the RHD world has adapted over time. When I restored my classic 1965 Mini about 6 years ago, I kept it as RHD (would have been easy enough to switch to LHD had I want to do so), but I made sure I changed the turn signal from the 3 to 9 o'clock positions to keep my sanity intact.

Bruce,

i have almost the same setup as you (2004 mcs, 1964 morris saloon) and i do have a problem with the blinkers. Sometimes when i'm switching back and forth i'll be in the new car and turn on the wipers when i want to turn. It's a little embarassing with others in the car. The shifting for me isn't too difficult as i'm left handed so shifting with my left doesn't really seem to awkward.

|sn

[BruceK]

Quote: Originally Posted by seneville

Bruce,

i have almost the same setup as you (2004 mcs, 1964 morris saloon) and i do have a problem with the blinkers. Sometimes when i'm switching back and forth i'll be in the new car and turn on the wipers when i want to turn. It's a little embarassing with others in the car. The shifting for me isn't too difficult as i'm left handed so shifting with my left doesn't really seem to awkward.

|sn

I know exactly what that's like. If you get bored, you can easily change out the turn signal switch on your old Mini by flipping the switch around to the other side of the steering column and rotating the black plastic column covers (got to love old BMC simplicity!). I remember that I also drilled all they way through the existing hole in the column and tapped the other side of the hole for the little screw that flicks the turn signal switch off after completing a turn. Took all of 10 minutes to do, and as I said, it keeps me sane when switching between MiNiS.