Clarkson says something nice about Porsche . . .

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

He goes on & on and then this . . .

"And that, rather late in the day, brings me on to the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder. I have a sneaking suspicion that Porsche is now the only car maker left that’s still motivated by the same things that motivated the Italian car companies of yore. There is no Porsche econo-box. The 911 still puts its horsepower at the back. And when the firm did finally follow fashion and build a 4x4, it gave it a sodding great turbo.

Porsches do not sound like other cars. And they do not drive like other cars. They drive . . . how can I put this? Better.

This is not a volte-face. For reasons I don’t understand, I still do not want one, but that is not relevant here. If I put on the hat of an impartial reviewer, ignore the badge and concentrate on the RS 60 as a piece of machinery, I’m forced to conclude it’s wonderful.

Yes, it looks silly, the driving position is cramped and the interior colour on this limited-edition special is exactly the same colour as a cow’s bottom just after it’s given birth. I must also say I cannot see how it’s worth £5,405 more than a normal S. All you get is bigger wheels, a button to make the exhaust noisier and a dribble of extra power. But those are details. The package is superb. The way it steers, the way it rides, the way it grips. It makes you fizz and shiver in a way other cars do not.

I drove it on the Fosse Way with the roof down the other night. There was no other traffic. The sun was out. The countryside looked stunning. And then, as Nessun Dorma came on the radio, I started to smile. Because – and this is the highest compliment I can give to any car in these profit-and-loss times – it felt Italian."

Jeremy Clarkson - TimesOnLine

From Fair Porsche My Sweet Italian Lover

Ian

Aerkuld · Aerkuld's Garage

He explained, on the latest UK show on Sunday night, how he feels about Porsche and he doesn't hate them, he just doesn't "get it". Nothing more complicated than that really.

Here's the clip. The Porsche bit is during the interview with JK about 8 minutes in, almost at the end. If you don't want to find out where the blue car Hammond is driving ends up on the lap time board don't watch the first bit...

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

I've seen the "let's kill a 911" bit that Jeremy Clarkson did a few years back -- I think most American's simply don't understand Clarkson's British wit.

In that vid he tries to kill the car, and it won't die, thus proving how robust the 911 really is. And I believe THAT was Clarkson's real point. Tongue and cheek, but still a strong testimony to Porsche's build quality.

-Z-man.

Superman · 07-30-2008, 08:28 AM

I think his respect for the car is genuine. Let's put it another way......if he did not have a genuine respect for Porsches, then what would that say about his qualifications for headlining a show that evaluates cars?

What I find amusing is the form of his remarks. His highest praise is to say it feels Italian. This is either a deliberately backhanded compliment, or he really truly does not 'get it.' I would never say that about a 911. Never. I can think of no more diametrically opposed automobile design strategies than that of the Italians and Germans.

onewhippedpuppy · 07-30-2008, 08:45 AM

Typically when JC talks about something feeling Italian, he's implying that a car has soul. If you watch Top Gear very often, you'll realize that one thing he continually harps on is cars that don't feel connected, mechanical. That's why he always knocks the "flappy paddle gearbox", stability control, etc. I don't necessarily think he means it feels like a Ferrari, just that the car has character and personality. Probably the biggest compliment he could give.

I agree with the others, I think he has a genuine respect for Porsche, even if he doesn't like one. More recently, he gives them more crap because it pisses off Hammond, the 911 owner and Porsche lover.

cairns · 07-30-2008, 08:52 AM

I think he likes Porsches far more than he'll ever admit. In the UK driving a "Porker" automatically brands you as a wanker in the eyes of many.

Aerkuld · Aerkuld's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by cairns

I think he likes Porsches far more than he'll ever admit. In the UK driving a "Porker" automatically brands you as a wanker in the eyes of many.

That's why I bought one.

(Are you sure that word isn't on the banned list?)

notfarnow · 07-30-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-man

I've seen the "let's kill a 911" bit that Jeremy Clarkson did a few years back -- I think most American's simply don't understand Clarkson's British wit.

In that vid he tries to kill the car, and it won't die, thus proving how robust the 911 really is. And I believe THAT was Clarkson's real point. Tongue and cheek, but still a strong testimony to Porsche's build quality.

-Z-man.

I didn't enjoy that bit at all, whereas the "Let's kill a toyota diesel" one was fantastic.

With the toyota one, they kept doing horrible things to the truck, and then STILL manages to get it running. It really was incredible.

With the 911 one, they just decided to destroy the Porsche. Pouring acid on it, driving it into the side of a building, and dropping it on a camper trailer. None of those proved how strong or well made the car was. Heck, in the final scenes it was obvious the engine & transmission weren't even in the car.

It would have been far more entertaining to do things that prove how robust the car was, like running it at redline for ages, etc etc

Intead, they just bashed it up.

David · David's Garage

I hate to admit that I never paid much attention to the BBC station I get on cable, but now I do.

Top Gear is the only car show that my wife AND son will watch with me. It's just hilarious!

BRPORSCHE · 07-30-2008, 09:46 AM

Top gear is so awesome that I pretty much have all my friends hooked. Even the chicks love it. They all think Hammond is just 'too cute.'

