The Top Gear Thread - Vol 17 - Adam {P}

**** Thread closed. Discussion continues in Vol 18 ****

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=36318

The other one was on 84 posts so it's probably best starting a new one.

Shows how they're trying to show a more "ordinary" side driving other people's cars.

Can anyone tell me why the new A class' fog lights kept alterating when May was driving it?

(The "Star" in a Reasonably Priced Car has become incredibly boring - hence this post, and my imminent trip to the fridge for food)
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Adam
The Latest Top Gear Thread - No Do$h
Alterating?

Chris Evans isn't dull. He's.... ok, he's dull.
The Latest Top Gear Thread - Adam {P}
Alternating. Sorry - not typed for a while.

The left one was on and I thought "I'll make a little quip about Mercedes build quality on the BR after" but then the other one was on. Then, they were turning out of a junction, with no fog lights on, and the right one lit.

That was the most interesting part of the show though. I can say that now because I'm sure that the M5 review won't set the world on fire - even though the car will.
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Adam
The Latest Top Gear Thread - No Do$h
£25k for an A-class. How I laughed. You can pick up a 147 GTA for that!
The Latest Top Gear Thread - No Do$h
Good lord. That sierra went well, didn't it.
The Latest Top Gear Thread - Adam {P}
A lovely shade of blue too.

25 grand for an A class? The dealer should be knighted!

This BM review is annoying me. I think he makes his decision before he even gets in the car. I knew when he said how "ugly" it was (even though it's gorgeous) he was going to slate it.

Having said that, as I'm typing, he's just put it in "M mode" and things seem to have changed now.


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Adam
The Latest Top Gear Thread - AngryJonny
I noticed that thing with the the fog lights too. I was in the process of yammering on to my mate about May driving with his fog lights on in clear weather (bugbear of mine) when I noticed they were on and off on different sides all the time.

The only explanation I could come up with was that they were somehow wired up to the indicators.
Top Gear 24/07 - Obsolete
I thought last night's was really good. Seeing Hammond and May on those diddy scooters then chauffering some posh people while abusing their choice of car was great. The chauffeurs from hell? Probably. The rolling a car was good too, though Hammond seemed a bit reluctant to claim the cridit for "us" rather than the brave/mad stuntman.

Leif
Top Gear 24/07 - Cardew
With the hot hatches I could understand the presenters if they compared the performance of the 3 cars without reference to the costs.

However to imply that the Astra was great value because it was £1k cheaper than the Golf is a joke - obviously depreciation is not a factor they consider.

Endowing the Astra with 240bhp, which it obviously could not handle, seemed a pointless exercise. It is simple and inexpensive to 'chip' all these cars to produce even higher BHP; but if they don't go round corners ------
Top Gear 24/07 - helicopter
- 25 grand for an A class? The dealer should be knighted!-

I'd certainly have told him to go and get knighted .....
Top Gear 24/07 - No Do$h
*groan*
Top Gear 24/07 - chris_w
Thought the show was very entertaining again. I know Clarkson's over acting is just ridiculous, but I just can't help laughing at it... it's just what I need on a Sunday night after a hard weekend's partying, plain and simple stupidity.

My favourite part of last night was the scooter / taxi thing. James using his feet to stop his bike when the seat was falling off, and the hamster being beeped at and turning around and shouting "that's it, that's all I've got!" to the car behind.

I can safely say that no amount of wonga would get me riding one of those things in London at night!
Top Gear 24/07 - Pugugly {P}
The sat nav can be turned down in a 5, quite simply if you can be bothered to work it out. My words "I want" comeback threefold
now I WANT AN M5 AND I WANT IT NOW !!!!!. the new 5 series is ugly in comparison with the old version though.


"£25k for an A-class. How I laughed. You can pick up a 147 GTA for that!"

Or indeed a very decent second hand previous model M5.
Top Gear 24/07 - bimmer-driver
Funniest part of it for me bar none was James May on his scooter insulting the owners of the cars he drove. And when his seat fell off his scooter.
Top Gear 24/07 - tack
To be frank, Clarkson is getting on my nerves. One trick pony comes to mind. I think he ought to change his schtick. He is now as predictable as the 07:26 Seven Kings to Liverpool Street....and I can tell you, it's no fun!
Top Gear 24/07 - JH
so don't watch. I don't watch an INCREDIBLE amount of television.
John
Top Gear 24/07 - tack
So, we are not allowed a point of view? I thought freedom of speech remained in Blairs England.

I know I don't have to watch, but like the curates egg, it is good in parts!
Top Gear 24/07 - JH
Tack,
I don't want to offend and of course you're allowed an opinion. The show may as well be renamed the Jeremy Clarkson show though and I for one, mostly, enjoy it. So it seems odd watching the JC show if you don't like him. Unless it's just wallpaper maybe that happens to be on while you're in the room.

