No, I can't think of a single reason other than manufacturer preference. I've recently owned two french cars (citroen and peugeot) with exhausts on the same side, but the filler cap on opposite sides.

Perhaps someone should submit it to Radio 2's "Fox the Fox" on the drivetime show and see if there's really a reason... if anyone can find out, "The Fox" can

Just one thing that's confusing me here about the "Offside" and "Nearside" terminology.

I have often heard these used when I get a tyre replaced, but surely it would differ on the continent due to them driving on the right? So in Britain, the "Nearside rear" would be referring to the back tyre on the "Left" of the car, but on the continent it would be the back tyre on the "Right" of the car?

How confusing.

Peter.

Edit: I text the question to 118118 and you couldn't make up a worse response: "The fuel cap is on the side of the car so you don't damage your door if you park too close to the pump". What?

I reckon there is a giant game of tug-of-war, what ever side wins is the side on which the petrol cap goes, left and right is indicated by someone standing on one side of the rope and using their LHS or RHS...
The teams are picked via an elaborate game of rock, paper, scissors....When one person is out, they get assigned left or right based on what hand they write with, then the next person out goes on the opposite side and so on...

Fairly fool proof I think, and I'm not sure Peter could prove me wrong

I have a Corolla and the cap is on the left hand side of the car.

If you have a left hand drive car on an English road, which side is the nearside? Are Continental tyres reversed compared to Goodyear?

Can we just say "Port" and "Starboard"?

It would be less confusing for everyone. As Peter pointed out, and I believe he's correct, our friends driving in Europe have their nearside on the farside. Oh wait, isn't that a comic strip about bipedal cows? Whatever... Stupid expression anyway!

It's nearside on my Mini.

Passenger's side.

The fuel filler is normally placed on the nearside of the car. However, if the car is designed in a country where driving on the left is the norm, or the car has been converted to RHD, the filler can be on the offside.

I have a pug. French.

It's on the drivers side, so the left.

Left as you stand in front and look at it? Right side from a seated position in the drivers seat!?

Why can't we just say Passenger side or Drivers side?

She's Welsh. Don't they drive on the right over there?

Depending on where you go, there is no left or right
Just one long lane with a layby every few hundred yards!

Offside for me and always has been. Never stretch the hose around my car and if that makes my a precious car wussy, so be it. If nothing other than from a convenience point of view I'm surprised more European cars aren't fitted with nearside, as that would make sense in a predominantly LHD world.

I understand that all this terminology comes from horse riding. You always have to look at the preceding technology as its terminology usually educates the replacement. Even the reason we drive on the side of the road that we do is to do with horse and carriages and beating off assailants.

When my other half has recovered from her migraine, I’ll ask her. She knows a lot of stuff like this.

I'm sure that it had something to do with Napoleon, but CBA checking at the moment.