What car did you learn to drive in? Shocked to see what learners are now driving...
- Thread starter slinxy
- Start date
1998 and my instructor had a 106 Xsi. Great little car to learn in agreed.
Even stopped for smoke breaks.
Soldato
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- 17 Sep 2006
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- Gloucestershire
Well as SUV's are literally every bloody where, for reasons I cannot understand (yes I don't have kids), then surely it's more appropriate?
My driving instructors car was a relatively new Skoda Fabia, with a stupidly light clutch. My mum's car at the time was an old 205, that drove like a tank. No power steering, super heavy clutch and diesel. It was quite the challenge to drive the two!
My driving instructors car was a relatively new Skoda Fabia, with a stupidly light clutch. My mum's car at the time was an old 205, that drove like a tank. No power steering, super heavy clutch and diesel. It was quite the challenge to drive the two!
Massey Ferguson 135 tractor, was about 7/8 at the time. Then all sorts of tractors, cars, jeeps, motor bikes. Then at the age of 17 i had my first lesson in a Peugeot 205 of some description, then had my second and final lesson/test in the same car a couple of weeks later.
Lessons & actually passing my driving test was a 2L Austin Maestro, back in 1987
In terms of early driving experiences on private roads, many varied things, including a Hillman Imp, ford transit van, Auston Westminster, Austin A35, a a rover P6 V8
In terms of early driving experiences on private roads, many varied things, including a Hillman Imp, ford transit van, Auston Westminster, Austin A35, a a rover P6 V8
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A 1974 Ford Escort (mk1), learning the basics on a disused airfield (ex WW2 bomber base) when I was 15-16.
Whilst a mk1 might bring to mind thoughts of rally cars, mine was an exhausted ex-panda car, resprayed in black. In summary, you'd climb in, sit on the black leatherette seats (which invariably seemed to be at the same temperature as molten steel). Put me off ever owning a black car again. It handled like a trawler and was utterly gutless.
To finish it it, when we first got it, the drivers seat appeared to be broken, as if you pushed on it, the back would rock. Turned out that the seat was fine, but the floor it was bolted to most certainly wasn't.
Whilst a mk1 might bring to mind thoughts of rally cars, mine was an exhausted ex-panda car, resprayed in black. In summary, you'd climb in, sit on the black leatherette seats (which invariably seemed to be at the same temperature as molten steel). Put me off ever owning a black car again. It handled like a trawler and was utterly gutless.
To finish it it, when we first got it, the drivers seat appeared to be broken, as if you pushed on it, the back would rock. Turned out that the seat was fine, but the floor it was bolted to most certainly wasn't.
I believe it was so, a column mounted three speed change but there was the option of a four speed floor mounted lever for the FB. But I never had any formal driving lessons and also passed first time.
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I owned a 1962 ford zodiac Mk111 in 1975 with a similar column change.
(Austin) Princess 1800 from 1977 - learned in '82-'83. It had a dodgy speedometer that only started working when you hit 30. In the test I had to accelerate up to 30 quickly so the instructor didn't notice you couldn't tell how fast you were going
Soldato
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- 13 Sep 2003
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All rosy, until I took her out in her own little car.........And to put it bluntly, she had no idea how to drive a car!! No idea on clutch control, biting point, handbrake use, reversing using mirrors etc....Mr Instructors Alfa apparently had all the toys that did everything for you. It was a massive shock to the system and caused a lot of tears.. ( not mine)
I think there's a bit of a problem with the regs not keeping up with vehicle changes and also changes in the various industries.
When I did my ClassC HGV it was a requiment to use a manual lorry with an 8 speed gearbox (unless you wanted an auto only license). However, there was a work around because Scania had made an 8 speed automatic lorry with a clutch pedal.
With hindsight I was glad I learnt in a conventional 8 speed, because that was what I ended up mostly driving. Had I learnt in an auto I wouldn't have had a clue. I stopped driving lorries about 2 years ago, and by then we'd phased out all the manual trucks. The rules have since changed, and as long as you took your car test in a manual you only need to pass in an automatic lorry.
While it probably doesn't happen often I can imagine the odd new pass being given a manual lorry and not knowing what to do.
Soldato
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- 1 Jan 2003
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- Derbyshire
I was part worried that my oldie worldie way of driving and no doubt years of bad habits would pass on to her and have a negative impact on her passing her test. I am a white van man (heating engineer) I also hold a bike license, and so I have a certain way of driving: give and take, bend the rules, take advantage, give advantage, constantly aware, and use indicators without fail......Which probably wouldnt result in me passing any test nowadays....But passing a test isnt any thing like real life on the roads.
Regardless of my way of driving, the daughter is an excellent driver for her age, and I'm glad she hasnt carried any of her mothers fears into her driving
Regardless of my way of driving, the daughter is an excellent driver for her age, and I'm glad she hasnt carried any of her mothers fears into her driving
