What silly misconceptions about cars did you have as a child?

As a very young child, I never realised that drivers used pedals to control the acceleration, braking and gear changes.

I just assumed the car "knew" when to speed up and slow down etc. For example, it would know to stop outside our house, as that's where it belonged. It would know to stop at a red light etc.

I used to love watching my Dad drive and I even got hold of a Highway Code and taught myself the most frequently seen road signs.

One day, I asked my Dad if I could drive the car (I was about 4). He said no. When I questioned why he told me I couldn't reach the pedals.

Gutted... No idea they were even there!
 
I believed that scandi flicks, jumping over cars, obstacles and creeks were all part of normal driving when you were a 'good guy'. Obviously too much watching the Fall Guy, Knight Rider and Dukes of Hazzard :o
 
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Hussman said:
As a very young child, I never realised that drivers used pedals to control the acceleration, braking and gear changes.

I just assumed the car "knew" when to speed up and slow down etc. For example, it would know to stop outside our house, as that's where it belonged. It would know to stop at a red light etc.

I used to love watching my Dad drive and I even got hold of a Highway Code and taught myself the most frequently seen road signs.

One day, I asked my Dad if I could drive the car (I was about 4). He said no. When I questioned why he told me I couldn't reach the pedals.

Gutted... No idea they were even there!
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I've let the kids steer a bit on our street in the past (cul-de-sac, and sat on my knee, with me holding the wheel as well). They loved it.
 
Housey said:
Ghia meant automatic.

The first time I saw a manual 3L Granda Ghia was an epiphany, not least as my Dad was driving us on holiday in it!!

Think 1970's, 2 tone, blue over silver, 3L with 5 on the floor.

To this young lad it was THE BEST CAR IN THE WORLD

It als had radio AND tape player
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Whilst awaiting delivery of his Mk3 2.9i Scorpio Granada (F Plate) my dad was given as a loaner, a last of the line Mk 2 2.8i Ghia X "Executive" with Connoly leather interior.

With the wonderful benefit of hindsight, I now realise what a real "Unicorn" car that was, and, that due to some production delay, he could have simply taken that Mk 2 instead of the Scorpio for a significant discount.

The Mk 2, visually at least, was way better than the hatchback that superceeded it,how I wish he'd gone for it..

He always said he much preferred the Mk 2 Granadas to the two Mk 3's that replaced it indeed even the two e34 BMW's that replaced those cars!
 
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Scania said:
Whilst awaiting delivery of his Mk3 2.9i Scorpio Granada (F Plate) my dad was given as a loaner, a last of the line Mk 2 2.8i Ghia X "Executive" with Connoly leather interior.

With the wonderful benefit of hindsight, I now realise what a real "Unicorn" car that was, and, that due to some production delay, he could have simply taken that Mk 2 instead of the Scorpio for a significant discount.

The Mk 2, visually at least, was way better than the hatchback that superceeded it,how I wish he'd gone for it..

He always said he much preferred the Mk 2 Granadas to the two Mk 3's that replaced it indeed even the two e34 BMW's that replaced those cars!
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Yes that Mk2 was a lovely car back then. The one my dad borrowed from a friend for our holiday was a Mk1 which was also lovely in its day. Like Rolls Royce to me as a kid when my dad had a Morris Oxford.
 
theone8181 said:
I've let the kids steer a bit on our street in the past (cul-de-sac, and sat on my knee, with me holding the wheel as well). They loved it.
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I bet. I would have been over the moon if my Dad had allowed me to do that. Your children have a great dad.

When I was a bit older I was allowed to move the gear stick on some journeys. Dad would say "change" and depress the clutch. I had to move the stick at the right moment. I felt very grown up :)
 
Here's another one, which isn't related to driving per sé. I used to think that old films were in black and white not due to the technological constraints of film, but because the world was in black and white at some time in the past.

I mention it here because it nearly caused a car accident when I asked my dad while out in the car one day, "When did the world switch from black and white to colour?", and he nearly bumped into the back of someone at a junction because he was laughing so hard :D
 
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I had no idea about what cars were reliable or not, my first car was a Renault 19, second a Vauxhall Nova SR and third a Renault Mégane

I never bought a Vauxhall or Renault again after that
 
Relentless81 said:
I had no idea about what cars were reliable or not, my first car was a Renault 19, second a Vauxhall Nova SR and third a Renault Mégane

I never bought a Vauxhall or Renault again after that
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Loved the Nova SR, it handled well from memory but my favourite feature was the oil pressure gauge (!) I’ve no idea why mine you… :D
 
I disliked auto BMW 6 cyl engine sounds! In fairness it was only when playing outside and hearing them groan along changing gears at slow speeds...

E36 as well, so some of the nicest sounding 6s!
 
Scania said:
Loved the Nova SR, it handled well from memory but my favourite feature was the oil pressure gauge (!) I’ve no idea why mine you… :D
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This was over 20 years ago I can't remember the gauge, I do remember spending a fortune on body kits, a respray, wheels exhaust and intake and it breaking down on the M60 leaving me stranded one night!
 
You know how kids with a toy steering wheel will turn it violently this way and that I thought that was how it was done... when I actually learnt to drive I found out its the opposite you want to keep the wheel as straight as possible most of the time I remember that being a bit of a revelation.

nlel1975 said:
When I was about 6 I used to think driving bin lorries was cool. I wanted to drive one when I grew up.
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I used to think the same about trains my parents especially my mother was horrified and did everything to put me off. Ironically with what they get paid now I'd be minted.

Housey said:
Ghia meant automatic.

The first time I saw a manual 3L Granda Ghia was an epiphany, not least as my Dad was driving us on holiday in it!!

Think 1970's, 2 tone, blue over silver, 3L with 5 on the floor.

To this young lad it was THE BEST CAR IN THE WORLD

It als had radio AND tape player
Click to expand...

Ghia's had radios as standard! You didn't have to get a saw and cut a hole in the dash. Awesome!
 
Scania said:
Whilst awaiting delivery of his Mk3 2.9i Scorpio Granada (F Plate) my dad was given as a loaner, a last of the line Mk 2 2.8i Ghia X "Executive" with Connoly leather interior.

With the wonderful benefit of hindsight, I now realise what a real "Unicorn" car that was, and, that due to some production delay, he could have simply taken that Mk 2 instead of the Scorpio for a significant discount.

The Mk 2, visually at least, was way better than the hatchback that superceeded it,how I wish he'd gone for it..

He always said he much preferred the Mk 2 Granadas to the two Mk 3's that replaced it indeed even the two e34 BMW's that replaced those cars!
Click to expand...
The Scorpio must have been older than F-plate. The Mk3 Scorpio started in 1985 on a B plate with the 2.8i engine from the Mk2. It went to a 2.9i in 1989. Production of the Mk2 ended in 1985. So either the Mk3 was an early B/C-plate 2.8i or the Mk2 was already 4 years old.
Sorry for being a pedant. I had a lot of Granadas and Scorpios in my youth.
 
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That I'd wash my car weekly or always keep it minty fresh. I'd always offer to clean my dad's car.

Now I'm older I'm like meh, it looks good dirty.
 
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