LHD or RHD - new car
#1
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LHD or RHD - new car
I'm at the point I'm thinking of replacing my car. I'm still living in UK but expecting to be living in Hungary within the next two years if all goes to plan. The question is .... do I wait until I'm in Hungary and buy a LHD car or buy RHD in UK and bring it over? I've driven a LHD car in Hungary and thought I did pretty well having driven a RHD in France twice. Obviously if I opted for a LHD in Hungary it would take me some getting used to driving a LHD on a more regular basis at busy times, etc.. If a RHD I'd just have to remember to drive on the other side of the road.
#2
Re: LHD or RHD - new car
Buy LHD in Hungary. I can't see any advantage in the cost and hassle of importing a RHD car.
#3
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
It's up to you of course - where will you drive usually, more on the continent or in the UK?
A bit OT:
A friend of mine (brought up in one of the few countries in Asia where RHD is the norm) bought a used RHD car in Bp relatively cheap because no one else wanted it ...
And he says the danger of someone stealing that car is much less, because your typical thief would have problems driving it ...
Of course that goes not for a break in - so he's still very careful (not) leaving things in the car ...
A bit OT:
A friend of mine (brought up in one of the few countries in Asia where RHD is the norm) bought a used RHD car in Bp relatively cheap because no one else wanted it ...
And he says the danger of someone stealing that car is much less, because your typical thief would have problems driving it ...
Of course that goes not for a break in - so he's still very careful (not) leaving things in the car ...
#4
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
Wolfi - once I'm in Hungary ..... all the time .... doubt I would be driving to UK, no "family" ties. My Hungarian wife isn't keen taking a road trip either way.
#5
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
In that case you're better off with a LHD car - but look for a brand that is common in Hungary like Suzuki or Opel.
I'm very happy with our "village garage" - don't need to go to the brand service in the town, can just walk over or back and they really know their business.
I remember once I needed a new mirror and the guy showed me on his computer three types:
The original Opel - very expensive, a cheap one and a branded one with a middle price - this he ordered and it was brought by the UNIX wholesaler's car the same day ...
I'm very happy with our "village garage" - don't need to go to the brand service in the town, can just walk over or back and they really know their business.
I remember once I needed a new mirror and the guy showed me on his computer three types:
The original Opel - very expensive, a cheap one and a branded one with a middle price - this he ordered and it was brought by the UNIX wholesaler's car the same day ...
#6
Re: LHD or RHD - new car
It depends on your budget and how much driving you'll be doing.
I know of 2 Brits who've saved thousands by buying relatively new cars in the UK and bringing them over her. On the other hand, if you're looking for a slightly older car, buying in Hungary is a better option.
Remember, if you bring a rhd drive car over the resale value will be much less than the equivalent lhd when it comes to selling it.
I know of 2 Brits who've saved thousands by buying relatively new cars in the UK and bringing them over her. On the other hand, if you're looking for a slightly older car, buying in Hungary is a better option.
Remember, if you bring a rhd drive car over the resale value will be much less than the equivalent lhd when it comes to selling it.
#7
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
Check out the tax implications of doing that, specifically whether you can get round paying import tax if you've owned the car beforehand, and if so, for how long you need to have owned the car.
#8
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
One thing to consider is the danger of driving on the wrong side of the road. Meaning: Overtaking. If you are on the pavement side of a road (i.e. in a rhd car overtaking on a lhd road - overtaking on the left side) you will not have full visibility......
#9
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
I still remember that from my regular shopping trips from Germany to London by car in the 70s and 80s - before there was an M2 or M20!
You really had to be very careful on these small roads - driving in London on the other hand was easy peasy for me!
The ferries had those special half price offers - if you stayed no more than 36 or 48 hours.
I often took the midnight boat from Oostende so I could sleep a few hours on a seat (I was much younger then obviously) and then drove into London to park near Shaftsbury Av where the Forbidden Planet Science Fiction bookshop was ...
Sometimes I'd drive back in the evening to Dover and take again the midnight ferry home, later I'd stay overnight with friends that worked in the shop - always had lots of cans of German beer with me for them ...
We had great parties!
Those were the days!
#10
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
Either way if you are living here permanently then get a LHD.
BTW when we moved here Hungary was not in the EU so we purchased a car in the UK for delivery in Hungary - so export outside the EU = no tax or VAT and because we were coming in to Hungary as settlers there was no tax or AFA on any of our possessions in Hungary. So we got a tax free car. It saved us lot and lots. But I can't see that happening again.
#11
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
Rather OT:
I still remember that from my regular shopping trips from Germany to London by car in the 70s and 80s - before there was an M2 or M20!
You really had to be very careful on these small roads - driving in London on the other hand was easy peasy for me!
The ferries had those special half price offers - if you stayed no more than 36 or 48 hours.
I often took the midnight boat from Oostende so I could sleep a few hours on a seat (I was much younger then obviously) and then drove into London to park near Shaftsbury Av where the Forbidden Planet Science Fiction bookshop was ...
Sometimes I'd drive back in the evening to Dover and take again the midnight ferry home, later I'd stay overnight with friends that worked in the shop - always had lots of cans of German beer with me for them ...
