What car did you learn to drive in?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 02:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - Rattle
I learnt in several and learnt the old fashioned way minus the choke (never drove a with a carb).

First car I ever drove was my dads Punto 1.1 8v with no ABS or PAS, just drove it 7:00am on a sunday morning in 1999 for a few weeks. I had no idea how to drive I had just turned 17 and when I turned a corner at 30mph in 4th and nearly loosing control my dad decided he wasn't up for the job of teaching me :(

I then got a proper instructor who had a 1.0 12V Corsa B, no ABS or PAS again and I remember having no torque at all. Had a few lessons before this until he upgraded it to a run out W reg Corsa B with a 1.4 16v with ABS and PAS.

At this point due to personal reasons and the fact I was working hard in college and university I gave up.

I started again a year later same instructor this time with a Clio MK2 P2 1.2 16v which I really liked driving. I had a test booked but due to lots of financial problems and other issues I had to cancel it :(. Never drove again for years until Janaury 2007. This was pre recession, pre expensive mobile contracts, pre £3 a pint etc and had a bit of spare cash. I saw this £400 Fiesta MK3 in a garage and went and bought it. I got the garage to drive it home my parents were a bit shocked but dad wasn't driving due to a DIY accident and I neeeded access to a car so it forced me to drive with my dad in the passanger seat.

In March 2008 a friend convinced me to have some lessons again, I had resigned myself to the fact that I would never be a driver and never bother taking the test as its too much hassle, I had bought a MK4 Fiesta Ghia for my dad so got lots of lifts. However I found a new instructor and found he taught me in a completly different way, suddenly I understood driving and he let me make all my own mistakes without nagging me constantly. He had a Clio III I found the car a bit boring but easy to drive, rather like you're driving on ice but in control. I took my test in October that year and passed with four minors. I then bought a MK4 Fiesta (the infamous one that lasted two months) to drive solo in before buying my current car ironically almost identical the Corsas I started to learn to drive in ten years ago!

My had passed in a Viva HB Viva in 1971 before buying a 1953 Morris Minor for £50, his dad had a Vauxhall Victor so when learning my dad had to drive that round London.

I think my biggest problem has always been never being able to afford a car, so when I had lessons when I was earning I was a lot more motivated. The biggest downside is the fuel bill alone is costing me as much as my entire bus travel used to per year!

In some ways the cars I was most fond of were the two non PAS Fiestas because it sort of give me a bit of nostalga and the rust patches all over the place made them unique.

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 03:02
What car did you learn to drive in? - Dave_TD
My first driving lesson was in my instructor's E-reg silver over black Nissan Micra (E*** YTM)

The other six lessons were in his brand new G-reg gold one (I was his first pupil to drive it, when it had only 50 miles on the clock - G** UUR).

I occasionally caught sight of both Micras locally for a good few years after they'd been sold on - the E-reg one was still going in 2007.

Practice in between lessons was in my dad's C-reg Escort 1.3L, which had been his company car for three years from new and which he then bought off them for a very reasonable price. I used the Escort for evening and weekend driving (once I'd passed) for about 8 months until getting my own car.

The Escort was memorable for being underpowered and overgeared - it would struggle to maintain 70mph in 5th gear if there was even a slight headwind.

Edited by Dave_TD {P} on 07/10/2009 at 03:04

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 03:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - Rattle
I have no idea the reg numbers of the cars I learnt in, the bloke I passed with despite being close to pension age is still teaching in the same Clio III on a semi retired basis so still time to catch his reg plate for future history. All the cars I learnt with which either my dad or I owned are now long gone :( I did drive my dads current car a lot though towards my test date.

In many ways his MK4 Fiesta is one of the best cars I have ever driven, it has many clonks and is on its last legs but its still lovely to drive.

I can't imagine how bad one of them Micras must be to drive now, all I remember them for is near silent engines but very boring.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 07:25
What car did you learn to drive in? - mike hannon
Triumph 1300 (FWD) school car and the old man's Austin Cambridge. In those days you had to wind the window down - by hand - to give signals.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:15
What car did you learn to drive in? - lotusexige
Triumph 1300 (FWD) school car and the old man's Austin Cambridge. In those days you
had to wind the window down - by hand - to give signals.

I did my test in Ireland in my mothers Triumph 1300 (FWD), reg IIH 458 in September 1967. I must have been one of the first few thousand or so to do the test in Ireland as it had only been introduced a year or two before that. She must have only had that car a few monts as I remember driveing the Morris 1100 that she had before it legaly on the road. Before that she had a Wolsley 1500 that I used to be allowed to drive on the beach and in and out of the driveway at home.
Most of my early illegal road dreiving was in a Leyland Comet truck, non syncro gearbox and no power steering. Dureing the school holidays I used to go everwhere it went and the driver would let me drive when we were on roads where we were not likely to meet any Garda. Great advantage that my father was a builder, lots of bulldozers and other toys to play with, I never had Dinky toys, just the real thing.
I've still never driven a bus though.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 07:41
What car did you learn to drive in? - cjehuk
Like you I learned in the family car back in 2000/2001. Started learning on my 17th Birthday in September 2000 and took my test in mid January 2001. Pretty much continuous progress, driving all the stretches of the family holidays etc unless motorways were involved, I did the driving. I learned in a VW Passat Estate 1.9TDI when it was the ultra torquey, economical 110HP version.

By the time I took my test I'd done about 4000 miles driving and had learned to drive in a similar style to my father, which meant I did all my reversing on wing-mirrors and changed gear when it was appropriate for the engine not in the prescribed driving school ways. As a result I had 3 official lessons where an instructor sat with me in the same car, to unlearn any of the habits I'd picked up. She told me to drive normally and about 5 minutes later told me I drove "like I'd been driving for years".

Today I'm probably as technically competent as I was then but I do tend to get more frustrated with Mimsers than I did in less powerful cars. I don't know if that's because I can go quicker now (without exceeding the limit) or whether it's because there are more of them, but I can't abide people who slow 20mph more than necessary for a corner. For me driving is something that came naturally but of course that's not the same for everyone, I was just lucky I guess.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 08:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - DP
In terms of learning to actually operate a car, it was in my dad's A registration Sierra 2.0GL estate. It was 1991, and I was 16 years old, and the venue was the local Park and Ride car park on the days before Sunday opening (it would be completely empty). Could only get into 1st and 2nd, but I didn't care. On my 17th birthday, I had my first lesson in the car I would pass my test in 3 months later - my instructor's G registration Micra 1.2GS. Almost felt like it drove itself after the Sierra, and was so much easier to manoeuvre, being about 2ft shorter. I remember right from my very first lesson, I could drive the car without even thinking about the actual operation of it. My instructor reckoned that saved quite a few lessons.

