American Shite! Chevy Impala 3.8 V6 (Calling Eddy!)

[dollywobbler]

Overtaking is the big problem. Around here, it'd be tractors or buses at a stop. Had a horrible moment in the H van when I lived in Cambs trying to overtake a tractor. Massively long straight, but I couldn't see around the tractor unless I swerved onto the wrong side of the road first. Not fun!

 

That said, I've done a lot of miles in LHD vehicles, and there's only that incident and overtaking a stopped bus in Birmingham in an Acadiane that I can remember it being a problem.

[Pete-M]

I've never had a problem (other than toll booths and car park barriers) in a LHD car over here, and I've probably done 40k miles in LHD stuff.

 

The visibility issue is normally solved by driving slightly differently. Sit further back from the car in front and gauge overtaking stunts carefully and it is as easy as in a RHD car. It's the same way that Traffic Dibble are trained to do it, just that in a LHD car you need an extra half a cars length gap to make up for sitting on the other side.

 

I ran my trusty LHD Golf Mk2 GTi 8v for about 18 months without any problems other than pay booths etc. Mersey Tunnel pay booths were never an issue, wind down passengers window and chuck the money in. Job done.

[eddyramrod]

I have many years of LHD behind me (obviously, if you look at my car history ) and must agree with Pete. American cars are no problem: sit further back from the car in front and use the kickdown and prodigious torque to get you past. Having had some on holiday though, I can say confidently that I don't like the combination of LHD and manual gears (but as you know, I prefer automatic anyway). I do find it hard to adjust to changing gear with the "wrong" hand.

[gtd2000]

 

Very true I can remember banging my left hand off the doors of Land Rovers during my early BAOR days...

 

I'm pretty much "vehicularly ambidextrous " these days and it makes no difference to me.

 

I still prefer RHD even after driving on the "wrong" side of the road for a longer time.

[wuvvum]

The ABS light fault WILL fail the UK MOT. Good reason to beat the price down!

 

Swap the ABS light for the airbag light.

 

RONG. As of 01/01/12, airbag warning lights must function according to Manufacturer's spec, if airbag fitted.

True, but I rather doubt the VOSA charts will list the manufacturer's specs for the ABS and airbag warning lights on an '02 Impala, so it might be possible to get a little bit creative...

 

Re LHD - I used the Innocenti as my daily for about 18 months and never really had any issues with overtaking or owt - to be fair it is a fair bit narrower than an Impala but then on the flip side it has less than a sixth of the power. I've had various bigger '70s and '80s Yanks over the years too and you soon get used to being sat in the gutter.

[Felly Magic]

You will find that they will probably be pictograms, so dead easy to spot and fail sadly.

[504GL]

The ABS light fault WILL fail the UK MOT. Good reason to beat the price down!

 

Will it? OUr Subaru has gone through an MOT or two with it on. Just asking