I'll reserve judgement for 20:31.
Don't hold out much hope though, it's the dreadful presenters which is the main problem especially that awful VBH woman and the man with no eyes.
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I'll reserve judgement for 20:31.
Not going to watch the full show then ;o)
On for an hour, btw.
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Mystyped.. I of course meant 21:01
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that awful VBH woman
Where i come from thats classed as fighting talk.
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doubt it i wont watch it anymore its that bad.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
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I missed the entire last series, so I'll get the video to watch it as I'm off to the pub. The 'Douglas Adams' approach if you like.
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An advert break already at 20:03 is certainly not going to endear me.
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I watched it and rather enjoyed dreaming of being in the position of that lottery winner shopping for a supercar. Was anyone else filled with dread that he might pass on the 430 and get the Aston?.
The new MX5 looked boring, but then I never liked any of the previous models anyway. Wouldn't mind a ride with VBH though.
That Jaguar with the Ford Taurus front end was on there too.
Mr. No eyes actually had an interesting feature on cars you hire by the hour, though it will be of no use to me.
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>>but then I never liked any of the previous models anyway>>
I'm amazed. I can only conclude that you have never driven one.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Nope, never driven one, couldn't even fit in it even if I wanted to drive it.
For me, a car has to draw me in even before I drive it, it has to make me want to drive it in the first place and the MX5 just doesn't do that. Never understood all the hype that surrounded them when they were first introduced and readily admit that it was all the fawning over them that played a part in putting me off them.
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>>but then I never liked any of the previous models anyway>> I'm amazed. I can only conclude that you have never driven one. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
I borrowed a Mk 1 1.8 for a couple of months a few years back, and driving it around our country lanes thought, 'this is quite nippy'. Until I saw a basic Punto right on my tail. It was the low seat and excessive noise that gave the impression of speed.
The car itself was nothing special and had a harsh ride with it. And yet the motoring mags raved about the MX5, which has lowered my opinion of these publications immeasurably.
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Agree with boxterboy re. MX5. drove a new one around 18 months ago and was very dissapointed.Far too cramped,too low and noisy.Still think of it as a young womans car.Cant see what the mags rave about.
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"Wouldn't mind a ride with VBH though."
If only you could shut her up... :-)
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An advert break already at 20:03 is certainly not going to endear me.
One of the main reasons I record this show - the American concept of an ad break 3 minutes in to the programme, expect one 3 minutes form the end (AKA Discovery Channel) in a few years time.
We have seen the first half, my wife's comment is if the lottery makes you that interesting (he must be an accountant, not a mechanic!)and makes you buy one of those awful jukeboxes with bubbles running through it she's glad she doesn't buy a ticket!
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Channel 5. 8pm. Let's hope it's better than the last series was.
Nope !
What a waste of Vicky Butler-Henderson !
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Well, it is about cars... not much more to be said about it. But, where was the Jag sequence filmed? UK Reg RH drive, and being driven on the left, but it definitely wasn't UK roads. Malta perhaps?
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
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But, where was the Jag sequence filmed? UK Reg RH drive, and being driven on the left, but it definitely wasn't UK roads. Malta perhaps?
From RatioTimes.co.uk (although it also says two Subarus at Anglesey rather than mx5's).
Tiff gives the first TV verdict on the Jaguar XK after test-driving it in South Africa.
repeated tonight at midnight.
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The main press launch was in SA - IIRC one of the reporters became a little too pedal happy and rolled one of the cars writing it off.
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>> Channel 5. 8pm. >> >> Let's hope it's better than the last series was. >> >> Nope ! What a waste of Vicky Butler-Henderson !
seconded...........i broke my rule and watched it .I wont be going there again.
--
\"a little man in a big world/\"
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This quote from VBH caught my eye in the Sunday Times:
.....It is an addiction that I have had since childhood. I think I can trace it to an occasion when I was seven, sitting in the back of a Peugeot 205 driven by my dad on a winter?s day......
Did they make 205´s in 1979? Or has the lovely VBH lopped off a few years? The BR should be told.
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The Peugeot 205 ran from 1983 to 1997 - considered to be the car that saved Peugeot, just as the Golf in the case of VW.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Anyone who's just watched tonight's episode will understand the subject header.
Unlike TG, I don't think that one was staged. Whoops.
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Yep - enjoyable to the point when I had to go out to walk the dogs, but I've Sky+ it for later, enjoyed the Masserati feature. Now I've been educated to enjoy TG, I enjoy Fifth Gear, it's different programme with different values talking cars which I enjoy.
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I find "celebs having fun driving" features a little tiresome. I can just about manage the SIASPC feature on TG as the celeb is often interesting but can't see why 5th Gear want to match it.
