Should Corvette be factory Right Hand Drive?

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Do you guys think that future Vettes should be available in rght hand drive for other countries or do you think it should stay left hand drive?

We Aussies spend a lot of money on converting some Vettes to right hand drive, to comply with our Federal Transport regulations. This applies to vehicles under 30 years old.
C5 Corvettes cost around $25000 (OZ) to convert to RH drive (around $17500 US), depending on who and to what quality.

Cheers

Tony

[78SilvAnniv]

I think it would be nice at additional cost as an available build option for foreign consumers to be able to order RHD from the factory. However, I imagine they'd need to secure a sizeable non-refundable deposit at the time of order since the vehicle will not be saleable in the US.
Still, this could be a way to solve the problem of expensive Australian conversions. Would still cost more than the average US vette but the foreign consumer would have an immediately compliant and driveable vehicle.

Now, the down-side...
I think the cost to do this would be prohibitive, and then why stop at just RHD, don't some countries have regulations about different headlights, side markers and tail lights? Would it be discrimination to build an American car that is compliant for some countries but not for others?
Personally, I think the Corvette should remain American and let the importers worry about their own changes to make for their countries' regulations.
Heidi

[82ColEd]

I'm with Heidi on that one. My car was imported from the US to Germany and had to be made compliant (sidelights, headlights etc). Would be good to have a factory option, but that would mean a market-able number of cars (dont forget the other countries that drive right hand too, like England, Ireland, HK etc).

[Tom73]

I would be concerned that if there was a RHD option that it could raise the overall cost of the car (R&D etc). If it could be done without any impact in the cost of the LHD versions, then why not. But wouldn't it be much easier and better to just start driving on the right (correct) side of the road :)

tom...

[CFour]

Well, I say yes. From the pics of it I have seen they are going to need to be able to dispose of it where they can.

[Tuna]

We Aussies spend a lot of money on converting some Vettes to right hand drive, to comply with our Federal Transport regulations. This applies to vehicles under 30 years old.

Why not get the Aussie gov'ment to change their rules and allow left hand drive cars! The US allows right hand drive vehicles to be built, imported and used. Our mail trucks are right hand drive. Subaru imports right hand drive cars for use in the US - mostly rural postal delivery people that have to buy their own vehicle. No need for stupid signs them either to warn other drivers that the vehicle in front of them is being driven from the right side.

Maybe the Aussies, Brits and Japanese should change the side of the street they drive on!

[ROCKETBLOCK]

Originally posted by Tuna
Why not get the Aussie gov'ment to change their rules and allow left hand drive cars! The US allows right hand drive vehicles to be built, imported and used. Our mail trucks are right hand drive. Subaru imports right hand drive cars for use in the US - mostly rural postal delivery people that have to buy their own vehicle. No need for stupid signs them either to warn other drivers that the vehicle in front of them is being driven from the right side.

Maybe the Aussies, Brits and Japanese should change the side of the street they drive on!
I gotta go with this theory!!!:D

[Tomrw]

I say yes. Chevrolet should make America's Sports Car available for the whole world to enjoy.
Tom

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Chevrolet should manufacture the Corvette in RH Drive for the world market.
The Corvette has always been and always will be worthy of being on the international stage and by limiting the Vette to LH drive, I believe that this is limiting the cars true potential.
If I were American, I would be proud to have our loved sportscar marketed all around the globe. I would be chuffed and full of pride.
Let's face it, the Vette is not just a car, it is a way of life. Keep in mind all those hours tinkering away under the bonnet, swearing when she is not running right and those Vette shows where everyone enjoys the company of others with the same interests. Excellent car and bloody good people!
That is why I bought a Corvette, even though she has had a steering conversion. That is the only why I can have one and drive it on the road in this country.

Maybe our country's "powers that be" should change the regulations for us to drive LH drive cars, but I cannot see them jumping in a hurry to let us do that. They all drive European and Japanese sh*tboxes and probably wouldn't know what a Corvette was. The Corvette is a working mans sportscar and this, I believe, is why you guys love them so much!
The Chevy Suburban is marketed here in Australia as a Holden. Same car, just with different badges and the steering wheel in a different place.
All the other manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota, BMW, Porsche, SAAB, VW, Audi, Volvo (you get the idea) market their cars to suit the needs of the country they are sold in.
A good example of the American manufacturers coming to OZ is Chrysler and Jeep. Chrysler has the Neon, the Voyager and the Crossfire. Jeep has all the 4WD's, the Cherokee and the special edition Loredo V8, all RH drive.
We all know the origin of the Manufacturer and the car and we all respect that when we buy the car.

I believe the Corvette is well and truely worthy of being on the international stage and that is why I beleive it should be available in RH drive and to other countries!
Maybe one day...

