The Top Gear MEGATHREAD!!!!

[Lord Blackadder]

I think it would... as has been said before, the TG track isn't especially demanding technically, so it'd probably top the board, of course it still wouldn't get anywhere near the Caparo T1's time... which is of course the rightful occupier of the top spot regardless of what Clarkson reckons.

The problem with the Caparo T1 is that it will do an amazing lap...once...and then it will explode.

I hope they can prove me wrong, but the Veyron seems the perfect car for the Yanks.... super straight line speeds... but cornering..? Not so sure

With the possible exception of the Viper, the few supercars we have (Corvette, Ford GT, Callaways), actually handle quite well, though they are fairly heavy.

The Veyron probably handles just fine, and has a significant horsepower advantage over the Gumpert and Ascari. But it is also heavy - so if it does win it probably won't be by much. Audi won't let TG test it unless they are pretty confident it will win.

 

[djellison]

Actually - people who think the US lacks the sort of exciting, swooping, curving roads we enjoy here in the UK....have not been to the US.

Upstate New York is as an exciting a driving venue as just about any in the UK.

Doug

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Actually - people who think the US lacks the sort of exciting, swooping, curving roads we enjoy here in the UK....have not been to the US.

There are a few outstanding roads fairly close to where I live that are very twisty and (because they are in a wealthy, semi-rural area) have a great road surface with little traffic.

But the US has such a massive system of roads there are also a lot of looooooooooong straights...driving between home and grad school was a 770-mile, 12-13 hour odyssey for me and there are a few sections of state routes with 25 miles of unbroken, straight-ahead two lane road with no houses, fuel stops or towns.

 

[alphaod]

There are a few outstanding roads fairly close to where I live that are very twisty and (because they are in a wealthy, semi-rural area) have a great road surface with little traffic.

But the US has such a massive system of roads there are also a lot of looooooooooong straights...driving between home and grad school was a 770-mile, 12-13 hour odyssey for me and there are a few sections of state routes with 25 miles of unbroken, straight-ahead two lane road with no houses, fuel stops or towns.

But the 65MPH speed limit defeats the joy of driving.

 

[djellison]

But the 65MPH speed limit defeats the joy of driving.

And that's different to the UK how, exactly?

It's 5mph less for all but motorways here. Realistically, to enjoy driving, you're breaking the law in either country.

The US has got the best of both worlds. Very dull, straight freeways (which are a relaxing place to drive imho - 1000 times better 'behaved' than UK motorways ) - AND - some amazing countryside roads of superb quality.

I did 1000.1 miles of US driving in up state NYC - and didn't see a single speed camera.

Doug

 

[Lord Blackadder]

But the 65MPH speed limit defeats the joy of driving.

Up in Michigan it's 70mph, and the regular flow of traffic is generally 75-80mph. It's nice to set the cruise to 80, and my old Nissan did a decent 30mpg at that speed, provided there wasn't a headwind.

The US has got the best of both worlds. Very dull, straight freeways (which are a relaxing place to drive imho - 1000 times better 'behaved' than UK motorways ) - AND - some amazing countryside roads of superb quality.

I did 1000.1 miles of US driving in up state NYC - and didn't see a single speed camera.

Doug

I've never been to the UK, but I agree about the mix of long-distance freeways and interesting local roads in the US.

I've spent the last four summers doing fieldwork in upstate New York, and there are some fabulous roads there, particularly along the Hudson and in the Catskills. If you are ever near the US Army Military Academy at West Point, take route 218 along the eastern face of Storm King Mountain, it's a breathtaking drive with some fabulous scenic overlooks across the Hudson and a well-maintained, very twisty road that begs to be driven aggressively.

 

[MacsRgr8]

Actually - people who think the US lacks the sort of exciting, swooping, curving roads we enjoy here in the UK....have not been to the US.

Upstate New York is as an exciting a driving venue as just about any in the UK.

I have driven from New York to Boston to Buffalo (Niagara Falls) and back to New York a few summers ago, and it was lovely (apart from the toll roads...). Superb scenery!
But, it's those (sometimes slightly too narrow) bending and winding roads found in England and France which are so fun to drive. A freeway is relaxing, but looking for pure fun there's so much more found on roads where you're constantly shifting between 2nd and 3rd (hopefully 4th) gear.
Must admit that here in Holland those types of roads are scarce too. Too much flat countryside on which is simply is too easy just to build straight 'n boring roads.
But... we have Germany as a neighbour.... stumble over the eastern border and thrash the Beamer!

 

[remmy]

We think its a bit of a dull place full of straights because the cars are kind of dull and don't handle on the corners generally.

I couldnt handle the long distance driving myself, had a 3 hour drive to Dorset for holiday which was long enough.

A week earlier a 3 hour drive to Leicester in a car with no air-con which was very unpleasant.

 

[ivtecDOu]

yeah in downtown boston on commonwealth ave. i like to swerve in and out of traffic to simulate the twisties.


lol theres really not many good roads around where i live

 

[iGav]

TBO, I think it won't.
The Veyron doens't look like a car that handles well enough, even for the not-so demanding TG test track. The straights are far too short for it to come to any kind of Enzo-challenging speed, and all the top-5 cars on the board handle like a racing car.D

The Bugatti is vastly more accelerative than an Enzo though and the TG track rewards accelerative cars, it's going to eek out time from the standing start alone... but it's never going to better a Caparo regardless, so it's completely academic anyway.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

but it's never going to better a Caparo regardless, so it's completely academic anyway.

Well, the power to weight ratio is vastly in the T1's favor, something like double the horsepower per unit of weight I think. But the T1 is a race car for the road, while the Veyron is an extreme road car. There is a pretty huge difference in design philosophy there.

 

[iGav]

There is a pretty huge difference in design philosophy there.

