'Little Girl'

[BookBint]

Background: I drive a rather large BMW saloon car. This is not half as flashy as it sounds, it's really old and almost worthless. I bought it off my dad who was going to scrap it, mostly because my mother had managed to destroy most of the bodywork (way to use parking sensors, Ma). However, I decided, since my commute is a 120 mile-round trip, I would buy this tank and thus protect myself a little from the wandering lane discipline of lorries.

Anyways, this morning I parked at work as usual and as I got out of the car a distinctly alarming old man sidled up to me and said 'that's a very big car for such a little girl! I'm surprised you can drive that thing!'

Yeah, the miracles of power steering. Oh, and yes, I do a lot of presses at the gym. Oh, and also, I could snap you in two you creepy sexist!

I am not at my most forgiving in the morning.

[Sheldonrs]

Well just how DO you drive when you're barefoot and pregnant?

[CaroPhoenix]

Carefully, very very very carefully.

[protege]

Anyways, this morning I parked at work as usual and as I got out of the car a distinctly alarming old man sidled up to me and said 'that's a very big car for such a little girl! I'm surprised you can drive that thing!'

Now that's interesting. I'm sure the old man had just stepped out of his land yacht. Many of those things--older Cadillacs, Buicks, Lincolns, etc. are huge compared to a BMW. They're big enough, that they have their own weather systems...and not only have the turning circle of a cruise ship..but the ride to match

[Flying Grype]

I'm sure the old man had just stepped out of his land yacht.

You can't use that logic against him. Double-standards, you know. It's okay for men to drive big cars.

Now if it wasn't an old car... "That's quite a new car for such an old geezer!"

[LillFilly]

And was the old-timer parked sideways across 2-handicap parking spaces?

Sometimes I see the worst parking jobs from big cars; just back up a bit and straighten-out so someone can park next to you!

[infinitemonkies]

Well just how DO you drive when you're barefoot and pregnant?

Y'know, one of the nicest feelings in the world in to drive barefoot on a cold day with the heater cranked up and set to the floor vents.

[Zellie Crescent]

I got to drive home barefoot from my aunt's house during the summer with the AC on.

[bainsidhe]

I barely made it past "120 mile round trip". That's one hellofa commute!

[protege]

You can't use that logic against him. Double-standards, you know. It's okay for men to drive big cars.

Of course they have to...compensate for something I never really understood the appeal of those things. Most, especially the RWD variety, are awful in snow. Me, I'd rather get a sports car

[BookBint]

I barely made it past "120 mile round trip". That's one hellofa commute!

Yes, yes it is. I earn my paycheck dammit...

[Nyoibo]

Most, especially the RWD variety, are awful in snow. Me, I'd rather get a sports car

RWD are good for 2 things, towing and drifting.

[Jack7957]

Well just how DO you drive when you're barefoot and pregnant?

They got to get to the grocery store somehow to stock the kitchen.

...and not only have the turning circle of a cruise ship..

The ship I was on has side mounted thrusters so it could turn around without needing to move. I can't find a link though to prove it.

[Ironclad Alibi]

Bow thruster.

[Chromatix]

Yes, large ships (and smaller ones that need to manoeuvre in tight spaces) have had bow thrusters (and sometimes stern ones too) for a very long time. Especially if they are single-screw drive, which makes their rudder authority highly dependent on what the engine is doing (eg. if they're in reverse, they can't turn at all with the rudder).

Twin-screw ships can put one forward and the other back to turn relatively tightly, too. This makes a bow thruster less necessary, but it can still be useful.

Large single-screw ships without a bow thruster typically require tug assistance in port.