In accordance with HJ's request (in Vol 30) Please continue discussion in here about Top Gear. HJ's policy of deletion applies. So no treehugging !
Vol 43 is HERE
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Edited by Pugugly on 28/12/2009 at 16:48
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Well I was brow beaten into watching the Bolivian Special and yes, I enjoyed it. Camera angles betrayed some set-up shots, but all in all it was good. In fairness it reminded me how good a car the Rangie was - a proper 4x4 luxury car that could do the business....still badly made though
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top gear was good
old range rover not good
heap bad
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Australia has taken out a franchise or something to make their own copy of TG. I watched the first episode a few days ago. Not recommended, but perhaps the Aussie presenters will learn as they go along. Maybe I am getting too old and staid, but there is a limit to how much "hamming-it-up" I can tolerate.
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Was the incident with the old Range Rover, the little Suzuki and the winch in it? I turned TG on earlier and that was what was happening. It was such silly piffle that I changed channels. Totally, totally phoney, and looked it. Or is that the point of TG? If so I've gone right off it.
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Last episode in the current series tonight, I believe. Personally, I hope that they put this programme to bed for the next five years or so and then bring back a proper motoring programme with a different set of presenters.
It's way past its sell-buy date, although most others here will probably disagree with my sentiments.
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>>and then bring backa proper motoring programme with a different set of presenters.
No chance! As pointed out by others, its all about ratings these days, so a proper motoring programme, with its limited appeal to most TV viewers who will only turn on for xfactorbritainsgottalent type shows doesn't stand a cat in hell's chance of becoming a reality. You will just have to subscribe to sky or virgin where at least there are some decent motoring programmes that educate your brain rather than kill it...
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I enjoyed the Bolivian jolly. However I believe it was all entirely scripted - including the `failures`
A two wheel, three wheel and four wheel drive descending the final dune?
That broken spring being `fixed` in the middle of nowhere - without a spare, or welding?
A good `Show` but that`s about it. (referring only to Vietnam and Bolivia - I can`t stand the rest)
Edited by oilrag on 03/01/2010 at 10:04
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Hi
i'm an avid fan of TG
however, TG appears to be running out of new ideas and their stage management of many show projects easily show up the stage managed aspect of these.
I watch the repats on that Dave channel.
the real reason I posted here is as follows.
Recently on TG, they ref to reports in a newspaper that the show discriminated against 'gays.'!
what staggered me a couple of years ago was when i looked up for a couple of tickets on their site - the criteria was that every male had to be accompanied by a female - hence the number of females at the studio being disproportionately higher than other motioning programmes
just give me a sec while i check out if the TG ticket criteria remains as i've posted
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Hi
my feeling is that the have slightly tweaked the wording - any one here can confirm if the wording re '50/50' has been changed? I'm pretty certain that 2/3 years ago it was a set criteria about one female for everymale - this clealry breaches the 'sex discrrimnation' act.
www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/participate.shtml
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Never had any inclanation to go, Paul, so wouldn't have a clue!
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The Bolivian adventure was more suited for a Lonely Planet show!
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Im going to wait until the next series comes out as with Wilman acknowledging the current problems with the way the show is set out and its content, I think there is scope for improvement and they KNOW they need to - so the better quality may yet come back since the people that make the show know what people want.
Incidentally, anyone been reading Hamsters latest book? Its put kidney stones in a whole new light for me!
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Last episode in the current series tonight I believe.
And James May tests the Insignia VXR. I'm sure Jezza will stick his oar in and do his best to slate Vx as per usual.
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>> Last episode in the current series tonight I believe. And James May tests the Insignia VXR. I'm sure Jezza will stick his oar in and do his best to slate Vx as per usual.
I expect that if we could be bothered, we could all sit down at our computers and write the script for tonight's programme.
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"We also ask that groups of people coming to the recordings have a roughly 50/50 male/female split." From BBC TG page for audience tickets.
