I will certainly echo what jd arms says, above, about Japanese culture and women. Although I hear that’s changing, too.

I had a girlfriend almost 20 years ago, when I had my ‘77 Corolla. I said to hear, “One of the cool things about these old Toyotas is that you can shift without using the clutch,” pretending it was strictly an obscure old Toyota thing. She tried it on her old Toyota–successfully.

Indeed, that’s a great picture of Danica. I look forward to her first victory.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2008_swimsuit/danica-patrick/

Enjoy!…;-D…

It is just cheaper that way. I know what gas goes in the tank, when the tires are rotated and when they are worn, when the oil is changed.

I know very little about the actual mechanics of cars other than the very basics, but we consider the cars to be my “department.” I just follow the maintainence schedule and inspect my car often.

I also get a strong say in what she drives, and more importantly, doesn’t drive.

My wife is a good driver.

Keep in mind, Japanese culture has traditionally had very different role expectations for women.

Just like a good editorial cartoonist can in one drawing capture, explain, and lampoon a complex subject. A simple drawing of an unhappy appliance being used improperly instantly communicates the idea.

1. Keep in mind, the manual is for Japan and revisit the history of gender issues for that country since WWII.

2. A commenter mentioned Japan writes manuals to a low grade school level. Our country would benefit from the same approach. Fark.com teaches us that on a daily basis.

I lived in Japan for a while and I can attest that companies produce operators manuals for their customers that are at a grade school level. Whether it is a fridge, computer , vacuum cleaner or a Honda the instructions have lots of cartoon pictures of unhappy appliances, talking objects, and generally stoop to the level of a 6 year old. This does not surprise me in the least.

Not only would I fill Danica’s tank, and check her oil!

I’d check under her hood and guaranteed lube jobs for life…..

(snicker snicker)

Are we done with the 7th grade humor? Good…I can get back to work now.

Said so nice and simply!

Yet I am dripping coffee from my lips right now!

In that regard I must say the majority of women really suck. Case in point, if a man brings his NEGELETED car in for service he is looked upon as less than a man if does stupid stuff like run the car with no oil. Yes, he gets treated like a “girl” at the mechanics shop!
On the other hand a woman is a woman so when she arrives at the mechanic with a negeleted automobile it is treated as “par for the course”.
They generally do not expect better from a woman in the way they do expect better from a man.

My wife is a good example of this; used put regular gas in a premium only car to save a few coins until she destroyed the injectors to the tune of about $800 worth of parts and work. I made her pay for that one and needless to say the extra 20 cents a gallon for premuim is no big deal anymore.
I also had a girlfriend that totally destroyed the rear disc brakes on her car by driving for over 20 miles with ther parking brake set!

Her exact words were; “I thought it was strange that the car would not go faster than 50mph and I was wondering what that awful smell was!”
At no point did she stop and check out her car.

Only after a night of dancing and drinking did she figure out that her car was undrivable. It was only after the rear brakes and hubs were fused together and the rear wheels would no longer rotate did she discover the problem.
I guess her purse was covering the “raised” handbrake on the center console.

With that said I do know a few chicks that can drive circles around most dudes. One is a cop and she can drive her a$$ off, amazing what a determined woman can do in a rental Impala! One is just plain nuts and has a right foot made out of granite, she drive a g35 6spd.
There are few things sexier than a beautiful woman that can work a stick and clutch in high heels!

Check her oil, too.

I’d like to see sensors that detected excessive gaps between the phone using driver and traffic ahead to automatically close to an acceptable distance. I’d like to see sensors that detect lane discipline and pull the vehicle into the nearest parking lot, automatically call the police and have the driver cited.

I do think the image of Danica was an awesome addition to this article and not just because she’s hot.

A friend of mine will not pump her own gas.

“That’s what men are for.”

She makes her husband fill up her tank.

She just flat out will not do it.

“Woman drivers” indeed.

Epic. Just fing Epic.