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IanS
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I have to say I quite enjoyed the "popstars in a rather expensive car" bit on 5th Gear. It was quite amusing watching the very genuine fear on some of their faces. A few of them seemed impressed with the 911 (after Plato had his way with them and let them have a go) and considering that fact that they have the means to purchase them, I wonder if any of them will?.
The Top Gear "star in a car" segment has run its course, they need to move on or at the very least only book interesting stars.
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There's nothing better than seeing spoilt, indulged rich people be spoilt and indulged more is there?
I suppose it's about right given our worship of celebrity culture. I'd rather see people gifted at driving doing what they do best, but heaven forbid, they might not have the right hairstyle or clothes to be media-friendly. On a similar theme, Eddie Irvine. Why? Discuss. : )
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I suppose it's about right given our worship of celebrity culture.
>
Not 'our' if you don't mind.
I have a life and I don't watch television.
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>>I have a life and I don't watch television.>>
Which begs the question of why you are reading a thread about a TV programme...:-)
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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Hee hee!
I DO watch TV (I do have a life too!) as there is a great deal of quality output about, whatever your interests... which is why I get confused as to why people watch drivel... I know one man's drivel is another man's must see, but sometimes I wonder.
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Hee hee! I DO watch TV (I do have a life too!) as there is a great deal of quality output about, whatever your interests... which is why I get confused as to why people watch drivel... I know one man's drivel is another man's must see, but sometimes I wonder.
And I am always very suspicious of people who claim that they don't watch much/any TV. You generally find that they watch just as much as the rest of us - however, I suppose that there are some saints walking amongst we plebians.
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Oh I don't know. In the last week I watched Top Gear - and that's it. No other programme.
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On last nights episode they showed how a spy photographer manages to get "scoops" of new cars.
Had to laugh at the heavy handed approach of the security at Aston Martin for questioning firstly the spy photographer parked up in a layby on a public highway, then later questioning Vicki and camera crew for being in a field. Surely if the likes of Aston Martin and Land Rover test their new models on public roads, then the security officers powers would be absolutely zero?
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The only bit I caught was the 'shootout' between a Golf GTi and Octavia vRS. This feature used to consist of Tiff on a track in Anglesey doing a bit of waffle about each car before a timed lap - fastest wins. Good, simple formula, and I though quite entertaining as well as informative.
Well, obviously I'm getting old and am no longer in the programme's target audience. Last night Tiff did timed laps in both cars, but in reverse. (The Octavia won.)
I don't mind pointless exercises in pursuit of entertainment - I'm a fan of Top Gear - but any entertainment value for me was far outweighed by the disappointment of not actually seeing which car was fastest (going forwards). I know a timed lap on a track by a racing driver doesn't relate to my normal driving experience, but that much pointlessness I can take.
Hopefully, for the programme's sake, others enjoyed it?
John
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He mentioend the GTi was quickest before doing the silly stunt. He did something similar the other week and drove with one hand tied to his body.
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He mentioend the GTi was quickest before doing the silly stunt. He did something similar the other week and drove with one hand tied to his body.
Ok- thanks, I missed the start. I still think it's a pity - a 'normal' contest between these 2 would be enough to make me watch at least some of the programme (I only found it by accident last night).
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>>He did something similar the other week and drove with one hand tied to his body.>>
Haven't seen last night's programme yet - usually watch the repeat.
However, I thought Tiff was remarkable in the episode in which he drove one-handed.
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Tiff announced the Golf GTi and Octavia vRS shootout as "Germany verses Czech Republic". Er ..... VAG vs VAG actually.
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IanS
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Yup thought that was a bit pointless, although interesting comments, bearing in mind they're the same porridge underneath. Entered the competition, wife said would you want one, answer no, but I could flog it & spend the money on something better!
I detect a VAG bias on 5G actually, not the first time Jason has fawned over a VAG product.
Funnily enough I enjoyed 5G better than TG, maybe it's me.
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>>Had to laugh at the heavy handed approach of the security at Aston Martin for questioning firstly the spy photographer parked up in a layby on a public highway, then later questioning Vicki and camera crew for being in a field. Surely if the likes of Aston Martin and Land Rover test their new models on public roads, then the security officers powers would be absolutely zero?<<
I only caught that bit of it Dave but they looked like cops. Just what was the crew doing wrong to have their pictures taken?
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Hydrogen cell car bit was interesting. Shame they did n't give any idea of running costs.
Adam, they were n't cops, just looked like it.
_______
IanS
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Ahhh It was because their Land Rover had blue lights on and their T-Shirts had a sort of Police looking crest on them that threw me!
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Ahhh It was because their Land Rover had blue lights on
The blue light board had the words "SECURITY" written on it.
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I was watching it on a small telly ;-)
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Glad the photographer told the security people where to get off.Jobsworths pretending to be police.
