I acquired 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’d ship a automobile for me to drive and get me in free of charge. 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 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 worth 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 at all times been pleasurable, however dwelling with costly press automobiles day-to-day has given me nervousness for years.
One in all as of late, possibly 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 automobile 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 mounted me, or one thing else modified my mind. All the time I’ve had it, I’ve simply loved driving with out even interested by different folks. Once I drove it to the physician’s workplace, I even parked like a traditional particular person within the first open house I noticed.
I additionally must make clear that I’m not mad. I needed one thing to vary. There’s nothing enjoyable about coping with nervousness even when it’s irrational, so it felt so good to only drive round and benefit from the automobile with out my mind operating one million miles a minute. Nevertheless, 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 to be like implausible, the paint makes it look even higher and there’s nothing a V8 with greater than 500 horsepower can’t repair. I suppose you would 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 most likely not one of the best argument, however it’s actually 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 idea territory right here, at the least hear me out. A few month in the past, I practically suffered a grand mal seizure. I acquired to the hospital in time, they usually had 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 medicine, and I didn’t die), wouldn’t purchase once more.
If that had been the one factor that felt completely different, I’d 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 appropriate opinions, however loads of issues nonetheless really feel completely different. And if there actually is a long-lasting character change, I’m actually not going to complain about having much less nervousness and customarily feeling happier or extra optimistic. When issues get wonky in folks’s brains, it looks like there’s an enormous danger they’ll find yourself turning into big assholes, so optimistic adjustments 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 must 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 percentages 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.
