caddycruiser

For the longest time, pretty much the last 2 years straight, since graduating with my $$$ Mechanical Engineering degree from Villanova (worth every cent, honestly, even if technically...), I've been "trying to figure it out". Always wanted to be IN the car industry, but could never figure out how/where/with what, and even things like sales if brought up would get "no..." reactions. Trying to figure it out meant graduating without the selection of job offers lined up, and so forth. For the last 2 years of school, I had been interning every break from school with a home builder at the beach in Delaware. It was always fun, I knew what I was doing and took charge, once full time taking on an entire department in everything from design to technical plans to marketing to finally even getting into a once in a while sales role I wished I could do more of. But it never fit, just was a placeholder. A placeholder that has kept me frantic 7 days a week and every night, and though I enjoyed the product and the customer side of things, it was never right, and I knew that, despite being the penultimate rock star in every way at my job. It just turned unhealthy and unhappy, in many ways, despite efforts. That happens. Fast forward. This "trying to figure it out" also turned into "I have a job now...I'll buy a new car...yes." Well, we know how that went. Gave up my "just right" '95 Cadillac Fleetwood, totally clear & free, aside from maintenance and gas. Never should have gotten rid of it. Lemon G6 (I still love it, though, and would have another if normal), Malibu replacement that I enjoyed but also had issues, G8 GT that...if anything...also should have never gone anywhere but did, and then the Avalanche now. Who knows with this one. Lots of interesting decisions and changes, trying to figure it out... Now starts June and July. A lot has changed. Came to finally decide, with what I love to do, the industry, and my experiences, I really DID want to do something with sales. The process of figuring out that "big, corporate, etc. career and moving to a new state & city..." just wasn't realistic given my current situation, and would be another move too fast & then regret it later. So, stayed closer to home, focused & made a lot of changes in the course of 1 week. 1) Focused on my sales, product, etc. experience and started applying for sales positions with dealers in the area; calls & emails came back, interviews immediately, 3 overall. Finally something felt RIGHT. 2) Interviews went well, one in particular for a dealer group in the area. A pair of their stores just gained a new GM and she was looking for upbeat, excited, and "car nut" people with proper background & experience to make some changes. Resulted in a 2 hour interview, and everything fell into place. 3) Resigned from my current role on Friday afternoon. Still sinking in. Didn't go well, but it's rarely a party. 4) Accepted my new position yesterday...drum roll...I will now be a new & used vehicle sales consultant & taking special charge of internet/online changes & policies as well, as we see how everything goes. Working for a dealer group in Hurlock/Preston, MD, based in the Nissan/Mazda stores but with the ability to sell anything down the line for the dealer group. Nissan, Mazda, Ford-Lincoln-Mercury, Hyundai, and also Suzuki at another location. Fun, fun, fun times ahead, over the next month. 2 more weeks in my current position, trying to stage a transition as well as I can, then 4th of July weekend heading south to Corolla, NC with close friend & their family for a full week of vacation, and start my new Sales Consultant/etc. role the following Monday, July 12th. Everything just fell into place, resignation timing, the vacation I never expected but also perfectly timed with a friend leaving the same company at the same time, and then an all new exciting job when I get back After all of this, something personal vehicle related might be the next step. "Jethro" the Avalanche is not something I realistically can do a 100 mile per day commute in, part gas & also just part this isn't a vehicle I want to rack up 25k+ miles a year in. Never know if I may end up moving or otherwise, but driving from the Delaware beaches west & to Maryland, is just a new adventure. We'll see. I'm looking into what new I can now sell myself, in regards to a car...

Yikes. And the lack of insurance info...as OCN said, not a good thing. Anything to expedite the process, so hopefully that's still possible. Lots of damage to a 5 year old Cobalt, and anything is fixable. Been in this situation more than once, never at fault. Insurance, info on estimate/repair/other ASAP, and so on. Ugh...

Driving back from Maryland, nearing home, an '04-06'ish Durango with hood scoops, custom wheels and...a high top. I swear I've seen this before, but can't remember where. I wanted to see the inside... At Safeway Starbucks with a friend on Tuesday, and older guy pulled his white '07+ Avalanche in near mine. Snow-va-lanche.

When it rains, it pours. Sounds like the snippet I just posted about finding a hit on my back bumper, fixing it, then who nails 3 orange poles...mom. Geez. Your door looks new now, though

Last week in a tight Rehoboth Beach parking lot mid-day, I THINK I may have hit the spare tire tread on the back of a CR-V with the very bottom corner of my Av's rear bumper...didn't notice a thing until someone pointed out a scuff & scratch later. Friend in car said close, but didn't think I was that close...or someone just hit me. Hard to tell from how it actually looked & where I was. Rag, quick detail spray, scratch remover, touch up paint for 2 chips, gone. Still weird being under the bumper edge mostly...I think someone hit me in the lot. Rear camera alert...love it. Then today...my mother out driving back from X-rays in her Camaro "ran off the road a little..." and nailed 3 huge bright orange poles (we're assuming flexible...since...well...) on the wide berm at an intersection to prevent you going around if someone is turning left, since it's a blind 4-way. Odd, because on my way home, I got stopped right in front and noticed them for the first time myself...then boom, guess who put big scrapes on her front bumper, front fender and bulging rear fender? Nailed them. Literally. Much to her surprise, me & some Eagle One Ultra Fine Scratch Remover compound got 95% of the marks to vanish...all but one pencil tip size scratch/mark at the top of a scrape on the front bumper where I think the 1st pole made contact. It was looking like body shop time, for sure. That scratch remover is amazing... Ugh. Thankfully the Camaro was saved that much. Would have been really bad...especially given her one front wheel is still curbed on an edge where she hit sidewalk before. Focus. Most focus when driving the batmobile...

