I obtained a textual content message from somebody in Mercedes-Benz’s public relations division final week who had a tempting supply — If I’d be keen to drive to Braselton, Georgia, for Petit Le Mans, they might ship a automotive for me to drive and get me in totally free. We already had a freelancer attending, which I made positive to say up entrance, however they nonetheless needed me to come back anyway. On Friday afternoon, a driver confirmed up with the keys to a Starling Blue Magno Mercedes-AMG GT63 Coupe.
You’d assume I might have been thrilled. Who wouldn’t need to drive a free sports activities automotive for every week, particularly one with 577 horsepower, 590 pound-feet of torque and sufficient choices to drive the $175,900 base value as much as $209,310? That’s principally a dream come true! For about so long as I’ve been within the trade, although, the other has been the case. The precise driving expertise has all the time been pleasurable, however dwelling with costly press automobiles day-to-day has given me nervousness for years.
One in all lately, possibly my therapist and I’ll make our means by way of all of the extra severe issues in my life and get round to determining why being seen getting out of an costly automotive gave me nervousness, however that’s going to have to remain onto the again burner for now, partly as a result of both the GT63 fastened me, or one thing else modified my mind. Your complete time I’ve had it, I’ve simply loved driving with out even fascinated about different individuals. After I drove it to the physician’s workplace, I even parked like a traditional individual within the first open area I noticed.
I additionally have to make clear that I’m not mad. I needed one thing to vary. There’s nothing enjoyable about coping with nervousness even when you recognize it’s irrational, so it felt so good to simply drive round and benefit from the automotive with out my mind operating 1,000,000 miles a minute. Nonetheless, that raises the query — Did the GT63 repair me, or did one thing else change my mind?
Arguments in favor of the AMG being chargeable for my miraculous turnaround embody the truth that it seems incredible, the paint makes it look even higher and there’s nothing a V8 with greater than 500 horsepower can’t repair. I suppose you could possibly additionally argue that it’s only a Mercedes, and the model doesn’t carry fairly the identical stage of status that Porsche and extra unique coupes command. It’s most likely not the very best argument, nevertheless it’s definitely not the worst one I’ve ever heard, both.
The extra I give it some thought, although, I don’t assume the AMG fastened me. As an alternative, I’m satisfied one thing actually modified my mind, and whereas I do know we’re bordering on conspiracy principle territory right here, not less than hear me out. A couple of month in the past, I almost suffered a grand mal seizure. I obtained to the hospital in time, they usually had been in a position to cease it, however I can formally say it was Not Enjoyable. Don’t advocate. Zero out of 10 (two out of 10 after they pumped me full of medication, and I didn’t die), wouldn’t purchase once more.
If that had been the one factor that felt totally different, I’d simply chalk it as much as a bizarre fluke or one thing and overlook about it. That’s, uh, decidedly not the case. It’s not like I utterly modified who I’m, and don’t fear, I nonetheless maintain all the identical 100-percent right opinions, however loads of issues nonetheless really feel totally different. And if there actually is an enduring persona change, I’m definitely not going to complain about having much less nervousness and usually feeling happier or extra constructive. When issues get wonky in individuals’s brains, it looks like there’s an enormous danger they’ll find yourself changing into big assholes, so constructive modifications are greater than welcome.
After all, I’m a person of science, which suggests I’ve to check this principle for myself. I’m going to should discover a press mortgage that prices greater than the AMG and see how I really feel. Ferrari nonetheless hasn’t forgiven us, however I don’t keep in mind doing something to upset Maserati too badly. What are the percentages they’d be keen to mail an MC20 to Georgia so I can drive it for every week? Not for private enjoyment, in fact. Purely for science.
