Lensman

Will it impede access to the gear lever?

jimbobjoe

That is indeed strange.

I would have thought that they would have swapped over the handbrake as well as the steering wheel for us.

Is that a Japanese model ?

Titanium Grey

Do you know if that is on or off?

jimbobjoe

I think that is with the hardbrake on.

But with the shape of the handbrake as it is I can't see that it will go down very far.

Lensman

Japanese yes, but I doubt they'll change the configuration just for the UK. They drive on the left too so why engineer a different solution for us? I can't help thinking that I'll want to rest my wrist on the brake lever (which IS up I think - that is brake 'on' ) and that I shouldn't! That wretched handbrake has been a bone of contention (whatever that is?!) since I first saw it. They obviously let the tea-boy design that bit for a laugh!

MarkW

I must admit it does look like it may be a problem, but I cant beleive the japanese would design a car with a fundemental problem like this for their own market.

Also, none of the UK mags have picked up on this as an issue and they have tested RHD cars.

Im sure it will be OK.

RobWilliams

I sat in the passenger seat of the LHD drive car in Geneva and ran through all the gears. The handbrake was not a problem.

Cheers

Rob

Lensman

So it IS on that side then RobWilliams?

lurcher

Hmm... take a look at this thread, with scans from the Japanese accessory catalogue, some nice toys.

http://www.rx8forum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3808

The brake lever is shown consistently on the right, looks to me like it should fold down okay though.

RobWilliams

Lensman

I believe Lurcher is correct and the handbrake is in the same location for both LHD and RHD but when I played around in the passenger seat of the LHD car it did not seem to be in the way.

Cheers

Rob

Ali

I wouldn't worry folks.

You guys ever tried an Alfa 75? If you were in 1st, 3rd or 5th gear you couldn't access the stereo. If you were in 2nd, 4th or reverse you couldn't engage the handbrake! Oh, and the electric window switches were on the ceiling, and the sunroof switch on the dash. After that, I can live with just about anything!

Lensman

LOL. Thanks, I needed that!

CraziFuzzy

on a somewhat similar note, i was very dissappointed when i got in the back seat of my father-in-law's PT Cruiser, and the switches for the windows are on the back end of the center console... practically on the floor... I guess some thing's I'll just never understand... I guess since every other current car out there has the switches near the windows they operate, that has somhow been deemed boring and ordinary, and somehow a bad thing... whatever... i give... PRACTICALITY BE DAMNED!!!! :-)

jimbobjoe

Just had a thought about this.

Everything else on the car is switched over from left hand to right hand drive except this handbrake, right ?

Of course what I forgot is that the gear shift positions do not get moved, i.e. 1st gear is top left whether you have a left hand or right hand drive car.

So I guess that the positioning of the handbrake always to the right of the gear lever is to insure that 1st gear is not interfered with.

RobDickinson

So 5th/6th/reverse is?

I think with todays tech and mazda's big brained car designers ( and I know what an agonizingly slow process car design is) cant come up with a handbrake that doesnt foul gear selection or get in the way?

Hopefully they havnt got this one wrong..

MarkW

I thought the handbrake was always on the R/H side of the centre console, hence the discussion about will it be intrusive.

However, looking at some of the pics taken elsewhere, I found this.

Have we beem missing something? Howcome there are RHD cars with the hadbrake on both sides.....

MarkW

And to compare Lensman's original picture....

Cylo

Is it just me, or does the text look backwards leading to the thought that the picture is reversed.

Lensman

Yep, it's reversed. Shame though, I thought we might have a result there.

MarkW

Bugger. Thought it was too good to be true

It is reversed as the heater controls are on opposite sides.

Is that some clever photoshoppy thing?

Lensman

Guess so...

EAST MOON

I often use the hand brake on load in Japan.
My elbow will become inflammation If the hand brake is in the left of a console.
That is too far for me.
My car is the right handle although you already know.
(My height is 175cm.)

thanks

mac

That is my concern as well, it looks pretty far away (I'm so used to having it in the middle). It looks like it's going to be a stretch each time. (I'm 170 cm). I hope that it won't be too much of a problem.