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 voted no, BUT...

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]

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!!!

 

[Tomrw]

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

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

I agree with Tom.

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]

Wow!

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]

Dave Hill says NO for C6 RHD

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

David

 

[78SilvAnniv]

RHD

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]

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.

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]

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

:duh

 

[LongTimer]

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]

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.