Addicts have a serious problem, we can all agree on that. Some play video games until their eyes bleed, some drink themselves to sleep, and some become so addicted to the pursuit of a healthy lifestyle that they become vegan.
We get addicted to an activity or a drug to keep our minds distracted and sheltered from the outside world.
Hobbies are also used to escape real life – it is, in my opinion, necessary to our well-being and mental health – but we need to make sure not to lose ourselves in these hobbies because before you know it, the last call of duty game was supposed to be 6 hours ago and now it’s 4am. We need to learn to come back to reality and tackle life as it comes. You will have to sooner or later anyway.
The problem is that some of the methods of distraction we use can become part of our daily routine. We then become dependent, and ultimately, we get consumed by them.

Thankfully, my passion and escape from the world is driving cars. It’s a pastime with a drastically lower mortality rate than hard drugs, but it’s not a perfectly safe hobby either. Adrenaline-induced euphoria from driving at high speeds can get you in serious trouble. Paul Walker or Ayrton Senna could confirm, but they are hopefully having a drink together, in a place much more peaceful than Earth is.
Dangerous activities, such as driving fast, should be done with moderation. But a wise man once told me, “Max, everything must be done with moderation, even, moderation”. For me, this implies the idea that you need to set boundaries while doing whatever crazy activity you want so that you don’t harm yourself or others. But it also means you don’t need to cover yourself in bubble wrap and never step a foot outside for fear of getting a paper cut.

So ideally, we need to find a way to have exhilarating fun without the exhilarating speeds, specs, (price) and power of a McLaren 720s.
Thankfully, one of the most unexpected duos in automotive history have found the solution to our “fun in moderation” dilemma. BRABUS -the guys who modify already insanely fast AMGs- modified a Smart car.
Yep, you read that right.

The Smart BRABUS was created by engineers somewhere in Germany who were obviously bored. They slammed a 999cc engine in a 920kg metal box originally invented for city driving, gave it some stiff suspension and a little body kit then called it a day. Weird recipe, but it works because the damn thing is hilarious. I did not stop smiling while driving it. I had my foot to the floor most of the time and thanks to its little engine, I didn’t put myself, or anybody else, in danger.

It’s not a very comfortable car. The seats are fine, but the suspension is too stiff. One could argue that at high speeds this thing is as stable as a drunk teenager on a bicycle, hence the stiff suspension.
You’re also sitting very far away from a massive windshield. This is a weird feeling because it’s obviously a very small car, and yet, you’re somehow a galactic mile away from the glass.
It also has an automated manual transmission. What this means is that gear changes are slow, very slow. But it simply makes it even more fun to drive: When you floor it, nothing happens. A long second later, it downshifts and pushes you back in your seat. It revs up with ease up to the redline and when it’s time to change gear, nothing happens for half a second until it suddenly slams into the desired gear and you’re pushed back into the seat once again. It’s like that through every gear shift when driving hard. And when you’re driving softly. And from a full stop. And basically, 99% of the time unless you’re driving like your great-grandmother.
Surprisingly enough, it does push you back in the seat. It’s obviously not like a McLaren or a Ferrari, but it’s still enough to enjoy. Especially coming from a Smart.

Things in life aren’t always the way you want them to be. Sometimes you feel like your future is uncertain. Your girlfriend might be at the hospital which is obviously bumming you out, or you’re so bored at your job that it’s hard to believe anyone could be more bored than you, and maybe school sucks, too. Well, driving a car like this one is a ray of sunshine during darker times.
Life goes fast and sometimes, it feels out of control. But for a split second, the Smart felt like it was going faster than all of that. It’s the perfect distraction, and it does it with moderation.

Max

---

Note to myself : This little thing really made me happy.