Cheers

Tony

[78SilvAnniv]

Originally posted by ajtmwalker
I believe the Corvette is well and truely worthy of being on the international stage and that is why I beleive it should be available in RH drive and to other countries!
Maybe one day...
Tony

What an endorsement!
Putting it in that light, I think I would like to see the vette marketed in RHD! Surely the extra cost could be recouped for the manufacturer to produce a small percentage for the world market...
Heidi

[DavidWP]

When asked at Nashville about factory right hand drive for the C6, Dave Hill said no.

David

[78SilvAnniv]

Are any American vehicles produced in America made with RHD for import to other countries?

Are all American vehicles with RHD built in foreign countries, the origin of their market?

The Australian American cars available in Oz, I was curious if they were built here or there.
Heidi

[twiget]

Originally posted by ajtmwalker
Do you guys think that future Vettes should be available in rght hand drive for other countries or do you think it should stay left hand drive?

We Aussies spend a lot of money on converting some Vettes to right hand drive, to comply with our Federal Transport regulations. This applies to vehicles under 30 years old.
C5 Corvettes cost around $25000 (OZ) to convert to RH drive (around $17500 US), depending on who and to what quality.

Cheers

Tony

How about we compromise? The U.S. will finally go to the metric system, and the rest of the world can start driving on the right side of the road. :D

I do have to agree with Heidi. I have no problem with it being an option. And considering the C6 is going to be marketed over seas more than any previous Corvette, it only makes sense to offer Right Hand Drive as an option.

Jason

[82ColEd]

I second Jason on the metric, pleeeaaassseeee.. ;help

[Blade]

Think this member already did that modication in his chop-shop:

[atmmac]

i say australia should change its regulations. Last time i checked there arent even any australian cars made. They should drop it use our system of measurements and drive on the right side of the road in MILES PER HOUR!

[Ken]

Originally posted by NC 50anny
Think this member already did that modication in his chop-shop:

:duh

[LongTimer]

Originally posted by atmmac
i say australia should change its regulations. Last time i checked there arent even any australian cars made. They should drop it use our system of measurements and drive on the right side of the road in MILES PER HOUR!

When did you last check? Ford and Holden(GM) make some pretty serious cars IN Austrailia. I doubt that the Aussies will change a 100+ year tradition of driving on the left side of the road because you suggest it. As for their system of measurements, as proud as I am of our country otherwise, it is an embarassment that we are almost alone in the world at NOT using the metric system.

[tyrel]

I don't think it would be cost-effective for GM. No offense, but most of the world drives LHD cars. Going off on a bit of a tangent, it is surprising and startling to see a Corvette in another country. I saw one in Sydney once, and another in Japan, near Narita. I also saw one parked at Versailles. All I could think about is that it must cost a fortune to ship it to those places, along with tariffs, taxes, and maintenance. Now those are true, die-hard Corvette lovers.

[LongTimer]

Originally posted by tyrel
I don't think it would be cost-effective for GM. No offense, but most of the world drives LHD cars.

I'm afraid I agree.

I know we have some Brits who have C5s in England. My hat is off to them.

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

It does cost a lot to ship them over, get them through customs and convert them. (If they are under 30 years old).

Let's say you want a C3, say 80 to 82 for arguments sake in excellent order.
It will cost you around $15000 (US) to purchase.

Car purchase (US Dollars) $15000.00
Shipping (US Dollars) $2500.00
Currency Conversion on $17500.00 is say $25000.00 (OZ)

Then there are government charges:
Import duty $3800.00 - 15% of converted above cost ($25000.00)
GST $3200.00 - on import cost and import duty

Then there are conversion costs to RH Drive:
Depending on who and to what standard, it may cost around $10000.00 to $15000.00 (OZ).

All up, the costs are around $42000.00 (OZ) for a good car!
That's around $29500.00 (US).
Ouch!

But that's the price we pay for now to drive a classic.
Speaking of a classic, did you guys watch the Gold Coast Indy coverage? If you saw the driver parades, there was a good chance you saw the Wife and I driving our Vette. What an experience!!!

Cheers

Tony

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

I came accross this story on an Aussie web site today.

America Muscles in... (http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring/news_reports/7_11_che.htm)

I am not the only one who can dream a little....maybe one day!

Cheers

Tony

[billagroom]

I HATE DRIVING ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD!!!!!!!
And I'm forever getting in the passenger side. Thank god my driver only costs 8 USD per day so I don't drive much anyway. I also notice the traffiic flow is not as good as North America. As far as having the whole world go to left hand drive I heard horror storys about when Canada changed over to left hand drive. Head on colisions everywhere.
Does anyone know if the USA was ever right hand drive?

Billagroom

[Derek]

We make great cars here. Australian Holden is made left hand drive for the US market.If we can do it , should be a walk in the park for you guys.

http://www.hsv.com.au/main.html

And as to get the government to change laws,..hahaha..hehehe

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Could not have put it better myself Derek.

