I obtained a textual content message from somebody in Mercedes-Benz’s public relations division final week who had a tempting provide — If I’d be keen to drive to Braselton, Georgia, for Petit Le Mans, they might ship a automobile for me to drive and get me in at no cost. We already had a freelancer attending, which I made certain 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 assume I’d 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 trade, although, the other has been the case. The precise driving expertise has at all times been pleasant, however dwelling with costly press vehicles day-to-day has given me anxiousness for years.
Considered one of lately, 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 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. All the time I’ve had it, I’ve simply loved driving with out even serious 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 have to make clear that I’m not mad. I wished one thing to alter. 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 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 answerable for my miraculous turnaround embrace the truth that it seems improbable, 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 in all probability not the perfect 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 assume 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 principle 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 obtained 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 medication, 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 utterly 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 totally different. And if there actually is an enduring persona change, I’m actually 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 looks like there’s an enormous threat they’ll find yourself turning into large assholes, so optimistic modifications are greater than welcome.
In fact, I’m a person of science, which implies I’ve to check this principle 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 chances they’d be keen to mail an MC20 to Georgia so I can drive it for per week? Not for private enjoyment, in fact. Purely for science.
