{"id":37640,"date":"2019-10-07T06:00:43","date_gmt":"2019-10-06T21:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=37640"},"modified":"2020-08-23T08:45:49","modified_gmt":"2020-08-22T23:45:49","slug":"left-or-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/en\/entry\/left-or-right\/","title":{"rendered":"Left-Hand Drive or Right-Hand Drive? Reflections from the Perspective of Owning Both AT and MT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Automatic or Manual?<\/h3>\n

“When buying an imported car, should you choose left-hand drive or right-hand drive?” This is a topic that often sparks debate, and preferences vary widely from person to person.<\/p>\n

Most imported cars are originally designed for “right-side driving with left-hand drive,” so left-hand drive models are said to be easier to operate in many ways. On the other hand, since Japan drives on the left side with right-hand drive cars, some argue that right-hand drive vehicles are easier to drive on Japanese roads.<\/p>\n

In other words, it comes down to whether you prioritize “vehicle operability” or “ease of driving on Japanese roads.”<\/p>\n

Thinking about this, I recently realized that at home, we have:<\/p>\n

\u2460 Right-hand drive, automatic transmission (AT) \u2013 Porsche Panamera (971)<\/span>
\n\u2461 Right-hand drive, manual transmission (MT) \u2013 BMW 320i<\/span>
\n\u2462 Left-hand drive, automatic transmission (AT) \u2013 Porsche 911 (964C2)<\/span>
\n\u2463 Left-hand drive, manual transmission (MT) \u2013 Porsche 911 GT3 (991.2), Boxster GTS (981)<\/span><\/p>\n

all covered (though only German cars).<\/p>\n

\u2026That\u2019s just crazy! (\uff9f\u0434\uff9f)!<\/span><\/p>\n

So, based on actual driving experience, I decided to explore and write about the differences between left-hand and right-hand drive.<\/p>\n

My Perspective as a Woman<\/h3>\n

\u2460 Right-hand drive, automatic transmission<\/h4>\n

First, about the right-hand drive AT Panamera we have at home. Since Japan drives on the left side with right-hand drive cars, I feel no discomfort driving the Panamera; it\u2019s quite easy to handle.<\/p>\n

I used to think that “having the turn signal lever on the left would be awkward,” but once you get used to it, it\u2019s no problem at all. Occasionally, after driving a domestic car as a loaner, I might confuse the left and right levers once or twice when switching back to the Panamera, but that\u2019s about it (laughs).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

However, with a wide car like the Panamera, it\u2019s a bit tricky to gauge the width, and I tend to drive closer to the center line. So, for larger cars, I sometimes think that “left-hand drive might actually be easier to drive.”<\/p>\n

\u2461 Right-hand drive, manual transmission<\/h4>\n

The car I drive most often is the right-hand drive MT BMW 320i. Before driving it, I heard that “with a German right-hand drive manual, you have to operate the shift lever and turn signals all with your left hand, which is tough,” but once you get used to it, it\u2019s no problem at all.<\/p>\n

Also, since I\u2019m right-handed, I\u2019m used to steering with my right hand, so it feels natural to steer with my right hand while operating the shift lever and levers with my left.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2462 Left-hand drive, automatic transmission<\/h4>\n

The left-hand drive AT car we currently have is the air-cooled Porsche 911 (964C2).<\/p>\n

Honestly, I\u2019m not used to left-hand drive cars, so I feel a slight discomfort every time I start driving. However, when making left turns or parallel parking to pick up my child from kindergarten, being able to see the left side clearly makes it very easy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But when merging onto a main road from a highway interchange, the right rear blind spot is very hard to see.<\/strong> With a right-hand drive car, you can check it immediately, but with a left-hand drive, there\u2019s a blind spot on the right rear, which can feel a bit scary when merging.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u2463 Left-hand drive, manual transmission<\/h4>\n

