Because the ignition switch is on the left.

Le Mans?

Is that the same reason the ignition switch is on the left in my '71 F250?

Finally someone who understands...

How 'bout this...

When I was hired, I reported to a guy who was left-handed. His boss was left-handed. And HIS boss was left handed.

Great minds think alike...

When I first drove a 911, I stalled it at an intersection. Pretty embarrassing with the salesguy in the car. He was German, with a very thick accent. As I searched fussily for the ignition he said in an extremely snotty/haughty German accent:

"In Porsche it's on left-hand side"

I just loved that. Now whenever someone drives me car I say the same thing, the same way.

The Saab ignition location is just obnoxious. My wife hates it, isn't used to it after a year of driving the car. Also a nice expensive place to spill coffee.

Cheers,

I have often wondered this. I get confused everytime I get in a car! My Saab is on the floor between the seats, Porsche on the left, and my pickup is on the column. Glad I don't have a Camry, they're on the dash to the right of the wheel!

Hugh,

I was told that it's in this location in the Saab for safety reasons. So that in a collision, you have less to hit with your knees. The other pain with Saabs is it has to be in reverse to take the key out. Every time I get my oil changed, the key is in and on because the tech. couldn't figure out how to get the #@$% thing out!

The Saab key positioning is a reverse lockout feature. Pull key out and it locks the transmision in r. Try to steal car without key and force shifter results in a broken bushing which renders the car undrivable. A bear to fix, but better than getting your car stolen. It's also a great place to store crumbs that need to be vacuumed out every month or key will not work. Do not lend your car to a friend without telling them about this feature.
Oh yeah, One of the reasons I bought my porsche is because of the key position- I loved it when I was a kid driving around in my friends dad's porsche-no other car was like this which was "cool"!

I remember my dad used to have a '65 356C. It had a lock down on the shifter but I don't think it was the ignition.

blueskyjaunte???? do you work in a meat cutting / butcher shop operation? in college, my part time job was cleaning the butcher shop, and when i was offered a cutting job as a promotion, i thought of all the butchers i knew who were missing......parts....and declined the offer! so, do all these lefties have righties?????????????