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Reuters reports Honda has published a driver's guide for women in Japan that includes info on, among other things, how to pump their own gas, how to safely transport the kids, how to park, and advice for aging female drivers. Honda says the pamphlet "erases all your fears about driving." When asked if this meant Honda thinks women are worse drivers than men, the company's PR flack replied "We don't think so. There are some specific cases of women drivers, and we focus on those cases." There are specific cases of men who drive like idiots too, but HoMoCo doesn't seemed all that bothered about that, now do they? It makes us wonder if Honda will be introducing an Accord La Femme.
18 Comments on “Honda Thinks Woman Drivers Need “Extra Help”...”
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Frank Williams: “HoMoCo…”
Epic. Just fing Epic.
Absolutely love the accompanying image of Danica!
“Woman drivers” indeed.
After driving for over 20 years, only recently has my wife stopped running the gas tank down to nothing but vapors, then asking me to take her car to the gas station to fill it. She still runs her tank down to vapors, but now she uses gas for the mower to ensure she can get to the gas station to fill her own tank. Progress…
I have but one comment.
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.
This sounds more like a case of woman-centric marketing to me (something that many consumer brands do, and this seems to be acceptable even in the US) than some sleight at women’s driving skills. Although there is a lot of sexism in Japan and it wouldn’t surprise me if this guide (and specifically the PR guy’s response) was a rip on them, I still feel like the implication of this post is unfitting.
When will vehicle marketing target non-hands-free cellphone using jackasses of both genders?
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.
I’d fill Danica’s tank.
Check her oil, too.
Lets leave the issue of man v. woman driving skills along for a minute and look at this issue from the point of view of automotive management.
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!
I’d fill Danica’s tank.
Said so nice and simply!
Yet I am dripping coffee from my lips right now!
P-man:
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.
Yeah, I reckon Danica is about a quart low at least.
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.
Long time, no comment but I can’t delay longer.
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 like the talking emotional appliance cartoons. I think it is a brilliant way to communicate an idea. A well done and simple cartoon is worth a thousand words.
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.
In our family I am responsible for all things automotive, including fueling and servicing.
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.
For those who wish to ‘check Danica’s oil’, here’s your link:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2008_swimsuit/danica-patrick/
Enjoy!…;-D…
Actually my better half reminds me when her car is due for an oil change. I do the dirty work, but she pours the fresh oil.
Indeed, that’s a great picture of Danica. I look forward to her first victory.
As much as I try to steer clear of generalizations based on gender, I’ve never met a women yet who could change a tire.
If women are generally worse than men about taking care of cars, dealign with car related stuff, and driving, it’s because they are socialized that way. I have at least one female friend who is an accomplished mechanic, and my little sister (who I taught to drive) has never had a problem dealing with cars.
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.