Indicator Stalk Placement. VW Puts It on The Left in The New Amarok

Euphemistic on 16/05/2023 - 15:58
Last edited 16/05/2023 - 18:44

I don’t get it. New Amorok is built on the Ranger platform, even apparently has the same steering column shroud. I can sort of understand they’ve put the indicator stalk on the left to match other VWs, but why must they persist with putting the stalk on the ‘wrong’ side for RHD vehicles?

They go to the effort of novo mg the steering wheel and adapting the dash and other parts, why can’t they put the indicator on the right ‘right’ side - away from the gear stick.

I have only rarely driven a vehicle with the stalk on the left, but frequently hit the wipers when I do, then often end up hitting the wipers back in my car too.

I understand having it on the ‘same’ side is easier for manufacturers, but IMO it shouldn’t be on the gear stick side so you can change gears and flick the indicators easily at the same time.

Thoughts?

Poll Options

  • 241
    Indicator should be on the right in all RHD cars
  • 21
    Doesn’t matter I put the wipers on instead anyway
  • 12
    Should be all on the left like all LHD cars
  • 12
    Doesn’t matter as all cars are becoming automatic anyway
  • 20
    Bikies
  • 2
    Didn’t check under the bonut thingy (forgot to add this initially)
Automotive

Comments

      • foursaken on 18/05/2023 - 11:06

        My mistake.

        I have to admit I drive a car with this quirk, and it doesn't bother me, and I don't really remember having to get used to this, so perhaps I should just butt out.

        Peace.

  • stumo on 18/05/2023 - 10:34

    UK cars are RHD yet have the stalk on the left, so your entire premise is BS.

    • Euphemistic on 18/05/2023 - 10:36
      -1

      Lots of UK cars come from Europe. How is the premise BS if the vast majority of Aussie and Japanese cars have them on the right?

      • stumo on 18/05/2023 - 10:36

        European cars are LHD lol.

        • Euphemistic on 18/05/2023 - 11:42
          -1

          And they build lots of them in RHD for the UK.

          • Thinkswithelbow on 19/05/2023 - 07:20

            @Euphemistic: But the stalk isn't changed. Eg the focus and fiesta are both built in Germany and are supplied both LHD and RHD but the stalk remains the same. Shipped here too ( until just a few months ago) and to the rest of the world

  • kaleidoscope on 18/05/2023 - 10:46

    why must they persist with putting the stalk on the ‘wrong’ side for RHD vehicles?

    It's just that doing a RHD version is not an important matter for them. Its not just vw btw, Tesla recently axed rhd production vehicles for model x/s. Having driven a corolla in past and now a vw, you'll get used to it.

  • JimB on 18/05/2023 - 11:14

    It doesn't matter much, you'll get use to it even when swapping cars.

    I use to drive a manual Euro car, so you need to indicate earlier before downshifting before turning.

  • THICKnSLOW on 18/05/2023 - 11:22
    -2

    More importantly, why are people buying VW's!

    • Euphemistic on 18/05/2023 - 11:41

      It’s OK now, these are fords in everything but the badge.

    • kaleidoscope on 18/05/2023 - 11:43
      +1

      why? diesel gate? give it a rest 😝

  • Mungulz on 18/05/2023 - 12:30

    This is a stupid thread.

    Where's the option for "I hate euro cars that have the indicator on the RHS"

    The only time I ever get slipped up is when I drive a euro that's been changed over, like the Focus.

  • Herbse on 18/05/2023 - 12:33

    It's a "vw must feel like a premium euro car" decision.

    People buy them specifically to look and feel like they have bought a premium car. In most areas, vw do excel in being more premium than other brands (at a cost to the purchaser). So these people don't want to have their indicator stalk on the right like some common Mitsubishi.

    They specifically spent several thousands of dollars to design and implement a left hand stalk to keep their premium euro aura.

  • Willy Beamish on 18/05/2023 - 15:21
    +1

    who cares, these cars are always driven by people that never actually use them for work or carrying anything, pointless dong extensions.

  • jasiano on 18/05/2023 - 15:38

    ah.. the old "I've got lots of $$ to buy a fancy ute and need to tell people but hide it in a complaint post so I don't seem like I'm bragging"

    if it was really that much of a problem you should have bought a Ranger.

  • hopper on 18/05/2023 - 17:49

    Only reason why I will not buy tesla…. And also I can't afford

  • Daabido on 18/05/2023 - 21:55

    It's for the wank Euro factor. Steer and indicate with the left, wank with the right.

  • Witchdoctr on 19/05/2023 - 00:15

    You know I came to say its a non-issue as I have owned both. But come to think of it all the manual cars I have driven and owned have been Japanese or Korean and it would be a bit annoying to have the indicator on the gear side.

    Guess you could get a BMW and not worry about it because they don't use them anyway :P

    • Thinkswithelbow on 19/05/2023 - 07:16
      +1

      I've never found it annoying…I have a manual with the stalk on the left. It's never been and inconvenience nor has it impacted the way I change gears.

      I thought it might…but it didn't

      Also for the op.
      It's a cost saving measure too. Just one less thing that needs to be moved.

      • Witchdoctr on 19/05/2023 - 13:38

        Well there you go! Honestly I feel like you can get use to anything and really it will probably get rid of bad habits like leaving your hand on the stick.

        I just remembered I did test drive a manual version of my current car which is euro and didn't really notice an issue but ended up with the auto because it suited the car better. One thing I DIDN'T check and is really bloody annoying is the size of the cupholders, they are "just" big enough to take a can. So my travel coffee cup and water bottles don't fit and its a royal pain in the ass…

        • Thinkswithelbow on 23/05/2023 - 07:48

          My car has it too… 2 normal cup holders then this little small one in between that has enough space for a red bull can or those slim soda cans (200ml)
          Odd….but I guess they're using all of the wasted space between the 2 cup holders

  • tonyjzx on 20/05/2023 - 15:06

    let us assume Ford did this the correct way… they kind of have to i guess since they still care about rhd markets

    so they have seperate part skus for lhd and rhd

    so VW just requested the LHD set of parts for all markets

    so that's it

    if they arent sold as manual cars it matters even less

    i find it kind of funny how the OP was fairly neutral in what he said, he was a bit incredulous whatever but somehow so many people jumped on him as if he was the antichrist… i mean.. that just about says it all for most car forums

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