Top Gear value for money TV?

[glojo]

No, because the man wears a motoring hat and while giving entertainment he discredits motoring and motorists in general. he also picks on other members of the community and so if he gives it out, he has to be prepared to take it.

I feel that anyone that thinks Top Gear is an informative motoring program has not watched it for many, many years. Surely Top Gear is an entertainment program with motor cars as the theme? Does the audience attend to be educated, or
do they go to be entertained? Has there been a constructive, informative review of any modern vehicle? Clarkson regularly slags off Mercedes-Benz, but when he buys a car for his own use, it is usually that self same marque. No one can deny he takes the mickey out of Vauxhall, but more fool this manufacturer for giving the show the ammunition. Is he on the Ford pay role? He certainly done them no favours over his much publicised criticism of their Ford GT! Was the Vectra lambasted as much as the Ford?

I never moan about Fifth Gear simply because I never watch it. The giggling, girlish screaming of the female presenter annoys me as much perhaps as Clarkson annoys some members of this forum. My solution was to press a little button on my remote control, no more moaning, no frustration. I do accept that Top Gear is financed out of licence fees, but so what, so is tennis and golf, two televised activities that bore me to death.

John

 

[stats007]

Endless posts about switching over aren't going to change anything. If you don't like a thread about people's OPINIONS on a programme then don't read it or reply to it.

You lot moan about Mercedes service or quality - so by your own yardstick if you don't like it, buy another car .

 

[Alfie]

Jesus. Its ENTERTAINMENT with a car theme.

I don't like the Archers but I don't come on the forums every Monday morning moaning about the what I think are rubbish events in Borchester.

Turn over, switch off, read a book as Glojo says, but spare us all the tedious analysis of why you hate Top Gear/Clarkson.

Very well said. But please leave somepeople's god out of it, you'll start a whole new row! and we wouldnt want that would we

With regard to other posts about the incident with the rednecks, then I have to say that there are very large sections of the American community who are considered 'RedNecks' for a very good reason. These people kill with near impunity at times and their behaviour defies belief. I am sure that there are many members of the American community who are decent honest people but please lets not lose sight of the fact that there are sections of their community that do behave like we saw last night and far worse.

 

[nickg]

Most if not all motoring journalism is basically rubbish.
TG at least doesn't pretend any more to be a traditional car review program.

Go and read car reviews in any motoring magazine. They are 90% cut and pasted from the manufacturer's press release and the remaining 10% is usually more about what fancy location they took the car to than the car itself.

TG is going down hill not because it doesn't provide informative reviews of everyday cars but because:

- the format needs refreshing. If I hear JC ask the audience "Who wants to see [this week's "special" guest]'s lap of the track?!?!?" one more time...........

- Hammond is quite frankly not particularly talented and doesn't know anywhere near as much about cars as the other 2. He is also a bit too old to still be acting like JC's kid brother all the time - embarassing.

- the stunts they do are just stale and so obviously faked. There is comedy value in some of it but frankly the program is now best viewed in 30 minutes on Sky plus, to miss all the cr*p bits.

- the visuals need updating - whoever does the photography and art direction needs changing. The cutting edge style of a couple of years ago is now a bit passe.

On the plus side they are still streets ahead of 5th Gear which is total toilet. I haven't watched it for ages. VBH used to be cute but watching her squeal like a pig every time she goes round a corner in a fast car gets a bit tired as well.

JC is best in print. His articles in the Sunday Times are the best bits of the paper every week.

 

[nickg]

Most if not all motoring journalism is basically rubbish.
TG at least doesn't pretend any more to be a traditional car review program.

Go and read car reviews in any motoring magazine. They are 90% cut and pasted from the manufacturer's press release and the remaining 10% is usually more about what fancy location they took the car to than the car itself.

TG is going down hill not because it doesn't provide informative reviews of everyday cars but because:

- the format needs refreshing. If I hear JC ask the audience "Who wants to see [this week's "special" guest]'s lap of the track?!?!?" one more time...........

- Hammond is quite frankly not particularly talented and doesn't know anywhere near as much about cars as the other 2. He is also a bit too old to still be acting like JC's kid brother all the time - embarassing.

