Is it just me or is Top Gear getting VERY tired?!

[Bishy]

Its rubbish now. The electric car 'adventure' was just ....words fail me!

my thoughts exactly...so staged and fake that it was beond a joke!

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Just what duration would this "serious" car show need to be in order to broadcast the info you desire?

All the stuff you describe is better provided on the internet. Top Gear has evolved to be light entertainment for people with an interest in cars and pyrotechnics (literally or car exploits)...

 

[Bishy]

Let's see... 7 million viewers. Clarkson and co are just revelling in the fact that they are unsackable (until and unless the BBC realises that being ratings-driven isn't really public service broadcasting).

think thats the problem......it will keep selling around the world too!

 

[davidjpowell]

Ultimately it was the hamsters accident which has done for it. The next series shown after that was cut down into only a few weeks. They then shoehorned a load of 'stunts' into those weeks as they were already filmed. Sound familiar?

I distinctly remember Clarkson at the end of the series saying that they had a decision to make as they had had the lowest car review content, but the series had the highest viewer numbers ever.

Seems they are chasing the numbers. As a Public Service Broadcaster, if they have more viewers interested in this type of content, rather than a bit more of the car review type stuff that we would like I suppose that we can't really complain. We would be moaning if the BBC were making programmes that no one watches.

 

[GMW]

I pretty much agree with most of the earlier posts. The new series has gotten off to a very slow start. Like the 1st episode of the last season - the one where Jeremy went on a steam train.

The only 'good' thing so far in the new season is it's available in HD. So I get crystal clear picture and sound!

One thing they should realize is that sometimes, less is more. i.e. spend more time on all the new cars that are out or coming out than most of a program making a silly hybrid car. I would have been more interested if they went into detail in a real hybrid like the new X6 hybrid than the whole farce they created. It was all just cringe worthy. They should go back a few seasons and maintain what they did there. BIGGER does not mean BETTER!

Here are some examples of the back to basics show.

1) The 3 guys take the MB SLS, Ferrari 458 Italia and Lexus supercar LFA out on the Nurburgring and try to beat Sabine's best time in each of those 3 cars. (Stig steps in when all attempts fail) Actually this can be a whole episode with only the Star in a reasonably priced car breaking things up a bit.

Episode 2
1) Comparison of the new E-class to new 5 series
2) Road trip with some expensive car/cars through Kampala, Uganda. Organized chaos on the roads or complete chaos??
3) Motoring news with some comparison of other cheaper cars and whats good or not. More details like window buttons are in the wrong place or underpowered would be an understatement etc.
4) star in a reasonably priced car
5) Stig drives the new MB E63

Episode 3
1) road trip in South Africa or South America testing the practicality of armored cars
2) shooting range to see what armour stops what bullet
3) Stig drives new Lexus LFA on a track
etc.

 

[renault12ts]

Starting to agree that the show is tired. After all, on Sunday they tested the Audi R8 V10 and a Corvette. That was it. Then the stupid nonsense about the electric car!!

 

[kurtdaley]

The electric car episode was IMO the worst top gear episode ever. I was watching for about 20 mins on the sky+ before I deleted it, the next 40 or so mins were probably no better.
I don't know about anyone else but Hammond really winds me up in a big way, he really needs to grow up a bit and please please please get that stupid hair cut.
As for May he is just a geek and all he wanes on about is the Dacia!!! (not funny).
I think it needs a new injection of presenters so if the producers got rid of Hammond and May it might be a bit more entertaining, possibly get a nice female presenter on just to do Clarksons head in.
Rant over sorry to go on but I really used to love the show but now have deleted it from series link on the sky+.

 

[Darrell]

I just watched the Vietnam edition on TV shack and totally enjoyed it.

 

[corned]

I have been falling in with it, and then falling out with it again for the last few series.

I actually quite like James May and I think his talents are wasted on TG. The other two deserve each other.

I watched some of it last night, but I found it almost unwatchable. I was however interested to note that my kids were rivetted. I think that is very telling.

 

[horsesuitedfool]

Its become a TV show that is just entertaining and amusing with sarcasm and stupid humour thats mostly intended to be tongue in cheek, personally i like that as i am still a child really!! I think if you are expecting a true automotive focused show with facts and figures and serious presenters you should perhaps be looking elsewhere, like the antiques roadshow merged with fifth gear maybe......!!

 

[petermansell]

It used to be the only program that I would religiously watch. Sunday night 8.00pm even if friends were round was Top Gear time, this series I have even found myself doing other things during the program kind of half watching it.
I will still watch it because there are some genuinely funny bits, but it is not what it used to be

This is my experience also - its frustrating as it could be a lot better. (More trips in a greater variety of cars - as the trip reports are what TG does best IMO).

 

[HR17]

Its on the BBC in primetime, therefore its entertainment. Millions watch it, whether they like cars or not and it earns the Beeb[taxpayer] tens of millions.

Some call it low brow trash, others find it enjoyable entertainment. All we know is that they call it a huge success......

Seriously, if you want auto news, comparisons of new and used cars etc, there's plenty of media, printed, on line and cable/satellite, to choose from. We can't all expect to get our ideal, specialist programme on the mainstream terrestrial TV in the UK.

Make the most of it while its on, and before its replaced by another reality dancing show. If you don't like it, don't watch it then moan about it because you didn't enjoy it.

 

[karozza]

It's a comedy show & no longer a car programme.

 

[Dryce]

Is it just me or is this repetitive deja-vu TG thread - with a repeat of the same kinds of opinions/comments as before getting even more tiresome than TG?

 

[rf065]

Is it just me or is this repetitive deja-vu TG thread - with a repeat of the same kinds of opinions/comments as before getting even more tiresome than TG?

So someone is holding a gun to your head & forcing you to read this?

Russ

 

[horsesuitedfool]

So someone is holding a gun to your head & forcing you to read this?

Russ

 

[Beetnik]

I missed it on Sunday despite the fact I was in the house at the time - once upon a time I would never have done this. I started watching it last night - utterly cringeworthy and I gave up when it got to star in a reasonably priced car.

I'll keep an eye out for the specials (Vietnam, for example was v. good) and continue to record it in case someone tells me there was a great bit on but watching it live - I don't think so.

It's got far too predictable and needs a serious freshen up.

 

[st4]

Yawn....

 

[LimitedSlip]

Lighthearted or not, I think the electric car "feature" shows that the programme is having to become tacitly "current" in a cloaked manner. There is little speaking up for the devastation of motoring as an enjoyable hobby or experience. The loose, sarcastic and humorous approach to everything is totally neutral and politically safe - so BBC. No real opinion, no real-world comparison or discussion, no real analysis.

It is light entertainment, with nothing to say. I do still enjoy some of it as that. Ideally, there would be another programme running concurrently in a similar vein to what Top Gear once was. However is there the audience? Many drivers now know almost nothing of their car beyond its social perception, nor do they seem interested... mpg and monthly payments are the main figures of concern - and will an iPod plug in to it.

 

[orangeboy]

I think they are running low on ideas. You also get the feeling that their budget has been dramatically cut, probably to pay Hammond and May more money.

This series is particularly dull, which is a shame, because it used to be good Sunday viewing.

Richard Hammond seems to have become more annoying (if possible) strutting around thoroughly embracing being a "celebrity" with his ridiculous haircut etc.