what did you learn to drive in

1964 Ford F-100 three on the tree

 

Sounds reasonable IMO.

 

My parents went on their honeymoon in a new '49 Ford 2dr that belonged to my grandmother... Remember riding in it a couple times when I was four or five...

 

I "tried" driving when I was 14. I used to move my Grandmas car and our family car in and out of the driveway to wash and clean them. That is, until I got cocky and tried backing down the street and turning into my parents 15-foot wide driveway with a 100 year old maple tree at the front. Yep, smashed my Grandmother's 1-year-old 1992 Plymouth Acclaim into the tree. Not a feeling I want to have ever again!

It got fixed, I got banned from moving cars to wash them, and two years later, that was the car my Mom took me out in to learn on. I also drove Dad's 1984 Mid-sized Foxbody Marquis. When I went for Driver's Ed driving, I used the school's 1994 Chevy Cavalier, which I used to do my test.

As far as 'giving' your son one of your Mavericks, I would steer away from that. Don't get me wrong, I would have wanted nothing more than for that to be the case when I was turning driving-age. Mom and Dad bought me MY Maverick for $100. They wanted me to appreciate the priviledge of owning a car, which translated into turning a lot of wrenches and saving many pennies.

I was a studious, cautious kid growing up, too. But I made some mistakes and bumped up a few cars along the way. If you want to reward him for being a good son and for being responsible, let him drive your car on occaision, but don't ruin a good thing by 'spoiling' him. Besides, he will eventually have all your cars, I assume...

Just my two-cents.

 

Learned to steer a 1968 Ford F-250/360 in first gear at six, shift a 1972 Ford F-250/360 four-speed at seven, (behind pressed against the edge of the seat for leverage and peered between the dash and steering wheel to see), and an 18 wheeler at 14.

Still can't ride a bicycle!

 

1984 Toyota MR-2. Also learned how to drive stick in that car. For my driver's test I used a Focus Hatchback.

 

I would lean towards getting your son in a car made in the last 15 years or so until he gets his driving chops. A newer car will keep you out of trouble in a pinch, with better handling and brakes. You need a lot more skill to execute the same maneuvers in an old car, and sometimes that doesn't work anyway.

If you mod an old car, better brakes, handling, etc., you can get it close to where most new cars already start out, but new cars are still safer.

I just got rear-ended (slow speed) in my Explorer ... barely felt it. A Prius hit me. Still can't believe it moved the rear bumper up an inch on one side, but I guess it is designed to start a crumple like that, rather than directing the force forward toward the passengers. Like I said ... barely felt it.

 

Jerry,

I gave my son my red '69 XR7 convertible as a birthday present for his 16th birthday. He came over to the farm and drove it to the home he shared with my ex wife, first time with no one else in a car with him He was thrilled. The car was a hit at school and even escorted a few princesses at the homecoming games. I bought another '69 Cougar conv and we took both cars to shows together for a couple of years. Great bonding time for us. We bought another black '69 XR7 htp to teach him how to drive a manual shift. I later restored that car and still have it 10 years later. His mother, not be outdone, bought him a '95 Mustang, 6 cyl/5 spd which he drove a year and she later bought him a 2000 Mustang GT, 4.6/5spd(fast car). The Cougar sat in her garage and later came back to the farm and was sold to a member of the statewide Cougar club. He sold the Mustang and bought an Explorer Sport Trac as his daily driver in college. We restored a '69 Mach 1 390/4spd together during his college days and later showed it and one of my Mustangs together. He sold the Mach 1 to go back to college and get his Master's degree. Now, he has a restored '70 Vette as his play car. He has an Accura TL as his daily driver.

Moral of the story, old cars are great bonding experiences for a father and son, but not as practical for a daily driver. As Craig said, buy him an older Mustang to drive and have him take one of your nice Mavericks to a car function along with whatever you take. Make that your bonding experience together.

Just my opinion.


Jim

 

The first car I drove was my '71 Maverick, but officially I "learned" to drive in our 2000 Subaru Impreza.

 

Learned to drive in my dads 1965 Chevy C10 short bed. Learned to 4 wheel in my Grandfathers 66 Toyota Land Cruiser (wish I had that truck now)

 

I learned to drive in my 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 4dr. Boy that was a fun car to drive.

 

learned in a 69 ford wagon with 390 had trouble staying on the dirt roads when alone. then learned 3 speed column while out drinking with the boys in a 50 something chevy truck on a snowy night in Saint Paul MN. every one else said to drunk to drive home by todays standards so was i