The TopGear Thread

[act]

Cool. Just set my Tivo.

[MightyMike]

I generally like the show, but cannot stand that snobbish and borish Jeremy Clarkson. When American cars are tested, Clarkson always always finds some characteristic of the car to pick on. He always subjectively blasts build quality (e.g. hard plastics), yet I have never seen him factually point out a true mechanical deficiency or design flaw. Regardless of how American cars actually perform or hold up, Clarkson contrives so many ridiculous bad things to say that it is hard to take him seriously. Conversely, he hardly criticises European cars in such terms, even when the car is known to be of lesser quality (eg. why doesn't he complain about all of the hard plastic in the Elise/Exige, but he does in the Caddy?).

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by Mattr762

I downloaded the entire show for the last several seasons. Low res youtube videos just don't do it for me. Mininova.org is where I get my DVD quality shows.

How do you save a "Torrent" ?

Thomas

[Thomasio]

Originally Posted by MightyMike

I generally like the show, but cannot stand that snobbish and borish Jeremy Clarkson.

Oh, surely you can see that he's being over the top... I don't think he really believes what he is saying when he exaggerates like that... he's being typical English schoolboy silly. I think it's great.

Thomas

[babak]

Originally Posted by Thomasio

How do you save a "Torrent" ?

Thomas

http://www.elisetalk.com/forums/show...hlight=topgear

Threads merged as well.

[sonza68]

Originally Posted by MightyMike

I generally like the show, but cannot stand that snobbish and borish Jeremy Clarkson. When American cars are tested, Clarkson always always finds some characteristic of the car to pick on. He always subjectively blasts build quality (e.g. hard plastics), yet I have never seen him factually point out a true mechanical deficiency or design flaw. Regardless of how American cars actually perform or hold up, Clarkson contrives so many ridiculous bad things to say that it is hard to take him seriously. Conversely, he hardly criticises European cars in such terms, even when the car is known to be of lesser quality (eg. why doesn't he complain about all of the hard plastic in the Elise/Exige, but he does in the Caddy?).

Because the Elise a bare bones sports car while the Caddy is supposed to be a luxury car. You have to appreciate JC for what he is, and that is an entertainer first and a journalist second.

He does criticize European and Japanese cars as well. In his original review of the 350Z, he tore the car apart and specifically targeted the flimsy, hard plastic interior. When the news came that Rover was inporting the Tata Indicar and calling it the Rover City Car, he asked why the Brits couldn't make a small car and decided it was "because we're rubbish".

[dukenyc]

Anyone have a link to where he reviewed the Elise?

Dial up is killing me!

[sonza68]

Youtube vids:

S2 111S

Exige

Exige S

[dododge]

Originally Posted by Mattr762

I downloaded the entire show for the last several seasons. Low res youtube videos just don't do it for me. Mininova.org is where I get my DVD quality shows.

The aforementioned finalgear.com is also a good starting point for that (and other Top Gear stuff), since it has episode lists and quick links to mininova. Even Top Gear's exec producer admits going there to find out the fan reaction after an episode airs.

BTW the special episode from late last month has full HDTV torrents linked through finalgear, and looks fantastic if you have something that can display it. Beyond DVD quality (this is a frame from the 720p version):

[MightyMike]

Originally Posted by sonza68

Because the Elise a bare bones sports car while the Caddy is supposed to be a luxury car. You have to appreciate JC for what he is, and that is an entertainer first and a journalist second.

He does criticize European and Japanese cars as well. In his original review of the 350Z, he tore the car apart and specifically targeted the flimsy, hard plastic interior. When the news came that Rover was inporting the Tata Indicar and calling it the Rover City Car, he asked why the Brits couldn't make a small car and decided it was "because we're rubbish".

You make a good point; I still don't like him.

[pip]

love it.. the Monty Python of car shows.. I'm hooked!

[dododge]

BBCA's schedule doesn't seem to list the content of the shows. It'll be interesting to see if they dare to run the "American special".

[charliex]

Clarkson does indeed bitch about the build/plastic in the exige, he says the car was made by airfix for instance.

[andykeck]

The BBCA shows are still edited versions.


S8EP1: - Dog intro shortened
- Season 8 previews/teasers dropped
- Micro C+C review unchanged!
- Convertible people carrier segment one unchanged!
- News segment SADLY REMOVED (they made fun of Jeremy's broken Ford GT and some enviro-nutters like David Cameron, etc )
- Honda Civic review REMOVED (makes sense, this car isn't new any more)
- New reasonably-priced car intro and lapping day segment unchanged, though a tiny bit of in-studio summary was removed at the very end
- DIESELMAX speed record car segment REMOVED
- Koenigsegg CCX review unchanged (YAY SWEDEN )
- Convertible people carrier segment two - tiny bit cut after the 100MPH test of them repairing the damage caused, otherwise unchanged

S8EP2:
-C6 Z06 review - section on the handling of the Z06 cut short, Clarkson mentions that the Z06 can lap the Ring in 7:43 in the original version - also cut was a short clip where he messes with the voice activated Sat Nav - clip syncs up again when talking about the price of the ZO6, otherwise unchanged
- News segment REMOVED
- Canoe vs car segment - about 30 seconds cut from the middle of the race - otherwise unchanged
- Star in a reasonably priced car - unchanged
- Jaguar XK review - short studio intro cut out, about a minute of footage/commentary on the sound and looks cut out as well - studio segment at end where they discuss XK vs V8 Vantage cut out
- Cadillac review and radio station segment one, studio bit cut out at the end, otherwise unchanged
- STIG hotlap in the OLD reasonably priced car and studio interview with THE STIG - CUT OUT

[sonza68]

I'm guessing they're doing the cutting to make room for commercials. They haven't added any reshot studio bits like the did on Discovery Channel, did they?

[shay2nak]

the CCX bit was awesome!

[psykosis]

Originally Posted by sonza68

I'm guessing they're doing the cutting to make room for commercials. They haven't added any reshot studio bits like the did on Discovery Channel, did they?

no reshoots. Edits are for commercial space.

and even w/ the edits, it's SO much better than the so-called "American" version.

[Cali]

Just finished watching the Exige S episode. I know we've all seen it on youtube, but it was nice to watch it on the big screen. Plus, their attempts to build an amphibious car were hilarious!

[shay2nak]

Originally Posted by Cali

Just finished watching the Exige S episode. I know we've all seen it on youtube, but it was nice to watch it on the big screen. Plus, their attempts to build an amphibious car were hilarious!

+1


But how can they say the Exige S is not cool!!!! They placed the car in the NOT COOL category!

[Cegan09]

Originally Posted by MightyMike

Conversely, he hardly criticises European cars in such terms, even when the car is known to be of lesser quality (eg. why doesn't he complain about all of the hard plastic in the Elise/Exige, but he does in the Caddy?).

Having seen about 80% of all episodes, I've noticed a trend. The show generally trashes just about every car they review except British ones, of course there are exceptions. I think they just don't like American cars, and for that reason they rip them to shreds whenever they can. Its a British show, therefore they are going to have biases, thats just how it works.

This is actually why i was concerned when they said they might bring the show here, they are so critical, and will criticize anything. Most people here when presented with criticism don't respond well, they take offense, complain, and i'm sure there would be some people that would push for the show to not be aired anymore. You need to just look beyond the criticism and see humor and entertainment aspect of the show. I was introduced to it about a year and a half ago, and i think its one of my favorite shows out there. I just hope it doesn't change much when it comes here.