In some countries like New Zealand, vehicles have to be driven on the right hand side, as such, upon importation of a car from the U. S or other LHD countries; it has to be converted to RHD. However, with a good reason, you can still have your vehicle converted even when you are in a country that uses the right side of the road for driving like the U. S. In some cases, you need the approval of relevant authorities to avoid getting into trouble with traffic offices. The right hand drive conversions are now done by big professionals as long as you pay for the service.
The first thing you notice about the RHD is the cosmetic differences. Though it sounds obvious, the steering wheel is on the right-hand side and thus the name. Even though the critical control functions remain the same, there are several other things in the cockpit that are different. For instance, the Gas, Brake and Clutch are still placed from right to left and the gear pattern too is similar to that in the USDM LHD Manuals. However, it now means that the shifting has to be done with the left hand. It is not difficult though.
The differences include the wipers being on the left while the turn signal is on the right. In the same way, the ebrake is now on the driver's side and the radio controls are now much closer. When it comes to driving, there are slight differences.
The time taken to complete the process varies from one company to the other. The average time is 4-6 weeks, after which you get the certificate of completion. This is followed by a wheel alignment after which a qualified engineer will conduct the inspection and test driving before the final road worthiness and other relevant certificates are issued. In some companies, the vehicle is taken to an independent inspection to confirm that the vehicle is compliant to all road safety requirements.
When it comes to conversion itself, you need to deal with companies that are well known and have a reputation of delivering quality products. There are companies that have made a name by working hand in hand with manufacturers to convert vehicles and take pride in their work. The re-engineering procedure is not very easy and it requires experts who know what they are doing.
The conversion process is beyond just changing the position of the steering wheel. It requires that most of the parts are taken down, and reassembled in a new way. If you give this job to a serious company, they will dismantle the car and store different parts in a dedicated facility with proper labeling to prevent mismatch and also use other mechanisms to prevent dust and rust.
The most significant factor with RHD is the difference in driving experience. Cutting corners and overtaking is not the same particularly in a country like the U. S where vehicles are LHD. In order to overtake the car ahead of you, you have to slightly slow down and allow for a distance through which you can have a clear view of the road ahead. The RH drivers have a limitation in terms of view.
If the driver's seat has a particular configuration for extra comfort, it may have to be converted too or else you let go of the comfort. Generally though, the end product depends largely on the engineer who worked on your vehicle. There can be a slight difference from one company to the other. However, there are some companies that have international recognition as the experts in the field, even if you pay some extra cash they deliver a car beyond your expectation.
The first thing you notice about the RHD is the cosmetic differences. Though it sounds obvious, the steering wheel is on the right-hand side and thus the name. Even though the critical control functions remain the same, there are several other things in the cockpit that are different. For instance, the Gas, Brake and Clutch are still placed from right to left and the gear pattern too is similar to that in the USDM LHD Manuals. However, it now means that the shifting has to be done with the left hand. It is not difficult though.
The differences include the wipers being on the left while the turn signal is on the right. In the same way, the ebrake is now on the driver's side and the radio controls are now much closer. When it comes to driving, there are slight differences.
The time taken to complete the process varies from one company to the other. The average time is 4-6 weeks, after which you get the certificate of completion. This is followed by a wheel alignment after which a qualified engineer will conduct the inspection and test driving before the final road worthiness and other relevant certificates are issued. In some companies, the vehicle is taken to an independent inspection to confirm that the vehicle is compliant to all road safety requirements.
When it comes to conversion itself, you need to deal with companies that are well known and have a reputation of delivering quality products. There are companies that have made a name by working hand in hand with manufacturers to convert vehicles and take pride in their work. The re-engineering procedure is not very easy and it requires experts who know what they are doing.
The conversion process is beyond just changing the position of the steering wheel. It requires that most of the parts are taken down, and reassembled in a new way. If you give this job to a serious company, they will dismantle the car and store different parts in a dedicated facility with proper labeling to prevent mismatch and also use other mechanisms to prevent dust and rust.
The most significant factor with RHD is the difference in driving experience. Cutting corners and overtaking is not the same particularly in a country like the U. S where vehicles are LHD. In order to overtake the car ahead of you, you have to slightly slow down and allow for a distance through which you can have a clear view of the road ahead. The RH drivers have a limitation in terms of view.
If the driver's seat has a particular configuration for extra comfort, it may have to be converted too or else you let go of the comfort. Generally though, the end product depends largely on the engineer who worked on your vehicle. There can be a slight difference from one company to the other. However, there are some companies that have international recognition as the experts in the field, even if you pay some extra cash they deliver a car beyond your expectation.
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