| Author | Message | ||
     Lemonchili_x1 |
Has the U.S. version of Top Gear started yet? "Top Gear Australia" aired for the first time last night... and it was disappointing to say the least. Tried too hard to be like Clarkson, May and Hammond, and tried to hard to be funny. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
I'm watching it as I type. I love that show. The US version is going to suck. It's going to be the equivalent to a Korean Magnum P.I. Some things are simply dependent on the hosts and characters and cannot be replicated. | ||
| Froggy |
I feel Jay Leno would be perfect for the US Top Gear. He doesn't need to simulate one of the UK guys, he can be himself and the show would work. Currently as it stands i see the US version sucking horribly. I wonder if they will bag British cars for no reason like Clarkson does to ours? | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Jay Leno wanted nothing to do with US Top Gear because of the advertiser limits. You have to remember the BBC (via British TV tax) pays for Top Gear UK, so they are not accountable to the manufactures. That is why Clarkson can trash what ever he wants. Do you really think the US version is going to be able to trash a new Ford, then have them as an advertiser??? Of course not. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I wonder if they will bag British cars for no reason like Clarkson does to ours? Oh I wouldn't say it's entirely for no reason, though he does like to stick the knife in. If you think I'm being picky, just take any recent US product & look at it next to it's European equivalent, the build quality & materials are worlds apart. Chrysler have come a long way in a short time since their hook-up with MB, but still have a way to go to convince people in this part of the world. Ford have long had a European prescence, but again, if you put the equivalents models side by side there's no contest. Chevy? Don't make me laugh! Before any of you get on your high horses, I'm not having a go, that's how it is, if you don't believe me look for yourself. I'm not anti American either, got 2 Buells at the moment, & had Dodge trucks for the last 25 years. The US auto industry used to make some of the best cars in the world, but somewhere around the 70s they started losing it, 80s & 90s they couldn't find their arse with both hands, now they're making a bit of a comeback, but they're so far down the tubes that nobody outside the US considers them real competition. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
If you think I'm being picky, just take any recent US product & look at it next to it's European equivalent, the build quality & materials are worlds apart. I completely agree, but you have to look at the cost standpoint. A mid-sized "rep mobile" (ie a Ford Mondeo) costs in the UK 20k pounds. That would be nearly $40k here. We are used to cars in the $20-25k USD range. Hell BWM is trying to figure out how to sell a 3 series here without losing their shirt in $-Euro conversion. VW is losing their scrote as we speak. | ||
| Miamiuly |
Have you ever listened to the way Clarkson speaks of British cars?? It's not like he is just bashing our cars. He bought Ford GT.... wouldn't start, constant, "your car has been stolen messages." They give lots of compliments to some us cars too. Hates parts bin cars is main complaint I've noticed. His attitude about bikes on the other hand, hopefully he is somewhat joking. I noticed that hammond and may seemed to ride and have gear when they did the scooter, drunk driving, ride home service bit. | ||
| Vampress |
Yes, without the ability to be blunt and critically honest (due to where the moula comes from), the show takes on a whole other angle. Instead of going in hard, and really pushing the limits, the show is soft and gutless. "Insurance company isn't going to be too happy about that" I believe was the first quote that made me want to hit the OFF button. The cheesy Richard Hammond take-off host ( who I have less than affectionately nick-named 'the weasel')tried waaay too hard to be funny. All in all, a weak copy, that left us less than enthused about some otherwise nice cars. Shame. Monday night tv bonding with the UK team and the Stig has come to an end  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The problem with Top Gear and US cars is that they compare a $300,000 car and a $20,000 car and expect them to be basically equal. We don't give them much reason not to criticize. I watched the F150 review yesterday. It is a bad vehicle. Compared to a Ferrari. | ||
| Miamiuly |
Oh...we better still get UK top gear on BBC America when they "give" us Top Gear America. I don't want to have to rely on youtube for it. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
FYI, Hammond rides a Honda Fireblade. Miamiuly, BBC america only shows old episodes (at least a year old), that are heavily edited for music rights, and content. If you want to real deal, you are going have to get it from http://www.finalgear.com You will need to bittorrent the episodes. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
If you think I'm being picky, just take any recent US product & look at it next to it's European equivalent, the build quality & materials are worlds apart. You must be joking. Range Rover is one of the worst reliable vehicles, along with Jaguar. Oh, and Mercedes, my g/f had a SLK350 and it was a piece of junk. It was in the shop more than a Buell. The computer was replaced three times and the wiring harness to the rear tail light was faulty ( something I've noticed with other Mercedes). She sold the Mercedes and bought herself a Denali, while waiting for the new Camaro convertible in 09, and hasn't had a lick of trouble with it. | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Range Rover is one of the worst reliable vehicles And the Range Rover has one of the best interiors of ANY vehicle at ANY price. The build quality is better, but the long term reliability is much worse. I know we are splitting hairs here, but this is how Lexus became successful. European quality design, with Japanese reliability. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Volvos suck long term as well. I don't know about other French cars, but the LeCar sucked ass.  | ||
| Edgydrifter |
I think the US version might turn out to be a fine show IF they give Carolla time to get comfortable as host. Every time he switches formats much awkwardness ensues. The man is a gearhead, though, so at least he'll have that going for him. On the other hand, for every show that jumps across the pond from the BBC it seems like something vital is left behind. Take "Scrapheap/Junkyard Wars", for example. The British version was fantastic. The US version was only barely tolerable. I'm crossing my fingers on this one. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I can't see how it can be done... I'd love to see a American show with 3 normal guys giving their honest opinions of cars and truck and maybe even motorcycles.. Advertising IMO could muck up the integrity of the hosts opinion on the show. | ||
| Ocbueller |
Directly from Consumer Reports, Land Rover and Mercedes Benz least reliable cars. Honda, Subaru, and Toyota, most reliable. SteveH | ||
| Swordsman |
Did you see the Top Gear review of the Peel P50? Smallest production car ever made, and the dude LOVED it. Hilarious episode. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peel_P50 http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=top+gear+peel+p50&search_type=&aq=0&oq=top+gear+peel ~SM (Message edited by swordsman on October 01, 2008) | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Ferris, we're not talking about reliability issues here, Landy & Jag until a few moths ago were owned by Ford. As I stated & you quoted, look at US vehicles next to their Euro equivalents, If you're talking about Range Rover compare it with it's US equivalent, that would be a Caddy Escalade, or Lincoln Navigator, or Chrysler Aspen, or Jeep Commander. European models, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, BMW X5, etc Your gf's mercedes may have been unreliable, but how can you compare it to a Denali. As for French cars Peugeot & Citroen are producing some of the nicest cars you'll find (well you won't over there, but you know what I mean). Clarkson rated the Citroen C6 over a BMW! Ocbueller, where did US manufacturers come in those reports? | ||
| Ocbueller |
I read the abbreviated version, so I can only assume the U.S. cars came in somewhere between least and most reliable. SteveH | ||
| Firemanjim |
They were filmimg at Bonneville while we were there. It was funny to watch as we (americans had little idea who they were but all the Australians and New Zealanders with me went nuts. They had a Corvette, Cadillac, and a new challenger there doing speed runs,entertaining | ||
| Bombardier |
Picture this for a US Top Gear crew. Henry Rollins, Jay Leno and Michael Colbert. Too much truth for any television network. | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
Oh yeah, Hank and Jay Leno would rock! Excuse my ignorance, but who is Michael Colbert? | ||
| Rick_a |
I agree. Frankly, I'm fine watching watching it on BBC. |