The Sierra also was the first car I drove "solo" after passing my test. About an hour after passing my test, IIRC. I bought one myself not long afterwards and kept it years. Always had a soft spot for them.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 09:01
What car did you learn to drive in? - L'escargot
12 lessons in a driving school 1956 Ford Popular 100E. Three speed gearbox, with no synchromesh on bottom. If you wanted to go at less than 20 mph you had to change into bottom, which needed double-declutching, and that was something I never learned to do. In fact the instructor didn't try to teach me. I failed the test in that car but passed a few months later in a 4-speed Morris Minor.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:11
What car did you learn to drive in? - old crocks
Like L'escargot in a three speed 100E Pop. I failed the first test due to not double-declutching down into first gear to go round corners. My dad couldn't so he didn't teach me.

So I went away, taught myself how to do it, and passed the next test. After the test the first thing the tester asked was who had taught me to double-declutch. As a shy seventeen year old, and not wanting to seem cocky, I told him my dad had.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:40
What car did you learn to drive in? - terryb
Aha!

I learned in my 100E Pop, failed the test twice due to the double declutching issue, then mastered the art and passed third time! Lovely car with those vacuum operated wipers.

842 AYU - I can quote the number because a few years after passing the test rust made the shock absorbers threaten to shoot through the bonnet, so I took it to the council dump and scrapped it (things were much easier in those days!).

Silly thing was it was a 1961 model - one of the last of its kind - and it was replaced by a 1959 105E Anglia! Four gears and proper wipers but no heater!
Terryb
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:59
What car did you learn to drive in? - old crocks
Yes tb, my 100E also ended up being driven half a mile to the dump and just left there.

Replaced with a 1961 107E Prefect. Four doors, engine and 4-speed box from the 105E Anglia and I think it had a heater although it was many years before I had a car with a heater that really worked.

Once drove it foot to the floor from London to Sheffield and only got overtaken by one car, an E Type Jag.......well that's how my fading memory remembers it!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 09:06
What car did you learn to drive in? - L'escargot
............ never drove
a with a carb.


Rattle, you don't know you're born. Carburettored cars with a manual choke would stall at the slightest provocation. It's almost impossible to stall a modern car. And three speed cars just don't bear thinking about.

Edited by L'escargot on 07/10/2009 at 09:07

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 09:12
What car did you learn to drive in? - Armstrong Sid
1974 Hillman Avenger driving school car. Bright orange with white half-vinyl roof. For its day not a bad car, and I've driven more modern stuff which was worse. Still the best car I've ever driven for heel-and-toe gear changing.

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 09:17
What car did you learn to drive in? - TimOrridge
Toyota Avensis 1.8 S reg, nice car. Instrutor always had medum size cars to teach parking better and gauge car size. Passed after 6 months in early 2000.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:14
What car did you learn to drive in? - ifithelps
Agricultural tractors in fields from about 13/14-years-old.

Mum's T-reg Ford Fiesta on the road, and the driving instructor had a similar car.

Passed after six lessons, but the test was much simpler and easier than it is now.

I had an uncle, must have been born around 1900, who never took a test - he just sent off for a licence.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:23
What car did you learn to drive in? - b308
A Maxi on the sands at Southport - my first "official" lessons were in some sort of small Datsun in '74 - not sure what it was though!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:37
What car did you learn to drive in? - dieselfitter
Triumph Herald - the definitive driving school car of the 60's. Actually, I remember it being a bit of an unforgiving pig of a car to drive well. The Herald had a very small turning circle, but we always warned not to use full lock in the 3-point turn, or it would stall for sure.

The last time I saw one of these was in the Coventry Motor Museum and I was a bit shocked how ancient it looked! This question kind of gives our ages away, doesn't it.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:40
What car did you learn to drive in? - commerdriver
Triumph Herald convertible couple of the lessons with the hood down. I found it OK to drive, no synchro on first was an early education, practised in parents' Viva HC 1256, what performance!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:46
What car did you learn to drive in? - k9dan
It was a 1977 Datsun Cherry, with a one man band driving school, who taught all of my brohers and sisters. It had an intergalactic mileage, and ran like a swiss watch.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:48
What car did you learn to drive in? - madf
1964 MG1100- father's car.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:10
What car did you learn to drive in? - Kiwi Gary
First thing I ever drove was a 1940's Fordson Major farm tractor. Graduated to the farm truck. When legal on the road, the family Jowett Bradford in estate form. Took my test in that. Later, when studying in UK, I took the test in Exeter using an A40 Devon. Now I am an O.A.P. who potters along at the speed limit, whatever that may be on the stretch of road. [ Well, not quite - I settled for 140 km/hr on the 150 km/hr limit Italian autostradae 3 years ago. The 1.6 Pug 307 HDi seemed happy at those revs.].
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:11
What car did you learn to drive in? - ohsoslow
In the early '60s, a driving school Ford Anglia with the backward rear window and my father's Humber Hawk. Occasionally a mate's Triumph Mayflower on a nearby dis-used airfield.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 10:58
What car did you learn to drive in? - BobbyG
Talbot samba, GSU159X with a manual choke which had a mind of its own.

I taught myself from the age of 16, up and down the driveway just practicing clutch control. Then this extended to going down the driveway, doing a U turn on the road, and back up the driveway. (All, obviously, whilst my dad was at work)

At midnight on 17th birthday, out onto the road, my dad being amazed at how quickly I had got the hang off the clutch (ahem).

From then, any time we were driving anywhere that was practical, visiting relatives etc, I would drive. Had one lesson with an instructor and passed first time, 3 months after my birthday.

With the Samba, it was touch and go whether it would start. No amount of work done on chokes, carb etc would make any difference. So if it didn't start, we would try bump starting on driveway. If that failed it was onto the main road and push it down that as it was also on a slope for about half a mile so we usually managed to convince it to start.

