cars,gear boxes.& driving tests,

[alfred]

Over more years that i can remember iv only  bought second handcars,
and during those times particularly in the early years it was good to see
a   Wolsey. 680 or 690 a larger luxury version of the 680, then ford v8 pilot,
Vauxhall, victor,   Morris minor  traveller, and so the list goes on and on,to
which im sure you too can add to the list, of cars not mentioned,


how ever some cars then had a column change, that is the gear stick which is placed behind the steering wheel , others had a floor change to which many cars have to day and these vary from model to model, and then in that time 

was the automatic, in the past like many of you i too had driven cars with all these types of gears,

it is noticeable that today many youngsters are apt to drive automatics as most likely they find them easier to manipulate ,where as many pensioners no doubt passed their tests in a manual car instead,

i passed my test first time after fourteen lessons, including one with the examiner  at that time held in wood green, also  the test centre had a fearsome reputation in more failures than passes. so i was lucky i suppose,

Q; when you passed your driving test, what car did you drive, and what gears had it, and how did your driving test go,

and will you share your thoughts with us,

[klondike]

I learned in and drove as my first car a Hillman Imp. Innovative for its time. Small rear all aluminium engine. 4 speed manual floor change. Reasonably nippy and with good handling. I've never driven a column change car and am currently on my second only automatic.

Driving test was second time lucky. Don't recall what I failed on in the first one.

[Scrumpy]

I passed my test in a manual.. Heaven knows how that happened.. !
Just before Sam died he told my son 'Buy a car for Mum.. but make sure it is an automatic'   

[Raven]

My Husband was a fan of big cars and I learned to drive in a big old Ford Zypher, with the bench seats and the column gears. I passed my test in her too, but when we finally got a car with floor gears I was snookered, and had a hell of a performance getting used to it. 

[Alex]

I passed my test in a mini the second time.  The first test I failed as I stopped at a zebra crossing and called a woman across the road, a no-no apparently, plus I think I was just too cocky tbh   

The oddest car I've driven was a Citroen C4 or was it C5 ? anyway it had a funny gear lever sticking out of the dash - great place for hanging yer handbag !!

[Raven]

The oddest car I've driven was a Citroen C4 or was it C5 ? anyway it had a funny gear lever sticking out of the dash - great place for hanging yer handbag !!

Love it..

[hugh]

I passed my test 63 years ago with a school of motoring, how things have changed. Manual gears and having to make hand signals. Touch a kerb on a three point turn you failed. Having to start moving up a steep hill, break the egg behind your rear wheel you also failed. Those were the days.

[klondike]

That lot was still order of the day 10 years later except I think they asked about hand signals rather that have you do them.

[-Oy-]

I passed first time after just 6 lessons. Then again I'd been riding motobikes for 10 years so knew the road.

One thing I remember was on my 1st lesson. The driving instructor asked if I rode a motorbike. I said yes and asked how he knew. "You keep leaning over when we go round a corner" he said 

First car was a 903cc Fiat UNo.

[Michael Rolls]

Passed my test at the second attempt - the examiner failed me on the first try for being too cautious! Car was the school's Viva. My first car was an Anglia - the 105E with the reverse slope on the rear window.
Apart from the motorhome, I have driven autos for years now, and at the moment just as well, because my gammy left arm couldn't cope with a manual.
Most comfortable car - 1964 Wolseley 6/110. Worst? when I was between wives and stony broke, a Morris 2200 with a duff gear box - no third and second was hope and pray you could find it as the only thing I could afford when my Corsair packed up.
Mike