- the stunts they do are just stale and so obviously faked. There is comedy value in some of it but frankly the program is now best viewed in 30 minutes on Sky plus, to miss all the cr*p bits.

- the visuals need updating - whoever does the photography and art direction needs changing. The cutting edge style of a couple of years ago is now a bit passe.

On the plus side they are still streets ahead of 5th Gear which is total toilet. I haven't watched it for ages. VBH used to be cute but watching her squeal like a pig every time she goes round a corner in a fast car gets a bit tired as well.

JC is best in print. His articles in the Sunday Times are the best bits of the paper every week.

 

[gary350]

I've stopped watching it!

Me to, change the 3 stooges for some leggy blondes and I might change my mind.

gary

 

[dagd]

I agree, as I've said, I don't watch TG anymore for the reasons given, however, I do still read JC's column in the Sunday Times.

 

[hawk20]

Jesus. Its ENTERTAINMENT with a car theme.

I don't like the Archers but I don't come on the forums every Monday morning moaning about the what I think are rubbish events in Borchester.

Turn over, switch off, read a book as Glojo says, but spare us all the tedious analysis of why you hate Top Gear/Clarkson.

Just like the TV, you don't have to view the thread if you don't want to, do you. Others have a perfect right to join in the thread if they like it, without being subject to abuse.

 

[smartbrabus]

Top Gear is not what it used to be thats for sure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FedHrLHkbqA

Clarkson's dress sense has improved marginally at least

 

[hawk20]

Talking of rednecks:- .........

A man boarded an airplane and took his seat. As he settled in, he glanced up and saw an unusually beautiful woman boarding the plane. He soon realized she was heading straight toward his seat. Lo and behold, she took the seat right beside his.

Eager to strike up a conversation, he blurted out, "Business trip or vacation?" She turned, smiled and said, "Business. I'm going to the Annual Nymphomaniac Convention in Chicago."
He swallowed hard. Here was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen sitting next to him and she was going to a meeting for nymphomaniacs! Struggling to maintain his composure, he calmly asked, "What's your business role at this convention?"
"Lecturer," she responded. "I use my experience to debunk some of the popular myths about sexuality."
"Really, “he said, "what myths are those?"

"Well," she explained, "one popular myth is that African American men are the most well endowed when, in fact, it's the Native American Indian who is most likely to possess that trait.” Another popular myth is that French men are the best lovers, when actually it is the men of Jewish descent. We have, however, found that the best potential lover in all categories is the Southern redneck." Suddenly, the woman became a little uncomfortable and blushed. "I'm sorry," she said, "I shouldn't really be discussing this with you. I don't even know your name."

"Tonto," the man said, "Tonto Goldstein.

But my friends call me Bubba."

 

[fnkhan68]

last nights episode definately put a smile on my face and was very entertaining. i believe that matters the most (well for me anyway).

 

[mark.t]

well thanks for all the input..... very interesting ......a great show of defence for the programme,it almost feels like i gave a OPINION on a good friend to most of you....that's all it was a opinion....and to come to a opinion we must enjoy/suffer the programme first......I think I covered most angles and as many of my comments where echoed..... the opinion was fare. a hardcore element of anything will defend to the death and some ridicules comments were noted....for me it died a long time ago.

 

[mark.t]

People happily pay for those supercar DVDs that Clarkson keeps churning out so there is proof that people want to see > £100k cars being thrashed on a track.



1) every time I exit a roundabout or the lights go green, I can do this. Can also do this every time I join a motorway (safer than those dawdling 85 year old grannies in Micras...).
2) a car that can pin you back in your seat can be had for £2k which is very affordable. Of course, it won't have an AMG or Porsche badge on it!

glad he's on the majority side.....and not mine ....another avid watcher

 

[GazCaff]

oops

 

[GazCaff]

Saying that Clarkson killed the Vectra is like saying that Steve Coogan killed the Ford Puma. It's utter crap.

The sales of both cars were poor because they were awful

Have you ever driven a Vectra, or been a passenger in one?

