I learned to drive in a 1982 Pontiac Sunbird. It had the gear shift on the floor (not on the steering column like most cars did 25 years ago), and it didn't have a rear view mirror on the passenger side. To this day I check over my shoulders before I change lanes because I never got comfortable with a passenger side rear view mirror.

My first car was a 1979 Dodge Omni, grey with AM radio and a four speed manual transmission. The first car I bought was a 1987 Toyota Tercel hatchback, which had a manual transmission but also air conditioning and AM, FM, cassette. The air conditioning never worked well - I used to tell passengers we could either get where we're supposed to be going, or we can be cool, but not both. Since then I've had two cars, both with automatic transmissions. My best friend from high school has a Ford Mustang with a 5-speed manual that I drive every chance I get. My dream car is a Volvo because they consistently score so high on safety tests.