Of course, the first time I ever tried driving, was outside the dentist when I was 11 in my dad's Peugeot 504 Family Estate. He was at dentist, car was parked in an empty road. I knew how to drive, you just turned the key, dipped the clutch, put into first, let clutch fully up again, and then you were ready to drive using the accelerator and brake.......
When the clutch came up, and the car started kangarooing forward on its own...... well lets just say lots of air freshner needed!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:01
What car did you learn to drive in? - oldnotbold
First drove on the road in a Ferguson 20 diesel tractor. In those days you could drive at 16 on a provisional, on your own, with no L plates on the tractor.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:33
What car did you learn to drive in? - Alanovich
Instructor's car was a C-reg Mitsubishi Colt, quite rare then as now. Practice in between lessons was Mum's Escort 1.6 Ghia (Ooo, hark at him) and occasionally an old brown Wartburg estate around the fields of the family farm in West Wales.

Neither of my main learning cars had a manual choke then, but I'd learnt to use one by observation in Mum and Dad's old motors in the 70s, so they held no fear for me when I bought my first car in 1987 - a J reg 1.1 Mk1 Escort (Deluxe I'll have you know) with manual choke. Nae botha.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:36
What car did you learn to drive in? - helicopter
Like some others here I started driving tractors with trailers in fields on the farm and my first experience of driving on the road was in the 1950's when I was 8 years old . It was an old Case tractor and I had been driving in the fields so when we came to the road I was expecting to hand over to the farm labourer I had been helping but he allowed me to drive it back on the road.

It was however in the wilds of North Northumberland and I doubt if there were more than three cars a day would pass the farm on that particular road. It was only 30 miles or so from the home of Jim Clark who was my childhood hero.

I also drove Mk 1 Landrover and Willys Jeep, various tractors , Ford Thames van all of which were used around the farm at that time. I still love to hire a 4 X 4 on holiday to go offroad .

I moved to London and took my motorbike licence on a Yamaha 100 cc twin in around 1968.

My legal car driving instruction when I finally went for my car licence was in a Morris Marina and I was taught very well by a lady instructer Mrs James who also taught SWMBO and took my test in in 'Fornton eef' in Sarf London which was slightly busier than where I was brought up.....
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:44
What car did you learn to drive in? - Steve Pearce
Hillman Imp ~1970.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - spameggandchips
1987 D reg Metro. It was a brand new driving school car, and actually, not a bad car to learn in. First driving lesson on my 17th birthday, and applied for my test the same day. It took 4 months to get a test date through though (you had to wait a long time in those days!) passed first time. I still remember the joy of driving a car for the first time on my own with nobody sitting next to me! Happy days!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 11:56
What car did you learn to drive in? - oldnotbold
Took my test in a well-worn Morris 1100 belonging to my instructor. She was almost as wide as she was tall, and had the most superb N Yorkshire accent you could cut with a blunt knife. Nagged me to death, but taught me very well, being a bit ADHD as I am.

I passed, and she gave me a big hug and burst into tears. I was the first pupil she'd put in for a test. Not your average instructor by any means - she'd taken up instructing as her boy-friend didn't like her previous job driving long distance artics. She was about 25 at the time, in 1979.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:26
What car did you learn to drive in? - redviper
A P Reg Nissan Micra 1.0 L 16 Valve - I tried to drive one again when I had to borrow my mums about 5 years later due to my Cavalier breaking down and I could barley fit in it, as I grew a bit since I learnt to drive when I was 17.

My driving instructor (now sadly deceased) used to have some brilliant sayings like ?when in four ? foot on floor? as used to hover my foot over the clutch

or "you do the right speed, and they will do theirs" when i used to get drivers right up the back trying to "push" me over the speed limit to go faster

(this one i still think of today)

Or when I practiced parallel parking he would open the door, and say ?it?s a long hike to the kerb?(if I hadn?t got close enough)

Edited by redviper on 07/10/2009 at 12:28

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:28
What car did you learn to drive in? - pleiades
Dad's Ford Zephyr 6 with 3 spd column change and ?Raymond Mays? twin carb conversion (reg 6369 H? ? I think there was only one letter for Middlesex? ) ? he taught me all the basics but I had about 3 or 4 lessons with BSM and passed the test in their Minor 1000 with 4 on the floor ? that would have been abt Sept 1959 ? gosh a mere 50 years ago!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:28
What car did you learn to drive in? - Dutchie
Started my first lessons in a vw beetle in 1967 in Rotterdam ,after the third lesson i was driving on the motorway,enjoyed the lessons.I should have carried onfor my test but never did i think it was lack of cash.Passed my test after the second attempt in the uk in my thirties.,i remember a corsa .My dad used to drive a golf with a boot jetta,he was a ex sea captain and he handled the car like a ship hard to starboard or port.He never slowed down no matter what the weather I used to say dad slow down you are not at sea.(smiley).I still like to see pupils driving on the motorway with a instructor as part of the lessons and part of the test.Nice stories from everybody.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:44
What car did you learn to drive in? - Robin Reliant
Self taught in a Reliant Regal, passed in a driving school Mk 11 Escort.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:47
What car did you learn to drive in? - Armstrong Sid
Self taught in a Reliant Regal


Wasn't it the case (maybe still is) that you could legally drive a three-wheeler car on a motor-bike licence?
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 12:53
What car did you learn to drive in? - Falkirk Bairn
1963 Morris 1000, (1100 cc by that time) - XMS 88 Driving School car.
17/6 per hour (£0.875) x 16 lessons + Driving Test hour + Test Fee

TOTAL Cost = <£18.00
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:07
What car did you learn to drive in? - alfalfa

!965 Triumph Herald form BSM. Turning circle of 25ft made for easy three point turns but the gearbox was pretty clunky and of course had no synchro on 1st. Lesson were £1.00/hour. Sorry that should be £1 0s 0d/hour. There was a discount available for ten lessons so I either had 10 lessons for £9 or eleven lessons for £10.

During my test I had to make a real emergency stop and after that the examiner directed me back to the test centre and handed me my pass certificate. The pedestrian and I both had a bit of luck that day.

alfalfa
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:23
What car did you learn to drive in? - RaineMan
Pleiades, according to an anorak's guide to number plates the single "H" was issued in Middlesex from 1912. "HX" then became a Middlesex registration up to 1965 which seems right for a three speed Zephyr 6.

