Question of the Day, Friday, July 20

When I learned how to drive, I was already married. I drove Rick's 1971 Mustang Fastback. And that's the car I used when I took my test. My dad took me in for my test and he thought I'd have trouble doing my 3-point turn in the car as it had a very small rear window. But I passed. (Actually, if you want to get technical, my dad taught me to drive when I was about 14....we were camping and he took me out on an old mountain road in his old truck. It had an automatic tranny.)

When I learned how to drive a manual tranny, I ordered a 1984 Plymouth Turismo. I went to the dealership, ordered the car, THEN went to my dad and said, "Dad, I just ordered a new car and it's coming in about six weeks. It's manual. Teach me how to drive it." He looked at me, shook his head, grabbed his truck (that one had a manual tranny) keys and said, "C'mon, let's go." And away we went.

What car did you use as your learning-to-drive car? In what car did you take your drivers' test to get your license?

Learned to drive in a 51 International truck, and then in a 49 Fargo. Also learned to drive a tandem before I got my driver's licence, an OLD tandem with dual gear levers. Took ,my test in a 64 Ford.

I learned on a '61 or '62 Ford - can't remember what kind of Ford it was. It was automatic....and it actually was 1963, or 1964 when I was doing this. Immediately when I turned 16, I went and took my driver's test. I failed the parallel parking. Took it again, and failed the parallel parking. Then we went to my mom's hometown - a little town in Southwest Minnesota, and I took it there, and passed! The funny thing was, we were having trouble with the passenger's side door at the time, so when we finished the test and the guy said, "Good job! You passed!" and then tried to get out, he couldn't. :lol3:

I said, "Oh - we're having trouble with that door. Let me get that for you." LOL! He still passed me, though.

I learned in my '66 Chevy Biscayne 2-door, column shift - my sister got a "new" car and I was given her old one. I drove all over the place when I was 13, before I had my permit or license, my parents knew and didn't care. It was easier for them.

While I was learning, my friends would duck down when I started moving from a stop because it was pretty jerky! I learned to avoid stop signs and lights - knew where all the yield signs were in town, lol.

I used my mother's fancy-smancy automatic for the test and failed it the first time, I was nervous!

I learned on my mom's Crown Victoria. I don't remember what year, but it was big! I used the car for the test too and passed with flying colors! 

I orginally learned when I was 13 in my parents Suzuki Samurai (standard). It was a rural area and my parents wanted both my brother and I to be able to get to town in an emergency. I was terrible at drive stick, but I can still do it in a pinch.

Years later I took my test in 'Frankenvan', my family's '85 Dodge Caravan. Nowadays I'm pretty sure keeping that car on the road would be illegal.  You couldn't open any windows but the drivers side or they fell into the door, the check engine light never turned off because of a faulty control board and the control of the interior fan was shot so my dad had rigged a manual switch on the dash and you had to turn on the engine fan if you were going to be dirving in town or the engine overheated. I can still manouver a giant van into a parking space with room to spare, though.

My then-boyfriend had a Ford Mustang ('71 or '72) he taught me to drive, but I took the test in a '63 Buick Skylark that my parents were planning on giving me as soon as I got my license. They were both automatics. The first stick shifts I drove (simultaneously) were a '69 Opel Kadett station wagon and a Renault LeCar/Renault 5 (it might have been a '76). Now I drive a tiptronic.

I learned in various people's cars, but the first was Mom's friend's (and our neighbor's) Crown Victoria. That was the first car I took on the road, and I was terrified I'd smash it. I didn't. She took me on the Rt. 30 Bypass, toward Lancaster (Winchester, you'd know this area!) at RUSH HOUR, and AT DUSK.  It scared the Penzoil out of me!  And I was scared, but tried not to show it.  The place is a madhouse at that time on a weekday. I was so scared, I wanted to pull over (a hazard in itself there), and tell her to drive--but I completed the trip just to say I did it.

The other cars were my SIL's Chevy Cavalier, and others I can't remember (various relatives and neighbors taught me to drive).

My first car was a 4th-hand 1983 Mercury Zephyr--built like a tank--which is good, as the 2nd time I was out on the road after I got my license, I got broadsided on the driver's door, at 60MPH by someone in a blind spot, who wasn't paying attention while he was driving. I miss that car!

Oh man...that was a difficult thing for me!

