I feel like an idiot

"GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo" (jackolson)
09/10/2013 at 23:24 • Filed to: Revelation

I never realized that RHD cars manual gearboxes have the same pattern as a LHD, I always thought they were reversed. MIND BLOWN.

Huge-ass wallpaper link (new link):

DISCUSSION (23)

OttoMaddox > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:27

Is the order of the pedals reversed?

Seat Safety Switch > OttoMaddox
09/10/2013 at 23:29

No, but the turn signal and wiper stalks usually are.

Screws me up every time .

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > OttoMaddox
09/10/2013 at 23:29

AFAIK they're not...and judging from this photo they aren't.

Kinja'd!!!

oddhammer > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:31

(Sheepishly) Thanks for answering that definitively. Always thought so, but wasn't ever sure...

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Seat Safety Switch
09/10/2013 at 23:34

Yeah. My buddy brought an AE86 back from Japan with him when he got out of the Marines. Pedals and shift pattern are the same, but turn signals are not.

nobody > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:36

When I was in England I specifically looked for a stick shift parked on the side of the road to try to figure this out.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
09/10/2013 at 23:37

I don't think the turn signal would bother me much because my Dads TR4A has the overdrive selector where the turn signal is on my car. So like the first 3 times I try indicating I put the thing in overdrive when I get to drive it.

phenotyp > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:38

Lemme tell you, when the first time you drive a RHD car is backing factory-fresh cars off a train car, where the cars are six to a train car on two levels, it is not fun. Especially when the first knuckle of your left hand was caught in a train door, and is now the size of a fat cherry tomato, but you don't want anyone to know.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig
09/10/2013 at 23:40

makes sense to have the turn signal stalk for the hand that isn't changing gears.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > nobody
09/10/2013 at 23:41

Now I'm slightly afraid to drive a RHD car because I think instinctively I would try to start with the gear closest to me.

Also I can't see the link, can you guys?

nobody > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:44

I would definitely accidentally open the door.

I can't see the link. Try embedding it using the embed tool in the toolbar up there ^^

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > nobody
09/10/2013 at 23:55

Link to the 2500x whatever pixel photo wasn't working so I used a different 1600 x 1000px link...seems to work.

ASheep > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/10/2013 at 23:56

It depends on the make/model. Most Euro cars have the indicator stalk on the left, wipers on the right, even in RHD cars. I spent the first few days of driving my golf turning the wipers on every corner...

Most Japanese cars swap the stalks when they convert, Aussie domestic cars (RHD) have the indicators on the right.

zachaput > Seat Safety Switch
09/11/2013 at 01:13

When I drive my S2000 after driving my Mini I'll go for the turn signal and hit the wipers.

Bird > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 03:08

I can't find any info as to why, but the Prince Skyline 2000gt I took these photos of has a reverse shift pattern. I haven't done a ton of research into it yet. I'm hoping to find out why, and if it was common on vintage Japanese race cars.

Kinja'd!!!

WankelWoeter > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 03:10

As an owner of both a RHD and LHD car I'm happy that the gearbox pattern and pedals are the same. Both cars wouldn't have survived long if they didn't.

The turn-signal/wiper-stalk revers can be annoying sometimes. Strangely though, I never get it wrong in the Rx-7 (RHD), even though I don't drive that on a daily basis. It's usually when I get back in the 206 that I operate the wipers when I approach a corner.

Josh Welton > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 08:17

Speaking of the wiper/signal stalks.....this is gonna sound stupid, but when I spend a lot of time on a fork lift I end up screwing up when I get back in my truck or car. On fork lifts the forward/reverse lever is usually on the side of the steering column. So I'll hop in my truck to go home, and instead of moving the shift knob into place I'll flip the turn signal down and think I'm putting it in reverse. I've done this more times than I'd like to admit.

timateo81 > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 08:38

It doesn't take long to figure things out. Feels a lot like the first time all over again.

Just did a quick google and surprised to learn that most of world is RHD; was pretty much assuming that 'Merica was the only RHD, much like the metric system (only different).

Rory > Seat Safety Switch
09/11/2013 at 08:58

Some Japanese and Korean cars tend to have the signal stalks and wiper controls but 90% of RHD cars have the same control layouts as LHD cars.
My Mothers Hyundai has backwards stalks and it is so frustrating.

Rory > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 09:00

I drive both LHD and RHD on a daily basis. Thank god they use the same controls. One thing that surprises me is that the ignition barrel on any LHD or RHD car I have had has always been on the same side.

Slave2anMG > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
09/11/2013 at 10:11

504 Peugeot - ignition switch on left. Multistalk for lights/wipers on left; includes high beams. Turn signal on right...which you pull toward you for horn. Not as weird to use as you might think.

I've driven rentals in the UK...hardest thing at first is shifting with left hand. Second hardest thing is keeping left in parking lots or roads without center lines...

Justino6969 > Josh Welton
09/11/2013 at 16:40

Don't worry, I've done the exact same thing on several occasions. I also go to tilt the forks off the ground when I start the car.

Josh Welton > Justino6969
09/11/2013 at 16:43

HA!