We've got such an eclectic mix here on Viewpoints, so I thought it might be fun to share stories of the first vehicle you ever owned.

My first vehicle was a (very) used 84 Renault Encore. They actually rolled a set of jumper cables out when I wanted to take it for a test drive. It started without having to be jumped, so I thought that was a good sign. I think I bought it for about $800. It was a straight drive and a hatchback, was was really handy since I was traveling back and forth to college. I think I had just about everything imaginable replaced on the car--battery, starter, idle, alternator, breaks, etc.

I had to give up on it after the clutch fell in the floorboard in the middle of an intersection. I remember a trucker was behind me blowing the horn. I finally got out and suggested that he try to drive it out of the intersection for me. He looked at me like I didn't know how to drive a stick shift but eventually realized that I did have a major problem and actually helped to push it out of the intersection!

This was in the days before cell phones were popular and I remember my dad saying that I needed to marry a mechanic at one point.

So, do you have any stories about your first set of wheels?