Suzanne Costello, director of Dublinia talks about her first car, a Fiat Uno
What was your first car and why did you buy it? My first car was wine coloured Fiat Uno. I bought it principally to get to and from college - I was still living at home in the Dublin mountains where the bus service was periodic at best - Was the car new or secondhand? Second-hand - I think it was about 5 years old when I got it.
Did you know how to drive when you bought it, or did you learn to drive in it? I knew how to drive when I bought it. My parents had taught my brother and I to drive as soon as possible in order to free themselves from driving us everywhere. Miraculously I got my test first time , a week after my 17th birthday. I bought the car 3 months later.
What advice did you get when you were looking for a car? Look for something cheap to run and cheap to insure.
What did you pay for it and what impact did running a car have on your pocket? I think it cost about £1,700. I got a bank loan to pay for it but as it was always breaking down the repair costs would have paid for a Jag.
Was it hard to get insurance? Pretty easy. I had a full licence
How reliable was it? Utterly unreliable. Most journeys were punctuated by other drivers blowing their horns to alert me to the smoke coming from the bonnet. This was not unusual after journeys of more than 5 miles. Almost every man in Dublin must have given the car a "push start" at some time or another and I was on first name terms with every mechanic in the AA.
How did it change your life? Freedom - no more relying on taxis, buses or parents.
What was the longest trip you ever took in the car? Brittas Bay, amazingly - we got there and back in the one day.
What was your best memory or most memorable moment in the car? I am sure my boyfriend was involved.
What was your worst memory associated with the car? Its demise.
How long did you keep your first car and why did you decide to get rid of it for another? Having owned the car for about 18 months, I parked the car in Donnybrook and headed out for the night. As us four returned from Leeson Street at about 3 am, I saw a large crowd and an ambulance gathered outside Abrakebabra where my car had been parked. On closer inspection I discovered my car sitting in the window of Abrakebabra! A passing driver had hit a taxi travelling in the opposite director, which had spun off the road, hit my car and sent it through the window of the kebab shop, sending patrons and staff diving for their lives. My car was a write off.
Did you sell it on for a better deal? I got the write-off value and abandoned the fickle Italian for a reliable and gorgeous MX.