The only cars my parents had were my Mom's Mazda Protege; which was a stick shift and my step-dad's van.  The van was one of those 8 passenger ones with a huge empty space in the back.  And it was older than me.  It did NOT drive well.  You needed muscles.  I do not dance for the same reason I do not drive a manual car.  And muscles...yeah right!

In my state we had to take Driver's Ed either through school or another approved place like hte YMCA and they tested you.  I did it through school and the class part was a breeze.  The driving portion...I failed it 3 times!!   The only practice I got was the learning we did with the school's cars and a football coach that taught that part.  Finally my Mom's friend from work who had just purchased her very first car was kind enough to offer to teach me to drive in her car.  At the moment I can't think what kind it was.  A mid-size, automatic.  And she was great.  Very calm and laid back.  I took the test again (the school had given me a paper to get an actual learner's permit so I could practice) and the coach told me I was a completely different driver.

I learned in a 58 Cadillac that my grandpa had bought to bring me home from the hospital when I was born.

MoochNNoodles said:

Oh man...that was a difficult thing for me!

The only cars my parents had were my Mom's Mazda Protege; which was a stick shift and my step-dad's van.  The van was one of those 8 passenger ones with a huge empty space in the back.  And it was older than me.  It did NOT drive well.  You needed muscles.  I do not dance for the same reason I do not drive a manual car.  And muscles...yeah right!

In my state we had to take Driver's Ed either through school or another approved place like hte YMCA and they tested you.  I did it through school and the class part was a breeze.  The driving portion...I failed it 3 times!!

  The only practice I got was the learning we did with the school's cars and a football coach that taught that part.  Finally my Mom's friend from work who had just purchased her very first car was kind enough to offer to teach me to drive in her car.  At the moment I can't think what kind it was.  A mid-size, automatic.  And she was great.  Very calm and laid back.  I took the test again (the school had given me a paper to get an actual learner's permit so I could practice) and the coach told me I was a completely different driver.

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Hey don't feel bad.  My 18 year old passed the classroom portion of driver's ed- said it was easy.  On the-road part- that's a whole different story.  She got frustrated with the gym teacher who did range- he didn't pass her (I think he made her nervous).  So then she wouldn't touch the car at all for months.  Spring of Jr. year she decided to drive again.  Finally got her in a driving school last summer and she passed that, got her licence.  This year the ONLY places she would drive was to school and music lessons.  She HATES the interstate.  Made her drive it a few days ago- she did fine but I could tell she was one nervous chick.  Sigh.  And then she wonders why we won't let her have a car on campus this year  Ok- part of it is that I'm not too keen on letting a freshman in college have a car- when she's going to be 3.5 hours away from home, never been away from home in her life, and half her tution is being paid for by scholarships where you need to maintain a 2.7 GPA in order to keep the scholarships.

Cheryl

I learned and took my test in a 73 Pontiac LeMans. Ugliest car you ever saw but it was fairly easy to drive. Of course, I failed the driving test twice. First for knocking over the cones trying to parellel park, second time for jumping the curb trying to GET to the little driving course area. I wasn't took interesting in driving when I was 16 because my best friend at the time had her license and she would drive everywhere. When we had a big falling out, I was kind of forced to do it.

I learned to drive a standard is when I was living in Guam. We had a cheap automatic that I drove (my then BF drove a manual truck) but it died after 2 years. So he found a cheap Toyota for $1,000 and told me he would "teach" me. Lets just say, he was not the most patient teacher and I ended up in tears. Before I went to work the next day, I put a sign in the back window that said "Warning! First time driving a stick". It worked! Especially when I had to stop on hills (I don't know how many times I stalled that car the first week or so). I eventually got the hang of it, but I still prefer an automatic.

my old VW....

calico2222 said:

...Before I went to work the next day, I put a sign in the back window that said "Warning! First time driving a stick". It worked! Especially when I had to stop on hills (I don't know how many times I stalled that car the first week or so). I eventually got the hang of it, but I still prefer an automatic.

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That's too funny, I did a similar thing when my husband learned to drive a standard transmission, he was an adult and learned in BOSTON of all places! (If you've ever driven in Boston you know what I mean!)

I made a sign for him that said "Learning a standard, thanks for your patience" and it worked, too! People were much nicer, less honking when he stalled, and some people gave him a thumbs-up, lol.

