Conference terri::cars_uk

       I find it very difficult to believe that a LHD car fetched
       anything like as much as the RHD equivilent in the UK - even a
       sought after one like the 205. 

       From observation I'd say that the trade weren't interested at all
       in cars with the steering wheel on the 'wrong' side,  a car with
       "all the advantages of left hand drive" is usually guaranteed to
       meet a certain amount of derision at the auction halls. The dealers
       aren't usually out of touch with the what the private market
       wants. 

       Ian.

    
    
    I know some cars can be done - the ease of it often depends on wether
    the manufacturer makes both RHD and LHD versions of the same model. It 
    obviously makes sense to use as many commom parts as poss. I've no idea
    as to cost.
    
    Anyway, why bother changing? - we had a RHD car in Germany for two
    years, with very few problems - or why not sell the car where it is,
    and start again?

    
    	Have you tried to buy a Honda prelude in Ireland recently?
    
    	Sorry, i'm not being sarcastic Elaine but Irish car prices are
    	30 - 50% higher than the UK price and my friend is coming from
    	the states.

    
    Sorry, I didn't know there was such a large price difference! - 
    
    (How about buying in England/Scotland/Wales ? - I suppose that's also
    expensive or everyone would do it!  :-( ) Back to the original
    suggestion - keep it LHD. All the roads in Ireland a single track
    anyway  aren't they? :-) !!! (Sorry, I've been reading the 'carism'
    note, and all the sweeping generalisations, I thought I might as well
    extend it to roads!)
    
    Elaine

    
    	You're sorry! Think how we feel. (This is a real sore point).
    	Buying in the UK is no good because unless you are resident
    	abroad and own the car for 6 months you must pay duty/VAT etc.
    
    	The actual base price of cars is lower here than in the UK as
    	manufacturers must keep prices low due to high taxes (i.e. 47%
     	of retail price). In fact, people in Northern Ireland can save
    	significant amounts of money (e.g. around �1000 on a R19) by
    	buying in the south and importing them.
    
    	Also, we do have some dual carriageways in Ireland and one
    	stretch of motorway.
    
    	Getting back to the original point, insurance is another major
    	expense over here (e.g. I am 23 with 60% NCB and i'm paying
    	�630 for TPF&T on a 205Gti) and this is loaded even more for
    	LHD. 
            

    Have you investigated the second-hand price difference for selling the
    LHD Honda in Ireland as opposed to a RHD car?  In England the LHD cars
    seem to go at quite a premium - maybe you'd get more for it than you
    think, allowing you to buy a RHD Honda afterall.
    
    Ruth.

    
    LHD cars go at a premium in the UK?
    
    Not from what I've seen and heard. Maybe you're been confused by
    the fact that some highly specialised machines (Lancia Integrale,
    BMW M3, Toyota GT4) are only sold here in LHD form. These cars
    are expensive, but look in Exchange & Marts section on LHD cars
    and compare the more run-of-the-mill models. The LHD models will
    be a large amount less!
    
    Mark

    I made my assumption about LHD cars going at a premium when friends of
    ours had to sell their LHD Peugeot 205 (can't remember the exact model but
    it wasn't a GTI) - they sold it for a great deal higher than they would have
    done if it had been RHD, but then this is just one example, so I bow 
    down to your superior knowledge, Mark.  
    

    
    Well, you've got first hand experience of it, I'm only judging by
    what I've seen in the papers and heard from other people, but I
    was certainly under the impression that LHD cars were NOT in demand
    in Britain.
    
    Mark

RE:    < Note 911.4 by CLADA::LOUGHLIN >
    	
    >Getting back to the original point, insurance is another major
    >expense over here (e.g. I am 23 with 60% NCB and i'm paying
    >�630 for TPF&T on a 205Gti) and this is loaded even more for
    >LHD. 
    
    This may be in the wrong place (so-soorry Mr MOD) but, have you 
    tried going with an English company for insurance,or is this 
    not possible?
    
    If so try the COOP Insurance Services, i have a friend who is
    22 with 2years NCB and pays �900 Fully comp for a brand new
    Peugot 205 1.9 git (oops!). ;-)
    
    Lewis_who_dreams_of_a_205_or_R5_one_day.

    re.4
    
    When you say �630 pound for insurance is that UK pounds or Irish
    pounds ?
    
    Grant

    Lhd selling prices....
    Going on two people whose cars I knew had left hand drive in the UK,
    one an immaculate Vw Beetle, the other an Audi Quattro, both were bought and
    sold for about three quarters of the price of equivalent Rhd cars. The
    only criticism, I seem to recall, was that it was extremely dangerous
    when overtaking, as if you were on your own in the car, you couldn't
    just poke your nose round the lorry/car  to look if it was clear, but
    you had to either rely on the passengers judgement, or poke 3/4 of the
    car out into the middle of the road, just to look~~ Dangerous nes pas!
    
    Carl.

    
    I don't think this is possible. I remember a few years ago hearing
    about a guy who had a sports car insured with a UK company and he
    was insured to drive anywhere in Europe. The only thing was that
    to get the insurance he had to lie about his address and say that
    his main place of residence was in the UK. A bit risky I'ld imagine.
    
    Re .0  Does anyone have any examples of cost for LHD to RHD conversion
    	   for any make of car, not necessarily the Honda?

    re .11
    
    	That was 630 punts or Irish pounds.

    
    Going back a few notes, the Celica GT4 is RHD - it was 'specialised'
    due to its being the first car in the UK sold with a cat. as standard.
    
    Bi||.

    re .11
    
    Presently, there's little or no difference!
    
    

    
    Re .15
    
    I bow to your greater knowledge, Bill.
    
    Mark

    Mark,
    
    The exchange rate means I can nip over to the U.K. and pick up a
    Marcos for a lot less than I could 6 months ago (even after duty,
    VAT).
    
    If only......

    
    Billy,
    
    Just say the word and I'll ask around to see who's selling a good
    one! :^)
    
    Mark
    
    

    
    	The conversion from LHD to RHD for the Alfa Spider is approx
    �1,400, for most "normal" cars the prices would start at about �1,000
    upwards... Why not call Honda UK to see if they can recommend a
    dealer who would be willing to do the conversion.
    
    	There are lots of drawbacks to the above though, if the car
    is US spec it will need lots of mods to convert it to European
    standards, these include replacing the windscreen glass, perhaps
    modifying the direction indicators/brake light wiring, changing
    the US style lights to European spec, and reversing the dip beam
    !, etc... Basically you would be wasting your money as the car would
    be unsaleable afterwards and would have a completely void warranty.
    
    	Look at the costs (including shipping, importation, car tax,
    VAT etc) carefully before you commit yourself to taking this course
    of action...
    
    	Rat

    
    	In case anyone is interested... I rang Honda Ireland today and
    	they said that the conversion would cost 3,500 - 4,000 punts
    	and that it may not even be posiible for an American spec. car.
    
    	So much for that idea.
    
    	Marty.

Marty,

After many "pleasant" evenings driving in Ireland, I came to the conclusion that
it made no difference *which* side the steering wheel was on anyway!  Why not
drive it as it is - nice and clean on unleaded fuel too?  Got a problem if the
exhaust ever gives out of course ......

The quote seems very high though.  You may want to consider a couple of other
options such as getting the work done in the UK, where you can convert an E-type
for less than half that quote for example.  And if your friend did a lot of the
work himself (him?) there would be significantly reduced labour charges.

Brian