Driving in the UK?

[Bluto]

How difficult is it to drive in the UK? I'll be traveling there and need to decide between an auto or a manual.

I don't think it will be that hard, and a manual would be fun. I've owned a few manuals, so it is not new to me.

Looks like a Ford Ka, Fiesta, Fusion, or Mondeo are my options.


I may test drive a Toyota Land Cruiser (4Runner) turbodiesel for kicks.

 

[sharp4runr]

I think my mind could adjust pretty quickly driving on the "wrong" side of the road, but I don't think I could learn to shift with the left hand as easily :

 

[jharris2]

How difficult is it to drive in the UK? I'll be traveling there and need to decide between an auto or a manual.

I don't think it will be that hard, and a manual would be fun. I've owned a few manuals, so it is not new to me.

Looks like a Ford Ka, Fiesta, Fusion, or Mondeo are my options.


I may test drive a Toyota Land Cruiser (4Runner) turbodiesel for kicks.

You obviously already know that in the UK, they drive on the left side of the road, so the drivers' position is the same as our passenger position. However, the gear positions on the manual are the same -- so first gear is away and up in the UK (shifting with left hand) versus in and up in the US. Clutch is still the left foot and accelerator is the right foot.

Personally, I'd go with an automatic -- after having discussed the topic with cabbies in several countries where they drive on the left, the consensus is that using a manual transmission would be difficult for any of us changing sides of the road (us going there, one of them coming here). In fact, one cabbie from Scotland comes to the US on vacation but gets the sutomatic for that reason.

As far as getting used to driving on the left, I've tried it once, in Bermuda -- wasn't too bad except when I got to the roundabouts. Just could not get used to going clockwise in one of them.

 

[Pirate VI]

In the VI we drive on the left, you just gotta remember to drive on the side your supposed to, ive been in many near head on collisions back home with toursists who were driving on the right, and i have a few times driven out onto an empty road and found myself on the left here in the states.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Get a Mondeo and get an auto. Driving those little stick shift cars are a waste of time. I have been to the UK a number of times, but then again I am used to driving on the left side of the road. Pending where in the UK you are traffic can be a bitch, so I would seriously recommend getting a auto. The Mondeos are pretty nice, think Mazda 6 here. I have driven too many small engined cars with stick shift and they just suck to be honest.

Is it your first time driving on the left side of the road? If so always pay attention, as said previously roundabouts can catch you. Also left turns at trafic lights can catch you if you ry to go around cars stopped at the light on your left, remember left turn is the short turn in the UK.

 

[Bluto]

It will be my first time driving on the other side. Sounds like an auto is the best choice. Driving something with a 1.25L or 1.6L engine just does not sound appealing. A manual made it sound better.

I'll reserve a 2.0 Mondeo auto.

Picking the correct lane in an intersection will be tough. 1 way streets might be a good thing for a change.