Now there's an idea. add a few interviews with engineers and designers, not just for cars, maybe a few techie toy reviews and you've got a whole new show. The BBC can have that idea free, I think they need all they can get.

John
Top Gear 24/07 - tack
I like the show.....mostly.

I suppose it's a bit like being married. At first, it is fresh, new and exciting. After a while it becomes a bit samey unless new ideas are pumped into it. Clarkson was fresh, new and exciting and I did like him. But it is all starting to wear a bit thin for me.

I thought he was excellent when he did the documentary on his father-in-law and the VC. It showed that he could be interesting without having to resort to jokes and the.....pause.....for effect.
Top Gear 24/07 - Big Bad Dave
"To be frank, Clarkson is getting on my nerves"

Well I like Clarkson, warts and all. He?s a poignant reminder to the motor industry that they can?t foist half-hearted crap upon us and if they do, they?ll be named, shamed and humiliated.

I would imagine that as launch day approaches for a new model, bigwigs in the company become very concerned about what he will have to say.

I?ll stop short of suggesting that he could make or break a car, but he certainly has the ear of many men in the UK and maybe many fleet buyers. Dunno where he features on the power lists but he should be right up there.

Top Gear is syndicated throughout Europe too, everybody's heard of him.
Top Gear 24/07 - BobbyG
Did he not have a big influence in the market view of the last Vectra?
Top Gear 24/07 - Dynamic Dave
Did he not have a big influence in the market view
of the last Vectra?


It didn't stop loads being sold though.

I can remember JC talking in an interview once, and he was asked about whether or not his views influenced car sales. There was one particular car (An Alfa maybe?) and he ranted and raved about how wonderful this car was - it didn't sell at all. I think this point was proved on a recent episode of TG. Whatever car he buys, the 2nd hand values of them tumble dramatically.
Top Gear 24/07 - Avant
He's an entertainer who knows quite a lot about cars and can talk and write about them. A great way to earn a living, doing what he loves doing.

Chiropodists eat your heart out!
Top Gear 24/07 - chris_w
I'd give my left arm to have his job! Well I'd need that, but you know what I mean...
Top Gear 24/07 - Bill Payer
Re the A Class Fog Lights - a couple of you were in the right area. They're cornering lights, which, on the A Class come as a pack with Xenon lights.
Merc foglights will also take over if an indicator bulb fails.
They can also be set to come on when locking/unlocking the car at night.
I wonder if all these alternate uses are legal, but rest easy in the thought that Mercedes will defend me if ever Plod gets in a tizzy about it.

I thought the £25K for the A Class was absurd - just shows how shallow some people are that they need the badge that much. Mercedes must be thrilled - imagine how much profit they must make on a car loaded with ridiculously priced options.
Top Gear 24/07 - Adam {P}
For 25 grand, I could buy a very respectable 04 plate E class with not all that many miles on.

Or dare I say it, an ST220 Mondeo.

Or - a very, very nice 5 series.

But not, ever, EVER, a Mercedes A class. Never.

Thanks for the explanation though Bill Payer.
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Adam
Top Gear 24/07 - BillB
I think I must have had a brain bypass. After reading the remarks on the fog lights earlier in the thread it didn't dawn on me that they were referring to the same system on my C class. Bill Payer is absolutely right. When you turn left the left fog light comes on and when you turn right, the right one comes on. The men in white coats are knocking on my door as I write.
Top Gear 24/07 - tyre tread
Why? I mean why? I mean WHY? ::shakes head in disbelief::

Are indicators too common for Merc drivers?

What's the point - Oh, I get it! Something else to go wrong!

I don't believe it! (flat cap and sticky out eared moment!)
Top Gear 24/07 - BillB
No, it's absolutely nothing to do with indicating a turn. It is simply a system that swivels the fog light in the direction you're turning when you're travelling below a certain speed so that the edge of the road can be seen. Very useful in foggy or misty conditions.
Top Gear 24/07 - daveyjp
The comments re the 25 grand A class are ringing bells for me. When we bought our smart the first thing everyone said was 'that's a lot for a two seater car. For that money you can get a (insert a list of ten cars costing less than £9,000).' BUT then it wouldn't be a smart! The same with the A2 - plenty of cars cost less than I paid for it, but only the A2 is an A2.