We had great parties!
Those were the days!
I still remember that from my regular shopping trips from Germany to London by car in the 70s and 80s - before there was an M2 or M20!
You really had to be very careful on these small roads - driving in London on the other hand was easy peasy for me!
The ferries had those special half price offers - if you stayed no more than 36 or 48 hours.
I often took the midnight boat from Oostende so I could sleep a few hours on a seat (I was much younger then obviously) and then drove into London to park near Shaftsbury Av where the Forbidden Planet Science Fiction bookshop was ...
Sometimes I'd drive back in the evening to Dover and take again the midnight ferry home, later I'd stay overnight with friends that worked in the shop - always had lots of cans of German beer with me for them ...
We had great parties!
Those were the days!
#12
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
OP. 2 years is way to much time to worry about left or right hand drive cars. I would be thinking of that closer to the time.
You going to buy a left hand drive car now and store it here in Hungary or use it now in the UK? The opposite for a right hand drive car?
Having pretty much lived in Hungary for the last year I have not had any problems with driving a right hand drive car here. I had 2 of them here. Just be sensible. Regarding driving on the left or right side of the road I would say it depends on how adaptable you are. Some folk find it easier than others. I have driven left hand drive vehicles on left and right sides of the roads and frankly, I prefer a right hand drive car on both left and right hand drive sides of the road. Maybe I didnt drive the left hand drive vehicles for long enough but even after a month I still seemed at odds with the clutch and the right hand gear change. Maybe its an age thing?
I am not sure of costs viz a viz Hungarian insurance/tax etc but it just seemed easier to keep the cars registered in the UK. MOT - well I am there often enough so its not a problem. UK insurance urmmm well!.
Regarding not being able to see for overtaking purposes just increase the following distance. Drive tight against the vehicle to be overtaken and you will have problems (with or without a right hand drive car but more particularly with a right hand drive car on left hand drive roads) Increasing the following distance will increase the sight angle. I have not had a problem yet and I don't normally hang about on the roads.
As regards the so called brexit who is to say? All I can say is that it appears as though the russians are targeting the wrong people.
You going to buy a left hand drive car now and store it here in Hungary or use it now in the UK? The opposite for a right hand drive car?
Having pretty much lived in Hungary for the last year I have not had any problems with driving a right hand drive car here. I had 2 of them here. Just be sensible. Regarding driving on the left or right side of the road I would say it depends on how adaptable you are. Some folk find it easier than others. I have driven left hand drive vehicles on left and right sides of the roads and frankly, I prefer a right hand drive car on both left and right hand drive sides of the road. Maybe I didnt drive the left hand drive vehicles for long enough but even after a month I still seemed at odds with the clutch and the right hand gear change. Maybe its an age thing?
I am not sure of costs viz a viz Hungarian insurance/tax etc but it just seemed easier to keep the cars registered in the UK. MOT - well I am there often enough so its not a problem. UK insurance urmmm well!.
Regarding not being able to see for overtaking purposes just increase the following distance. Drive tight against the vehicle to be overtaken and you will have problems (with or without a right hand drive car but more particularly with a right hand drive car on left hand drive roads) Increasing the following distance will increase the sight angle. I have not had a problem yet and I don't normally hang about on the roads.
As regards the so called brexit who is to say? All I can say is that it appears as though the russians are targeting the wrong people.
#13
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
From a safety point of view I think I would be better off with RHD .... with LHD ....I'm going to be one or two seconds slower to react to avoid an accident or get out of a sticky spot. I'm no longer into driving fast and overtaking slow vehicles. I'm happy enough to chug along behind a slow moving vehicle until it's 110% safe to overtake.
#14
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
From a safety point of view I think I would be better off with RHD .... with LHD ....I'm going to be one or two seconds slower to react to avoid an accident or get out of a sticky spot. I'm no longer into driving fast and overtaking slow vehicles. I'm happy enough to chug along behind a slow moving vehicle until it's 110% safe to overtake.
Over the years I have driven probably all combinations of vehicles, 3 or 4 gears on the column, floor change, LHD, RHD and all manner of motorbikes with gears on either the left or right foot. I have never found a problem changing types - even when driving 3 or 4 types concurrently. OK for the first couple of weeks you may open the window a couple of times when you want to change gear - but that is only for a couple of weeks and then all the advantages of a LHD kick in.
You don't say if the car will be new. If it is new then any guarantee work will be a pain if you buy in the UK and then move here. Also spares for a RHD will be an issue here. Anything particular to RHD (there is a surprising amount under the bonnet that is 'handed') will be a special order = time and expense. Oh and the lights will need changing and best to change the speedo
#15
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Re: LHD or RHD - new car
From a safety point of view I think I would be better off with RHD .... with LHD ....I'm going to be one or two seconds slower to react to avoid an accident or get out of a sticky spot. I'm no longer into driving fast and overtaking slow vehicles. I'm happy enough to chug along behind a slow moving vehicle until it's 110% safe to overtake.
As a compromise, you could opt for an automatic.