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Last week I watched episode 6 of season 20 and I was highly disappointed. It's like I never left after not watching the last few seasons. All that has changed is the cars are current models and the boys are all looking rather, well :erm: .........old!
It wasn't helped by the sunburns and kid's clothes. I know it wasn't quite the same intent but I really liked the E-Type fanfare from a few seasons ago compared to this season's finale. Mark Webber was good, though.
Spain and it's ghost towns and brand new airports never to have seen a plane (Granada is only one of many) was interesting.
They haven't entirely lost it yet... I even laughed at the entirely predictable Hovervan and was mildly amused with some of the caravan antics :eek:
As for the car reviews and most of the star drivers (exception: F1 drivers)... boring as ever :dozey:
So what do you say about the latest season? The hatchbacks could have been good but they ruined it.
Last weeks episode was ok but nothing special. The Danish (!) supercar Zevo interesting look but
interior finish wasn't anything special really. We shall see how the rest of the episodes turns out.
This episode was actually pretty good. The Ukraina mini-special was actually very good.
The most important thing with is what they kept i fairly serious but still a bit funny.
Spoiler: they visited a submarine base, a former nuclear missile launch site and Chernobyl. end Spoiler
To see the text mark the entire line with the mouse pointer.
The car Clarkson drove a VW Up! looked very nice.
Rarest of things, I actually learned something from Top Gear! I might end up buying a 1.0 litre petrol ;)
Hopefully not for seventeen thousand.
I would have liked to see more challenges with the small cars; driving 750 miles across Ukrane is about as exciting as 1000 miles across Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and eastern Colorado and I do that twice a year.
That's for the top of the line 125bhp model. You can get a more normal 80bhp version for about £12,000.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregor-y
The 1.0l engine in that Fiesta is extremely impressive. First discovered it when my company Fiesta was being serviced and I ended up getting a Focus. THe bloke told me it was petrol (which I wasn't sure about because I could hear that it had a turbo and definitely wasn't a normal sounding petrol engine). Really enjoyed thrashing it around all day so asked if I could keep it, at which point the bloke told me it was a 1 litre. I responded in less than favourable fashion (think I said "bollocks").Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
When I switched jobs and had to change cars I looked at getting a Fiesta Zetec S with the EcoBoost and test drove one. Really flies and was very enjoyable to drive but the cost was a bit more than I'd have liked (think it was nearly £15k) so I ended up with a second hand diesel Focus instead (limited by car allowance policy to 115 on the emissions). When I have to replace the Focus though I will probably look to get something with an EcoBoost engine in it. The one downside is that Ford's economy are MASSIVELY over egged. On a gentle-ish run I was averaging nearer 40 than 65mpg and even the bloke in the showroom (who was using it as a company car) admitted that his average was around 40mpg.
I am enjoying this series.
I see people in other forums complaining that its not a proper motoring show.
However the original Car show that was top gear was flopping hence it was cancelled.
Fifth Gear was more about cars and that folded.
So its clear a proper motoring show is not what the people want. So take Top Gear as what it is and either enjoy it or don't watch it. Don't expect it to be something its not.
The 'new' Top Gear has been going for 12 years now, so I find it hard to believe that people still don't get the format of it, it's not a motoring show as such, no. I've heard it said that it isn't a show about cars, it's a show about driving cars.
I know what you mean, but in other places I do still see people question why they don't do more proper car tests.
Sadly this format is dead.
I think the most complaint aren't that it ain't a motor show but rather that the scripting have
become too exaggerated, that the "driving stunts" go too far and etc. I agree with Mark that
TG is about driving and that was that which made the latest episode so good. They took a couple
of cars and went for a drive through Ukraine and they didn't exaggerate and it was still good.
The submarine base, the missile base and Chernobyl made it good.
Like the first episode this season with the deliberately crashing in the supermarket,
the "bombing" of the cars at the "police chase", Hammond destroying his car on purpose
or going off the road (off camera of course) on purpose.
I'd would like a little more car driving and a little less stand up comedy.
I still watch Top Gear because it is still a good TV show, but I would like it more if it was less scripted and they did more consumer advice. I liked it most during the earlier series when there was a good mix between proper road testing and d1ck1ing about with cars, but now they just seem to d1ck about all the time.
I still think many of the challenges would be better if they weren't scripted and didn't try so hard to be funny. The 80s hot hatch challenge could have been really good if they have done it the same way they did the original £100 car challenge or £10000 Italian supercar challenge in earlier series.
I used to watch Top Gear religiously for about 20 odd years. It would be one program in the week I would make sure I watch. I don't have that urge any more and I think in the last 3 years I've seen maybe 3 or 4 shows. I caught the end of the show on Sunday where they were driving to Pripyat and I found it interesting just for the way it was filmed and felt Clarkson did convey the seriousness of the place quite well. The way they try and make other aspects funny makes me cringe. I do think they need to tone the comedy sketch elements down a little and try and get a balance of having serious consumer segments where the average person will be interested, and keep some of the entertainment stuff. It could still be a good show, but sadly its looking past its best on the occasions I have watched it. If I had my way I would get rid of Hammond and hire someone who has something useful to offer.
It's certainly true that the show is past it's best, even Clarkson a while ago said there are more episodes behind them than ahead. Personally I wish they'd say something like there are going to be 2 more series - and that'll be that.