25 grand is a lot for a Merc A class, but if he bought an Alfa, or a second hand M5, or a second hand E class it still wouldn't be a brand new well kitted A class would it? The owner of this car sees the A class as suiting his needs and wanted plenty of toys fitted. For the price of my A2 I could have had a multitude of larger cars, but the A2 suited my needs at the time and I could afford it. In theory I could have bought a second hand Bentley instead but it wouldn't fit on my drive!
Top Gear 24/07 - Bill Payer
Of course there's probably no 'sensible' (from a financial point of view) new car purchase. People buy with their hearts, which is fine ? if you?ve got the money to chuck away. Live and let live etc.
Doesn?t mean it isn?t bonkers! That A Class would probably make a great buy for someone at 3 yrs old though ? its options would lose most of their value.

Clearly suggestions of an M5 etc are inappropriate for the environment the A Class was in, but what would a £25K A Class do that, say, an £11K Jazz wouldn?t do?
Top Gear 24/07 - Chad.R
25 grand is a lot for a Merc A class, but
if he bought an Alfa, or a second hand M5, or
a second hand E class it still wouldn't be a brand
new well kitted A class would it?


I certainly echo the sentiments about the live and let live ethos and the fact that if the owners wanted to pay £25K for an A class then so be it, it's their business and their's alone.

Although it doesn't detract from the point that £25K for an A class is not very good value for money in the first place.
top gear - barney100
I think TG is very entertaing but bears little relevance to my motoring world. I do not include Bentleys @ £115,000 on my suitable car list and have no desire to do almost 200mph in a BMW down the A30. I would like to see a small part of the programme regular assessments of mainstream vehicles and then I could take Davina's body piercing with a pinch of salt.
top gear - Stuartli
Oh be fair, the hour does go quickly...:-)

There are (somewhat infrequent) reviews of more mainstream cars.

I thought Davina put a very good show track lap wise and was unfortunate near the finish to spoil what would probably have been a particularly good time.

A mate has had a new Bentley on order for several months now and still doesn't know exactly when it is going to be delivered...:-(
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
top gear - AngryJonny
I'm not sure how many times this has been discussed before, but Top Gear has changed from a car program to an entertainment program with a motoring theme.

Personally, I do not really want to see Tony Wilson and Chris Goffey comparing the number of ash-trays in a Hyundai Something to a Kia Somethingelse. There are plenty of programs which do this - Wrong Car Right Car, 5th Gear etc, but Top Gear has a different format these days.

For me, Top Gear is essential viewing. One of the few programmes I can't bear to miss each week.
top gear - daveyjp
Last night showed that they appear to be struggling for content. Star in a reasonably priced car was on twice in the show inviting a racing driver as well as a TV star to have a go. Bentley v nice and thanks Dubai for closing the road, but as JC said buy a Phaeton instead - same car different badge. Beemer diesel - what it costs much LESS than it's petrol equivalent and is cheaper to run - oh dear now what reasons are there not to buy one? Yes it lost in a race with a V8 petrol, but most of my motoring is on normal roads, it's a pity they didn't do some 30-50 and 50-70 real life acceleration tests to show how they compare.
top gear - Galaxy
Fell asleep, it was boring!
top gear - Perturbed
I've got to say that I really enjoy the format of Top Gear now and it allows me see the sort of cars getting tested i would never get a chance to see, with some decent humour thrown in for good measure. If you want to see mainstream, I agree with a previous post of watching 5th Gear or a program like that. Or else visit a dealership and actually test drive one!
top gear - AK76
Well said E34!!!

It seems that there are more posts complaining about TG than praising it. Well that means that people keep watching it even though they say they hate it. Very bizarre. Dont like it then Dont watch it. I dont like Pulling Power so i dont watch it. Simple.

I think the old Top Gear was very very boring indeed but now its much more amusing, lighthearted and opinionated.

If i want lots of info to make an informed decision i'll buy the car mags. if i want a bit of a laugh on a sunday evening after a hectic weekend i watch TG and take it for what it is. Even my Wife now likes it and if it means that i can talk more about cars to her then thats a good thing.
top gear - MichaelR
I think TG is very entertaing but bears little relevance to
my motoring world. I do not include Bentleys @ £115,000 on
my suitable car list and have no desire to do almost
200mph in a BMW down the A30. I would like to
see a small part of the programme regular assessments of mainstream
vehicles and then I could take Davina's body piercing with a
pinch of salt.


Then watch another program. Top Gear is an entertainment show, and a group test of small diesel supermini's is boring.
top gear - MichaelR
Oh, and if I want to see how the Kia Picanto stacks up against the Ford Ka, I can visit my local dealer.

If I want to watch a 200mph Bentley or see somebody powersliding around a track in a V8 BMW, I cannot.
top gear - Adam {P}
The strangest thing happened last night. I looked at my watch thinking it would be about half eight and it turned out to be nearly 9. TG went very quickly so make of that what you will.

