Lefties With a 6MT

VCuomo · 02-10-2012, 12:04 AM

leighspped · 02-10-2012, 12:08 AM

i do just fine

Mt Tam I am · 02-10-2012, 12:29 AM

I drove in London and shifting was easy. What was hard was figuring out which lane you'd end up in turning at an intersection.

Look left and go wrong.

LunaZ · 02-10-2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

I drove in London and shifting was easy. What was hard was figuring out which lane you'd end up in turning at an intersection.

Look left and go wrong.

Tell me about it. I had a hard enough time walking without getting killed!

mantella87 · 02-10-2012, 09:21 AM

I'm a lefty and I remember hearing about this issue when I was a little kid, I've never understood the problem. Probably because it's never affected me.

tonythetiger · 02-10-2012, 10:39 AM

righty here, would love to have authentic jdm z and drive on the right hand side :-)

Nick911sc · 02-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Lefty here... Driving stick with my right hand obviously isn't an issue. Sounds like your friend is making excuses lol. Does he use his computer mouse with his left hand? Or how about when someone shakes hands with him? It's all about developing muscle memory. Shooting a basketball or throwing a baseball with the non dominant hand is clearly a problem because of the motion involved. With practice you can become ambidextrous with almost any action.

theDreamer · 02-10-2012, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

I think it would be harder to drive a right hand drive manual.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWS44

I've always wondered what that would be like!

It is not as hard as you think.
1-6/R is the same so after the first 2 shifts you are use to the feel, the hard part for me was the turn signals and steering column controls are usually flipped. So I go for the turn signal and turn on the windshield wipers.

vividracing · 02-10-2012, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWS44

I've always wondered what that would be like!

The most difficult things are the turn signals/wipers (they're swapped) and getting used to judging distances. Also, passing cars is awkward since you can't see around the left side of the car. Totally worth it if you enjoy attention, though. 1st gear being far away, and having 5th/6th close is weird, but not as bad as the turn signal situation. Every time I've driven RHD, the windshield was really clean after a few miles lol

Oh, and drive thrus suck too. Going through backwards is your best bet.

DWS44 · 02-10-2012, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick911sc

It's all about developing muscle memory. Shooting a basketball or throwing a baseball with the non dominant hand is clearly a problem because of the motion involved. With practice you can become ambidextrous with almost any action.

Very true. I'm a righty, and my brother and I have played raquetball once or twice a week for many years now. Couple years ago, my right wrist was bothering me to the point I just couldn't really play using it anymore. Not wanting to stop playing, I decided to try it left-handed. Wasn't very good at first, but after a couple weeks, I got pretty good. After a bit of time, I was almost as good playing lefty as righty. Played lefty for quite a while actually before eventually switching back. Nowadays, I can actually switch back and forth if I want. (heck, I do it every now an then just to throw my brother off during a game.

)

theDreamer · 02-10-2012, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vividracing

The most difficult things are the turn signals/wipers (they're swapped) and getting used to judging distances. Also, passing cars is awkward since you can't see around the left side of the car. Totally worth it if you enjoy attention, though. 1st gear being far away, and having 5th/6th close is weird, but not as bad as the turn signal situation. Every time I've driven RHD, the windshield was really clean after a few miles lol

Oh, and drive thrus suck too. Going through backwards is your best bet.

That is why you always take someone with you, then you do not have to do anything in the drive thrus.

USMCASA · 02-10-2012, 03:38 PM

i'm a lefty and never had a problem... but then again i am amphibious

pedZ · 02-10-2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

i'm a lefty and never had a problem... but then again i am amphibious

amphibious???

wdkwang · 02-10-2012, 10:45 PM

lefty here. np as well
it's just one of those few things that i think lefties naturally adjust to. i can can't use lefty mouses or scissors. when i sat in the passenger seat pretending to shift with my left hand, it felt very awkward

Three7D · 02-11-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCASA

i'm a lefty and never had a problem... but then again i am amphibious

It sounds like his friend isn't from here, cause the OP said "here in the USA"?
Either way I'm sure he'll get used to it!

02-10-2012, 12:08 AM	#17 (permalink)
leighspped Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Morristown Posts: 444 Drives: US Rep Power: 14	i do just fine __________________ Performance: Fast Intentions LTH + CBX + Injen CAI + UpRev + KW3 + Whiteline sway bars + short throw shifter + 34r oil cooler = 335whp + (OS Giken Clutch and Diff) Interior : Recaro seat + Alpine HU and Rockford Fosgate Amp and Speakers + Passport 9500ci + JDM shift knob + LED's Forged avant garde m310's 19x9 19x12 RE-11

02-10-2012, 12:29 AM	#18 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3843	I drove in London and shifting was easy. What was hard was figuring out which lane you'd end up in turning at an intersection. Look left and go wrong. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

02-10-2012, 10:39 AM	#21 (permalink)
tonythetiger A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SA, TX Posts: 1,035 Drives: 10 Nissan 370z PG MT Rep Power: 193	righty here, would love to have authentic jdm z and drive on the right hand side :-) __________________ KWV3/Eibach/StillenG3/FI CBE+LTH+34Row/Uprev/SPL/SouthBendSS/QuaifeLSD/4.08/TommyKaira/Status/VolkZE40/AP Radical BBK/Seibon/Amuse/VIS/Sparco/WorksBellGTC/RJM/Nismo

02-10-2012, 10:45 PM	#29 (permalink)
wdkwang Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 899 Drives: slidewayz Rep Power: 21	lefty here. np as well it's just one of those few things that i think lefties naturally adjust to. i can can't use lefty mouses or scissors. when i sat in the passenger seat pretending to shift with my left hand, it felt very awkward __________________ Powerhouse Amuse \| K&N Typhoon Intakes \| MotorDyne ART Pipes \| Borla Catback Exhaust \| B&M Short Shifter \| Intake Ducts \| Ichiba 25mm F/R Spacers \| Carbon Fiber Interior Vinyl Wrap \| Tints \| 10000k HIDs \| Vtak, yo!

02-10-2012, 12:04 AM	#16 (permalink)
VCuomo Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 887 Drives: BMW 335i Sport Rep Power: 17

02-10-2012, 09:21 AM	#20 (permalink)
mantella87 Track Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 590 Drives: 2011 Z34 MT Rep Power: 15	I'm a lefty and I remember hearing about this issue when I was a little kid, I've never understood the problem. Probably because it's never affected me.

02-10-2012, 10:44 AM	#22 (permalink)
Nick911sc A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 1,698 Drives: 2010 Nissan GT-R Rep Power: 20	Lefty here... Driving stick with my right hand obviously isn't an issue. Sounds like your friend is making excuses lol. Does he use his computer mouse with his left hand? Or how about when someone shakes hands with him? It's all about developing muscle memory. Shooting a basketball or throwing a baseball with the non dominant hand is clearly a problem because of the motion involved. With practice you can become ambidextrous with almost any action.

02-10-2012, 03:38 PM	#27 (permalink)
USMCASA A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NC Posts: 1,152 Drives: 09 370z CY M6 Rep Power: 18	i'm a lefty and never had a problem... but then again i am amphibious