Shard

Indeed. Driving standard is one further thing that can go wrong (especially for the inexperienced) when taking the test.

Juggernaut1064

BristolUK

That looks like an early Jason Bourne.

Gozit

See but that's the thing. nobody has them. Everyone I know drives an auto, with the exception of my dad's colleague who has a vintage manual Ferrari, which understandably, he won't let me drive.

True, but if I ever move to the UK, i'm screwed. They only change ON licenses to auto-only UK license. Unless I get a Maltese license beforehand, which isn't limited to auto vs standard, and since its a full EU license they have to honour it in full, and I don't even have to change it to a UK one if I don't want to

scrubbedexpat091

Yup. That is the thing with driving in the US/Canada, it's difficult to learn a manual because unless you know somebody with one, you are pretty much out of luck as driving schools don't really fuss with manuals nor do rental car companies.

I can't manage a manual, whole using my right hand is alien as I am left handed and the shifting and clutch thing just never came natural for me. I also have no desire to drive a manual, auto works fine for our needs, no real benefit for us to have a manual.

Gozit

Yep... I dunno. I've always wanted to learn it because i'm interested in cars and I love driving. And since I want to live in Europe, its a bit of a necessity. I drove one on the opposite sides (steering wheel on right, shifting w/ left hand, driving on left) in Malta and I didn't do that badly. Although it was just in a car park. I don't think i'd have a problem learning it if i'd only had access to one.

bats

Well it's not rocket science

BristolUK

I've never seen it mentioned before but bicycles outside the UK have their brakes the other way around too.

It may not be rocket science but it's not easy to brake in the opposite way to what one is used to even if one does remember to ride on the other side.

caretaker

I didn't know the brakes were reversed on British bicycles, very interesting. I remember the only time I drove a vehicle with right hand drive being a bit surprised at finding the shifter completely reversed, a mirror image of what I was used to.

bats

They are?? I cycle here and never noticed, but then I only ever use both brakes together. I know there are some weird Dutch type bikes where you have to backpedal

BristolUK

UK back brake on the left, front on the right. I think the idea is to break using the back one slightly ahead of the front so you're already slowing and the front one doesn't throw you over the handlebars.

Ah, Dutch bikes. Reverse braking I think it's called. They're fun.

Almost Canadian

You do know that the levers simply work whatever brake they are connected to? If you wish to change them, it requires a simply change of the cables.

Partially discharged

Driving in a car park and driving on the regular road network are two drastically different things especially when you have to gear down quickly etc.

I wasn't aware that Ontario licenses default to an automatic only license in europe especially since Ontario licenses don't differentiate.

VW and small european or japanese cars are the best bets for manual here. Apparently about 5% of new cars sold in North America but over 20% of all vehicles have the option. The most basic Civic and Corolla have a manual..many Golf, Jetta etc come in manual.

Based on a previous post, a F-150 or a Lincoln won't give you much in the way of european street cred

BristolUK

Well yes, but why change what's the norm?

I assume there's a reason that for countries who drive on the left the brakes are one way and that for countries driving on the right it's reversed. Rather like the steering wheel is on opposite sides.

Perhaps Brits who are used to a right hand drive should change over when they drive here?

I first noticed the difference on holiday in Greece and Spain when hiring a bike. I didn't feel like changing those around.

dbd33

Also Ford. My current Ford has a six speed manual. The gearing in sixth isn't very useful though, it offers no acceleration at all. I think it's only there so they could achieve and advertise "300hp and 30mpg" (223.71 kleptojoules and 12.75 kpl for those who like their slogans catchy).