Hello group,
Been lurking around here for the last week since seeing my first Delica on the street and have been obsessed ever since. I feel like they are the best road trip vehicle ever designed, comfy, spacious, lots of cool things to play with ect. So I am going to get one as soon as I have the time to actually go lot hopping.
I have one question which I haven't found answered and would appreciate some input. Here is the situation, turning left at busy Vancouver intersection a big cube van/delivery truck ect. comming from the opposite direction also turning left in the intersection waiting his turn, can you actually see when it's clear to go or do you wait for the light to change before making a break for it?
This sound like a great group. So many people offering to take people for rides to try the delica out, free help ect. Contrats for making a group without all the negitave stuff that most of them have
Cheers Gary
driving question
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g_man1972
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:52 am
- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Vehicle: 92 super exceed
- Location: Vancouver
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Adrock
- Posts: 750
- Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:02 am
- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Location: Richmond B.C.
Re: driving question
This is the most difficult situation facing a right hand drive car as far as i'm concerned. Solutions are as follows
1. You have a passenger, they can see whether it is clear or not, you just have to be able to trust them
2. On the delica there is a mirror on the front left mirror arm that is used to see how close your front end is to things, I believe it is possible to adjust it in a way that allows for you being able to see oncoming traffic at a left turn, but haven't done this myself.
3. Wait. Lights don't take that long. Remember, the law is, turn when you feel it is safe, so ignore any possible honks from behind, and do what you feel is safe. This isn't usually a problem though because at busy vancouver intersections how many times do you get a chance to turn before t he light changes anyways.
4. You can do the lean. Delicas are actually fairly narrow, and in many situations I have been able to lean over to the passenger side pretty much to where a driver would be able to see from, so with a little effort its no different.
5. buy and isntall a camera in the back of your passenger side mirror. If you're that into it congrats, and i bet it would work alright, but I most likely would never go that far.
I have been driving my delica since october (with 30 000+ km since then). Life seems to cruise by at a nice easy pace in the delica, and making that turn as soon as possible just isn't that important anymore. Plus, getting the big tires and a bit of a lift prevents anyone behind you from being able to see if it is safe anyways, so you're fine haha.
1. You have a passenger, they can see whether it is clear or not, you just have to be able to trust them
2. On the delica there is a mirror on the front left mirror arm that is used to see how close your front end is to things, I believe it is possible to adjust it in a way that allows for you being able to see oncoming traffic at a left turn, but haven't done this myself.
3. Wait. Lights don't take that long. Remember, the law is, turn when you feel it is safe, so ignore any possible honks from behind, and do what you feel is safe. This isn't usually a problem though because at busy vancouver intersections how many times do you get a chance to turn before t he light changes anyways.
4. You can do the lean. Delicas are actually fairly narrow, and in many situations I have been able to lean over to the passenger side pretty much to where a driver would be able to see from, so with a little effort its no different.
5. buy and isntall a camera in the back of your passenger side mirror. If you're that into it congrats, and i bet it would work alright, but I most likely would never go that far.
I have been driving my delica since october (with 30 000+ km since then). Life seems to cruise by at a nice easy pace in the delica, and making that turn as soon as possible just isn't that important anymore. Plus, getting the big tires and a bit of a lift prevents anyone behind you from being able to see if it is safe anyways, so you're fine haha.
"if its so hard to pull on your knob, put some greese/wd40 on the shaft and pull in and out, that should make it happen for you."
-westcoastnewbie
-westcoastnewbie
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mattias
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:37 pm
- Vehicle: 1992 Super Exceed (Green)
- Location: Vancouver
Re: driving question
My wife and I were also concerned about left hand turns, especially since we live on a busy intersection in Vancouver. Adrock has some great ideas, but I guess I want to say that left turns haven't been a big deal for us at all.
The riding position is high and the visibility is excellent, so often you end up looking over the top of the car which may have otherwise blocked your view. I lean sometimes, but since I usually drive our Delica like a granny so I'll end up waiting for the light if I can't see.
I have sometimes found right turns more sketchy: often I'll be leaning way forward to look around the pillar behind the left side passanger window. This happens when I creep into the intersection a little and make the first few degrees of the turn.
Overall the visibility in the Delica surprised us, and I was thankful another RHD owner could calm my wife's fears about making safe turns. Good luck finding your van, you'll love it!
The riding position is high and the visibility is excellent, so often you end up looking over the top of the car which may have otherwise blocked your view. I lean sometimes, but since I usually drive our Delica like a granny so I'll end up waiting for the light if I can't see.
I have sometimes found right turns more sketchy: often I'll be leaning way forward to look around the pillar behind the left side passanger window. This happens when I creep into the intersection a little and make the first few degrees of the turn.
Overall the visibility in the Delica surprised us, and I was thankful another RHD owner could calm my wife's fears about making safe turns. Good luck finding your van, you'll love it!
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g_man1972
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:52 am
- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Vehicle: 92 super exceed
- Location: Vancouver
Re: driving question
Thanks for the info,
That was my main concern especially with two little ones to truck around. If you guys are able to do it without too much problem I won't count it as a limiting factor. I must say, using one of those back up cameras is a heck of a cool idea even if I just use it 99% of the time because its cool to have a CCTV in the van:-). Would probably help with passing on the left as well... who am I kidding, from what I have heard I won't be doing much passing in this beast!
Take care
That was my main concern especially with two little ones to truck around. If you guys are able to do it without too much problem I won't count it as a limiting factor. I must say, using one of those back up cameras is a heck of a cool idea even if I just use it 99% of the time because its cool to have a CCTV in the van:-). Would probably help with passing on the left as well... who am I kidding, from what I have heard I won't be doing much passing in this beast!
Take care
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marsgal42
- Posts: 772
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:05 pm
- Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
- Vehicle: The Mighty Gumdrop
- Location: Burnaby, B.C.
Re: driving question
I've found that if I can't see around the other vehicle in my Delica, I'm not likely to see around it in my (LHD) Jetta, either. I'll wait, thank you.
Passing is largely a moot point. The straight-line performance reminds me of my air-cooled VW days. But Delicas sound way cooler.
...laura
Passing is largely a moot point. The straight-line performance reminds me of my air-cooled VW days. But Delicas sound way cooler.
...laura