I know this has been aired before, but last night's Top Gear was a perfect example of why I watch it less and less. I used to be a fan, but don't even bother to video it any more.
The only feature worth its time last night was Tiff in a Tamora.
VBH was wasting her valuable time in a Previa.
Who wants to buy an old taxi?
Jason Barlow tries too hard to be funny.
A history of traffic lights!!
Best way to revamp the show?
Drop JB. Keep TF and VBH. Bring back Quentin (who once gave in 5 minutes the best illustration of how to handle a personal injury claim) and Kate Humble. Get Mike Brewer from Driven. Occasional appearances by JC would be welcome.
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It has turned into fantasy island
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Is it just me or has there been a TVR on Top Gear every week for about the last four weeks? The marketing dept. at Blackpool must be over the moon.
VBH should be sent off to drive something "normal" every now & again, it'll do her good.
I bet Barlow's livid - jumps over to supposed market leader in car progs, only to find out that it's being axed while people still watch Driven.
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Looking at the threads on this a few weeks ago I realised I had stopped watching Top Gear without realy noticing. Together with Top of the Pops that was a "must see".
So I made sure I looked in last night. So so bland. The antics with the TVR were just..........well its been done before so many times.
The people carrier test seemed to be going throught the motions
And who could ever be interested in buying an old taxi?
Cutting edge to the recycle bin a just a few steps.
David
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what happened to proper talent on TOP OF THE POPS, i remember bands like the beatles, the kinks, etc, it amazing to hear some songs today use backing tracks of old songs, i heard a wrap version of 'every breath you take', and something called a jamaican in new york, another sting song :-(
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Off the subect a bit here Chris
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Lat night's was particularly yawn inducing. Not a single article of interest for me
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It's not the subject range which appalls me with this "shadow of it's former self" programme, it's the peurile, cretinous, "with it", juvenile and downright offensive attitude of the presenters. Surely, the majority of us don't want to be treated like backward adolescents and talked to as if most of us might have trouble with words of more than two syllables. The background "muzak", presumably, covers the presenters lack of technical knowledge and abilities with the English language and, adds, in my case, to an increasingly rapid reach for the off button.
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Here, here, well said.
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Take it you don't like 60's lounge music then John!
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all true
but i doubt the bbc will do anything 2 fix it in time
does anyone know anything about its possible replacement after this season
also: all tvrs are gorgeous
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I have to agree - Top Gear is pants.
I'm not interested in fantasy cars that cost £XXXXXX
Something more down to earth like Driven & Deals on Wheels is what the motoring public want. This is shown by the dwindling interest in TG.
The lack of technical knowledge is evident on TG - to the point they don't even lift the bonnets for viewers to see the 'business end', for fear of not knowing what's what. I would far rather see the mechanicals than see the car perform powerslides etc.
Quentin Wilson was a big loss to TG - he was one of the most interesting presenters TG has ever had. Clarkson was OK but the pasting he gave the Vectra was out of order.
Rgds
David
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Can't agree to last point. "Fantasy" cars I like; if I want the other sort I can look out of the window.
Otherwise, yes; the programme has gone to pot - no pun was intended but now it's been made, could they be on it!
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Hmmmm yes I suppose you are right HJ - I'm just glad I don't work in a Vauxhall Dealership!
Rgds
David
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Have to disagree with David about Clarkson's verdict on the Vectra. JC was even more spot on than he thought he was at the time because not only is ithe Vectra a boring car with ludicrous levels of understeer, it is a servicing and reliability disaster. Cavalier clutch replacement: 30 minutes. Vectra clutch replacement: 7 hours. And everything goes wrong, from collapsing back-ache inducing seats to fly-away timing belts courtesy of GF50 plastic pulleys.
HJ
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It isn't just the content that is wrong, it is the mix of the presenters as well. JB tries so very hard to be Jeremy Clarkson and fails badly. Tiff just wants to drive on a track and it seems only VBH tries to put in some serious comment. Quentin and Jeremy were perfect foils for each other and the blend worked. They also used to tackle serious issues, something which is now missing. Top Gear used to be so professional, informative and relevant but has now lost its way completely.
I'm not a fan of Driven or Deals on Wheels (Cannot stand Mike Brewer. Talk about teaching your Granny to suck eggs) they are both amateurish in my humble opinion.
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Driven and D-o-W maybe amatuerish in your opinion, but I think that is the attraction to them! Far more down to earth and relevant to daily motoring!
Actually, to upset the apple-cart, I find Mike Brewer very interesting to watch.