I learnt in a MkI Escort but had had a bit of experiece on a tractor and some drives in a 100E (this one was happy in second down to 8/10 mph) and a Rover P4 (preferred the straights to corners!).
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:42
What car did you learn to drive in? - andyp
I taught myself the basics like clutch control by driving my Morris 1100 around some private land behind that was behind our house from the age of 15.
Then when i was 17 i went out on the roads with my Grandad (who was driving before you needed to take a test) in his 1256cc HC Viva for a few hours practice, then took my test and passed 1st time.
The 30 odd years since have flown by !
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:48
What car did you learn to drive in? - Snakey
A vomit green Vauxhall Chevette!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 18:29
What car did you learn to drive in? - pleiades
Tks RaineMan - I'm pretty sure it was just an H and it would have been about a 1956 model I guess. I used to have a 1959 AC Ace which ended in PX for Surrey where it was made at Thames Ditton
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 19:32
What car did you learn to drive in? - Robin Reliant
Wasn't it the case (maybe still is) that you could legally drive a three-wheeler car
on a motor-bike licence?

It was, and indeed still is. The major nail in Reliant's coffin was the dwindling number of "bike only" licence holders.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 13:52
What car did you learn to drive in? - TeeCee
Most of the early learning was done on an Austin 1800 "land crab". Interesting in that it was uttely impossible to turn the front wheels if it wasn't actually moving at the time and the gearchange brought a whole swathe of meanings to the word "vague" that I hadn't previously been aware of.

Having driven that for some time a BSM Metro was a simple beast to master, although it took a while to get used to the fact that other vehicles no longer moved out of the way a bit sharpish when I approached. I still recall the feeling of sheer luxury from being able to easily determine exactly where the rear end was and it had DOOR MIRRORS. Wow.

After passing the test, I aquired, for the princely sum of 25 pounds, an Austin 1100 automatic which had had a truck driven into the driver's side. A bottle jack, some wood and two scrap doors sorted that out. That was like a junior 1800 with the vague manual gearchange replaced with a slipping automatic one. It served me well through college, eventually biting the dust when the MOT inspector pointed out that a sharp application of the brakes would cause the subframes to stop moving while the bodywork carried on.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:31
What car did you learn to drive in? - stunorthants26
1996 Nissan Micra 1.0. THE perfect car for the job.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:35
What car did you learn to drive in? - cheddar
Hasn't this been done before on here?

Opel Kadette, red as recall, the RWD model 1978 ish, I passed in 1979.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:57
What car did you learn to drive in? - klystron
Yes indeed Cheddar.... Last done Sept 2008.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 14:36
What car did you learn to drive in? - FotheringtonThomas
A red one, I think.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 15:01
What car did you learn to drive in? - martint123
Started "learning" in my fathers old Wolsey aged around 10 when I could convince him to stop off at an old airfield on the way home from the seaside (there used to be old airfields about every 5 miles back them). This progressed to setting up cones or the like for parallel parking and stuff.
Must have worked, passed my test on my 17th birthday.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 15:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - Mick Snutz
1987, 17 yrs old and I learned in a D Reg ( i think) Austin metro with a lady instructor who was a black belt in something or other, sailed boats and also drove trucks. She was tough but very good at her job.
She would put radio 1 on in the car and would be leafing through her A4 diary on her lap without looking up and checking on what I was doing but it gave me a lot of self confidence.

Unofficial lessons was a Mk1 Escort Estate on an airfield.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 15:36
What car did you learn to drive in? - David Horn
Ford Focus 1.6 LX.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:00
What car did you learn to drive in? - Altea Ego
a 1973 Mk1 Ford Escort 1300 XL in red. It was in 1973.

It was the sweetest little thing on earth, with such great feel and a gearbox action to die for.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:06
What car did you learn to drive in? - bintang
Bren Gun Carrier, a light, open-topped tank with a V8 petrol engine. It had a steeering wheel but this was mostly to brake the tracks.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:35
What car did you learn to drive in? - cheddar
a 1973 Mk1 Ford Escort 1300 XL in red. It was in 1973.


De ja vu, I reckon I knew that, I have never met RF face to face though I knew that, remembered it from the last time this subject was aired, and as I probably said then my dad had a 1300 GT, twin choke carb and fancy dials on the dash.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:38
What car did you learn to drive in? - Alanovich
OK. I can't wonder any longer. Why do people often refer to Altea Ego as RF? Is he really Roger Federer?
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:43
What car did you learn to drive in? - cheddar
OK. I can't wonder any longer. Why do people often refer to Altea Ego as
RF? Is he really Roger Federer?


Altea Ego has had a couple of alter egos, RF is/was short for Renault Family, his handle on here at one time when famille RF were Laguna and Clio driving IIRC. Then TVM (which he can explain) before becoming Altea Ego.

EDIT: spellin'

Edited by cheddar on 07/10/2009 at 16:45

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 17:15
What car did you learn to drive in? - Altea Ego
Altea Ego has had a couple of alter egos RF is/was short for Renault Family
his handle on here at one time when famille RF were Laguna and Clio driving
IIRC. Then TVM (which he can explain) before becoming Altea Ego.


Indeed It was at first, Papa, Nicole and le chien - FiFi , with l'enfant Andre,

The Laguna died a horrible death (not pretty and not its fault) so It became

TVM Tour van Man when the Touran arrived on the scene. Nicole remained Nicole as she is still clio driving, der Hund became Berta and das Kind remained Andre.

The Altea came next hence the name Altea Ego, Nicole remained Nicole as she is still driving clio's, el perro became Guadalupe, and el nino remained Andre as he is now driving Clios.

Edit It was RF when Papa had the Scenic as well,

Edited by Altea Ego on 07/10/2009 at 17:17

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 16:46
What car did you learn to drive in? - dxp55
My dad was a school caretaker so we had a playground to play on - just down road was a large car scrap yard and he bought numerous Austin 7's including a pickup all for a fiver each - we are now talking mid 50's also a Austin Big 12 ?? I can still smell leather and suade.- Pickup was only one we crashed, all rest sold for £15 - one to someone who was going to sea next day (we were in Brum) and brakes only worked on one front and one back wheel -good old days - not!!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 17:34
What car did you learn to drive in? - JH
First ever drive was in a driving school Avenger. A very snazzy metallic blue. Practice was in my Dad's Moggy 1000. Something of a contrast!

