I bought a textual content message from somebody in Mercedes-Benz’s public relations division final week who had a tempting provide — If I’d be prepared to drive to Braselton, Georgia, for Petit Le Mans, they’d ship a automotive for me to drive and get me in totally free. We already had a freelancer attending, which I made certain to say up entrance, however they nonetheless wished 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’d 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 worth as much as $209,310? That’s mainly a dream come true! For about so long as I’ve been within the business, although, the other has been the case. The precise driving expertise has at all times been gratifying, however dwelling with costly press automobiles day-to-day has given me anxiousness for years.
Considered one of today, perhaps my therapist and I’ll make our means by 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 anxiousness, however that’s going to have to remain onto the again burner for now, partially as a result of both the GT63 fastened me, or one thing else modified my mind. The whole time I’ve had it, I’ve simply loved driving with out even desirous about different individuals. Once I drove it to the physician’s workplace, I even parked like a standard individual within the first open area I noticed.
I additionally must make clear that I’m not mad. I wished one thing to vary. There’s nothing enjoyable about coping with anxiousness even when you realize 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 embrace the truth that it appears unbelievable, the paint makes it look even higher and there’s nothing a V8 with greater than 500 horsepower can’t repair. I suppose you possibly can 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 perfect 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 idea territory right here, not less than hear me out. A few month in the past, I almost suffered a grand mal seizure. I bought to the hospital in time, and so they had been capable of cease it, however I can formally say it was Not Enjoyable. Don’t suggest. Zero out of 10 (two out of 10 after they pumped me full of medicine, and I didn’t die), wouldn’t purchase once more.
If that had been the one factor that felt totally different, I would simply chalk it as much as a bizarre fluke or one thing and neglect about it. That’s, uh, decidedly not the case. It’s not like I fully 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 a long-lasting persona change, I’m definitely not going to complain about having much less anxiousness and usually feeling happier or extra constructive. When issues get wonky in individuals’s brains, it seems like there’s an enormous threat 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 idea 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 bear in mind doing something to upset Maserati too badly. What are the chances they’d be prepared to mail an MC20 to Georgia so I can drive it for every week? Not for private enjoyment, in fact. Purely for science.
