Newbie Here - Help Me Pick - Which X5 for My Family?

[X5Sport]

Very nice, even if the steering wheel oddly seems to be on the passenger side.....must make driving difficult......

[Raj]

[quote="X5Sport"]
Very nice, even if the steering wheel oddly seems to be on the passenger side.....must make driving difficult......
[/quote]

Even with the steering wheel on the right side I think you'd still find driving difficult... )

[sarends]

Ha, very funny.  But you know what - I had to travel to London for a business trip in 1985, and being an American, I thought I had to rent a car to get around (boy was I wrong).  It was a little Fiat and I thought it was going to be incredibly awkward, but once I pulled out onto the road on the wrong side (the left side) and the driver's side of the car was towards the center line, it all made sense.  The little Fiat was even a manual and since I could still use my right foot for the gas and my left for the clutch, all just seemed "correct", and I caught on to the UK configuration literally within 15 - 20 minutes!  Every once in a while I had to pinch myself, but I couldn't believe how natural it became, pretty quickly!

Have you ever had the opportunity to try a left steering wheel car in a country where you drive on the right side? 


[quote="X5Sport"]
Very nice, even if the steering wheel oddly seems to be on the passenger side.....must make driving difficult......
[/quote]

[amacman]

[quote="sarends"]
Ha, very funny.  But you know what - I had to travel to London for a business trip in 1985, and being an American, I thought I had to rent a car to get around (boy was I wrong).  It was a little Fiat and I thought it was going to be incredibly awkward, but once I pulled out onto the road on the wrong side (the left side) and the driver's side of the car was towards the center line, it all made sense.  The little Fiat was even a manual and since I could still use my right foot for the gas and my left for the clutch, all just seemed "correct", and I caught on to the UK configuration literally within 15 - 20 minutes!  Every once in a while I had to pinch myself, but I couldn't believe how natural it became, pretty quickly!

Have you ever had the opportunity to try a left steering wheel car in a country where you drive on the right side? 


[quote="X5Sport"]
Very nice, even if the steering wheel oddly seems to be on the passenger side.....must make driving difficult......
[/quote]
[/quote]

Aye , I have driven both configurations in UK and overseas , LHD in the UK and RHD in other countries and like you say , you adapt very quickly .
The one type of vehicle which demands a lot of concentration for a while is an articulated heavy goods vehicle or as you call it in the USA , a big rig . especially on narrow roads and in busy city traffic .  Reversing manoeuvers demand your attention particularly with the wrong sided steering wheel for the country because you really should reverse with the side of the trailer nearest to you in view from your side window so as you can see to the rear of the trailer but inevitably need to do what is known as a blind side reverse whereby you can`t see it from your side window and all you can see on the opposite mirror is the side of the trailer and your drivers side mirror pointing at the scenery .

Congratulations on the new machine . It will keep you amused .

[Raj]

Agree on the 2 posts above at how natural it feels and you adapt very quickly. Although I do remember nearly driving down the wrong way on to a highway in Texas. But in my defence, my 3 drunk passengers weren't helping and I was 1am. Quick reverse is an understatement.

Driving a RHD car in mainland Europe makes you think more as you are on the wrong side of the car for road. Was interesting the first time I did that.