JH
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 17:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - bristol01
Talbot Samba - a cream one with brown cloth and vinyl seat covers. Summer 1986, and the reg was -O-115Y. Can't remember the first or third letter, but it was registered in Brum, hence the O. Was taught by Mr Parker who was totally unflappable and used to fall asleep after a while. Once or twice I got lost and had to brake sharply to wake him up so that he could get me back to familiar locations. He was a nice man, and had fought in the war, though I never asked him what he'd done.

Nice thread - some good stories.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 18:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - dixgas
1946 Hilliam Minx in 1963, cable brakes and clutch, try stopping that in a three point turn on a heavy cambered road.

DJ
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 18:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - Alby Back
Learned to pass my test in my dad's Volvo 244 plus a handful of lessons in a BSM Mini. I learned to drive, I think anyway, in the cars which followed. Probably still learning......although the mk 1 Escort combined with an especially hard winter helped quite a lot in the early days.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 18:26
What car did you learn to drive in? - Marc
A combination of the 83A 957cc Fiesta Pop Plus bought as a runabout and the instructor's brand new H plate Toyota Corrola 1.6 Executive in gold. The Toyota was a nice car and dead easy to drive compared to the base model Fiesta.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 19:40
What car did you learn to drive in? - AlastairW
Mostly a 1986 Nova Antibes (it had a rev counter y'know). The gearshift put me off Vauxhalls, possibly for life. Subsidiary lessons in mothers Orion 1.3l (4 speed box, cos mum was too tight to get the optional 5).

The Orion felt enormous compared to the Nova, but having seen one recently the Orion was quite petite.

Edited by AlastairW on 07/10/2009 at 19:41

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 19:41
What car did you learn to drive in? - Ben 10
1984 VW Passat. Yellow. Granville School. Chain smoking woman instructor. I know...I wasn't that bad. £6.50 a lesson.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 19:44
What car did you learn to drive in? - enfield freddy
vauxhall viva "ha" , a 1966 model , brilliant gear change , shame about the bodywork , failed first test (in 1971) , 4 wks after 17th birthday , but drove my dad to work and back thru the "rush hour" (?) in blackburn , every weekday for 6 wks , and passed second time
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 19:46
What car did you learn to drive in? - Nsar
A beige BSM Metro.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 20:40
What car did you learn to drive in? - Fullchat
Passed my test at 16 on a Massey Ferguson 35. At 17 I practiced in my Dads Sunbeam Alpine (fastback) but it was my Mum that took me for my first spin on my 17th as I dont think my Dad had the bottle. Proper Lessons in a Quick Pass Toledo if I recall at £1 for an hours lesson as an introductory package! They weren't that Quick as it took me 3 goes :-(. Got my Dad back over the years; as a leaned my Advanced skills, with a few spirited drives. :-)
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 21:09
What car did you learn to drive in? - boxsterboy
My first car was a Honda N360. Ultra rare even way back then - a sort of Japanese Mini (but better obviously). We 'acquired' it for free, but had problems re-building the engine (the wrong sized pistons didn't help) so I was given my brother's hand me down instead - CGW330H a blue 2-door Moggie Minor.

My cousin subsequently rebuilt the Honda and had it on the road for quite a while.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 21:25
What car did you learn to drive in? - Bromptonaut
Sure we've done this before but when did that ever stop a backroomer!!

First 6 lessons were in Minis of a local driving school. Seemed sensible as Mum had a Mini and this school had a short private circuit for "ab initio" training. Soon graduated to the roads where it became clear that the instructor's temper was considerably shorter than a Mini's wheelbase!!

Mum then turned me to towards the bloke who'd taught her to drive and my final 15 lessons were in a Datsun 1200 of the Ted Rhodes school of motoring. Ted was a fantastic instructor with a line in deadpan advice and what flying instructors call "patter". I can still hear him saying "never turn into an road until you can see down it" and "don't go tear ars*ing up to the line and slam your brakes on - what happens if they fail?"

Got me through my test first time at seventeen years and five months.

He also had a line in filfthy jokes!
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Thu 17 Dec 2015 08:49
What car did you learn to drive in? - Robbiedavis82
Hi i now owe the moggy cgw330h and would love to find out any storys details about when you owned her and your brother would be amazing if you could email me on raddecorating@me.com looking foward to hear from you robbie
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Thu 17 Dec 2015 08:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - Robbiedavis82

Duplicate post.

Edited by Avant on 17/12/2015 at 11:18

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 21:39
What car did you learn to drive in? - tack
1972, a 3 week course around St Athan in Wales, driving a long wheel base Land Rover, but shocked at taking test in a Moggi Traveller! Mind you, I passed 1st time, thanks 'flight sgt.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 22:00
What car did you learn to drive in? - Avant
My mum's Morris 1100, BPA 919B. Started with a clapped-out old instructor who drove an equally venerable Standard 8 (but fortunately we went out in the 1100). Failed test first time, then had BSM who actually taught me how to pass the test.

My parents paid for me to have advanced lessons post-test with an ex-police instructor who taught me to drive - a different skill in many ways. I think they thought it a price worth paying as I never had a crash in either of their cars.

1100s had a manual choke but they were never a problem to start as the SU carburetter was an excellent, totally untemperamental device. The same applied to the two Maxis I had later on.

Re 'H' - I seem to remember that Middx got to the end of the 3 letters, 3 numbers series (YMY 999 presumably) then had 4 figures followed by H before starting 1 AMC and so on. Early to mid-50s I think. Strange, isn't it, the useless information one remembers from one's childhood!
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 23:09
What car did you learn to drive in? - LikedDrivingOnce
Avant - I think that I learned on an 1100 - but it is so long ago now that I am not so sure.

Instead of a conventional circular speedo, the car had a rectagular speedo with a bar that moved from left to right as the car went faster.

Was it really an 100, or am I thinking of something else? (If so, what?)
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 00:11
What car did you learn to drive in? - Avant
You're right - the Austin and MG 1100s had a 'bar' speedo: the Morris had a more conventional needle. I think the 1800 had it too.

Another of those ideas that was an answer to a problem no-one had, like today's electronic handbrakes and starter buttons. It was a passing phase, as I hope the otber two are.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 22:27
What car did you learn to drive in? - Deskpilot
Three week crash course at RAF Weeton driving a Standard Vanguard. Quite a powerful machine having three forward gears - column mounted and a wide front bench seat in the American style.

Under a civilian driving instructor you drove round a local airfield until he was convinced that you could satisfactorily handle the controls, before being let loose on the roads around Blackpool.

