Prompted by the 2CV thread, wondered what car you learnt to drive in? My instructor's car was a red Datsun 100A (don't see many of those now). I passed in 1976 - 1st time of course!
Was n't allowed to practice in Dad's car (1976 Alfasud) so the Datsun was my only learner vehicle.
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I learnt in my instructors Ford Escort 1.3 Bonus (god only knows what the bonus was though!) It was on an F-plate and i leanrt to drive in 1997 so it must have been about 10 years old then.
He currently uses an S reg Maestro to insruct in - yes it's one of those rehashed ones that even the bulgarians didn't want to drive!
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Ford Fiesta 1.1L in Red JJX 208W! It had a really harsh clutch so I became very good at clutch control!
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Silver Mk1 Escort 1100L in 1974. A doddle to drive smoothly.
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Fiirst few lessons in a Mini at school with a private road circuit, good experience but instructor had a v short fuse
Mostly Datsun 1200, Ted Rhodes driving school, Yeadon, Leeds. Passed first time in May 1977.
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The driving instructor's car was a Ford Fiesta, but my parents took me out in a 1500 VW Beetle and a Morris Minor. The VW and Morris were much easier to drive!
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Snap! Mk 1 Escort (1100 I think) two-door. In 1972, and have never driven one since. Nothing against them, just never happened across one since; to drive, that is.
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Mk5 Fiesta
First car was/is a mk4 LX (No PAS, ABS, etc - less to go wrong!) And further to the 2CV thread, I totally agree with the sentiments of modern cars being too 'insulated' - the basicness of the Fiesta means it's actually quite rewarding to drive, and as I've had it for so long I know exactly what it's going to do 99% of the time.
I've given up trying to explain to non-motoring interested friends/people how a little Fiesta can be fun and interesting to drive though, life's too short. It's satisfying knowing that anything done well was done by me, not an emergency traction control system.
The 306's are apparently renowned for good handling so here's hoping it will be just as much fun when I get it.
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Snap again,Mk 1 Escort,pale blue,1972,first time pass.They were great cars to drive,could see why they became rally winners and still are raced by enthusiasts.
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Practiced in my mother's '82 1.1 Mk1 Fiesta.
Passed my test in my instructor's Austin Allegro 1.3 in May '84.
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Driving school has two cars, a 1.1 Fiesta and 1.3 Escort Mk11 (rwd). I only drove the Fiesta. On day of test the Fiesta had a problem so I had 30 mins practice in the Escort and passed first time! Lovely car with a tiny gearstock that made driving a pleasure.
At home we had a Peugeot 604 Auto, Honda Civic, Alfasud and Mini Clubman and drove them all.
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Espada III - well if you have a family and need a Lamborghini, what else do you drive?
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www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=16646&...e
:-))
Surprised it was as long ago as October 2003 when I found the thread though!
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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A Peugeot 504 family estate
Do I win the prize for the biggest learner car?
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Lessons in a red Opel Kadett, IIRC a 1.2, reckon it must have been a '78 model, plus pratice in my mother's Austin 1300 that I later wrote off!
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"A Peugeot 504 family estate"
Me too, 7-seater. You?re not one of my brothers by any chance are you?
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A Peugeot 504 family estate Do I win the prize for the biggest learner car?
I don't think so - a mate of mine learnt in a Landrover 110.
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Dave,
I'm not your brother.
Not unless you're my sister.
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I did a fair bit of practice in a 1947 Bentley Mark VI....
O
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Jaguar XJS V12 - comes with free personalised oil tanker.
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My grandfather's 1968 Hillman Minx (Hunter shape) - UNP 126F (very sad that I can remember the number). Can't have been so bad, I passed first time 7 weeks after my 17th birthday.
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>> A Peugeot 504 family estate
>>Do I win the prize for the biggest learner car?
>>
I don't think so - a mate of mine learnt in a Landrover 110.
Nah nah - mine was even bigger - a Bedford TK - lots of guys got their car license on a "pass one get one free" offer - we learnt to drive from scratch in a 4 tonner, and only took an HGV class 3 test, with an Army examiner!
