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The Top Gear Megathread! Mark II
- Thread starter CortexRock
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Is that Mercedes S 65 really the most powerful saloon car? I thought the new BMW Hurricane M5 G-Power XXX was more powerful.
For a 'factory' care, the S65 IIRC is the highest horsepower luxury car...it is not the fastest acceleration or top speed for a factory car though.
Brabus makes a few full size Mercedes with around 800+ WHP, the SV12R (upwards of 1,000 BHP and over 900 TQ) and the Hurricane M5 makes around 800 WHP as well but has 600TQ...the Brabus is using a (IIRC) bore and stroked 12 cylinder. Both will reach 230+ MPH but are limited in the ballpark of 220 due to aerodynamics and tyres IIRC. The Audi RS6 has a 700 BHP variant which is slightly slower. Ligenfelter sells a 700+ horsepower and torque kit for the Caddy CTS-V.
...NOW...with that said, the Porsche Panamera Turbo will have initial acceleration as fast as the 700HP+ monsters despite far less power. It is quicker at the 1320 than all of the above, but has a lower top speed of around 190+/-. Once a RUF version comes out, that should be nice.
I don't think it fits with the image they are trying to project as a company. These cars are built to test technology, with any luck some of it will make it into a sportier version of the C30. Note that the Focus and the C30 share the same chasis.
Is that the same engine as they use in the Bentley? Seeing as it's all VAG now anyway.
Edit: Looks like Johnathan Woss' breaking america then ITV as was banding around doesn't seem to have gone too well, I doubt he's the highest earner at Auntie now anyway!
It used to be... though it's twin-turbo'd for the Bentley, Audi are using a new N/A 6.3 litre W12 in the new A8 though. The new Mulsanne is a RR V8.
The W12 is a marvellous engine... and really should be the basis for a super/turbo-charged S8 rather than a V10.
I think part of him leaving the BBC was to take a back seat to support his wife who seems to be the main bread winner these days. At least his time was better!
I think the early contestants like Ross and Harry Enfield, took the SiaRPC section as a bit of fun and didn't really try, now it's competitive.
Not really a classic this week, the M3 test was boring, and the SIARPC was really scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of the guest...some D-list bimbo from a Nicholas Cage action cliche trainwreck (in 3D, no less)? Bah.
The combine bit was worth a chuckle, especially the part where Clarkson keeps going on about how they are "doing something serious for once" while perched on the back of the combine with an improvised swivel chair-mounted flamethrower.
EDIT: The Simon Pegg/Nick Frost SIARPC segment was quite good last week, and made this week's segment look even more lame.
The combine bit was worth a chuckle, especially the part where Clarkson keeps going on about how they are "doing something serious for once" while perched on the back of the combine with an improvised swivel chair-mounted flamethrower.
EDIT: The Simon Pegg/Nick Frost SIARPC segment was quite good last week, and made this week's segment look even more lame.
Every episode of Top Gear (BBC of course) is like watching a movie of a TV show. (I bet JK could have said this better right? lol )
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I'm really not sure which one of those I'd rather have, when Autocar tested the M3 (the standard one) & RS5, the Audi was fractionally quicker, though little as to make no difference, the M3 really is a cracking looking bit of kit (personally I prefer the 4 door version) which will inevitably be ruined in the next incarnation if the new 5 & 6 Series are anything to go by... (van Hooydonk WTF are you doing?).
I've always liked Audi's, but I'm really not sure about the RS5... it lacks the simple elegance of the normal S5, and Audi's (especially white ones) are gaining something of an unfortunate following amongst the undesirables in the UK at the moment.
Lord Blackadder - From The 2011 F1 Thread said:
I was wondering after reading Chris Harris's rant in the link that Robbie posted, whether the Ferrari's Top Gear test cars are actually supplied by Ferrari or whether they're private cars? As far as I can remember, the Ferrari Enzo Ferrari was a private car, but of course they also got Schumacher in his Ferrari FXX… which one would've thought would've required Ferrari's approval and complicity.
Lord Blackadder - From The 2011 F1 Thread said:As for the demographic changing, that must be why Lady Blackadder likes to watch it now.
Have to say, though I still stand by a lot of what I've said about it in the past… (that the format has become staid, and that it'd benefit immeasurably from going out live & being less scripted and over rehearsed… etc, even James May has said that they've become "characters" and that the show's verging on becoming a sitcom), and that in many respects I do mourn the fact that it's no longer really about cars. I've kind of made my peace with Top Gear somewhat, I just accept it for what it is now (often entertaining fluff), and to be honest I enjoy it more because of that.
&Lord Blackadder - From The 2011 F1 Thread said:
Very occasionally, but it's scheduled at a funny time, but like what CWallace says, reducing it to a 30 minute slot tightened it up considerably, and I think Tiff & Plato are far more natural and the banter between them far more humourous than the Top Gear presenters. Not to mention VBH's impish squeals of course...
I'd count myself to be a big Top Gear fan... but this series has left me cold. Last week, 5 minutes was wasted just talking about Magpies!!! This week, the whole snowplough thing was just a waste of time. There were cars on last nights show, weren't there. Might have just dozed off while they were on. Can't believe we're up to show 5 out of 6! Next week's had better be good. Don't get me wrong - it's a good laugh, but it's just not what it was. It USED to be about exciting cars...
Between a mediocre Top Gear and Family Guy, and an awful episode of The Simpsons (And I mean just god awful, if you have it sitting on your DVR and are going to watch it later today, don't waste your time), Sunday evening, which is normally a good time for TV, was quite boring.
