Top Gear is the Greatest Show Ever Made!

[david c.]

My favorite is Clarkson describing his ownership of a late model Bentley sedan. He describes in in the same way one might describe taking their in-laws to the mall. Highs and lows, with a noble purpose, but ultimately an excercise in frustration and self-abuse.

[k9handler]

I only get friggin motorweek on Sunday morning here....Damn AFN

[beepbeep]

Originally posted by obrut
"the Stig" is 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomquist.

Nope...Blomquist is an old man now. "Stig" is that guy who entered that horrible F1 team during 80's and never stand a chance.

[Sonic dB]

but you have to admit, the show is produced and directed with an exquisite quality that you don't really find with too many shows these days. I'm always amazed at how great their film and editing is on the show - it's amazing to watch, even if their just testing a Rover or some rediculous car like that. They make those economy tin cans look exciting!

You nailed it Wayne. I was thinking the same thing that you wrote...For example on tonight's episode, Clarkson drove some Audi 800 miles round trip on a single tank of gas just to see if the car could do it...they actually made semi dramatic and interesting to watch.

They also did a spot on the TVR 350 and last week featured a classic 70s Aston Martin Vantage V8 that you just dont get to check out even in CA. Its a great show.

[Aussie]

I can never decide which is better 5th Gear or Top Gear.

But I know Vicki Butler-Henderson from 5th gear would make a great wife.

[GeorgeM]

Smitty,

We don't even get Motorweek down here. The TV guide says Sunday at 1100, but they show "Destinations" instead... bastards.

[steve lewis]

interesting .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stig

[Willem Fick]

Clarkson also contributes to the London Times. His weekly reviews, and archives can be found at:

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,12529,00.html

[twin plugged targa]

Top gear is the one program I wait to watch each week due to cars tested and special features- caravan jumping etc.
They are over pompass but can be humerous at times.
Their style of banter is similar to that of the British series 'Black Adder' (with actor Rowan Atkinson) which aired years ago in the UK and is now lacking in originality.
This style of humour whilst seemingly catchy and querky is probabley almost unbearable to Brits.
rgds ben - self confessed part time Brit.

[bkreigsr]

for a guy who does not like Porsche, he sure had a lot of positives for the Cayenne last nite.

[PorscheGuy79]

hmm this might be a good time to show off my Season Six Compilation.

[m325ix]

great videos, I had a blast! I wish speedTV was like that all day long

[RickM]

Saw it last night as well. That Renault Cleo (sp) sure looks like a Mini killer. (The turning radius was crazy though)


I liked "spinning wheels in it's own smoke with it's hands up....that's French" ROFLMAO


He didn't hold back on his opnioon of the Cayenne either...

[k9handler]

Originally posted by GeorgeM
Smitty,

We don't even get Motorweek down here. The TV guide says Sunday at 1100, but they show "Destinations" instead... bastards.

same here George, but it is on at 0800

[k9handler]

ok I am going to the library tomorrow with my wireless laptop...what is the site where I can download the episodes? The Carrera GT one (with Clarkson under the car, and talking about the silicon carbide) is my favorite.

[PorscheGuy79]

If you have Bittorrent this is the place to go.

http://www.mininova.org/search/?search=top+gear

They are huge episodes, 400mb+ but DVD quality. I have every episode for the last 4 seasons, my Top Gear episodes alone make of 14GB of my harddrive.

[sammyg2]

Many of the segments on the show are completely irrelevant to the US market. The only european cars that interest me in the slightest are the sports cars, I could not care less about the other "jewels" they pump up. Jaguar is good example, they pretend they are great and not junk. Sorry, lost me there. Bentley? Isn't British anymore, but they still pump it up. I have no interest at all in watching a show about Bentleys. I might as well be watching a show about making quilts.

What the heck is up with testing the performance of every car on a wet track? Wow, the 4 wheel drive sports cars do better than the two wheel drive cars like the GT-3. Go figure.
Maybe it's always wet and raining in their world, but not in mine.
A diesel powered Audi sedan that they spend almost an entire show trying to get 40 mpg out of? Who cares? Someone obviously does but I don't. That car is on my list of cars that I will never drive or own no matter what.
I'm not saying they don't do the show well, but the best show on TV? Not in my opinion. It is just so much fluff and doesn't cover what is interesting to me most of the time.

I watch the show when it comes on but catch myself flipping channels to see if something "good" is on every time they start talking about a "who cares" car.
I guess I'm spoiled and arrogant and expect every car show to be geared to the Southern California market.

[k9handler]

Originally posted by PorscheGuy79
If you have Bittorrent this is the place to go.

http://www.mininova.org/search/?search=top+gear

They are huge episodes, 400mb+ but DVD quality. I have every episode for the last 4 seasons, my Top Gear episodes alone make of 14GB of my harddrive.

Thank you Matt...now I need a bigger HD to handle that.

[rob justice]

Word over here is The Stig is actually Perry McCarthy:-

http://www.f1nutter.co.uk/stats/drivers/profile.php?DriverID=P_McCarthy

[930fan]

Watch it for entertainment value but not to reach any meaningful conclusions on cars. Clarkson is such an overbearing opinionated twit and he can't drive to save his life. 5th gear with Tiff Nedell and VBH is much better.