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I learnt to drive in a Y reg BSM 1.2 Corsa comfort that my instructor had, and went out with my mum in her bright blue Nissan Micra Wave. The best learner car cos it was SO easy to drive.
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Mostly Dad's 1.0l red Metro (which he alter sold to me for an extortionate price) and my instructor's black and gold Vauxhall Nova.
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Dad's Austin A40 (WHJ 174) and the SOM Morris Minor, 1962.
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White BSM Triumph Herald 1968 vintage .Great for three point turns with that fantstic turning circle.Easy to see out of and the little tail fins were good pointers for reversing. I passed my test in 1969 aged 17.
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I wasna fu but just had plenty.
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I really learned to drive a car in my Father's Reliant three-wheeler.
Since I had already passed a motorcycle test, I could take the Reliant out on my own, without "L" plates or being accompanied. The only disadvantage was that, whilst I was driving, the insurance excess was horrific!
Once I could drive that, I did go to a driving school for a short period where they had Vauxhall HB Viva's. Couldn't take a car driving test in a Reliant, unfortunately, you would only get a motorcycle licence and I had one of those already! After just a few lessons I passed my test in one of the Viva's.
I quite liked driving the Viva, far easier to drive than the Reliant. As my Father always used to say, "If you can drive a Reliant you can drive anything !!!" He was right, too. The clutch on the three-wheeler was so fierce you had to have the greatest ability in control to be able to pull away smoothly. By comparison, the Viva has a beautifully smooth clutch which was almost effortless to use. I can, however, clearly remember my instructor telling me that this particular car had had four clutch changes and it had only done 25,000 miles! They obviously didn't last very long when used as a school car.
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Old bedford van of my Dad's with the old "piggy snout" front. Three column gears, brakes not the best. First time I drove it on the road was on a narrow road without room for two cars to pas let alone a big lump like the van. It was old even then back in 1970 but we didn't have a lot of money....never been frightened of driving a big car since!
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Looking back to the 2CV thread, I got the Chieftain; a 1979 Volvo 244DL four speed manual when it was nearly new, and my mother and father had saved hard to buy it, cash.
Stodgy enough handling to teach a learner how to handle a car sympathetically, and enough torque from the B21 (No, not the bomber!) carburettored engine to forgive any poorly selected gear. The gear change itself was also the best I have ever used; a real snickety-snick rifle bolt action with wonderful tactile feel.
Drawing a parallel with today, the question however is, "Would I allow a seventeen year old son to learn to drive in our 2003 V70 2.4T?"
Not on your life.
My father is far more trusting than I, it would seem!
I would, however, let a son or daughter learn to drive in a 2CV just as would 'let them' have a motorbike. That I am here and in one piece today is in no small part due to my parents giving me just enough rein to make small mistakes and learn for myself rather than wrapping me up in cotton wool.
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Hindustan Ambassador - unbreakable - once you drive that in Indian traffic, everything else is a doddle.
Took my test in the Uk in a BSM Metro - passed first time
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Its that long ago i have almost forgot. I can remember a crash gearbox and semaphone indicators
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Took my first few automotive steps in a gas powered 51 plate Micra 1.0. Quite a pleasant car to drive, but was quite 'numb' with no feeling or feedback through the wheel or pedals. Also, not that fast in 5th, or 4th for that matter, which could make dual carriage way lessons a 'mash the pedal and wait for a response' kind of experience, especially up hill.
Later on, I learned in my '93 Polo Genesis 1.0 4 speeder as well as the Micra. Despite its age, it felt far more lively than the micra, and was in some ways, nicer to drive, but not as spacious.
Prior to these 2, my dad allowed me to have a go of his 93 Xantia when I was about 15/16. With no tuition at all! Surprised I managed to make go or stop. Actually, this was the first car I ever drove.
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In an Austin A40 in 1966, the lessons cost me 7/6 for an hour from our local driving school. Took the test in the car and passed first time, felt really smug as the lessons went up to 10/0 per hour(50p)the next week. Had to take a morning off school for the test, and had to take a note from my dad to the headmaster to ask if I could have the time off, please.
My dad bought a 1935 Austin 10 for £4:00 so I could supplement the lessons and not destroy his beloved Humber.
