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You can tell Summer has gone, because 5th Gear (pseudo Top Gear but better!)pops its head up with a good program about the best car last night. The Maclaren may not be my cup of tea or carbon fibre come to that, but at least it wasn't a fleeting visit to each car and the views were reasonably subjective. My fav is the VW Golf GTI Mk1. (I said it was subjective!!) Roll on the new series.
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Hi Graham,
I think this subject has been covered several times in the past and IIRC there was a fairly even split. FWIW, I like Driven - usually intelligent with excellent presenters, but have found TG lately to be more than a little annoying, especially Vicky B Henderson. Now they've all moved to 5th Gear, it'll be interesting to see what the return of Clarkson does for Top Gear.
By pure chance, I saw the "best cars" programme too, and was pleased to see the Citroen DS get a mention as it would easily be my choice.
Was interested in the VW van thing too. We've had the Beetle, MINI (hook, line & sinker) and now another new concept in the MiniBus. Someone started a thread a while ago suggesting other candidates for reprisal, not sure the Allegro would work too well, but the Morris Minor probably would.
The C3 was billed by some as the new 2CV (It isn't IMHO), perhaps the Pluriel will be.
Renualt have gone design=tastic with the Avantime & Vel Satis (that new carlton looks quite similar) in an attempt to compete with the Germans. Given the hiding dished out to the XM and 605/607, PSA would perhaps do well to reprise a version of the DS for their large car.
Just a thought.
Lee.
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The quicker they get rid of Tiff Needell and Vicky Butler Henderson,the better.
Any program that has these two involved is just going to involve power sliding exotic cars round a track with hundreds of horsepower and prices to make your eyes water.
These programs are just personal indulgences for them and are just so boring.
I agree with Lee,Driven is much more interesting and usually involves cars that most of us drive.
Jason Plato is a real racing driver with a touring car championship to his name and he does not need to show off his abilities by power sliding everthing everytime.
Do you remember the time Tiff Needell tested a Suzuki GSX1000.
A guy on a motorcycle forum related the story that Tiff dropped the bike and damaged it early on so they had to get another one and get a proper bike rider to do the footage for the telly.Of course he was sworn to secrecy but the truth got out.
Top Gear was at its best with Clarkson and Quentin Wilson and although I never agreed with their attitude to diesel cars they were certainly entertaning.
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I intensely loathe Clarkson, and Wilson is not much better. Why can't they simply 'tell and show' rather than resort to sensationalism to cover up their inadequacies?
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Dizzy,
I second your comments with regard to Clarkson entirely but can tolerate Quentin.
Nevertheless due to Clarkson*s success I suspect we are in a minority.
Simon T.
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I didn't mean to sound quite that critical of Quentin Wilson. I suppose it's his 'I know it all' manner that puts me off him but at least he knows a fair bit about his subject.
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It seems we either love or loath Clarkson.
However he was the first presenter to openly criticise cars on TV, and remain on TV - and I don't just mean the Vectra. Before him you had to understand the presenter's innuendo. I remember a TV programme on the Earls Court Motor Show referring to the handling of a Triumph Vitess on skinny cross ply tyres as entertaining! - it was lethal; Clarkson would have said so.
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Any program that has these two involved is just going to involve power sliding exotic cars round a track with hundreds of horsepower and prices to make your eyes water.
I have to disagree slightly with you on this point. The cars VBH was driving on the 'greatest car in the world' two of them (the lancia and the audi) can be bought easily for around £5k. I don't think the escort cossies break the bank either. She had realistic choices for those who want sporty cars without breaking the bank. At least she is a petrol head not a Michelle 'the controls fall easily to hand' and 'I crashed a milk float' Newman. I think Top Gear is for petrol heads and for informed rational opinion with lots of jelly then watch 'Driven'. Fifth Gear seems to fall inbetween the two and are possibly the more radical ABD wing.... I watch them all and love and loathe them in equal quantities. There are also some excellent motoring programmes to be found lurking on the satellite channels.
I notice no-one has mentioned 'Pulling Power' on ITV!
teabelly
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Have to agree with Cardew - without Clarkson most motoring programmes would be advertorial or simply extensions of manufacturers sales blurb.
Top Gear used to be quaintly appreciative of everyone's efforts and resist any critisism even when confronted by an obvious dog - Allegro, Marina early Datsuns anyone? They sometimes run some of those on satellite TV worth a look just to see how bad things were.
Clarkson, like many big egos who start believing their own publicity, has ended up a caracature of himself. But I don't think that detracts from the huge contribution he has made to better and more entertaining motoring journalism.
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Well-said Steve S.
Clarkson is an enigma.
His non-motoring column in the Sunday Times is brilliant.
His motoring column in the same paper is usually original and questions concepts - "Its good for that type of vehicle - but who on earth would buy it?"
His chat show on TV was excruciating.
His contributions on Top Gear were a mixture of all the above.
Marcus
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