Then, sharing the time at the wheel with another trainee driver, out from 0830 to 1200 and then 1330 to 1630 hours Monday to Friday for some 2 1/2 weeks before taking the test.

Round and round the streets of Blackpool you went - up and down the Garstang Road and wherever with numerous stops at local cafes to break the boredom!

I thought I had failed my test in the very last few minutes, when at the last moment the tester (an RAF Senior NCO like myself) slammed on the dual foot pedal before I reached mine,as an Austin A30 van swepped past as I was waiting to emerge from a junction on a curving road. The examiner did not say a word. I thought that was it - I had failed but back at RAF Weeton he asked had I seen the van. I lied and passed!!!

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Wed 7 Oct 2009 23:36
What car did you learn to drive in? - kayks
Learnt driving, and passed driving test, in a Morris Oxford Series 2. Learnt driving when I was 15, passed test when I was 18. Even honked at two women who decided to step off kerb and cross the road without looking. Passed the test first time.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 23:52
What car did you learn to drive in? - AshT
I learned to drive in an instructor's Metro, and with my father in my own Mini Estate - my father (quite wisely as it turned out) refused to insure me on his Mini van until I'd passed my test. I recall that both my instructor and Dad had a similar turn of phrase, which certainly let me know when I's done something wrong. Their choice of language must have worked; I passed first time in the instructor's Metro.
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 23:54
What car did you learn to drive in? - 1400ted
Knew the Highway Code and principles of roadcraft from motorcycling days. Bought a sidecar outfit then moved to a Bond 250 3 wheeler on the bike licence. Natural progression from there was to a proper car and passed test first time in a Vauxhall HA Viva about '64.
Never had any lessons 'cos I was a man by then and I knew it all.....naturally !!

Ted
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Wed 7 Oct 2009 23:48
What car did you learn to drive in? - mrnikko
First car I drove off road on private land was a Renault 16 with column gear change,followed by a Citroen DS. I was then about 14 continued to practice with farm tractors, a Renault 12 and Ford Escort. Took my test in 1974 driving a Renault 12 TS, after two lessons in my instructors Ford Escort 1300 GL.Any north Cumbrians will remember Fred Brown and that Escort it help many people pass their test.
I passed my test two weeks after my 17th birthday first time which was quite normal up here one of my friends passed his test two days after his 17th birthday
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 00:34
What car did you learn to drive in? - lucklesspedestrian
Think I may have a first here:

It was a C reg Rover 214 (or 216) basically a rebaged Honda something or other (beige but otherwise a fine car).

They did try me in a MK1 Micra but there was a basic size issue!

This was in Manchester in 1987 (Prestwich to be exact) My initial instructor was a racist part-time tarzanogram " now, I want you to stop as if a white child had stepped in front of the car....." etc etc.

Thankfully he left half-way throught the 2 week 20 session course and was replaced by a totally sound chap who taught the instructors in the army. I passed first time despite having failed me bike test 3 times previously. I still remember my jaw actually aching from grinning so much after passing!
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 00:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - wazza
Started to learn to drive in 1982 in my uncle's 1967 Toyota Corona. Even used it to take my driving test. At first the examiner said i can't use the car because it had no indicators. I told him it did and the indicators was operated by moving the horn ring on the steering wheel. The car did not have a indicator stalk.
Great in the wet because the back end used to break away easily
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 01:32
What car did you learn to drive in? - Blue {P}
Learned in a Fiesta MK3 (mine) and a Mazda MX5 (the instructor's before a pupil wrote it off) and a Micra (the instructor's spare car)
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 02:08
What car did you learn to drive in? - Rattle
Some good stories here :).

One of my old memories was driving my old N reg Fiesta with worn piston rings (so felt like it had 25bhp) from the Trafford Centre to my house on my provisional licence. I noticed on the way back how bad drivers were being towards me considering I was a learner. I got home and realised I had forgotton to put the L plates on! ooops

I also remember the first time I drove alone after passing, I was insured to drive my dads car and took it for a spin round the block. I remember that feeling so well. When I had arrived at my destination (only 1 mile away) I phoned my dad to tell him I had made it safely he answered "what have you done!" and I thought charming!

I also remember my instructor telling me just three days before my test btw I had the Clio serviced and it needed new pads, new brakes, new clutch and a new drivers seat. It was almost like getting used to driving a new car again :(. It had only done 32,000 miles too.

I was so amazed to have passed every turning a 3 point turn into a 7 point turn!

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Thu 8 Oct 2009 09:41
What car did you learn to drive in? - sandy56
Not sure which was actually first but I had a go in a Borgward Isabella, Rover 90, and then had lessons in a Toyota corolla.
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 14:24
What car did you learn to drive in? - apm
Started steering my grandfather's Renault 18 estate from the passenger seat in a car park aged about 14. He took me for few lessons when I turned 17. Driving school car was a 1987 D Nissan Sunny. Very nice as I remember, and easy to drive. Instructor was a humourless fellow who kept a samurai sword in the boot (!). Very good instructor, mind.
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 14:37
What car did you learn to drive in? - Mick Snutz
I almost forgot.
My parents (bless 'em) once owned a Talbot Alpine that had been resprayed in pale green. It contrasted well with the rust around the tailgate and wheelarches and door bottoms.
Had very comfy seats I recall, all plumped up and spongy. Interior was cream.

Anyway one day I drove back from town with my mum in the passenger seat along country lanes. Came into the village where they lived and had to make a sharp right turn. Now this car had probably THE worst gear stick ever to grace a vehicle. It was about a foot and a half tall and was held in by what felt to be elastic bands. In fact if you tried to engage first and rammed the thing home it normally popped out of its socket in the floor and had to be lump hammered back in again.
I recall trying to negotiate this sharp right hand turn whilst steering the very vague wheel, changing gear in the approach down to 2nd and indicating. For some reason doing these three things together resulted in me nearly heading straight into a 6ft deep ditch. Mother had to grab the wheel and I just jumped on the brakes. I never drove the car again and it nearly put me off driving.
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 14:47
What car did you learn to drive in? - Alanovich
That Alpine story reminds me of a friend who learnt to drive in his mother's Chrysler Alpine (same thing, earlier badge engineering).

It was a kind of burnt metallic gold with a white vinyl roof. Car seemed fine for the most part, and when friend passed his test, Mum bought herself a new Metro and gave him the keys to the Chrysler (to this day he is often heard humming "Heaven is the back seat of my Chrysler). He drove it off the driveway and round the corner, where the engine promptly fell out of the bottom of it.

