Swap sides?

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:57 pm

As I drive other cars as frequently as I drive the Bongo I'm getting fed up with Washing my headlights and Flashing my windscreen.

has anybody tried swapping the steering column stalks over to the "proper" way round.

I went to wash the screen last night and dazzled some poor so and so in a Golf who made the mistake of being in front of me at the time.

I've searched on stalk swap and side but found nothing relevant.

Are all Mazdas kack handed? or are other models the usual way round?

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:04 pm

A pair of white cotton gloves with FLASH on one and WASH on 'tother should solve that. AH ! you might say "but what about at night when it's dark" AH" we have a answer for that as well. A LED head torch modifyed so you have 2 LED lamps, one on each temple.
Sorted.

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:14 pm

I don't need to look any more (except when in the Bongo) so wouldn't remember to look anyway.

I just hate flashing other drivers when I don't mean to.

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:15 pm

This made me laugh. Every time I swap cars I swap sides - always have. Good luck.

John the sparky · Post by **John the sparky** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:21 pm

its the empirical way.........

[shudder]do you not remember old BL cars from the seventys!!![/shudder]

John

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:30 pm

mobilecat wrote:This made me laugh. Every time I swap cars I swap sides - always have. Good luck.

So do I 90% of the time, it's the other 10% that concerns me.

It's also the 10% of times I forget to put my foot on the clutch in the other cars as I approach junctions.

Post by **mobilecat** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 11:36 pm

scanner wrote:
mobilecat wrote:This made me laugh. Every time I swap cars I swap sides - always have. Good luck.
So do I 90% of the time, it's the other 10% that concerns me.

It's also the 10% of times I forget to put my foot on the clutch in the other cars as I approach junctions.

I know - I spent yesterday and today getting used to an auto as never driven one tommorrow. I have blocked my other car in the drive and cant be bothered to move it which means hubby gets the freda tommorrow so I have to drive a manual - I am probably going to die!

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:28 am

And doesn't an auto stop quickly when you put your foot on the clutch it doesn't have?

It's strange but I have no trouble driving left had drive cars, only with the cack handed stalks.

Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:48 am

It is probably not worth the amount of work involved to swap the stalks, British cars all use to be this way round, and it seemed odd driving an import. Full circle you might say.

Post by **mobilecat** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 12:49 am

Bob wrote:It is probably not worth the amount of work involved to swap the stalks, British cars all use to be this way round, and it seemed odd driving an import. Full circle you might say.

I just assumed every car was different. I have never driven an import before yet I am always swapping sides.

brorabongo · Post by **brorabongo** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:02 am

Could you take stalks from another car, maybe a 323 or 626? Thats if they fit, and are the right way round for you. As to swap your originals around, would either make them back-to-front, or up-side down, or both.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:36 am

Good point Brora....

I know what you mean though Scanner, i've had my bongo for years now, and still get it mixed up after i've driven my focus for a while...

The bongo is the only japanese vehicle i have ever owned,so i'm not certain if all other mazda's (even uk spec ) have more europeanised stalks ( i suspect not ).

I can envisage that even after swapping them (if it is possible) that your sub-conscience will tell you that you are driving the bongo,and you may automatically start using japanese stalk technique without thinking!

I bet you get it the right way round at the moment 90% of time eh? That means that on the whole you have got it suzzed! All of us slip up at least once a day...

jimsmimm · Post by **jimsmimm** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:42 am

all japanese cars made in japan have their stalks this way round..which if you drive jap cars all the time you soon realise is the correct side.... unlike my mrs nissan x trail which was obviously built in europe...

scanner · Post by **scanner** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:06 pm

It won't matter to the indicator stalk as all that has done is rotate 180 degrees so the new down (left turn) will equate to the old up (left turn) The lights will turn on in the same way and moving the stalk to and from the steering wheel will still operate main beam and flash in the same way. The wiper stalk will still operate the wipers but by moving up instead of down and that varies from car make to car make in any case and won't take long to get used to.

It's solely that I hate occasionally flashing the headlights instead of washing the screen - especially if it puzzles/p!55es off other drivers when I do so.

Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:19 pm

Agreed, it is emarrassing when you toot or flash when you meant to squirt, or vice-versa.