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 wished 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’d have been thrilled. Who wouldn’t need to drive a free sports activities automobile 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 business, although, the other has been the case. The precise driving expertise has at all times been pleasant, however residing with costly press vehicles day-to-day has given me nervousness for years.
One in all lately, possibly my therapist and I’ll make our approach via all of the extra critical 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, partially as a result of both the GT63 mounted me, or one thing else modified my mind. Your entire 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 wished one thing to alter. 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. 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 liable for my miraculous turnaround embrace the truth that it appears 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 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 most effective 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 an alternative, I’m satisfied one thing actually modified my mind, and whereas I do know we’re bordering on conspiracy concept territory right here, at the very least hear me out. A couple of month in the past, I practically suffered a grand mal seizure. I acquired to the hospital in time, they usually 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 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 completely different. And if there actually is an enduring persona change, I’m definitely not going to complain about having much less nervousness and customarily 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 turning into large assholes, so constructive modifications are greater than welcome.
In fact, I’m a person of science, which suggests I’ve to check this concept 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 keep 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 every week? Not for private enjoyment, in fact. Purely for science.