Nah, it's Vauxhall did that by making the Mk1 Vectra

I refer you to my respose above.

Are both of you judging the Vectra by the standards you judge Merc by? Because the Vectra was designed to appeal by and large to the rep mobile market and they are perfectly good at carrying a person or people and their baggage in comfort with reasonable running costs.

Your evidence of Clarkson receiving backhanders is? If you don't have any i would be careful as he is known as being quite litigious of his reputation.

I'm sure Clarkson has more important things to worry about than me finding suspicion in his blind love of Volvos, Land rovers, Mazdas, Jaguars, Astons and Fords.

Top Gear is not what it used to be thats for sure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FedHrLHkbqA

Clarkson's dress sense has improved marginally at least

Definatley!! Clarksons dress sense (and hair) have improved. Interesting summing up of the Sigma, I wonder why other mainstream cars have not recieved this level of impartiallity from him?

 

[Carrotchomper]

This is completely off topic, but despite the image, I think Vectras are actually bloody competent cars. My mum has had a 2000 (W) reg 1.8 for about 3 1/2 years now. I bought it for her at auction as an ex-fleet car for £3500.

Since then it has been entirely trouble-free, the only thing which has gone wrong is an admittedly-expensive ECU fault. And they drive pretty well.

And the 2.2 which we sequestered for a week at work until Transport Services confiscated it was bloody quick...

For the price of them they are very solid, well-handling cars which make the most of the engines.

 

[LastMinute]

There's no doubt that Clarkson is very influential and that he needs to be aware of that, but it would be a great shame if he were not able to express his opinions in his own way.

To hold him personally responsible for people losing their jobs at Vauxhall is a step too far, I think. If I had to direct blame I would look at Vauxhall's marketing people who failed to come up with an effective response to Clarkson's criticism, and at the business managers who steered the company into a position where redundancies became necessary.

I have driven a Mk. 1 Vectra and I really liked it. When I heard Clarkson rubbishing the car I just laughed, because that's his opinion and I am capable of forming my own.

As for Top Gear's 'adventure' features, remember that these need to be taken with a very large pinch of salt. It's already been pointed out elsewhere that everything is scripted and staged. Don't believe everything you see on TV, folks...

 

[wallingd]

Love that old TG !!! I think I even remember it, back in the dim and distant feel of 1991.

1999-revised Vectras were a big improvement.

 

[andy_k]

Have you ever driven a Vectra, or been a passenger in one?

Yep and I didn't rate it

Are both of you judging the Vectra by the standards you judge Merc by? Because the Vectra was designed to appeal by and large to the rep mobile market and they are perfectly good at carrying a person or people and their baggage in comfort with reasonable running costs.

Not comparing it to any Mercedes, we compared it to the Mondeo which we ended up buying. The 1.8 Mondeo was a much nicer car to drive. Better steering, enough life in it to overtake and far more comfortable for driver and passengers. In comparison the Vectra felt sloppy and unresponsive.

 

[DR1VER]

I agree with the Mondeo coment. The Vectra didn't come close the the Mondeo's driver apeal and responsive, smooth engines.

As for Top Gear, I enjoy every second of it but I can also see how it is not to everyone's taste. The change that TG has gone through has been huge. Its the equivelant of Blue Peter showing soft core porn. As for the argument about TG setting a bad example then thats really up to the mental stability of the person watching. If everyone played out they're life as if they were on Eastenders then the world would be havok. But they don't, just the same as I don't race my mate to work in an aeroplane or do 0-50-0 tests near aligators.

I always watched the old Top Gear and will continue to watch the new format. I'm a car nut so as long as it is automotively related then I will enjoy it.

The argument that TG should focus on more attainable cars cannot really be backed up. We all drive attainable cars every day, lets face it, its pretty boring. For an hour every sunday evening we get to watch three blokes do what we all wish we could do. F**k about with £100,000 cars and have a bit of a laugh.

Not everyone will agree with my comments just as not everyone enjoys Top Gear, but don't take it to heart, its just a bit of fun. I know where i'll be at 7.59pm next sunday.