[C6BOB]

The Corvette Museum has a RHD C4. They built it to see how extensive the changes would be. They would need a new dash, center console, and many other parts, plus there was a clearance problem with the steering column. It was decided that it was too costly.

http://mars.walagata.com/w/mazdabob/rhd.jpg

[vett boy]

For B.G. to increase production for heavy export would be a disaster.To maintain quality on the line 40,000 units is max.Corvettes are one of the few products G.M builds very well.

[vetmaniac]

My cousin in the UK just took delivery of his RHD Chrysler 300C. It all depends how much money GM wants to make.

[Stinger !!]

I gotta go with this theory!!!:D


RocketBlock....

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT UNDER THIS CAR??? ARE THOSE TIRES???

LEAD ME HERE "OH GREAT TIRE WARRIOR" .... SHOW US MORE!!

[Gersh]

I'm a believer in the free market system, and if it were a good profit opportunity, Corvette would certainly go into right side driver cars, but if not, we definitely don't need any more laws to force them to! But if they did, it wouldn't make them any less Corvettes: it would help some of the rest of the world enjoy The Great American Sports Car.

I agree with Oldtimer about the metric system--it is much more user-friendly than the old British system, and if we weren't so comfortable and lazy, we would have switched long ago--still should!

I've driven on the left a lot and find it entertaining--no accidents, but it is good mental excercise to switch back and forth...

Gersh

[Dakota kid]

Why not get the Aussie gov'ment to change their rules and allow left hand drive cars! The US allows right hand drive vehicles to be built, imported and used. Our mail trucks are right hand drive. Subaru imports right hand drive cars for use in the US - mostly rural postal delivery people that have to buy their own vehicle. No need for stupid signs them either to warn other drivers that the vehicle in front of them is being driven from the right side.

Maybe the Aussies, Brits and Japanese should change the side of the street they drive on!

I also agree with this.:)

[XS650]

Are any American vehicles produced in America made with RHD for import to other countries?

Are all American vehicles with RHD built in foreign countries, the origin of their market?


Saturn has had RHD versions. My mail lady has one. I'm sure would enjoy her job more if she had an RHD Corvette to make her rounds in :)

Also Jeep Wranglers and Cherokies were available RHD at various times

[vettepilot]

I think that the factory should NOT try to do RHD cars, BUT, they could offer it as an extra cost option that will be performed by a GM contracted shop. Like the Callaway cars, they were built then shipped to Callaway for conversion.
I believe, but won't stake my life on it, the engine/powertrain in the C4, C5 and C6 is offset slightly to the right, this probably makes conversions more difficult, but not impossible.
That said, the current foreign Corvette sales is such a low number for the Corvette, and Corvette sales being such a low number for Chevrolet Division that it probably wouldn't get a positive nod from the bean counters.

I did see a 1960 Corvette in a parking garage in Perth back in 1990 while walking around the downtown area one afternoon. Took a photo, it was RHD.

vettepilot

[kiwi vet]

Its interesting that this subject has come up on the site, as here in New Zealand, there is currently a huge movement to allow LHD cars to be imported by American car enthusiasts. At present we can import and leave LHD in the following cases.

1 The vehicle is over 20 years old.

2 The importer has owned and used the vehicle in the US (or what ever country) for 3 months (and can prove they were there with passport, petrol receipts etc) and can not sell the vehicle in NZ for 5 years from importation date.

Outside those criteria, all vehicles LHD are converted to RHD, with the exception of rubbish trucks and mail trucks as in the US.
It's a stupid rule that is primarily aimed at stopping Korean, European & Japanese LHD cars not sold to US, being dumped here at cut prices rather than dumping in China or Russia etc etc.

It has nothing to do with safety, the two largest RHD countries in the world being the United Kingdom & Japan, do not have LHD bans or any special rules pertaining to LHD vehicles, and you can run between Europe and UK without changing cars.

Therefore a RHD Vette would be awesome, and should be made avalible to the rest of the world.
Chrysler has done it for years, so has Ford, why is GM so reluctant?.

Just another thought

The Vette is often called Americas Only Sportscar, and US Vette owners are rightly proud of this aknowledgement, so why not put it out there and see how it stands up to the worlds competition?. We will all win!

Competition either on the track or in the economic reality of the world market, makes the breed better. So everyone including those in the US would also benefit by getting a better vette with more competive breeding.

We really only see two main players in the US for sports cars, the Vette & the Viper. How can this be good for the consumer? they just agree to cut up the market in equal shares and you get what is provided. The reason that Europe & the world have such good sports cars is the comptition between manfacturers, not just on the track, but on price, style, usability etc etc.

Anyway, I would love to be able to walk into a local showroom and fill out the options sheet on a new RHD C6 Vette, and be able to enjoy all the benefits of this fanatastic car in my country without any of the draw backs we currently put up with.

Just my $0.02 worth.