1963/4 Ford Corsair 1500ohv 4 speed Aqua blue it was, and a school car, Orange 1978 Mazda 323. Bit of a difference the Corsair was a bit on th eheavy side and the Mazda felt like it was made of rice paper.

I'm not sure that's necessarily true. Usually, crap cars are harder to drive than expensive ones. I cut my teeth on a Renault Megane, and a Honda Concerto. The Concerto would bog and stumble during gear changes until the manifold warmed up-it was a carby! The Renault stalled if you looked at the clutch the wrong way. Compared to these old plugs, my instructors new Dci Clio was a doddle to drive.

Austin Maxi Mk.I. Yes, with the cable operated gear change that went "clonk".

Most people I knew agreed that I really deserved to pass after that.

First two lessons in a 850 Mini with a 'fishing rod' for a gear lever. Then my instructor got a Vauxhall Viva with a lovely stubby gear lever which was great to use. It was 'D' reg, that is 'D' as the last letter of the reg number. Six lessons then the test. Passed first time. The cost was 17 shillings and 6 pence a lesson and £1 for the use of the car for the test. The test was also a £1. In new money that is 87.5p for a lesson. I did have the benefit of practicing in our company vans between lessons. An old Bedford with column change and 3 forward gears and an newer Commer with floor change with a 4 speed box. Halcyon days of motoring way back in 1967. Things have changed a bit since! Cheers Concrete

A 1984 Citroën 2CV Charleston - A635 RRV, I think.

Passed on my fifth attempt, although I did pass my motorbike test first time.

Also an Austin Maxi with that hateful cable gear linkage.

Edited by Reentrant on 02/07/2011 at 13:44

I joined the army as a boy at 16 and a half, and in that year of training I did a driving course, the car was a morris minor estate. There were three of us and a civilian instructor. Most of the driver training was conducted in barracks ( old raf base), then onto the local roads around Nuneaton. We were all getting to the point of taking our tests, when I mentioned that would not be possible as I was not 17. Needless to say I was not too popular and from that point spent a lot of time polishing the guardroom floor.

The first test that I actually passed was in a Abbot self propelled gun, this was after badgering the bsm after a night on the lash, told the two of us to meet at the gun park 08:00 Sunday morning. I think we should have had a full license first but no one questioned that. Eventually passed my test in a land rover in Colchester some years later.

Edited by jaffa on 03/07/2011 at 00:38

First lesson on Ford Escort, driving school soon switched to the brand new Ford Fiesta, then mother's Datsun Cherry for a few months driving experience as parent's chauffeur.

Finally took the test with the school's Ford Fiesta when I was 17 - passed first go.

1978 Morris Marina 1.3.

The driving test must be the last vestige of old school learning, and teaching.

As in, do what I say, or you will fail.

I'm surprised they haven't made it easier for those less able to pass a test.