The thing I enjoyed most last night was a rerun of a 5 year old Two and a Half Men episode.
The thing I enjoyed most last night was a rerun of a 5 year old Two and a Half Men episode.
To be honest I thought that Amber Heard was the one redeeming feature of an otherwise lacklustre show. At least it was some eye candy. This series has been one of the worst I've seen. I'm all for them having a bit of a laugh but I'd like some actual car reviews in there too.
I think the presenters have long since become caricatures of themselves and made the jump to sitcom some time ago. I honestly don't think they try as hard - the jokes are too scripted and the timing is off. I don't know if it was just me, but in the past, I got the sense that a lot of the banter and interplay was improv, maybe following a loose script.
Plus, with the advent of HD these guys look REALLY old.
I'm really not sure which one of those I'd rather have, when Autocar tested the M3 (the standard one) & RS5, the Audi was fractionally quicker, though little as to make no difference, the M3 really is a cracking looking bit of kit (personally I prefer the 4 door version) which will inevitably be ruined in the next incarnation if the new 5 & 6 Series are anything to go by... (van Hooydonk WTF are you doing?).
I'm torn myself. As a Subaru owner, I've really come to appreciate what a decent AWD system can do on the road, but it does come with understeer (I have a viscous LSD in mine, a mechanical rear diff would make it more tail-happy).
I am poor as dirt in the grand scheme of things, but if I was shopping for a used sports sedan right now I might consider an E36 M3, they are relatively cheap (though I'm sure it costs a small fortune to keep that bomb of an engine running). S4s are pretty hard to find in my neck of the woods. Given the choice I'd love an RS4 or RS6 wagon. In terms of value for money though, the used German sportscars are harder to justify when comared with the newer turbo GTIs and the WRX. The WRX may be ugly, but it's a legitimate sports sedan.
And I agree with you about the M3 four-door. Much more useful than the coupe.
I've always liked Audi's, but I'm really not sure about the RS5... it lacks the simple elegance of the normal S5, and Audi's (especially white ones) are gaining something of an unfortunate following amongst the undesirables in the UK at the moment.
I'm still not sure how I feel about that massive grille that Audis are sporting these days.
A good question. The Enzo was supplied by Pink Floyd's drummer, wasn't it? Since they got Schumacher on the program one would have to think that they have at least at times had a decent working relationship with Ferrari. Considering the high profile of the show I'd bet that they could find a privately-owned Ferrari of just about any type if they needed one for a segment. They had a 250GTO on just the other day, though Clarkson wasn't allowed to touch it.
I still think it's quite entertaining at times, but it's pretty rare that they do a real "review" of a car, particularly with respect to cars affordable to the masses. The best shows are quite good, but sometimes the program is completely overwrought and silly. I like James May, but I find Hammond insufferable and Clarkson is a comedy caricature.
Very occasionally, but it's scheduled at a funny time, but like what CWallace says, reducing it to a 30 minute slot tightened it up considerably, and I think Tiff & Plato are far more natural and the banter between them far more humourous than the Top Gear presenters. Not to mention VBH's impish squeals of course...
I've been meaning to watch it more, I haven't seen an episode in quite a while.
I also plan to finally give Top Gear America a chance....I downloaded the Alaska Special because that's where I'm living at the moment. I'm not expecting much.
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Oh lord, The Simpsons just keeps getting worse and worse. At least Sky 1 have started to show some old episodes in the week. Today was the Mr Sparkle episode and the Pretzel Wagon episode. Brilliant! Shame about the new ones.
As for Top Gear, I have to agree with many of the sentiments here. This series has had its moments, but has just left me with a feeling of "meh".
It was the best of the series, IMO, so you might as well not bother with the rest.
Personally, I think TGUSA launched better than Australia or Russia did. The three hosts seemed to gel much quicker (of course, Australia has not been helped by changing the presenters each series).
Obviously, it's not as good as the UK Top Gear, but then the current iteration is entering their 15th series (with the current presenters) so one would hope it is more polished.
It was the best of the series, IMO, so you might as well not bother with the rest.
Personally, I think TGUSA launched better than Australia or Russia did. The three hosts seemed to gel much quicker (of course, Australia has not been helped by changing the presenters each series).
Obviously, it's not as good as the UK Top Gear, but then the current iteration is entering their 15th series (with the current presenters) so one would hope it is more polished.
I wanted to give it a fair chance. I really did.
The production values were high, the basic structure of the show and the "challenges" were alright, but the show had a more artificial feel than TGUK (which is saying something). Less was explained about the trucks or what they were doing with them, more time was focused on what seemed like a somewhat forced rapport between the presenters.
But for me the nail in the coffin had to do with the premise of the episode. The point of the Alaska challenge was to determine "America's toughest truck". They spent much of the program bashing the Toyota that was brought along as the punishment for failure. They worried that if their truckes failed, they'd be forced to admit that an "import" was better. They failed to mention that the Toyota Tacoma is made in Mexico and Canada these days - just like the big "American" trucks!!!
It was pure patriotic sillyness, since I live in Alaska and can tell you that their are tens of thousands of outdoorsy types that swear by the Hilux/Tacoma - a vehicle that TGUK has also been at great pains to explain is the toughest in the world. I have owned two myself, and I can vouch for the fact that they are very sturdy beasts. Sorry if I'm months behind on this rant, but I had to let it out. I liked Tanner Foust though, he seemed alright. I've watched TG Russia and it's not much to write homa about either. Haven't seen TG Australia. If TGUS gets a few seasons under its belt it may mature into something worth watching, but that's a big "if".