Roughly Paul. That includes both sexes covering sexual orientations, colours, races and religions no doubt. How can they be breakling the law. A broad choice in my view. Non discriminatory in any way. Still wouldn't apply myself. Don't fancy standing around for hours without anywhere to sit. And no refreshments.
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Don't fancy standing around for hours without anywhereto sit. And no refreshments.
Nor do i, nor having to laugh at all the funny lines on time.
I'd turn up for a bag o sand plus travel expenses for half a day though...i'll get an MP to work out favourable ex's.
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SDA only applies to employees in a work environment anyway, so Top Gear can say anything they want for their audience admission criterion.
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Well what a dull episode to end the series on.
And it's not the 1st time they've tried the "we've got no money left for the show" stunt.
It's episodes like this that make you appreciate the satellite channel 'Dave' showing repeats of TG when it was entertaining.
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Ironically and despite what I have said about TG in the past, I enjoyed tonight's episode and did not find myself looking at the clock at all.
If more had been like this, then I would not have been so negative about the show.
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I just finished watching it and I throughly enjoyed it. First time SIARPC has actually had a genuinely interesting guest on. Not a bad effort and they seemed to have toned themselves own aswell. Laughed more tonight than for any other episode this series.
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Actually this was the only episode of this series that I didn't enjoy. The jokes were very predictable this time.
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I wonder why they didn't put Stig round the circuit in the VXR?
Edited by bathtub tom {p} on 03/01/2010 at 23:21
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Something strangely alluring about that VXR.
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strangely alluring about that VXR.
The snorting-monster Holden Vauxhall you mean? There's one near here parks outside a friend's place.
Gauche looking brute but from what they say you wouldn't mind that too much.
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>>Something strangely alluring about that VXR.
Strange as it might seem to some - I found the passenger in the VXR quite alluring(!) - in the nicest possible, as forthright & uncomplicated as the car.
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I thought last nights episode of TG (03/01/10) was the best of the current series. I think this is because they focussed on cars for a change and not stupid challenges. The road tests of the X6, VXR and Lexus were also 'proper' road tests in that the cars were not driven upside down in a sewer or used to play football with. If only more of the episodes were produced in this manner.
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Oh yes, Jeremy going to Sydney to prove the X6's glove box works - Yeahhhhh that's a proper road test!! Come on Shara who are you trying to kid!
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I agree the going to Australia was a bit silly but at least the car was driven on and off road and compared to a rival like the Range Rover. For TG I thought it was quite a good effort. The show needs some stupidity in it because over the years it has become an entertainment show more than a car show and I imagine thats why some aspects of the road test were far fetched. Testing the X6 on and off road is more productive than when they had the Audi Q7 and BMW X5M a few weeks ago and all they did was drive around a race track.
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I recognize what others have said about TG being an entertainment show that happens to be based on cars. I think that it wouldn't get quite so much criticism if the BBC provided a separate programme aimed at motoring enthusiasts.
I know that TG gets good ratings, but the BBC was never intended as a service purely for the majority, and therefore ratings are not so important as they are for commercial television.
(See the 2006 BBC Charter for details of its aims and purposes)
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Frankly I was amazed that they didn't moan and whine about how rubbish they thought the Insignia VXR is (as they have with Vectras in the past), they seemed reasonably positive about it. Although getting James May to test it and then doing that nonsense with the road signs is probably intended as a subtle dig at the car.
I notice that JC couldn't bring himself to actually praise the car himself, and even though they claimed to have time to fill, the team didn't comment on it at all.
Oh well, I guess they'll just keep ranting about Lambos, Ferraris and Astons that us human beings will never get to drive, let alone own.
At least TG used to be entertaining. I'm not so sure about that now. Towards the end of this last series the jokes are getting more and more strained. I feel like I'm psychic watching the show now, as I can always predict exactly what will happen next, especially in one of the increasingly unamusing challenges.
Give it 1-2 more years and the show will reach its natural end IMO.