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I had lessons with my parents in a Land Rover Discovery, and with an instuctor in a 1.6 Focus.
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1956 Ford. I think it was known as a 100E Popular. Not the "sit up and beg" shape, but the later 3-box shape. It had a three-speed gearbox with no synchromesh on bottom. It wouldn't go at less than 20 in 2nd and I was never taught to double declutch and this led to me failing my first test ~ I used to cross uncontrolled urban crossroads (of which there were plenty in those days) at 20mph without stopping!
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L\'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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Morris 8 convertible - in the drive, had the most savage clutch in Christendom.
Mini - ditto, aged 9 smacked it into the corner of the house in front of about 20 family and friends.
Hillman Imp - in the drive and on Tockwith airfield
Triumph Spitfire - ditto
Morris 1100 2-door - finally took to the road in Durham. Instructor's first chastisement "Keep left, keep left, you're not supposed to straddle the white line!"
Must have been something to do with my airfield training...
Hawkeye
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Stranger in a strange land
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X Reg Talbot Samba, when it started!
Plenty of experience gained with bump starts, keeping revs up whilst braking etc etc
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Driving school, Vauxhall Viva HB. I hated it (sharp clutch didn't help) and failed my test twice in it. Eventually, I passed in an older HA version that they had, which I only drove for one lesson just before my test. It was a much nicer car to drive.
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back to '63 in Triumph Herald (grey/cream) - paid £10 for course, had 9 lessons and the other £ covered test cost .. loved the car and bought one.
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Learned in my father's 1969 Vauxhall Victor, which he later gave to me, and I took off to university. Lovely car! Took the actual test in a Talbot Samba (remember them? - a little roller skate from the early 80s) after a few final lessons from an instructor.
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Vauxhall Viva HA, the original very boxy Viva - with a boot - great for learning reversing as has been said. Perfectly docile clutch and one of the best gearchanges of all time! Modern clutches can sometimes match it, but no current learner car shifts so easily and positively. Low power and torque to the rear wheels would presumably have facilitated this achievment.
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A Fiesta, and my instructor got a new one with 5 gears just before I took my test which made for some interesting 2nd gear to 5th gear moments!
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Auatin 10 1934. An absolute load. The kingpins were shot so steering was a matter of the thing having a mind of its own, the brakes pulled every which way, the gearbox was a crash 3 speed, and the thing took ages to start on the handle (this was before the 10-Year Test, as it was known then, and which was voluntary anyway).
Only good thing was I paid 3 quid for it and sold it for five. Almost a whole week's wages.
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First started driving a Bedford Scammell lorry in the yard of the firm, during my lunch breaks, where I was an apprentice. Then took my test after 2months in a Ford Cortina 1500 and past first time in 1966, then drove my Dads Cortina 1200.
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A couple of lessons in my instructors Vauxhall Chevette and then my Mum's Mini 1275GT which drew a disapproving glance from the examiner when he spotted the (factory fitted) go faster red stripes.
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A Morris 10. There was no test at that time, but my father coughed up for driving lessons anyway; they went on until the instructor said I was fit to drive and I don't suppose he said so too soon!
The school was just off Sauchiehall Street, so I'm OK among trams anyway. There was considerable dismay when a half shaft broke in the middle of St George's Cross; this was not my fault, the car had seen sevice all through the war.
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A blue SEAT Malaga, of all things, circa 1987. For those of you unfamiliar with pre-VAG era SEATs, this was a 3-box saloon related to the Fiat Ritmo/Strada (but not too closely, as their deal with Fiat had expired by this time).
Don't remember a great deal about it, other than it being pretty underpowered and having an unforgiving clutch.
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A Ford Anglia 100 E, three speed box, side valve engine and those awful vacuum driven wipers which stopped when you put your foot down to overtake!
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Me too,pull starter, no syncromesh on first, two stage choke that made it sound like a kettle on cold mornings.Driving instructer's car 1100,luxury.
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Cor blimey there's a lot of oldies in here!! "I learnt in a Model T Ford (in black)"
I learnt in a Corsa, that had the unique ability to steam up every window within about 4 seconds of me taking control (it was winter when I learnt). All my friends had instructors with power steering cars, but not mine - felt like battling with a tank rather than a little corsa!