Red Suzuki Equator (err, Nissan Frontier with big chrome grille) passing on the road. First one I've ever seen out driving.

Even when that new Camry is a $70k+ brand new Lexus LS460...and yes...tragedy. Black & white, cool & crap. At least it was clear which one everyone was looking at & listening to when their light turned green...

'08'ish Cobalt SS sedan (2.4L car, back when it was an appearance package on the sedan, basically) with a big hitch & ball out back. Intriguing. Black Ford GT in traffic. Been a long time since I've seen one of these around here. Sounded great & looked so cool when he crossed in front of me. Dad's mysterious project in his tent garage out back. Been around for a year now, but I still know very little about it or look at it. He had the door half open so I snapped a shot of current status, finally. '68 Dodge Coronet 440, I think...

Nice. Don't even like those, but a good sign & move she got another

Yes. It would SO balance out the sedan shape. Side splash graphic, too, also so fitting

Brand new silver 2011 Toyota Avalon parked at a Bob Evans. Woof. So antique, but with curvy new eyebrows up front and lower side sills. Oh what change.

I haven't seen a 1st gen Neon in a long time either...hmm...

The worse part is in the commercials they show a black Sierra with GM accessory chrome 20/22" wheels and make it legitimately sound like that's part of the deal, or at least used to. Another dealer has one as such and made their own commercial showing it, but again, the accessory wheels are yet another couple grand on top...stupid.

Yeah...I never understood it in the first place. The local GMC marketing commercial "chrome...lots of chrome...at your local Delmarva GMC dealers" play again & again. Finally seeing it, eh, fine if you wanted all those accessory chunks anyway and don't mind Delmarva plastered on it.

Last gen Lexus IS Sportback...rare bird, but cool bird, little RWD hatch wonder. '06 Denali pickup on the used lot, with a flat tire. "Delmarva Pro Sport" edition '10 Sierra(s). The local GMC commercials have been advertising this package at all the dealers, but I never saw until today the badges actually say "Delmarva..." on them. Okay then.

'03 Quadrasteer Silverado with some 7+ year fading & discoloration, out shopping this week. Very odd around there...very...

Went shopping. All new stuff, but when dealer hopping, that's to be expected. '10 Laser Blue Silverado with chrome gear. Saw a fresh '10 Denali XL in the same shade, recently finally showing up. Kinda pops. Twin to my truck, but a '10 and new Sheer Silver. SIM '10 Camaro SS with a custom grille covering the entire front, lights included, on the new lot. White Diamond '10 Avalanche LTZ & a Taupe Gray '10 Avalanche Z71 2wd--I originally test drove the latter, before buying my '09. And one oldie, a maroon '91 Custom Cruiser in really nice shape from a distance, at a little house/lot.

Awesome trip!

Dark brown '08 Lacrosse Super. This was the longest running old leftover at the local GM dealer, just kept getting moved around & around, and was there through the sale/name change of the dealer, getting a new sticker. Finally after 2+ years, an older lady (I think) locally bought it finally. Only Super I've ever seen in person, and still do.

Lots. Amidst some quick weekend shopping, going truck shopping (haven't been to a dealer in a while...need to), finding a job as a salesperson (seriously), another trip somewhere with a friend, BBQ at the house with random people, and whatever else, just tomorrow. Sunday should be finally wash the Av day after 2+ weeks of gunk & other chores. Monday...well...like a Monday, but no work. Had things been more settled all around, it'd be a good weekend for a western PA family trek, but too much right now. The beach traffic has begun, officially today, in 'ye ole Delaware. Summer is here, it seems.

Opal White '10 Lacrosse CXS with tinted windows & the 19" wheels in traffic. Buick sedan or not, every time I see one of these, it's so picture worthy. Just stunning, and in today's sun, the colors and trim of this one, and the ugly traffic around it, was really getting attention.

That's IBM, Imperial Blue Metallic. No Black Granite offered on the 'Maro, only pure Black.

Enjoy! Wherever & whatever, always good. Some day...

Seriously. Hehaheh Fascinating list. Period.

Awesome. Our 2LT RS is great. Not the easiest or most comfortable for me after my Avalanche, but holy crap, LOVE the DI 3.6L and 6-spd...it's a screaming banshee that MOVES. Add in the lighter front end & more balanced car, it's the best combo. Made me wish my truck had any similar verve and sound after...or that a G8 ever existed here with the same powertrain... The LS is a great choice, especially because of the cloth, cool "base" wheels and lowest price, but no difference in the guts.