[Oztrich Boy]

Who had the “brilliant” idea to start putting the gas fill on the RH side of the car?

I could maybe give the Japs a pass since they drive on the “wrong” side of the road, but now American cars are starting to do it too. It really defies any sort of sense.

Makes gas pumps a royal PITA when these cars are in the mix, especially if there’s any sort of a line.

First, what do you mean: "the “wrong” side of the road"? It was that way since the time of the Greeks and the Romans, until the French changed it in an attempt to set a fashion trend.

It's called the starboard side because that's where your steersman, or chauffeur should sit. Similarly you should board on the loading or larboard side, just as you do when you engage in equestrianing.

Secondly, have had three jap cars (Datsun, Mazda, Toyota). All had the fuel filler on the left side, which is appropriate when driving on the correct side of the carriage way, because

Thirdly, loading of fuel from kerbside pumps should be done on the larboard side so as not to endanger the filling station attendants.

If you change the side of the road you drive on, it gets weird and confusing

[Fresh Wind]

Some Jaguar models solved the problem by having fuel fillers on both sides of the car.

Of course, what they could never get right was the issue of building a car that would run long enough to need refilling.

[chrisser]

Personally, I don’t care which side is “wrong” or “right”, “traditional” or “newfangled”.

Common sense would dictate the filler door to be on the same side of the vehicle as the steering wheel, or in a centrally accessible location.

Personally, I distrust any manufacturer to get the rest of the car right, if they overlook something this simple.

[RegulatorCountry]

You seem to believe that gas stations just sitting curbside like that are the norm. They’re certainly not in North America. Here, the logical answer would be to put the filler on the driver’s side.

Isn’t it rather stupidly dangerous to have people fueling with traffic running past in the next lane at highway speeds, by the way? Looks like a recipe for a major explosion to me.