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Hi Chris
Cor blimey there's a lot of oldies in here!! "I learnt in a Model T Ford (in black)"
What's the problem with oldies?
I learned, initially, in the old man's 1947 Austin 16 (Quite a motor - built in jacks, I seem to recall, leaky sunroof, rear window blind, all good stuff at the time) Went on to pass my test( first time, of course, as was the case with most of us old timers!) in 1962 in a driving school Minor 1000.
First experiences of "real" driving in Triumph Herald Coupe- girls friend's mothers's car - that I spun on a greasy road, (Elvis on the radio at the time, I recall) putting it backwards into a stone wall! She liked me (the mother that is; not sure about the girl friend) so was forgiven and two weeks later a van drove into the side of her and the damage I'd done was sorted out in the claim. How jammy is that!
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Started my lessons in a 1986 'C' Mazda 323 1.5.
Was a nice car, I remember!
The instructor retired Xmas '86 so I moved over to a new instructor with a Peugeot 206 Diesel. Huge improvement.
I have had a fair mix of cars since, 2/3 of which have been diesel.
Cant see me changing back to petrol soon either :)
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Diesel SWB Landrover! My parents thought I might do less damage to myself or the family car (1960 Hillman Minx) Lots of potential for doing damage to other things of course.....!
I eventually got a try of the Minx and I can remember how nice and light and easy it was compared to the Landrover.
Happy days!
Graeme
Graeme
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1991 in a C-reg nova 1.2 merit. i had never been so keen to go shopping to Tescos with my mum so long as i drove there! Easy car to work on although i tried to persuade my mum to sell it so i could buy a mk2 RS2000. Still wouldn't mind one now
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My parents' Morris 1000 Traveller and driving school's Triumph Toledo, 1972.
Cheers, SS
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In 1965 in my mum's Morris 1100, BPA 919B (another saddo who can remember the number). A better bet than the instructor's Standard 8 which was as clapped-out as he was.
Failed first time, then had a couple of lesson with BSM who knew the testers in Farnborough ("If you get the fat one, get a move on. If you get the thin one, he was overturned by a learner once so go slow"). I got the thin one and did as I was told!
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My first car was a 1969 Renault 10 given to me by my Mum. I practiced in it with both my Mum and Dad, and passed it onto my brother when I got another car. I took lessons from a driving instructor and passed my test first time in a Mini on 30th June 1981 then aged 17.
God I can't believe it was 24 years ago......
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Chad Valley pedal car at 24 months or thereabouts...long, long time ago.
Dvd
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Chad Valley pedal car at 24 months or thereabouts...long, long time ago.>>
I had one of those ..... was always breaking down!
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1965 Renault 8.(the boxy rear engined one. Great car - disc brakes all round, fully independent suspension and a delight to drive! Sadly, it rotted before your eyes.
Took my test during a blizzard, luckily, my Dad's idea of a hundred weight of King Edwards in the front boot did wonders for the car's handling in the snow!
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I took my lessons and test in my Dad's 550cc Honda Acty pick-up, back in about 1991.
Did try the instuctor's Nissan Sunny, but having started off in the 'Sooty van', couldn't get the hang of having a bonnet in front of me.
Do I win a prize for most-underpowered learner vehicle?
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only ever had a couple of lessons in a chevette but was self taught in the yard of the garage i worked at mainly in beetles and if you can drive a beetle with confidence then you can drive anything...cheers...keo.
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Mum was too nervous to teach me in her brand new Orion, so I learnt in the following instructors cars: Y reg Escort 1.3, C Nova 1.2, D ref Nova Antibes and occasionally a Belmont(!). Passed 1st time in the D reg Nova, but it put me off Vauxhalls for life!
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It was 1975 in a Mk1 escort in purple of all colours. Can't remember if it was a 1300E or not. Passed first time as with the bike test, (wow that's another story), and the instructor would not let me or any of his pupils drive home after the test. Toooo excited apparently. Happy happy days and ones that I long for! Life seems so mundane now. Compliance compliance and compliance.
Very BEST Regards as ever,
Martin D.
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