David
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its a shame that deals on wheels has scrapped the part called car of the week, which told you what to look for on a particular car, whats good and whats bad, like one week the car of the week was the citroen bx, mike brewer told you what the ups and downs of the car were.
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Sorry to be a pedant HJ, but I think you will find that nost of the later more interesting Cavaliers (ie 2litre ones), have exactly the same disadvantages re clutch replacement as the Vectra.
I would not altogether disagree with your comment that the Vectra is a boring car, but I have to say that the SRI which I drive with its larger tyres points reasonably well. certainly a lot better than the two 2.0L Cavaliers I used to have.
I really do wonder about roadtest prorities. I live in South Bucks which is inhabited by the worlds slowest drivers ( They actually drive in some instances as slowly as 32-34 mph in a 40 limit and 40 in a 60 limit is the norm) and satisfactory progress is all about having a good engine which allows you to overtake. I have driven several of the 'wonderful' Mondeos (old shape - 2litre) and have found them quite gutless when it comes to overtaking. Any concept of driving the vehicle on the edge of adhesion (Clearly TGs criteria) is laughable. The Vectra is far superior in this respect and also winds hands down for fuel economy.
If you really want to know about understeer find a 1961 Sunbeam Rapier!!!
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Not a lot to add to this topic really. I think top Gear is pretty bad these days.I wouldn't keep half of the presenters on there as they seem to do nothing but state the obvious. I watch it less and less these days and when i do I am disappointed.
They love to hate Vauxhalls as do many, but being the very proud owner of a 91 Cavalier GSi I wouldn't swap it for 90% the bubble cars they bring out today. As for vectras, well there are plenty of occasions when Suburu bulletin boards have posted warnings about the Veccy V6 and how it's 'difficult to shake off'.
Just thought i would add my tuppence worth.
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Tim P wrote:
>
> They love to hate Vauxhalls as do many, but being the very
> proud owner of a 91 Cavalier GSi I wouldn't swap it for 90%
> the bubble cars they bring out today. As for vectras, well
> there are plenty of occasions when Suburu bulletin boards
> have posted warnings about the Veccy V6 and how it's
> 'difficult to shake off'.
>
As the driver of a Vectra Estate my tuppence is as follows.
I don't find the understeer as bad as some, and it has never got terminal, if its near the limit due to a bend tightening and going a bit quick usually manage to get a bit of controllable lift off oversteer. Basically its safe if uninspiring.
Would like to relate a tale from years ago. Local constabulary ran out of budget so when its normal traffic and response cars came up for replacement they bought 2.0SRI (I think) Cavaliers. Apart from having to uprate the brakes they were fine except for the constant moans from the drivers that these things were slow, it takes us ages to get to an incident, etc etc. (or was it they were ordinary 2.0 with SRI brakes...I forget)
Actually average time from despatch to arrival at incident increased by something like 2.4 seconds. Of course what was happening was that because the handling was so boring but safe they were able to drive them flat out. Of course when the budget got sorted a few years later and they went back to Grandads and the like what happened, spin spin crash crash....doh! Could not drive these flat out you see.
Pause for ensuing posts about police driving standards..... yawn yawn......
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Didnt the coppers use Cav turbos too? If maticukously maintained these will serve the poilce well. Beat a standard Escort cossie to 144mph by 2 seconds as well, not that a standard Escort cossie would really get 144mph.
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There's a corner at Donington Park called Redgate. To get round it in one of the instruction course Vectras, the instructor tells you to aim the front about ten feet before the apex in order to compensate for the understeer. Vectra handling is a joke.
HJ
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With respect HJ I have difficulty seeing how relevant on the limit circuit handling is to 99.9% of joe soap on the public highway unless it's in extreme avoidance situations. Then its grip which counts more than the niceties of handling.
Having said that cannot wait to get rid of the flipping V thing.
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honest john wrote:
>
> There's a corner at Donington Park called Redgate. To get
> round it in one of the instruction course Vectras, the
> instructor tells you to aim the front about ten feet before
> the apex in order to compensate for the understeer. Vectra
> handling is a joke.
Hmmm. Useful tip. If your drive to work involves negatiating a stretch of Donnigton park at pace then DO NOT BUY A VECTRA.
However if like me your car driving life is limited to traffic jams dual carriageway and motorway then it's probably fine.
I've driven two - one was an estate. I found them both fine. They felt better built than the Modeo of the time (1997 or 98) and sat on the motorway at 100mph mile after mile in total comfort. (Until a rozzer did me at 102 on a sunny sunday morning on the M3 - then told me what I'd done was perfectly safe.)
IMHO any of the standard Rep cruisers are great cars. Might be best not to buy them privately 'cos I bet they depreciate a bit...
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