Right Hand Drive, in US, - Advice (300TDI R380)

[taylorRichie]

Hi,

I'm looking at a Defender 110 but it's right hand drive, and I'm wondering if it's something I'll really like long term.

How do you guys feel about RHD? Difficult to get used to? Worth it once you are used to it? What about switching back and forth from Left, and Right hand drive vehicles?

The difference in price with an LHD and an RHD is Huge, which makes the RHD more in my price range.

Also what are your feelings on the 300TDI, with the R380? Good solid configuration? What's the estimated lifetime of a properly maintained 300, with R380? Anything I should look out for?

Thanks so much!!

Richie

 

[bobtail4x4]

My 200 tdi has done 240,000 miles just on basic servicing.

I have driven a LHD car over here (our roads are far more crowded) with no problems.

and often drive a RHD on the continent, you soon get used to it.

 

[stevenmd]

I prefer RHD. It took about 30 seconds to feel comfortable. Sometimes I find it difficult to adjust to LHD after driving the 109. In fact, I am in the process of accumulating parts to convert my rangie to RHD.:smiley_drive:

 

[telwyn]

Love my RHD Lightweight. Literally just took a few times to get used to. Can switch back and forth between my LHD Ranger Rover and RHD Lightweight with no problem.

Only challenge is at a 3 or 4 way stop when the hardtop is on. Very hard to see traffic to the left.

 

[taylorRichie]

Great!! the feedback has been even more positive than expected!!

Only other question... Is there any difference in Registering the vehicle?

And my biggest concern... can I convince myself to sell the vehicle that I've grown to love.

 

[Christian P.]

You will quickly get used to the RHD.

But no matter what anyone will say, there are some inconvenients if you will only use it in a LHD country.

The biggest one in my opinion arises when you want to overtake a truck on a small road. You just can't see ahead properly.

 

[stevenmd]

You should have no issues registering your RHD.

 

[taylorRichie]

Would an '84 110 with the 300TDI and R380 make for a good daily driver? I have a 3 mile commute to work

How about noise? Both Road noise, engine noise etc.

How about repairs? Engine, suspension etc.? Anything to look out for? Parts expensive? Hard to get?

Vehicle has the original Salisbury rear end, I'm assuming it's drums, ideas on cost of Disc conversion (if I'm correct that it's drums) What about Locking, or LSD for the rear?

Main purpose is to be a family camping vehicle (2 adults, a child, and 2 dogs) and I love that it should get ~25 MPG. So prolonged trips won't hurt the pocket book as much.

 

[Maryland 110]

If you don't like it rhd convert it. I have done many.

 

[stevenmd]

Would an '84 110 with the 300TDI and R380 make for a good daily driver? I have a 3 mile commute to work

How about noise? Both Road noise, engine noise etc.

How about repairs? Engine, suspension etc.? Anything to look out for? Parts expensive? Hard to get?

Vehicle has the original Salisbury rear end, I'm assuming it's drums, ideas on cost of Disc conversion (if I'm correct that it's drums) What about Locking, or LSD for the rear?

Main purpose is to be a family camping vehicle (2 adults, a child, and 2 dogs) and I love that it should get ~25 MPG. So prolonged trips won't hurt the pocket book as much.

Only 3 miles? Dude, I'd drive a tank 3 miles to and from work if I could!

 

[kellymoe]

I have driven a RHD 130 just about every day for the past 7 years and love it. You will get used to it fast.

 

[tonysmallframe]

I had a RHD Mini Cooper in Washington DC for a while. It was great, but it was hard to nose out for right hand turns sometimes. I'm guessing that was more due to the size of the car, rather than what side I was sitting on. Seems like the Land Rover would have you much higher and it wouldn't be much of an issue.

 

[taylorRichie]

If you don't like it rhd convert it. I have done many.

I checked the link in your signature... Looks simple enough!! If I don't like it... or even if I do I may swap it over. Thanks for the advice! I'm not well versed in these machines, other than I know I've always wanted one.

Only 3 miles? Dude, I'd drive a tank 3 miles to and from work if I could!

Yeah I mostly ride a vespa during the warm days, a V-strom during the cooler days, and the VX during the Winter / COLD days.

Going to be hard to switch to a non V named vehicle... Vespa, V-strom, and Vehicross... weird.

 

[PajEvo]

I'll echo what many others have said here: you get used to it fast, and learn to like it (better, in some ways).

I've been driving RHD's for 4 years. In a smaller sporty type car (lots of Skylines imported up here) visibility might be an issue, but I find in a higher SUV with lots of glass, visibility is not an issue. You get used to passing on a single lane highway - wait for a turn, start your pass from further back, or be patient and stay where you are.

I prefer driving mine to my wife's LHD crossover, because I'm so comfortable on the right.

 

[bobtail4x4]

I checked the link in your signature... Looks simple enough!! If I don't like it... or even if I do I may swap it over. Thanks for the advice! I'm not well versed in these machines, other than I know I've always wanted one.



Yeah I mostly ride a vespa during the warm days, a V-strom during the cooler days, and the VX during the Winter / COLD days.

Going to be hard to switch to a non V named vehicle... Vespa, V-strom, and Vehicross... weird.

dont forget landrover 101s came as a vampire, but they are uber rare,