What was the first car you drove and what car did you officially lean to drive in?

[chris200]

I passed my test in 1983 at the age of 17 in a Ford Fiesta 1.1
That was back in the day when it was considered illegally legal for your driving instructor to give you half a Valium just before the test to calm your nerves!
I got my first car 3 months later. It was a blue 1981 Ford Cortina 1.6L and my dad bought it for me because it was a "good towing car." I was flying around in it pulling a flat trailer delivering beds and mattresses for him.
It was my pride and joy and I put red go faster stripes down each side and down the centre of the bonnet. Isn't it amazing how things you do seem so "right" at the time but "oh so wrong" when you look back?? lol

 

[HB]

He thought I was joking. He **** himself when I did the emergency stop and said " all learners should have brakes like that "

 

[Troon]

First "drove" a Mini Moke down an international runway at age three; learned to drive in a 1983 2.0L Sierra estate that was very tail-happy in the wet when empty.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

E30, what a car to take your test in. Did the examiner get very nervous?

Probably not as nervous as my brother's examiner when he took his test in a 1933 Austin 7 "Nippy". It started to rain during the test and my brother asked the examiner to hold up an umbrella because the car's hood was away for repair. He failed!

 

[chris200]

.....it started to rain during the test and my brother asked the examiner to hold up an umbrella because the car's hood was away for repair. He failed!

lol

DID THE EXAMINER FAIL TO HOLD UP THE UMBRELLA OR DID YOUR BROTHER FAIL HIS TEST???

 

[aquanaut]

My mums peugeot 205 diesel and driving instructors white XR2! Back in the late 80's. first owned car escort 1.6 ghia

 

[Deleted member 65149]

lol

DID THE EXAMINER FAIL TO HOLD UP THE UMBRELLA OR DID YOUR BROTHER FAIL HIS TEST???

Both!

 

[MCFastybloke]

Lessons and test in ford fiesta 1.1 back in 85.Then a mini van 850cc I think,it was bloody old when I bought it,i do remember my TPTF premium was 10 week take home pay(basic).I wonder how this relates to new drivers premiums now.

 

[Cyclone1]

The First car I drove was when I was 16 back in 1987, a Renault 5 GTL in brown , it was bought for my older sister to learn to drive in and then have as a first car. Whilst it was a banger (1978 S plate) I loved it, unfortunately my contribution to the car ended up with it having a replacement front bumper, two headlamps, a grille and a replacement bonnet. As it wasn't mine and I shouldn't have been driving it, it cost me a few months worth of pocket money to pay off the cost of the parts....hence the bonnet being red from the local scrappers as we couldn't source a brown one , which to me sort of enhanced the looks of the car

The official car I learned to drive in was a Ford Escort.

 

[NickGLE350DE]

Austin of some form (mid 50's) on a farm at 15, found a tree in the hedge, made a good brake. First official on the road car was a Mini Van 1967 in Green and a hole in the foot well Drivers Side. We used to carry my wife's (to be) 7 year old sister on a mattress as a temp seat in the back for trips to the coast (can't imagine doing that now!)

 

[219]

First drive was in my dad's Series 1 Land Rover in his haulage yard , then on various construction sites when I was about 11 or 12 . I also used to get to drive the Bedford TK tipper trucks off road .

My formal driving lessons started on my 17th birthday in my dad's 220/8 , which I also passed my test in , and was subsequently given it when he replaced it with a W123 250 .

 

[mcreagh]

The first vehicle I learnt to drive was a scimitar cvrt (tank). It had a 30mm Rarden cannon and a Jaguar straight six 4.2 litre engine and could reach up to 60 mph. Great fun and the military paid me for the privilege. I am now it to my luxury mode with a Mercedes S Class and I don't get paid for that.

 

[SteveG_UK]

Learned in a driving school Beetle. Passed test after less than 5 hours ever behind a steering wheel. Not sure I could do that now (this was 1969).
First car Anglia 100E bought from auction for £30. Two weeks later sold back through auction for £15 - It burned more oil than petrol. But what a joy that car was(n't) - three gears; stick it in what you thought was 1st and you went backwards. Reverse was where you'd expect 1st to be and there was no gate to stop you. Thankfully after doing this at traffic lights when there was nothing behind me, I didn't do it again.
Windscreen wipers were fabulous - vacuum driven you couldn't see a thing if it was raining and you were going uphill 'cos they stopped. Then going down the other side the wipers knocked hell out of the body going at 10 wipes a second.
Cars really were junk back then!

 

[pugilist]

I learnt to drive in a Mk2 Lotus Cortina. It was a scarey experience for both of us!
I have had many cars since but that Lotus Cortina started my love of cars. I currently own C320 CDI sport, BMW 320 M sport coupe and a Mk2 Golf gti.

 

[PXW]

First drive was Dad's mustard yellow Triumph 1500 on a campsite on holiday once year. Apparently I was very quick in it, but not so hot on braking in time. Official learning to drive car was an Austin Metro 1.3 HSE - my driving instructor was doing well enough to be able to afford the upmarket version. There was a strategically placed little square AA sticker in the back window... "Keep that level with the kerb when you are reversing round a corner and you won't go wrong....'"

 

[Luke_C]

I learnt to drive in an 08 plate Toyota Auris diesel, that was the first time I'd ever driven. Once I passed my test, I bought an 08 plate fiesta as my first car.

 

[acer54]

I learnt in a Ford Escort MK1 and bought an Austin Cambridge - long long time ago lol

 

[Dieselman]

When I raised this thread it was just as a matter of interest, but having read it now have a thought.
Some of us learned to drive in crabby old cars with no driver aids at all, or only the minimum such as servo assisted brakes, whereas some of us learned in modern cars with all aids available.

I wonder if those that learned in cars without modern aids, acquired more practiced skills in some areas, such as driving in snow or car control in wet conditions, thus have less fear of such conditions.

Just a thought...tin hat on...

 

[Deleted member 55947]

I suppose the emergency stop is one that's changed for sure. When I did mine you could skid but had to keep the car in a straight line ie be in control. No such problems with modern breaking systems.

 

[jay1983]

Citroen ax gt which I brought as a scrapper and fixed up myself. Drove it on private land until I passed, then couldn't afford the insurance so had to sell it.
Was gutted to let it go.