Seric · 07-30-2008, 10:55 AM

Perhaps JK is right, he just probably doesn't know how to drive one :P

J1NX3D · J1NX3D's Garage

i liked this comment on Clarksons article:

Quote:

Unfortunately "integrale" in Italian also means "wholemeal" and we all know the supposed benefits of that.

Tony, Brighton, UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Typically when JC talks about something feeling Italian, he's implying that a car has soul. If you watch Top Gear very often, you'll realize that one thing he continually harps on is cars that don't feel connected, mechanical. That's why he always knocks the "flappy paddle gearbox", stability control, etc. I don't necessarily think he means it feels like a Ferrari, just that the car has character and personality. Probably the biggest compliment he could give.

I agree with the others, I think he has a genuine respect for Porsche, even if he doesn't like one. More recently, he gives them more crap because it pisses off Hammond, the 911 owner and Porsche lover.

i agree with all of the above. he loves giving Hammond stick and when he reviewed the CGT for the programme, the first 5 mins is hassling Germans engineering analness before saying how soulful the CGT design was, like a ferrari!

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

With the 911 one, they just decided to destroy the Porsche. Pouring acid on it, driving it into the side of a building, and dropping it on a camper trailer. None of those proved how strong or well made the car was. Heck, in the final scenes it was obvious the engine & transmission weren't even in the car.

it was pretty obvious a shooting out windows with a shotgun wouldn't prove its robustness. Maybe they were parting it out as they filmed?

its a spoof. a caravan full of pyrotechnics at the end proved it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by notfarnow

It would have been far more entertaining to do things that prove how robust the car was, like running it at redline for ages, etc etc

with no oil in it!

Superman · 07-30-2008, 01:27 PM

FWIW, a mechanic friend once told me a story. They had an old car (Buick, I think) they didn't like, so they drained the oil and ran the car. Drove it around the parking lot, let it idle. It didn't blow up. So they went for a drive. Steep county road. They tried to blow it up, but it held together. Back at the shop they placed a brick under the gas pedal and returned to work. The Buick engine screamed for a while. Eventually, they decided that if this Buick wanted to live that badly, they would stop trying to kill it. They lifted the brick off the gas pedal and the engine let go.

masraum · 05-01-2009, 10:15 AM

This is a very interesting article that seems to contradict almost everything I've ever heard JC say in reference to Porsche.

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2008/08/stories/01/1.html

Dottore · 05-01-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

This is a very interesting article that seems to contradict almost everything I've ever heard JC say in reference to Porsche.

http://www.topgear.com/content/features/stories/2008/08/stories/01/1.html

Typical JC. The English are a deeply conflicted lot—constantly torn between what they really want and what they think they should want.

m21sniper · 05-01-2009, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imcarthur

He goes on & on and then this . . .

"And that, rather late in the day, brings me on to the Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder. I have a sneaking suspicion that Porsche is now the only car maker left that’s still motivated by the same things that motivated the Italian car companies of yore. There is no Porsche econo-box. The 911 still puts its horsepower at the back. And when the firm did finally follow fashion and build a 4x4, it gave it a sodding great turbo.

Porsches do not sound like other cars. And they do not drive like other cars. They drive . . . how can I put this? Better.

This is not a volte-face. For reasons I don’t understand, I still do not want one, but that is not relevant here. If I put on the hat of an impartial reviewer, ignore the badge and concentrate on the RS 60 as a piece of machinery, I’m forced to conclude it’s wonderful.

Yes, it looks silly, the driving position is cramped and the interior colour on this limited-edition special is exactly the same colour as a cow’s bottom just after it’s given birth. I must also say I cannot see how it’s worth £5,405 more than a normal S. All you get is bigger wheels, a button to make the exhaust noisier and a dribble of extra power. But those are details. The package is superb. The way it steers, the way it rides, the way it grips. It makes you fizz and shiver in a way other cars do not.

I drove it on the Fosse Way with the roof down the other night. There was no other traffic. The sun was out. The countryside looked stunning. And then, as Nessun Dorma came on the radio, I started to smile. Because – and this is the highest compliment I can give to any car in these profit-and-loss times – it felt Italian."

Jeremy Clarkson - TimesOnLine

From Fair Porsche My Sweet Italian Lover

Ian

He loves 928s.

masraum · 05-01-2009, 05:56 PM

He seems to really love Porsches including 928s.

Quote:

Speak this quietly, but I was the only person in the world who wanted a 924. I knew that it had an engine from a Volkswagen van and that it took six years to get from zero to 60mph and that it cost a million pounds and you were only paying for the badge. But it had pinstripe velour seats, and I liked that.

And then they fitted flared wheel arches and a new four-cylinder 2.5-litre engine to create the 944. I wanted one of those so much I ached. In fact, if I were to draw up a list of the 10 best cars I've ever driven, the 944 turbo would certainly be included. You can buy them these days for five grand.

By rights, I should hate the 928. It was the first press test car I ever crashed. And I used one to go and see my dad the day before he died. I also disliked the dreadful ride quality in later models. And yet, even today, when one grumbles by, my head does the full Linda Blair. It is, I think, one of the best-looking cars ever made.