Yes the scripting is an issue, as they try to do ever more outrageous stunts. Much better when they set out to do something, and whatever happens, happens, instead of generating scripted mishaps and the like.
You can get a Fiesta ST or a Mondeo new for less than that... or a six-month old Transit van.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregor-y
Top Gear in trouble again.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...a-special.html
Depends how it was said. I remember the episode but cant remember the context.
To be fair the bridge did slope sideways.
Perhaps not a very wise thing to say, but the lawsuit demand is just pure ridiculous.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark
It seems that person making these demands is "constantly looking" for comments that might be racisim
and then use that as an excuse to file a lawsuit.
The new Top Gear series start on Sunday, with 10 episodes, could this be an extra long final series?
No sign of that at the moment but it is unusually long. I think this time last year it was 7 episodes with two of them being the 'Christmas Special' which we've already had this year.Quote:
Originally Posted by Langdale Forest
Except that you're not likely to offend anyone with monarchist style number plates in Australia; not even if you happen to be his Tonyness who awards Prince Phillip a knighthood on Australia Day.Quote:
Originally Posted by racemarket
Re that green Maloo in the mine... I saw one like it with bags of concrete in the back, at a building site earlier in the week. Thanks to GM for killing it forever... I hope that come 2017, you never ever sell a single car in Australia again.
Also:
How did James import English Stig?
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4369.asp
Did he get a permit under the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989? I'm pretty sure that the Stig is an "Ozone Depleting Substance"
Quite fun going on the Autocar website immediately after TG's on and seeing what their "Most read" road test is. After episode 1 it was the Renault Twizy, after this week's... was it the Bentley? Was it the 6-series? No... Holden (Vauxhall) Maloo!
June 30, 2017... and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.Quote:
Originally Posted by inimitablestoo
Will anybody beat Australian Daniel Ricciardo,s time in the "Reasonably priced car " lap of 1.42.2
Lewis did 1.42.9
Re the Yellow Corvette at the beginning of the episode:
£65,000, 190mph
Compare with the Maloo Ute:
Australian list price:
£40,156, 184mph
Which one would I have? The Maloo. You can't out a cement mixer in the back of the Corvette; ergo, if that's "the best car America can do" then I'm sorry, the American car industry is a sad sad joke.
In keeping with a post on another thread about the trio going to amazon.
What do people see the BBC doing with Top Gear? Trying something similar? Going back to how it was way back or try something different again.
They can't try and do 'more of the same' with different, erm, actors - it would be compared unfavourably with the last trio. The way it was is classed as dull; petrolheads liked it but John Q Public didn't so it didn't get the all important ratings which in turn reflect its saleability. So they simply have to try something different. But what?
Good question.
I struggle to work out quite where it goes. I guess it partly depends who is presenting it along with Chris Evans.
Oh if it was me (which I hope the BBC come to their senses and hire me), then Top Gear would become a show more about the family hacks that people actually drive.Quote:
Originally Posted by steveaki13
I want to see an Insignia v Mondeo v Mazda 6 v Superb v Passat v Avensis supertest. I'd like to see pieces about say the Chery Arrizo7, Opel Adam, Honda Odyssey and Ferrari 488 GTB all in the same episode. Supercars are all very nice but not most segments every week.
Dear BBC, give me the gig. You'll be pleased that you did.
Before Clarkson, Top Gear was all about Blogmobile vs Repmobile comparisons, tests of gadgets like jacks that plug into the cigar socket etc - All the things the powers that be considered the 'average motorist' would be interested in. And it was dead boring.
Clarkson & Co moved it into the 'Entertainment' and possibly the 'Comedy' sectors. But like all comedies it had a limited shelf life. Top Gear was well past the sell-by date as they had run out of gags and were inventing new and more outrageous ones.
So, let's wait and see what Chris Evans does.
One thing you can say about Chris Evans.... He chucks himself into things fully and gets stuff done.
the new team:
http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cps...59_topgear.jpg
Rory Reid, Sabine Schmitz, Matt LeBlanc, Chris Evans, Chris Harris, Eddie Jordan and The Stig
http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-35548081
How embarrassing! And to think we pay our License Fee for this!Quote:
Originally Posted by BleAivano
Pretty sure the PC chaps will be pleased though. I think they have covered everything there.
Where's the Muslim disabled lesbian one?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bezza
I think it's a bit soon to complain when we've not even seen one episode yet. I think having an increase in the number of presenters will stop people making direct comparisons to old 'new Top Gear' and the Amazon Prime show.
If they only had three presenters people would be trying to figure out which one is supposed to be Clarkson etc.
This made me chuckle
http://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/624/c...529e8a3fab.jpg
Can confrim. I am not on the new Top Gear. It's gonna go down in flames faster than a flaming thing on fire, that's got it's wings on fire.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rollo
Actually it will probably be more like a magazine type show than a "three blokes mucking about" show.
Does anyone really think that Chris Evans got the job because he's ginger? Or that they picked Sabine Schmitz because she's foreign and not because she's been on the show before and loads of people said she should be part of it? Or Chris Harris got hired because he's short? Or Eddie Jordan because he's Irish?
Kind of sad that just employing a woman and a black guy makes people think that the BBC are trying to fill some kind of quota.
Be interesting how it goes. It might please some who want a proper car show, but will it get as high viewing figures for the BBC? I know several people who watched it with no interest in cars. They are unlikely to watch the new version.
I really am interested to see whether its a success.