This thread brings back memories. My first driving was maneuvering tractor trailers around my uncle's trucking company lot. Whenever they would need a truck moved from one dock to another, he would let me do it. I spent most of the time backing up to loading docks. I'm still good at backing up. He never let me take a truck onto a public road.

Then, in 1947, my Dad let me drive his new '47 Ford pickup while he was checking out logging camps in the very rural area around Warwoman Dell in the mountains of northern Georgia. I liked that, because it had only three gears (and reverse), where the semis had lots of gears and high and low axle range, etc. The pickup was forest green, and actually belonged to the U.S. Forest Service (my Dad was a Forest Ranger).

The first car I drove full-time was a black '49 Studebaker. Then a tan '53 Chevy 210 (the level below the Bel Air). The first car I owned with an automatic tranny was a 'firegold and white mist' '55 Pontiac Bonneville. I drove that Bonneville coast-to-coast three times. The experiences I had with that car are not to be believed. As just a hint, it actually caught on fire three times while I was driving it.

I try to keep a positive attitude and think happy thoughts, so never let myself think back to when my children were learning to drive . . .

 

You are indeed lucky!

Ah, good old memories to my first days of driving. My mom first started training me in her 1990 Honda Accord (which we still have) in an empty parking lot at my local community college (which is the best place to train) Then later on, I drove my dad's 1992 Ford Taurus L station wagon. Once I got my license when I was 16, My parents depended on my to be behind the wheel.

Then I bought my first Maxima (2002 SE), which we still have and now I'm leasing a 2010 Maxima SV with Sport and Monitor packages.

Compusmurf, good thing that you're teaching your daughter to save up her money and getting herself a part-time job. Once she saves up her money, she can buy my 2002 max! =P But dang, she gets to be trained on a 7th gen!

I'm glad my parents had to take me to that path as I was never spoiled.

 

You'll only really know if you were lucky with hindsight. Give it a few decades.

My parents bought me clothes and fed me. That seemed about right for a teenager.

 

My first car was a v6 Camaro. The age limit around here was 15 back then to get your license. I remember i took drivers ed at this school across town to get a break on insurance and ended up getting into an acident in the rain on the day of the final test on the way to drivers ed. I ended up getting an A in the class though hahaha.

 

Oh no.. I KNOW I'm really lucky to have the parents I have. They give me the best of everything. But of course, I make the payments for the 7th gen!

 

Light, I love all your stories.

I'm also in the process of teaching a family member how to drive, though in a Nissan Versa. Pedal control took about two months with weekend practice sessions. Appropriate following distance, a few weeks. The three big challenges have been situational awareness, gauging speeds and distances of oncoming traffic, and believe it or not, just keeping a lane without weaving.

You're spoiling her with the Max, I don't know how she'll take the transition to a crapbox later.

 

+1

If I wanted brand name clothes I had to pay the difference myself. Otherwise that's all I got too was food/clothes unless it was Christmas or a Birthday. It's good to see the younger Maxima owner already knows he is lucky to have a Max, instead of just thinking he is "awesome".

 

Yeah it would be unfortunate if she hated whatever car she ended up with due to learning in such a beautiful car. I'm already worried if I ever have to downgrade or even borrow someone else's car temporarily...I have no idea what I'm going to do without my heated seats and rearview camera hahaha

 

Oh yes indeed.

Work Hard. Play Hard.

That's the motto I go by.

 

A mindset I wish I had at that age. I just played sports and did chores for weekend money.

 

I got mine when I was 18, I was only driving for a year at that point. I pay for it every month, but I consider myself lucky that my parents have credit thet lets me have this car, and that they pay for my insurance, and some of my gas.

 

+1

My parents pay for insurance as well and sometimes gas. I just make the car payments. We're really lucky!

 

What model do u have rajuraju? It doesnt say in ur sig or anything.

 

2009 Nissan Maxima SV w/ sport package...Super Black

 

Nice, as you can see in my sig I also have the Sport, I love the suspension and those wheels, I couldnt justify getting the premium, I dont care about glass roof or watever.

 

+1

I'm just happy I have a 7th gen!

 

Yea me too! But Ill admit when I first started shopping all I wanted was the base model, but now having Sport/tech I wouldnt be able to drive the base, lol.