R56 Right Hand Drive
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Right Hand Drive
Now this may sound stupid, but as I'm really quite bored this time of night and have been going out of my mind on things about my mini which should be ordered sometimes soon, I figured I'd ask.
Being unique is something all of us wants and i can think of nothing better than a Right Hand Drive car. Is there any way to order a Cooper S for the US in right hand drive?
Also...getting an automatic (not my fault, not happy about it).
Anyone know if the ***** are the same sizes as the manual ones? Like if i went to an online store and got a new **** meant for a manual would it fit?
Being unique is something all of us wants and i can think of nothing better than a Right Hand Drive car. Is there any way to order a Cooper S for the US in right hand drive?
Also...getting an automatic (not my fault, not happy about it).
Anyone know if the ***** are the same sizes as the manual ones? Like if i went to an online store and got a new **** meant for a manual would it fit?
Well you could make anything happen with the right amount of money. Im guessing that it would be a decent amount more even with them all coming from the same factory. It's a novelty but im not sure why you would really want that. It would get pretty old in our left hand drive country.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,479
Likes: 1
From: South Florida.
I think there may be a DOT regulation prohibiting the selling of a new RHD car in the US. The only ones legally sold are the USPS delivery trucks. I might be wrong, can any one verify this. ???
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,037
Likes: 283
From: Melbourne, FL
This is from a document provided by the National Highway Transportation Safety Agency - NHTSA -
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...elig060109.pdf
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...elig060109.pdf
While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, these may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, we will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises us that the right-hand drive vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in dynamic crash tests.
the document goes on to list vehicles that have approvals and specifically lists if a RHD is approved ... curiously there is a listing for MINI - the 2005 Cooper convertable (europian market) - but it does not specify RHD
So I'd say your aswer is 'maybe'; iI'd say you could you'd have to start from this point (someone has begun the work for you) and then petition for extension of the approval to more years/models..... and add RHD....
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I was wondering the same thing a few days ago. I drove a RHD Skyline and to me it seemed like a lot more fun than LHD. If there's a way to get a new RHD MINI here, I want one.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 0
You can get RHD cars im the US. Jeep has always offered a RHD wrangler. You do have to order it but you can get it. I think a lot of it depends on the car company wanting to bring it to the US. I think your best bet would be to go into a MINI dealer and tell them exactly what you want. And if you can't take a trip to england and buy one and have it shipped. Sure it's gonna cost you more but you will have an amazing RHD car.
A friend has a RHD twin turbo Supra that is a ball to drive. Over 700 horsepower. It is a beast and beat any car i've taken on in it. Including vipers and vets.
A friend has a RHD twin turbo Supra that is a ball to drive. Over 700 horsepower. It is a beast and beat any car i've taken on in it. Including vipers and vets.
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,037
Likes: 283
From: Melbourne, FL
if you check my ref, rhd Jeeps are on the list ......
getting something NOT on the list is the issue
it appears that the RHD jeeps are not made in the US
or not for the US market, thereby requiring an exemtion ,,, full circle!!
getting something NOT on the list is the issue
it appears that the RHD jeeps are not made in the US
or not for the US market, thereby requiring an exemtion ,,, full circle!!
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