Why Choose a Left-Hand Drive Porsche?

Recently, I received this question on my blog.

Why did you choose left-hand drive for the Carrera T?
When the 911 Carrera ST was announced in 2023, I told my contact at the Porsche Center that I definitely wanted to make a reservation. Since it’s an ST, I was set on a manual transmission. I had no problem driving left-hand drive, but I thought right-hand drive would be better for everyday use in Japan. However, my Porsche Center contact said, “If you’re ordering an ST, it should be a left-hand drive manual…”
Is the driving position really that different between right and left-hand drive 911s? Considering resale value and other factors, I’d love to hear why you deliberately chose left-hand drive in Japan, even though you usually drive a right-hand drive Swift Sport.

Thank you for the question!

When I said, “If I’m buying a Carrera T, I want the manual,” my husband said, “Definitely left-hand drive, not right.”

Up until now, I had often asked about the “differences in driving (pedal) positions between right and left-hand drive,” and since many people around me drive left-hand drive cars, I just went with “Well, that makes sense~” without thinking too much, and ended up choosing left-hand drive this time (laughs).

So, I asked my husband again about the “reasons for recommending left-hand drive when buying a Porsche,” and I’d like to organize and share his thoughts here.

Why Left-Hand Drive Is Better

First, my husband said,

“If you only drive right-hand drive Porsches, you might not notice any particular issues, but from someone who’s driven both left and right, left is overwhelmingly easier to drive.“

1. The only inconveniences are “right turns,” “merging,” and “parking ticket machines”

According to him, there aren’t many situations in Japan where left-hand drive feels inconvenient. The main ones are “when making right turns, merging, and taking parking tickets at machines.” On the contrary, left-hand drive makes it easier to see if a motorcycle is coming from behind when turning left, reduces blind spots, makes it easier to edge over, and overall is easier to drive.

Also, when making right turns, depending on the road, you can angle the car just enough to better see oncoming traffic from the driver’s seat, and when merging, if you check behind early and lean out carefully, it’s manageable. (Though the Boxster’s right rear visibility is extremely poor.)

For parking tickets, some places have ticket machines designed for left-hand drive, and even if only right-hand drive machines are available, you can use a magic hand tool, so it’s not much of an issue.

2. Easier for right-handed drivers

With left-hand drive, you can operate the gear lever and center console buttons and switches with your dominant right hand, which makes things easier. While driving only right-hand drive cars doesn’t feel inconvenient, once you try left-hand drive, you’ll be surprised at how natural and easy the controls feel.

3. Your left hand doesn’t get overworked

Right-hand drive imported cars have the indicator and gear lever both on the left, so especially with manuals, your left hand gets very busy (laughs). On the other hand, with left-hand drive, your left hand handles the indicators, and your right hand operates the gear lever and buttons, so you can use both hands, making driving easier, especially when turning right or left.

4. Pedal positioning feels natural and easier to drive

Porsche’s pedal layout is designed for left-hand drive. When simply converted to right-hand drive, the pedals end up shifted to the left, which can feel awkward. (Since the right side has the tire, the pedals shift left.)

Below are photos my husband took when he drove a right-hand drive 911.

I also felt this when I borrowed a Cayenne as a loaner… at first, the pedals didn’t feel like they were where I wanted to press, which was strange. Well, you get used to it, but comparing left and right-hand drive, left feels more natural and easier to drive.

5. Limited edition models gain market value as left-hand drive

Finally, my husband said this:

It might sound a bit exaggerated, but owners of limited edition models have a responsibility to preserve them as world heritage in the future. Owners are just temporary caretakers of these treasures (laughs). Maybe decades from now, these cars will be displayed in museums. So rather than oddly modifying them to Japanese specs, it’s better to order and preserve them in their original factory specifications. Also, since most countries worldwide drive left-hand drive, left-hand drive cars have higher long-term market value in the used car market (because the market is global). Dealers probably strongly prefer left-hand drive orders. For regular models, right-hand drive might be fine, but for limited editions, it’s better to align with global standards and choose left-hand drive.

I see. I hadn’t really thought that deeply and just casually chose left-hand drive… but once the car is delivered, I hope to report on how easy it actually is to drive.