He got his own back on me for laughing like a drain when I purchased a rather lovely red Alfa 33 Cloverleaf, and drove a few of us to the pub in it after picking it up. Sat outisde the pub, admiring my new wheels, friend says: "What's that dripping out of the bottom of your car?" Turned out to be petrol (fuel tank rotten), and the landlord called the fire brigade to tow it away.
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 14:49
What car did you learn to drive in? - Mick Snutz
I seem to recall the engine note in an Apline was all tappetts and no go.

Edited by Mick Snutz on 08/10/2009 at 14:49

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Thu 8 Oct 2009 15:16
What car did you learn to drive in? - Armstrong Sid
I seem to recall the engine note in an Apline was all tappetts and no
go.


The only thing that went in an Alpine was the bodywork, very quickly
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Thu 8 Oct 2009 17:32
What car did you learn to drive in? - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}
A 1968 white BSM Triumph Herald. The instructor was a Mr Fox and during every lesson I was instructed to park up outside a local betting shop for 10 minutes or so. I did not complain but I'm now sure it must be illegal to leave a learner in sole charge.
I thought it was a very nice car to drive and recall the gearbox being very positive.
Passed first time anyway.
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Fri 18 Dec 2015 19:13
What car did you learn to drive in? - focussed

"sure it must be illegal to leave a learner in sole charge."

Not illegal if they don't have the keys to enable them to start the engine - if they don't have the keys they are not in charge.

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Thu 8 Oct 2009 17:48
What car did you learn to drive in? - John R @ Work {P}
The driving school @ RAF St. Athan used Morris Travellers, I had driving lessons there.
I got my Motorcycle Licence @ 16 and really 'learnt' to drive when I bought a Bond Bug at 18.
Passed car test in a short wheelbase Land Rover later whilst in BFPO 53.

John R
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Mon 12 Oct 2009 10:22
What car did you learn to drive in? - Another John H
Basic car control self taught in a mini on a very long drive, with enough room for 3 or 4 point turns too.

Out on the roads a couple of times in Dad's Austin 1300 prior to a few paid lessons in an Anglia (105E or similar with the swept back rear window).

First journey in the Anglia was quite disturbing after the surefootedness of FWD. The oversteer on a rather sharp bend at about 30mph, which the 1300 would go around at 40+ with Dad driving, woke the instructor up from doing his paperwork!

The joys of crossplies and RWD.
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Mon 12 Oct 2009 19:14
What car did you learn to drive in? - weedy
My fathers 1953 Vauxhaul Wyvern, hand painted in green, with a dodgy change on the column mounted gear lever from 1st into second. Of course that happened in the test but I passed.
This was on January 1st 1965. Yes it wasn't always a Bank Holiday.
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Mon 12 Oct 2009 21:18
What car did you learn to drive in? - cepi
Citroen GS 1.3, my fathers car.
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Thu 17 Dec 2015 09:32
What car did you learn to drive in? - Ethan Edwards

1963 Ford Corsair 1.5 deluxe but took my test in a 1978 Mazda 323s.

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Sat 19 Dec 2015 15:14
What car did you learn to drive in? - hillman

A Ford Anglia in 1963.

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Sat 19 Dec 2015 15:24
What car did you learn to drive in? - gordonbennet

First drive, aged around 8, Wolsely 1500, private roads on the estate my father worked on, lots of drives in the inbetween years.

Once licence gained, learned for thousands of miles driving a Perkins Diesel engined Transit pick up accompanied by the regular driver who had conveniently broken his leg.


Test taken in a proper Mini.

By 18 i was into banger racing, which probably explains a lot.

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Sat 19 Dec 2015 15:39
What car did you learn to drive in? - Wackyracer
I took my test in a very early Nissan Micra.
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Sat 19 Dec 2015 19:11
What car did you learn to drive in? - Wolfan

My father taught me to drive when I was aged 12 with the aid of a cushion in a 1939 Wolseley 12/48, I passed the test in his Wolseley 15/60 shortly after my 17th birthday in 1965. I have never had a lesson from a driving school. I still drive pre-war cars with crash gearboxes the oldest being a '31 Austin Chummy but I relax in a modern Jaguar for long journeys.

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Sat 19 Dec 2015 21:48
What car did you learn to drive in? - oldtoffee

Mini 1275 GT, 1972, my mums car, examiner didn't look over impressed with the red stripes down the door line or the stick on L plates but passed anyway. Couldnt afford a 1275 GT so bought an 850 and drove it like it had 50% more cc!

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 06:09
What car did you learn to drive in? - 1litregolfeater

A Raleigh.

Any young people say under 29, or females of any age, should first endure a year cycling, then another year motorcycling, before being given the keys to a motor car.

It's only common sense.

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 08:43
What car did you learn to drive in? - jgrahampo

1987 Fiesta diesel. Cannot remember but assume it was the 1.9 perkins diesel. In a town with no traffic lights. Plus on my test my hill start was downhill!

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 17:18
What car did you learn to drive in? - quizman

A Yellow Morris 1100 whose floor rotted away. No wonder BMC are no more!

How is our old pal Rattle getting on?

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 17:27
What car did you learn to drive in? - Big John

My dad's Ford Cortina MK II (F reg and past it) and a BSM NEW Triumph Dolomite 1300 - now I feel old!

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 17:33
What car did you learn to drive in? - Engineer Andy

A Peugeot 205 1.8D 3dr (driving instructor's car). Not exactly quick (no turbo) but nice little car none the less. My Dad never let me or my sister (who also learned to drive with the same instructor and car) drive his Ford Escort 1.4 LX at the time as it was a company car (actually I'm glad he didn't - it was a rubbish car IMO and about as quick accelerating as my bicycle).

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 19:30
What car did you learn to drive in? - thecloser

Passed in 1962 (first time) in my dad's Triumph Herald 1200. Absolutely brilliant car to take your test in. Independent suspension, rack and pinion steering, 28 ft turning circle and, I think, disc brakes. It was almost impossible to fail your test in a Herald.

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Sun 20 Dec 2015 23:52
What car did you learn to drive in? - Avant

If you took your test in a Herald, I wonder if you'd have got away with doing a one-point turn rather than the usual three. If I remember right, the examiner just says 'Turn in the road'.