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It's a pity they try to ape Top Gear (and fail). There's room for two motoring progs. on TV, leave the entertainment to Top Gear and target 5th. gear at the everyday issues.
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VBH could entertain me, just don't tell the wife!
I'm tending to prefer 5G as it tends to deal with more subjects unlike TG where it harps on fewer subjects!
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I notice the next episode of 5th gear on Monday night is putting the old W124 mercs through some grief to remind people how well built they were.
I thought these cars were fantastic (just like the Mk2 Golfs as well) - built like tanks and practically invincible. It was the W124 that aspired me to own a Merc. Now I can afford one I won't touch the brand until I am convinced they return to their roots and build em like they used to.
Thinking about it I may buy one for the school run - W124 estate should be reasonable now and hard as nails - even my kids would not be able to break it.
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But check Car-by-Car Breakdown!
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Good ones are hard to find in Germany and I would assume the same applies in the UK ,they are getting a little long in the tooth now.
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Long in the tooth, yes, but virtually all the problems are well known and remediable, apart from terminal tin worm (which is rare).
There's a dealer specializing in the estates:
www.w124.co.uk/
whose site is full of useful information.
If you do go looking, gather all the low-down from the Web and take with you someone who knows them intimately. There are good ones about, although owners are so fond of them that they tend to hang on, and with due care you'll find the bargain of a lifetime. This very day there's discussion in the MB Club forum around W124 estates going for £1000-£1500. Find one that's been properly looked after and they're good for several hundred thousand miles. Some dealers are still pricing them up to £9000.
I have a 1996 Coupé and a 1990 saloon, with not a speck of corrosion on either of them. The saloon is going to need a head-gasket job soon, but my mechanic spotted that in a pre-purchase inspection and it was factored into the price. That's one major item that seems to strike all the M103 and M104 engines at some stage or other, so you can figure that into your calculations for a start (a £400-£600 job by an independent (plenty around); don't even think about going to a dealer). And don't trust "full MB service history", because I have plenty of evidence of incompetence on the part of MB dealer service departments -- get an expert to inspect the car.
As I've been helping a friend who has the same thing in mind, I have a pile of information available. I won't post it here, but if you want it then send me an e-mail via the mods (who seem happy to forward e-mails on a very occasional basis).
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There's a dealer specializing in the estates: www.w124.co.uk/
How are these guys still in business?
The prices must be seen to be believed - £7000 for an N reg 140k miler?
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I notice the next episode of 5th gear on Monday night is putting the old W124 mercs through some grief to remind people how well built they were.
Hmmm, reminds me of a certain Toyota pickup that got *tested* on another motoing program. Wonder if they'll also put the Merc on a plinth in the 5th Gear studio?
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Just watched tonight's 5thGear - I'm not a fan of VBH at the best of times, but the Merc bit was awful, a waste of airtime, a car, effort and space on the recorder. Really bad.
Not a big fan of Tom Ford either, but his bit in Japan was really good - even better as I don't really see how it could have been scripted or planned, good tv and a marked contrast to the merc abuse above.
Tiff seemed to be having an off day, you can't really seriously be put out when you turn up at Ferrari's test track and find their #1 F1 driver takes precedence over you for the circuit....
Lee -- There\'s no place like 127.0.0.1
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Your right DD - it only dawned on me while I was watching VBH and the W124 how they were copying Top Gear.
The problem was they made an absolute mess of it - it was not entertaining in any way - at least the Toyota had already just about had it - and it was an original script. The merc seemed to be in good order.
Unfortunately VBH suggested we would see more of this during the series - not that I will bother watching it anymore.
When will we see a Car programme testing cars on the road again and ones we can afford.
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"I'm not a fan of VBH at the best of times, but the Merc bit was awful, a waste of airtime, a car" Couldn't agree more. Waste of a perfectly usable Merc. VBH checking for structural rust with a baseball bat - words fail me.
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I saw it. It strikes me 5th Gear is desperate to emulate Top Gear. The thing is, I prefer Top Gear, yet I don't want to see 5th Gear become like it. Though I'm not a fan of it, I tend to watch it anyway, (it's cars after all) and quite often there are more factual, and interesting pieces of semi-real journalism.
It seems this shift has occured with the extension of the program to an hour too!
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The only saving grace of the show is Jon Bentley - his articles are always intersting and we should see more of him!
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I was dumbstruck as she hit the Merc with the bat. It was utter trash tv. Driven made the same mistake and look what happened to that.
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I was dumbstruck as she hit the Merc with the bat.
Lets hope not too many impressionable kids / teenagers (delete as appropriate) were watching.
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Let themselves down badly with that Merc thing. That was a minimum of twelve months motoring for someone.....Damn I nearly wanted it myself !
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