I will agree though, they seem to be struggling for new ideas. That Bentley though had a boot that even I'd find ugly!
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Adam
top gear - Edward
Clarkson falling out fo the hovercraft was hillarious. Don't care that the roadtests were irrelevent. After a (w)hole of the in-laws, it was a welcome bit of light relief.
top gear - kennybase
All I can say is that I really enjoy TG now - and also my girlfriend has really got into it as well! She never really showed much interest in cars but at the end of the last series she was asking when it was back on - and now she's happy again. I think the presenting is brilliant - they talk about stuff we talk about - but they get to play with the toys too!

top gear - frostbite
The C4 programme on Hitler & Stalin was MUCH more interesting.
top gear - Obsolete
I thought last night's TG was excellent. The Icelandic driving on water was amazing, as was the film at the start of buggies climbing near vertical ascents. The buggy racing in a field was fun too, with the subtle references to May's 'ailment'.

That Davina McCall woman was crushingly tedious and dull though she has a huge ego. Not sure JC liked her either.

I liked the part with the racing driver and agree with him on JC's (lack of) dress sense.

Thank goodness they have moved on from juvenile car porn - lucky journalist drives fast in supercar and says the same old rubbish - and they now have some imaginative and entertaining reports. It's not a car program but who cares.

Leif
top gear - daveyjp
Is there a website for that crazy Icelandic racing? We are considering going next year and would enjoy a day out watching it!
top gear - Pugugly {P}
Enjoyed it, especially the 5 series side by side. Convinced that the 530d is the best all round motor for the dosh. Even more convinced that the next car will either be a 535 or 530, much as I want one I don't think that an M5 will ever grace my driveway.....SWMBO has tried to convince me that a new car is the right thing to do taxwise having seen what I saw last night I
feel the time is nearer.
top gear - Brooklands
Daveyjp,
Is there a website for that crazy Icelandic racing? We
are considering going next year and would enjoy a day out
watching it!


Not sure about a website, but I remember that in their early days C5 used to show it on Saturday monrnings.

top gear - PoloGirl
All I can say is that I really enjoy TG now
- and also my girlfriend has really got into it as
well! She never really showed much interest in cars but at
the end of the last series she was asking when it
was back on - and now she's happy again.


Ahem...two words that can explain that one... Richard and Hammond.

:)

top gear - carl_a
Ahem...two words that can explain that one... Richard and Hammond.



Why use two words when you can use one... Hamster
top gear - Stargazer {P}
PG,

Did you see RH on the program about junk food?

StarGazer
top gear - kennybase
I would have thought that too - but she has strange taste in men - explains why she's with me! She loves the high end market cars and gets to see them played with on TG.....or so she says!
top gear - Shaz {p}
When is the repeat on, - can't see it on the website - and its not on now. Why cant they show the repeats the same day/time every week?!
top gear - PoloGirl
Shaz...er... it was on last night!
top gear - Shaz {p}
damn. Hate it when that happens. I could swear that the repeats are normally shown on Tuesdays.
top gear - Dynamic Dave
If you've got Sky, then the repeats had been running approx 3 weeks behind the current BBC2 Sunday episodes at weekends on one of the UKTV channels. UK People or whatever it's called this week (channel 566?).
top gear - Shaz {p}
thanks, will ask a friend to tape it when it comes on.
Just 15 foot of car - tack
Anyone see JC and Hamster diss the Beemer 3 series on cool not cool?

Quite cleverly worded denounciation, but true?

Some people like to drive the motoring equivalent of Taupe or beige or marge. I.E, it gets them from a to b. Does a car have to be exciting in looks or mannerisms all the time?

I can think of a few cars that are more Taupe or beige than the new 3 series.
Just 15 foot of car - DazSV
"Some people like to drive the motoring equivalent of Taupe or beige or marge. I.E, it gets them from a to b."

That's fine, they are free to go about thier business of going from a to b. But the one thing those people, and thier cars, certainly are not, is cool.

"Does a car have to be exciting in looks or mannerisms all the time?"

Nope, but it helps :-)
Just 15 foot of car - Shaz {p}
That lambo was beautiful. Rest of the programme a bit boring - although listening to one of my favourite cars (Alfa SZ) made up for it.
Americanized Top Gear - uk2usa
Just discovered that they show Top Gear on Discovery USA. Its essentially the same program as they show in the UK. However, they are very selective about what cars make it on e.g. They don't show any French products. The little segments where they have the car in the studio surrounded by the standing crowd and Clarkson are obviously redone for the US market. Picture Clarkson referring "gas stations" and you get the idea. Its funny, because he usually is very anti-American and has obviously been asked to tone it down for the show by his BBC overlords......
Americanized Top Gear - school boy
If he gets paid enough he'll restrain himself for the americans to watch.