Does it really make any difference in this context though?

Though it's perhaps debatable if the Veyron actually had any philosophy other than trying to break 250mph that a certain VW boss promised before consulting his engineers tasked with actually building the thing.

It's only the aesthetics of the Caparo that make it appear less practical than something like an Elise for example.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Does it really make any difference in this context though?

It all depends on how we agree on the definition of a "road car". Clarkson claimed the speed bump issue disqualified the Caparo, but the production car can supposedly clear speed bumps.

Though it's perhaps debatable if the Veyron actually had any philosophy other than trying to break 250mph that a certain VW boss promised before consulting his engineers tasked with actually building the thing.

LOL. Well, that is a philosophy, I guess.

...And anyway the car is German, which means they were thorough with the design and testing.

It's only the aesthetics of the Caparo that make it appear less practical than something like an Elise for example.

Good point, the unconventional layout does make it appear less practical than it perhaps is. there are still the reliability/build quality fears, of course.

 

[iGav]

It all depends on how we agree on the definition of a "road car".

Well my definition pretty much entails covered wheels, headlights, tail lights, indicators and reg plates... yours?

Clarkson claimed the speed bump issue disqualified the Caparo, but the production car can supposedly clear speed bumps.

Yeah, it's ride height is fully adjustable, and it'll easily clear a speed hump when configured for the road.

Traction Control too... Clarkson bitching about low speed drivability is a particularly moot point, when the car was undoubtedly in a circuit and not a road configuration for the TopGear test.

Good point, the unconventional layout does make it appear less practical than it perhaps is. there are still the reliability/build quality fears, of course.

Well... to be fair, the issues that did occur were on pre-production cars.

 

[mpw]

Well my definition pretty much entails covered wheels, headlights, tail lights, indicators and reg plates... yours?

Yeah, it's ride height is fully adjustable, and it'll easily clear a speed hump when configured for the road.

Traction Control too... Clarkson bitching about low speed drivability is a particularly moot point, when the car was undoubtedly in a circuit and not a road configuration for the TopGear test...

I agree with your definition, but would add that it shouldn't need any tools to make it work as the road car it purports to be.

 

[iGav]

but would add that it shouldn't need any tools to make it work as the road car it purports to be.

You mean you think you should be able to buy it as a road legal car directly from the manufacturer then?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

You mean you think you should be able to buy it as a road legal car directly from the manufacturer then?

It doesn't come that way?

 

[iGav]

It doesn't come that way?

It does... if that's the way you want it configured of course, it's no different to some Ferrari or Porsche models, Renault too with the new R26R in that you can specify if to be set up for track work from the factory, or you can just use a hex key and a spanner and adjust the ride height yourself manually in 10 minutes as and when you want to take it on a track... or on a road.

I can only think of 2 things that would perhaps improve the Caparo, firstly would be active ride height/suspension. Secondly, active aerodynamics... though balancing both over the comparatively wide range of operating conditions on public roads is a complicated trick that might well prove detrimental... and possible superfluous to the overall performance of the car.

And maybe, just maybe Carbon-Ceramic brakes (though the latter is perhaps questionable given Aston recent decision to use the T1's brakes for the DB9 rather than the carbon discs from the DBS).

But it's got 2 seats, can be specified with a full canopy roof, front and rear lights... blah, blah, blah, I see no reason why it couldn't be as practical as an Elise.

 

[combatcolin]

James May on Simon Mayo show

On another note, did anyone catch James May on the Simon Mayo show, UK BBC 5 Live a few weeks back?

Biggest ever text/e-mail/phone in, bigger even than when Clarkson was on - which made James day.

Could have listened to James talk for hours and hours.

I think you can view it on You Tube somewhere.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

But it's got 2 seats, can be specified with a full canopy roof, front and rear lights... blah, blah, blah, I see no reason why it couldn't be as practical as an Elise.

Yeah, I can't argue with you there. And God, it's fast isn't it! I always liked the lightweight philosophy over the big-power philosophy, and the Caparo is like having your cake and eating it too.

On another note, did anyone catch James May on the Simon Mayo show, UK BBC 5 Live a few weeks back?

Clarkson defines Top Gear in many ways, but May is my favorite presenter of the three - his personality isn't as outlandish as the others. The downside of that is that all of his scripted humor moments stick out like so many sore thumbs. But I laugh at his antics more than the other two.

 

[iGav]

The downside of that is that all of his scripted humor moments stick out like so many sore thumbs.

Indeed, they should go out live post-watershed... it'd be brilliant then.

I think they should involve the audience more too...

 

[Abstract]

I think it would... as has been said before, the TG track isn't especially demanding technically, so it'd probably top the board, of course it still wouldn't get anywhere near the Caparo T1's time... which is of course the rightful occupier of the top spot regardless of what Clarkson reckons.

I think the Nissan GT-R can beat the Caparo when the slightly better, much more expensive version is released.

It's heavy, and doesn't have a lot of power, but the damn thing defies logic and is just this little rocket of a car.

PS: I'd hit that.

On another note, did anyone catch James May on the Simon Mayo show, UK BBC 5 Live a few weeks back?

Biggest ever text/e-mail/phone in, bigger even than when Clarkson was on - which made James day.

Could have listened to James talk for hours and hours.

I think you can view it on You Tube somewhere.

Damn it, can't find it on YouTube.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Damn it, can't find it on YouTube.

I found it after a quick Google. Quite funny, and it reinforces my opinion that May is the most naturally funny of the three presenters. They have good chemistry on-camera, but I agree with iGav that it would be even more funny if they could loosen the censorship a little.

 

[Abstract]

I can't stand Hamster. There, I said it.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I can't stand Hamster. There, I said it.

He's the least original of the personalities, I think.