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Sneakymom said:

Hey don't feel bad.  My 18 year old passed the classroom portion of driver's ed- said it was easy.  On the-road part- that's a whole different story.  She got frustrated with the gym teacher who did range- he didn't pass her (I think he made her nervous).  So then she wouldn't touch the car at all for months.  Spring of Jr. year she decided to drive again.  Finally got her in a driving school last summer and she passed that, got her licence.  This year the ONLY places she would drive was to school and music lessons.  She HATES the interstate.  Made her drive it a few days ago- she did fine but I could tell she was one nervous chick.  Sigh.  And then she wonders why we won't let her have a car on campus this year

 Ok- part of it is that I'm not too keen on letting a freshman in college have a car- when she's going to be 3.5 hours away from home, never been away from home in her life, and half her tution is being paid for by scholarships where you need to maintain a 2.7 GPA in order to keep the scholarships.

Cheryl

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You know I really don't care to drive still either.  Most of the time; if someone else wants to drive I'll let them.  The exception are the people who scare me. LOL  When I was in college I was going to have to do a 7 hour drive solo; so my friend had me drive around a big city we passed on our way to a music festival a few months before.  Those still aren't my favorite places; but I've driven around a few now and it's less of a problem. 

SwampWitch said:

That's too funny, I did a similar thing when my husband learned to drive a standard transmission, he was an adult and learned in BOSTON of all places! (If you've ever driven in Boston you know what I mean!)

I made a sign for him that said "Learning a standard, thanks for your patience" and it worked, too! People were much nicer, less honking when he stalled, and some people gave him a thumbs-up, lol.

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Oh why didn't we think of that!!  I very clearly recall pulling over in front of the post office, getting out, making Mom drive us home and laying on my bed having a good cry.  LOL

In North America, driving a standard or stick is considered anti-theft insurance. 

When I finally learned how to drive a stick shift, I loved it. The only place I refuse to drive up a hill is at Niagara Falls, where there's a huge and steep hill....it might be Victoria Avenue, but I'm not sure. It's stop and go traffic, too; you drive 3 inches, then stop, drive 3 more inches then stop and with people all over the place, stepping out in front of the cars. No way was I going up that hill....I wasn't even attempting it with the Cruiser because of the stick shift. Other than that, though; I'm good to go. I'll drive through city traffic without a qualm, clutching and shifting the whole way. Drove through Boston, drove through Chicago. No problem. I just get leery of the really steep hills.

MargeCat, I know the area in Lancaster!!! Heavens, I can't believe you did that.....I think my pants would have been wet til we were done!  Not a new driver!

When we were looking for a new car last year, I had a difficult time finding a car with a standard transmission and the bells and whistles that I wanted. I settled for an automatic. I wish more cars had manual transmissions. My son used to have an old Honda del Sol. When he got married and bought a family-type SUV, he sold his del Sol. If it would have had stick shift? I'd have bought that thing in a heartbeat.

I love to drive. Because of Rick's epilepsy, I do most of the driving when we're out together. He is allowed to drive as he's on meds and hasn't had a seizure in decades. But we got into the habit of me driving. Go figure.....I'm scared to death to fly, but will drive all over the place.

I learned to drive in an Alfa Romeo. Don't remember which one though. Over here you need to take lessons with an official instructor. You cannot learn to drive with a relative or things like that. 

Driving a stick shift is normal here. Almost all cars have it. An automatic shift is considered to be for old and disabled people.   The first time I drove an automatic shift (a few years after obtaining my license), I was quite scared. I still feel like I have more control when driving a stick.

My dad let me drive his Jeep around the parking lot at school before I took drivers ed. I would get frustrated over his lack of patients and constant telling me I just hit a car but he was nothing compared to the guy who I had for an instructer in drivers ed. I went home every night in tears and begged my parents not to make me go back. The first night driving a car on the road I sat in the back while the other guy drove until it was dark out. He went through all these nice quite neighborhoods and back roads. I get my turn in the drivers seat, it is now dark and the first place he directs me to is the fair grounds, where mind you the state fair is going on and people are crossing the road like crazy. After I escape that horror, he then decides I should try the interstate and takes me on there. If the place he was making me drive were not scary enough he was yelling things at me the entire time such as "you are driving a 3,000lb weapon"  and "I don't want to die!". I am not entirely sure why the other guy never had to experiance the pure terror I did, but needless to say I hated going to drivers ed.

I took my driving test in my dads Jeep (I was not allowed to even think about driving my moms car). I failed the first time only because I had never done a U-Turn ever and did it wrong. I made my dad teach me and we went back and I passed no problem.

My father's Chevy Nova.