First driving lesson

[Dmacca]

Reading the replies to the Capri thread, various Ford models being mentioned reminded me of my first official driving lesson taken in Exmouth Devon 1983.

Could not believe it when I came out of our house to be confronted by a Fiesta XR2, the XR2 must have been a fairly new model for Ford at the time, wow what a drive that was for a young lad, will always remember driving through a line of parked cars either side of the road without any hesitation, the instructor lecturing me to drive with more care.

Anyone else remember what car they were instructed in?

[RiG]

I learned with our very own DJS and I must say he was excellent. Had my lessons in one of those new Nissan Micras I think. I mind going along Keppoch Road on my first lesson thinking 20mph seemed like lightning speed! I used to have horrendous trouble with finding the "bite" and moving off from a standing start. It's amazing how driving soon becomes second nature after a few lessons.

[Yngwie]

Mini Metro, back in 1989.

Learnt to drive and sat my test in a very small town that had no traffic lights, roundabouts or anything remotely complicated.

[tm4tj]

I did my first instructed training in a Morris Minor van. My first shot at driving was along the back road to Fort Augustus just past the Quarry at Daviot. I passed my test in a one ton utility lorry. It was a bull nosed Morris van with the old crunch gear box. Bit of the olde double de clutch.

I passed my HGV2 in one of those gulley Cleaner vehicles...............you are sitting on my yorkie.

[CaleyJulz]

My first driving lesson was how drive my parents up the wall !!!

[caley100]

First lesson was in 1976 in a Triumph Toledo... and sat my test on the first day of the new one way system in Inverness - failed, possibly due to the traffic but not helped by an obnoxious little examiner who made little 'tch tch' noises and shook his head when i did anything a wee bit wrong.

Passed no problem next time.

[Georgeios]

I leant to drive with Frank Strachen, in an old Fiat Uno white with about 200,000 miles, my Mother Outlaws a driving instructor with RED now how things change with the cars lol... free plug PM me if your wanting her number lol. My first car was a MKIII Escort I loved it still mind the number A44 OAS

[Oz647]

I lerned to drive at Leconsfield in a military 4ton Bedford TK, did my test through the centre of HUll, what fun. Passed my Class 1 in a Merc low loader that was different and went on to drive Scammell Commanders. 104 Tons when fully laden with a tank. :thumb04:

Bit easier now in a Discovery.LOL

[HumbersideDude]

My first attempt at driving was in a BRIGHT yellow Marina pick-up on a dirt track, and ended up in a burn as a bloddy deer ran out in front of me after about 100 yards.

Passed test first time after only 2 "proper" lessons, mainly due, I think, to the fact my mother was mates with examiner who lived round the corner from us. I stalled twice and failed 3 or 4 highway code questions, and he still passed me? Like someone else said, Where I passed my test, Callander, at that time had no traffic lights, no roundabouts, the street I did my 3 point turn was wide enough to do a U'y in a truck, and only 1 zebra crossing.

[Connie.Orr]

...............you are sitting on my yorkie.

oh yeah ! :029: :D

[FortressICT]

My first driving lesson was with DJS as well in the good old Micra. Excellent teacher. Thanks again.

Edited October 9, 2009 by roscoe23

[SMEE]

My first lesson was in a little puddle jumper (Pea Soup green Fiat 128)...remember them? makes the Micras etc look like articulated lorries!

It was actually bought for my mum to drive...but she never really bothered much.

[CaleyD]

Learned to drive in a Rover Metro Diesel....ideal car as it was near impossible to stall the thing :029:

Trying to recall what vehicle I did the Police Defencing Driving course in....Peugeot 405 I think.

And finally my bus lessons/test. Arrived at depot and we jumped in the coach. I was given the drivers seat for the "familiarisation" chat, and then it was off....straight out of the depot and on to public roads!!! 6 days and less than 20 hours driving time under my belt and I had my PSV license and the public's life was put in my hands without anyone so much as batting an eyelid at the obvious inadequacies of the "training" and preparation for the job. I was one of the final few who did the test in a Manual Bus as policy changed after that to train drivers in automatics....partly to get more people through the test, and partly to stop them leaving to go to smaller (better paid) companies who were more likely to use manual buses.

[caley100]

Fecks sake... you in a Metro Don.. :029:

[CaleyD]

My first car was also a Metro - A187 SGS - that's when I really learned how to drive. Due to it having a habit of stalling out at junctions I very quickly learned about left foot breaking and due to dodgy electrics I very quickly learned how to bump start a car :029:

[AJS]

I am also happily learning of DJS and am experiencing the micra feel. Finding the Bite was near to impossible at one point, now not so bad. My first car is also a Nissan Micra.

[Heilandee]

Learned to drive in long wheel base military Land Rover with a jumped up wee MT driver Corpral who shouted constantly like Windsor Davis in aint alf hot mum,he would take your watch and put it behind the back wheel when practicing hill starts then make you hold the Land Rover on the clutch till yer leg was shakin like a shitein dog's.Sadistic wee keech. :angry: Passed first time mind you,as anything wiz a breeze after being in a vehicle wi him!

[Connie.Orr]

Was a Toyota Corolla or something, way back in 1980. Took to it like a duck to water and had to sit my test several times before I passed. :angry:

[CaleyD]

Two things women should have never been given....a driving license and a vote :angry:

[MrsICTFC]

My instructor had a Pug 306 and I had a Pug 106 that my parents took me out in.

[MrsICTFC]

Two things women should have never been given....a driving license and a vote :angry:

Well I passed with no minors so I will have to disagree with you!!

[CaleyD]

Only because your instructor was scared to fail you in case you claimed sexual discrimination :angry:

[Connie.Orr]

Two things women should have never been given....a driving license and a vote :023:

Oh hardeeharhar!

[CaleyD]

Cheeky!!!

[ICTFCkev]

Started off with some guy that used to be the Police driving instructor many moons ago.. Calum Mackay I think was the name? Can't mind though. He fell ill though so had to change instructor, and passed my test first time in a Suzuki Swift.. Crackin' wee car.