A guide to choosing right hand drive cars

Right hand drive cars can make for an interesting choice if you fancy something a little different from all your neighbours. It opens up a new range of cars that are simply not available in the United States. If you're thinking of investing your cash in one of these as a weekend or a daily driver, here's a short guide to help you out.

Where do they come from?

Let's get one thing straight from the outset, right hand drive cars do not originate in mainland Europe. These cars come from Great Britain, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand to name just a few places, but not continental Europe. If you want a car to keep at the ski lodge in Austria, then it's going to be a left hooker.

What are the differences?

Well, clearly the main difference is that the steering wheel is on the other side. That's not where it ends, though. They have headlamps that dip in the opposite direction, so you're going to need to fit converters to stop you from dazzling oncoming traffic. The direction flashers are amber-coloured, so you may be infringing state laws if you keep them. Suspension One thing that you might find hard to live with, is the suspension. It is set up in a far more sporting fashion. This is common to all European cars, so you may have come across it elsewhere, but it is hard when compared to the touring spec on most US models. Engine management Engine management is another issue with imported cars. They don't have the smog kit fitted to cars in the US and they also tend to be tuned for a higher octane unleaded petrol mix. You might find that you need to add an octane booster in order to avoid engine damage or to extract the makers claimed performance.

What about converting?

Difficulties encountered If you buy a right hand drive car, then you're going to notice that driving it in a left hand drive country takes a bit more concentration. Passing traffic will be harder because you won't be able to see past the obstructions. You'll also have to deal with the gear stick being on the other side, it'll be more likely a manual box as well. Car conversion So, if you love the car, but hate the driving position, what can you do? Well, if money is no object you can opt to have a car conversion. A respected specialist will be able to carry out the work required to change it over. There is a lot of work, though. You have to alter the dash, steering rack, even the engine mountings on some cars, so expect a big bill.