The left-hand drive MT cars we have now are the 911 GT3 Touring and the Boxster GTS. Driving a left-hand drive manual isn\u2019t particularly difficult, but what I still can\u2019t get used to is steering with my left hand.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Just the other day, when trying to shift into 5th gear, I accidentally turned the steering wheel slightly to the right. I guess that\u2019s because I\u2019m extremely clumsy\u2026 (-_-)<\/p>\n

When driving a left-hand drive manual, you really need to be able to steer smoothly and naturally with your left hand alone.<\/p>\n

Next, I asked my husband to share his thoughts.<\/p>\n

Next page \u2192 What my husband prefers: left-hand or right-hand drive?<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Does My Husband Prefer Left-Hand Drive Manuals?<\/h3>\n

When asked whether he prefers right or left, he definitely answers “left.”<\/strong> He says right-hand drive is still okay for automatics, but for manuals, he absolutely wants left-hand drive.<\/p>\n

I know a couple of people around me who felt the same way. When the 718 Spyder and 718 Cayman GT4 came out, they heard that only right-hand drive versions would be imported to Japan and decided not to buy them for that reason. (\uff0aPorsche Japan, for highly specialized models like these, even if it means higher costs or longer wait times, please let customers choose right or left, AT or MT. This is not the place to cut corners on efficiency\u2026)<\/p>\n

Why does he feel this way? Mainly because:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • It\u2019s easier to operate the shift with the dominant right hand.<\/li>\n
  • In left-hand drive cars, frequently used gears like 1st and 2nd are closer to the driver, making it easier to operate compared to right-hand drive manuals.<\/li>\n
  • For imported left-hand drive manuals, the turn signal is operated with the left hand and the shift with the right, allowing the hands to share the workload.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Also, commonly used switches like SPORT mode and PASM are on the left side, so they\u2019re easier to operate in left-hand drive cars.<\/strong> Sometimes when driving the right-hand drive Panamera, he finds the switches too far away and hard to press.<\/p>\n

    But of course, there are downsides to left-hand drive too.<\/p>\n

    There are toll booths with machines for left-hand drive cars, and if not, you can just get out, so personally it doesn\u2019t bother me much. But merging on highways is tricky because of many blind spots.<\/strong> Especially in the Boxster with the top up, visibility is almost hopeless, so he has to lean far to the right to drive carefully.<\/p>\n

    Other than that, making right turns by angling into the intersection a bit isn\u2019t a problem, and overtaking is fine if you pull slightly to the right first to check.<\/p>\n

    More importantly, since you\u2019re driving closer to pedestrians, the risk of accidents is lower,<\/strong> and it\u2019s easier to hug the left edge, making it easier to pass through narrow roads, which is a big advantage for him.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Well, these things mostly come down to “getting used to it,” so this is just a comparative discussion. If he were to rank his favorite combinations of position and transmission, it would be:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Left-hand drive (MT)<\/li>\n
    2. Left-hand drive (AT)<\/li>\n
    3. Right-hand drive (AT)<\/li>\n
    4. Right-hand drive (MT)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      That\u2019s the end of my reflections from the perspective of owning both left- and right-hand drive AT and MT cars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u8f38\u5165\u8eca\u306b\u95a2\u3057\u3066\u300c\u5de6\u30cf\u30f3\u30c9\u30eb\u6d3e\u300d\u300c\u53f3\u30cf\u30f3\u30c9\u30eb\u6d3e\u300d\u3067\u610f\u898b\u304c\u5927\u304d\u304f\u5206\u304b\u308c\u308b\u3068\u601d\u3044\u307e\u3059\u304c\u3001\u308f\u304c\u5bb6\u306b\u306f\u5de6\u30cf\u30f3\u30c9\u30eb\uff08AT\/MT\uff09\u3001\u53f3\u30cf\u30f3\u30c9\u30eb\uff08AT\/MT\uff09\u304c\u3042\u308b\u306e\u3067\u3001\u5b9f\u969b\u3069\u3046\u304b\u8003\u5bdf\u3057\u3066\u307f\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":14638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/www.panamera-life.com\/?p=14561"},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"Left-Hand Drive or Right-Hand Drive? 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