Edited by Avant on 20/12/2015 at 23:52

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 08:30
What car did you learn to drive in? - dadbif
I seem to recall the phrase used was "turn the car around making use of forward and reverse gears"..
Triumph Herald, seems a popular choice, no wonder this forum is full of wisdom, we are all "of venerable age"
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Mon 21 Dec 2015 10:57
What car did you learn to drive in? - thecloser

If you took your test in a Herald, I wonder if you'd have got away with doing a one-point turn rather than the usual three. If I remember right, the examiner just says 'Turn in the road'.

Avant

That's an interesting point. The official driving test website just lists 'turning in the road' but I seem to remember that, at the time, much was made of the fact that a three point turn had to be made and that it was a common cause of failure particularly by (should I say it?) members of the opposite – ie female – sex.

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 11:43
What car did you learn to drive in? - skidpan

If I remember right, the examiner just says 'Turn in the road'

Back in the early 70's when I took my test the examiner used the phrase "turn the car round using forward and reverse gears". No mension of "3 points" but definitely the requirement to use reverse.

I took my test in a Hillman Imp. Great car to learn in, brilliant visibilty.

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 12:23
What car did you learn to drive in? - Engineer Andy

Same for me when I took my test in '92. I wonder if it allowed J-turns? Never really thought of that 'till now (bored)...always wanted to do one of those after seeing it done on (the original) Starsky & Hutch and Knight Rider. Or similarly for parallel parking like that world-record stunt guy driving the mini. I suppose the examiner would argue the car isn't 'under full control'!

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 13:31
What car did you learn to drive in? - Avant

I took mine in 1966. Could be that examiners had to clarify their instructions because of the Herald!

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 19:56
What car did you learn to drive in? - hillman

1litregolfeater "A Raleigh.

Any young people say under 29, or females of any age, should first endure a year cycling, then another year motorcycling, before being given the keys to a motor car.

It's only common sense"

I agree. I nearly lost my life so many times and felt the road surface at speed that I'm now a much more careful driver.

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 20:51
What car did you learn to drive in? - Galaxy

A Vauxhall HB Viva. The (small) driving school where I learned to drive had two of them; the "fast" one and the "slow" one. Both were used for lessons, but you always got the "slow" one for your test. I never found out what the difference between the two was, but can only guess the "slow" car had it's ignition slightly retarded.

I can remember my instructor telling me that one of the cars had had four new clutches fitted, and it only had 22K on the clock.

In those days (early seventies) virtually all the local driving schools used Vauxhall Vivas. About a year later one of the larger schools acquired a fleet of Hillman Imps; they didn't have those for very long!

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Mon 21 Dec 2015 22:47
What car did you learn to drive in? - focussed

I first learnt to drive any old banger that me and a bunch of mates could buy for next to nothing and hare around the field at the back one of the mates dad's building business. I then progessed to a mate's 1950 Ford sit-up-and-beg Ford Pop. He sat in the back with his bird while i drove.

I was riding motorcycles as well at the time and took two lessons with a grumpy old instructor with a Morris Minor 1000 and then took my test and passed first time.

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Tue 22 Dec 2015 10:36
What car did you learn to drive in? - garage opener

my first driving lesson learnt from my brother, it was awesome, i am so excited for my first driving lesson.

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Tue 22 Dec 2015 18:57
What car did you learn to drive in? - quizman

How is our old pal Rattle getting on/

I seem to remember he was trying to drive on a motorway in his decrepid Corsa. I've often wondered what car he's got now, wouldn't surprise me if he hasn't bought a Panda.

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Tue 22 Dec 2015 23:47
What car did you learn to drive in? - Avant

He posts from time to time on another forum - not as often as he used to as some people were horrid to him. He does indeed drive a Panda - has done for five years. I think he still lives with his parents and has his own business repairing PCs and laptops.

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Wed 23 Dec 2015 00:46
What car did you learn to drive in? - gordonbennet

I liked young Rattie, nice chap, sorry to hear he's been on the receiving end, he doesn't need that in his life.

Glad he's still kicking about though.

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Thu 11 Feb 2016 07:19
What car did you learn to drive in? - garage opener

Now, i am finally learnt driving and also learn rules which is initial while driving.

Edited by garage opener on 11/02/2016 at 07:22

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Thu 24 Dec 2015 10:14
What car did you learn to drive in? - A3 A4

Good thread!

The first car I 'drove' sat on my Dads lap was an Austin 1100 down our back lane, I was about 4 or 5....

On my 17th birthday my Dad pulled up in a lay by in his company V reg Morris Marina 1.3 and said your turn! I sort of knew what to do, he gave me a quick run through and I gently lifted the clutch, boy that clutch was a voilent beast, I lurched all down the road, my lasting memory was of a 2 foot long gear lever dancing all over the place!

I never really mastered it and to avoid explaining to his boss why his clutch had burnt out he bought me some lessons, firstly in an orange T reg Mk2 Escort 1.3L, then half way through they updated to new yellow X reg Mk3 1.3Ls, chalk and cheese, they were a breeze to drive and I passed my test in one, a rare beast these days.

Ironically a few months later I was given my first company car - an A reg Morris Ital 1.7, it was back to crappy clutch and wobbly gear lever, but I tamed that beast! It did shift though.

Many years later my Dad addmitted that the Marina clutch had never been right from new! Happy Days!

Edited by A3 A4 on 24/12/2015 at 10:15

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Thu 24 Dec 2015 11:18
What car did you learn to drive in? - skidpan

The first car I 'drove' sat on my Dads lap was an Austin 1100 down our back lane, I was about 4 or 5....

The first car I "drove" sat on someones lap was the uncles Ford V8 Pilot, I was about 3 at the time, somewhere a photo exists.

36 years later I inherited the car from my cousin. It had stood in a damp garage for 35 years and was a rusty non-runner. Sold it to a dealer on a "you move it and if it snaps in 2 its still yours" basis. Amazingly it rolled freely and when pumped up the tyres held air. No idea if it ever made it onto the road again.

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Thu 11 Feb 2016 07:21
What car did you learn to drive in? - xtrailman

Mk1 Escort.

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Thu 11 Feb 2016 10:31
What car did you learn to drive in? - dieseldotty

Take your pick:

1966, Triumph Herald (crashed on the 13th driving lesson)

1968, Riley Elf

1970/1, Triumph 1300 and finally passed test in a Fiat 124 that I'd only driven once.

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