Top Gear

I've been a long time fan since Jeremy used to just co-host "Top Gear" with Tiff Needle & Vicky Butler before he went Solo and changed the name to Jeremy Clarksons " Top Gear ", Tiff and Vicki went on to create their own simpler car show called " 5th Gear ".

Thought for a minute you were about to mention the Top Gear budget cuts, heres hoping not too much about the current UK show changes.

Top Gear Budget Cuts Linky:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/dec/29/top-gear-bbc-budget-cuts-jeremy-clarkson

 

Best car show on the planet, period. Nothing can compare.

Search YouTube for the following episodes:
Jaguar XJS weight loss (Colin Chapman would be proud)
Toyota Hilux destruction (Toyotas are super tough, in case you had any doubt)
Porsche Carerra GT test (just for the music that this awesome car makes - if it doesn't make your hair on your neck stand on end, you're not breathing)
Mercedes SLR McLaren test (Richard Hammond's comments are priceless)
Bobsled vs. WRC car in Norway (best car vs. non-car comparo)
Miniature Ferrari 312 PB (just awesome, guy needs a life, though)
Journey to the North Pole (drinking and driving has never been such fun!)

Just some of my personal faves - there is so much more that is worthwhile...

 

I swear, I really believe that Top Gear is one of the best shows on TV. Even my laugh gets a laugh here and there and she hates cars. She usually leaves the room when anything comes on that has to doing with motoring. But when Top Gear comes on and she has nothing better to do she will watch it.

It's funny when people ask me if I catch this or that show. I ask if it comes on Monday nights and if so I don't care what it is. I'm watching Top Gear. Hell, I'm so nuts I usually end up watching the week before's re-air at 9pm. Last night's 8pm airing was a big time repeat and I still watched! I told the wife that I really want to see the show live. I would really kill to see it live. Without a doubt better than any other show about cars that's been on tv and I have more faith in their reviews than and of the major mag's on the rack. Oh, and I laugh my ass off when they talk sht about Americans too. If you can't laugh at yourself then how can you laugh at others!!

 

Yes I'm still a big fan, the show evolved from a good plain old car Magazine style show with informed road tests with Tiff being a recognised ex international race car driver to completely different level under Jeremys direction where interesting tests, viewer entertainment and Television character have become the main focus.

Tiff Needle in old Top Gear having fun in a Jag concept car:
YouTube - XK 180 concept test by tiff needle top gear

Tiff Needle in 5th Gear Lambo Gallardo Vs Ducati 1098 ( worth watching from the 6 minute mark when the Duc hauls in the Lambo )
YouTube - 5th Gear Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera vs. Ducati 1098

 

Top Gear is awsome! I have all 11 seasons downloaded. My favorite one is when they drive a badass 4x4 to the north pole. That show rocks!!

 

I also have all the TG episodes downloaded. Uncut British versions. Not that cobbled together BBC America version. Just watched the Vietnam special from Sunday night where they bought cheap motorcycles and rode 1000 miles across Vietnam.

 

yea, I'm too lazy and only spend time on my pc at work. So I haven't d/l any TG stuff. I think we are one season behind the current right now.

You know "they" tried to make an American version of the show. Looking at the success that many other British to American shows have had they tried the same with Top Gear. Apparently is tested very poorly. It was said that they couldn't replace and or duplicate the interactions between the hosts of the British version.

 

I like the show as well. My favorite episode so far this year was when they had the woman racing the van around the Nurburgring ring in Germany. But most of the shows are pretty good.

 

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

 

They cut out almost all the news and a lot of guests that they think we won't know. Sometimes they'll put together big bits/stunts from two shows into one show.

I might be convinced to put all my episodes on a DVD. They're quicktime files. They look great on my 42" LCD running off Apple's Front Row. They'll look awesome playing on your computer.

 

ski jump. well, cars and ski jumps. Mini Coopers *can* fly!

Top Gear is the only show set to automatically record on my DVR.

 

We are getting the Top gear live stage show tour here in february. im pretty sure it is a cunning plan to escape the dreadful Uk winter and swap it for our summer. it should be a blast, i bought my tickets in early december.

top gear is a big hit here in NZ, we even get our own NZ version of the top gear mag.

 

Being in Germany, and not being able to speak much German, we have Sky Satellite. I watch the show. My wife thinks Richard Hammond is cute, and we both think Jeremy is an ass, partly because he busts on U.S. vehicles so much, like every British car is a winner... Over all the show is pretty good. I like watching all the "Stars in a reasonably priced car". The Stig is even one of my friends on myspace. We have a Toyota Avalon, and unfortunately it's not as tough as the truck they tried to destroy. I'm not sure what episode is my favorite, but I did quite enjoy the one where Sir Jackie Stewart has to show Captain Slow aka James May how to drive fast around a track.

 

I have to presume that the Top Gear Special, US Southern States Tour, has not been screened in the US?:wink:

 

I have that one downloaded. It's pretty damn funny. Not everyplace in the south is like that. I liked fat Stig.:cheersaf:

 

Most of us in US can laugh at that airing! But seriously aren't there parts of any country that you are kinda of a shamed of? You can't tell me there aren't parts of the UK or any country that aren't a bit back woods!!


In the end it really comes down to what I said before. If you can't laugh at yourself, how can you laugh at others? If you really think we are really like what is represented on that show at times then we in the US think that everyone in the UK has no idea what a dentist is and everyone in Aussie is a convicted felon by default!