Dietrich's eventful upbringing

[raisemyrent]

So Dietrich is now almost 2 months old, and he's run for 2400km (1500mi)... I parked him for 2 weeks to go on Holidays and have been driving him lots since because of work...
He's been growing well and behaving more and more like a grown-up car... he doesn't shift moodily or eat too much gas anymore, and the seats are much more comfortable to sit on (in terms of relative position to instruments).
He is obviously past his break-in period, but I have not yet let him run at full speed because I am waiting on taking him with the vet to get his oil and fluids flushed out.
He still gets excited and moody when other cars give him attitude when we go for rides, but has learned to ignore them. Today, he even ignored a Lexus and an Evo whose owners had watched too much Fast & Furious and were racing each other, and the rest of the world, BUMPER-TO-BUMPER.

However, he got hit by another car's door in a parking lot the 2nd day after I came back to drive him again. It was a small door ding on his side and a couple scratches on his paint that should come off easily. I told him that he would just need to go get a "hair cut"..

But today he got really scared; we were at a red light and this GMC Sonoma came up behind us. Nothing unusual; cars waiting for the light to turn green and not moving. But the Sonoma got eager, and started running and hit Dietrich's rear bumper. It made a huge dent and broke the outer cover on a couple spots. His paint is quite scratched too. Dietrich freaked out and turned off his engine, turned on his hazards, and called the breeder (through his BMW assist). The breeder advised that the police had said they would not show up and required us to go and file a report by ourselves. So I explained to Dietrich that he could ride again, patted him on the dash, and off we went.
Insurance, police reports, and a couple handshakes later I was back riding with Dietrich on the way home... still very nervous.
So I decided to calm us down and we drove to the breeder-recommended vet, which was still open. They told us that they can take care of Dietrich first thing next week, and that he should get some rest this weekend. They promised us a new rear bumper for him, with brand new paint on it. It shouldn't hurt. I only have to bring him in for a day or two also.

So that's his story so far... he regained some of his confidence on the ring road on the way back home to his garage, so told him that this weekend I will give him a wash so that we can see the wound better, and because he has been needing it (rainy season). I know he likes the wash because when we go, he blinks the lights and locks/unlocks the doors randomly.
That and some rest should get him back on track, I think...

[esses]

Bummer about the accident, I would be steamed.

It should take the dealer longer than 2 days to get the paint right, weather.com says you've got rain out there. Count on a week.

[lacrosse]

ouch.............sorry bro!

[SimonB]

Sorry to hear about the bad news, but loved the method of delivery, thanks!

[60Driver]

Originally Posted by raisemyrent

I know he likes the wash because when we go, he blinks the lights and locks/unlocks the doors randomly.

Very nice, very funny. Tell Dietrich I'm pulling for him.

[Robert]

Most creative post. Are you a parent?

[Citizen Z]

*shoots self in the face* I'm going to start a coalition to end the anthropomorphizing of cars. Every time I meet a person who names their car and talks about as though it were a person, I become more an more convinced such behavior is a manifestation of a psychosis of some sort.

[dclee1]

Originally Posted by Citizen Z

*shoots self in the face* I'm going to start a coalition to end the anthropomorphizing of cars. Every time I meet a person who names their car and talks about as though it were a person, I become more an more convinced such behavior is a manifestation of a psychosis of some sort.

Ouch that's a bit harsh. I don't refer to any of my vehicles by any proper name or by pronoun, but I enjoyed the OP's method of storytelling. Besides, he was referring to his car like a pet, not a human.

[Kiety]

Poor Dietrich, my baby 1 recently got a flat tire, so i can feel ya (at least a little bit), hope it's good as new soon!

[Arnie712]

Sounds like Dietrich is an outside pet, so we need not speak of housebreaking... (fortunate, since a 3000+ pound pet makes for a considerable inside accident)

[raisemyrent]

Originally Posted by robert

Most creative post. Are you a parent?

hehe; no. I am 24 and single. I have a guinea pig (Mocha) and a plant (Elise) though, and an old dog at my parents. Dietrich is my boy.

Originally Posted by dclee1

Ouch that's a bit harsh. I don't refer to any of my vehicles by any proper name or by pronoun, but I enjoyed the OP's method of storytelling. Besides, he was referring to his car like a pet, not a human.

precisely. Though I don't like giving dogs or other animals human names, cars are slightly different. I assign my inanimate objects human or animal identities, and though not psychotic, I know what he meant.

Originally Posted by Kiety

Poor Dietrich, my baby 1 recently got a flat tire, so i can feel ya (at least a little bit), hope it's good as new soon!

That is unfortunate... luckily their paws are very tough and they can keep running for a bit even if they have a blister...

Originally Posted by Arnie712

Sounds like Dietrich is an outside pet, so we need not speak of housebreaking... (fortunate, since a 3000+ pound pet makes for a considerable inside accident)

haha! hopefully they won't leave us gifts (oil puddles?), the breeder seemed pretty confident... he sleeps indoors though; Canada is COLD.