What Was the First Car You Ever Drove?
by Adam Bonislawski
The first car we ever drove was a Trabant Tiger. It was a three-wheeler with a big green racing stripe right down the middle, and if you got it up to a high speed while doing donuts, you could actually get it up onto one wheel. Also, it could talk and sounded like an old German gingerbread man.
DAVID
Where I hailed him: Kips Bay
Where he hails from: Rochester
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Student
It wasn’t the first I ever drove, but the first one I ever owned was a used Ford Mustang. I bought it off this guy on the street for like $200. It was a piece of shit, but I loved it. I spent all my time working on it… hours under that hood. I must’ve spent thousands on parts for it. [Do you still have it?] Nah, I wish. I had to sell it; I needed the money. But I tell you, if I ever hit the lottery it’s the first thing I’m buying.
NEETU
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Gas station attendant
I was in India then, and I drove a Fiat. It was a two-door car with four cylinders. Not too much power compared to the cars here. It was back in 1973-74, and I think the car was from 1970.
MOHAMMAD
Where I hailed him: Alphabet City
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 6
Previous profession: Always a driver
My parents sent me to a driving school, and I practiced on a car they had. I don’t remember what kind it was. All I remember is that it was old and yellow and smelled terrible. It was covered in dents. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were still using it. God only knows how they kept it running.
JOHN
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Staten Island
Years as a cabbie: 1 1/2
Previous profession: Sanitation worker
Oh god. I’m gonna be 41, so you’re going back to the summer of ‘84. I think it was like a Plymouth. No, wait, it was a Buick — one of those big four-door Buick sedans. Back then in Staten Island there were lots of open roads. I think my stepfather took me out in a big field somewhere and just let me make turns.
MOHAMMED
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Store clerk
I don’t remember what kind of car it was, but it was old and small. You had to shift it, not like this car. It was very slow going up hills. Not much power.
DAVID
Where I hailed him: Kips Bay
Where he hails from: Rochester
Years as a cabbie: 1
Previous profession: Student
It wasn’t the first I ever drove, but the first one I ever owned was a used Ford Mustang. I bought it off this guy on the street for like $200. It was a piece of shit, but I loved it. I spent all my time working on it… hours under that hood. I must’ve spent thousands on parts for it. [Do you still have it?] Nah, I wish. I had to sell it; I needed the money. But I tell you, if I ever hit the lottery it’s the first thing I’m buying.
NEETU
Where I hailed him: Gramercy
Where he hails from: India
Years as a cabbie: 7
Previous profession: Gas station attendant
I was in India then, and I drove a Fiat. It was a two-door car with four cylinders. Not too much power compared to the cars here. It was back in 1973-74, and I think the car was from 1970.
MOHAMMAD
Where I hailed him: Alphabet City
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 6
Previous profession: Always a driver
My parents sent me to a driving school, and I practiced on a car they had. I don’t remember what kind it was. All I remember is that it was old and yellow and smelled terrible. It was covered in dents. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they were still using it. God only knows how they kept it running.
JOHN
Where I hailed him: LES
Where he hails from: Staten Island
Years as a cabbie: 1 1/2
Previous profession: Sanitation worker
Oh god. I’m gonna be 41, so you’re going back to the summer of ‘84. I think it was like a Plymouth. No, wait, it was a Buick — one of those big four-door Buick sedans. Back then in Staten Island there were lots of open roads. I think my stepfather took me out in a big field somewhere and just let me make turns.
MOHAMMED
Where I hailed him: Midtown East
Where he hails from: Pakistan
Years as a cabbie: 5
Previous profession: Store clerk
I don’t remember what kind of car it was, but it was old and small. You had to shift it, not like this car. It was very slow going up hills. Not much power.