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Trouble is that the Insignia is a pretty good motor - I think CAR said "Drives like and Audi and Made like a BMW - Shame it wasn't the other way round" which is, I suppose is a pretty good recommendation.
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Yeah, I agree and I fancy one myself. It seems like when Vauxhall's are merely OK, they (mostly JC) rants about them, and when they're pretty good they just maintain silence.
Shame, as I don't doubt the TG effect can make or break some motors and I reckon Vauxhall deserve a bit of good fortune. "As good to own as a Ford, but not as rusty or cheaply made". Might not make a good tag line, but probably describes Vauxhall very well these days.
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I'd seriously consider an Insignia like that as a second hand car - no way I'd spend 30k though I'd prefer a decently engined BMW for that !
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Insignia is good but does it beat the Mondeo? That's what Top Gear should have been doing, comparing it to the Mondeo instead of talking about road signs (although that was mildly interesting....)
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Probably not, but I bet you can get better discounts on the Insignia. My friends dad said the Isnignia drove better than the his Mazda 6.
I was in a taxi the other day and he was telling me they prefer Astra G's (1.6 8V or 1.7td) or Skodas to Toytoas now as they are much cheaper to repair and service.
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Ah but, to compare it to the Mondeo is tricky. What if the Insignia was better? Ford-lover JC could never allow that! :)
PU, I agree 30K is a lot to spend on a non-premium car, but that appears to be the way the wind is blowing these days. It only seems like yesterday when £14k could buy you a mid-range Mondeo or Vectra, but now you need more like £20k+ to get the same thing.
Still, list prices and real world prices are two very different things!!
I bet there'll be pre-reg Insignia VXRs going for less than £25k in a matter of weeks. I still won't be able to afford one though! :(
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Hi
apologies for the delay in posting here as I've been busy!!!
I was almost fooled last night when that little bloke aka the hamster collided with the tree. My other half told me to get a grip and take another look. After analysing that bit 3 times I came to the firm conclusion it was a set up.
last nights show was not the best, nor the worse. Towards the end it got boring.
did the big woman aka Mrs Clarkson say the beeb paid them for 14 shows? This time it was seven - is it not usually a run of about 10/11?
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There was cut backs a couple of years ago, so there is are less eposides now. When TG MK2 was first aired in 2002 there was a lot of motoring content, this continued to around 2005/06 when they decided the show was just about three clowns being paid stupid amounts of money to clown around.
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I've been a life long Ford fan but with the rust issues of my last Ford I am slowly converted to Vauxhall. Just been in a 10 year old Micra (the same age of mine) and it didn't feel as well build as my car and the engine sounded just the same (i.e old).
The problem VX had was too many of their cars don't drive as good as the Ford. I must admit comparing the chasis on my Corsa to my dads Fiesta is like comparing 30 years of motoring.
I thought the last one was ok but the jokes are all the same, I think they need a new presenter to spice things up a bit. I've always thought a stereotypical essex girl might work quite well.
Or maybe they should being back Jason Dawe to [I won't say what I was goin to say].
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Personally I thought TG stooped to a new low last night with the X6 video.
As Paul above says it is running out of ideas and the repeating of them is all getting a bit boring.
You could almost write the next episode yourself.
It is mildly entertaining now but nothing more than that.
I have gone from recording all episodes to make sure I don't miss them to watching it if there is nothing else on now.
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I wonder if Andy Wilman is reading all these comments?
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With an Audi S4 at only £5k more than the Insignia I'd have the Audi. Second hand the Insignia will be good value. I wonder what I could get one for in about 20 months time and opt out of the company scheme?
Edited by rtj70 on 04/01/2010 at 19:03
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But I bet you can get the Insignia for quite a bit of discount now where as the Audi you won't, but then the Audi will be worth more when you sell it.
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Correction: the S4 was £5k more, but not as well equipped. Add the extra features that the Insignia has as standard and the difference would be WAY more than £5k...
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