I received a textual content message from somebody in Mercedes-Benz’s public relations division final week who had a tempting supply — If I’d be prepared to drive to Braselton, Georgia, for Petit Le Mans, they might ship a automobile for me to drive and get me in without spending a dime. We already had a freelancer attending, which I made certain to say up entrance, however they nonetheless needed me to return anyway. On Friday afternoon, a driver confirmed up with the keys to a Starling Blue Magno Mercedes-AMG GT63 Coupe.
You’d suppose I might have been thrilled. Who wouldn’t wish to drive a free sports activities automobile for per 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 business, although, the other has been the case. The precise driving expertise has all the time been gratifying, however dwelling with costly press vehicles day-to-day has given me anxiousness for years.
One in all as of late, possibly my therapist and I’ll make our method by means of all of the extra severe issues in my life and get round to determining why being seen getting out of an costly automobile 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 mounted me, or one thing else modified my mind. Your complete time I’ve had it, I’ve simply loved driving with out even enthusiastic about different individuals. Once I drove it to the physician’s workplace, I even parked like a traditional individual within the first open house I noticed.
I additionally must make clear that I’m not mad. I needed one thing to alter. There’s nothing enjoyable about coping with anxiousness even when it’s irrational, so it felt so good to simply drive round and benefit from the automobile 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 accountable for my miraculous turnaround embody the truth that it appears incredible, the paint makes it look even higher and there’s nothing a V8 with greater than 500 horsepower can’t repair. I assume you may additionally argue that it’s only a Mercedes, and the model doesn’t carry fairly the identical degree of status that Porsche and extra unique coupes command. It’s in all probability 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 suppose the AMG mounted me. As a substitute, I’m satisfied one thing actually modified my mind, and whereas I do know we’re bordering on conspiracy concept territory right here, not less than hear me out. A few month in the past, I practically suffered a grand mal seizure. I received to the hospital in time, and so they have been capable of 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 have been the one factor that felt completely 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 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 completely different. And if there actually is a long-lasting persona change, I’m definitely not going to complain about having much less anxiousness and customarily feeling happier or extra optimistic. When issues get wonky in individuals’s brains, it seems like there’s an enormous danger they’ll find yourself changing into big assholes, so optimistic modifications are greater than welcome.
After all, I’m a person of science, which implies I’ve to check this concept 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 per week? Not for private enjoyment, in fact. Purely for science.
