Top Gear
21 October 2002, 10:40 AM
#61
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Hmmmm. Thought it was OK. Hopefully things will be a bit slicker in coming shows. Too many awkward pauses like it was live TV for me. The bloke from Men and Motors is bit squeeky and annoying. I like the fact they've been given an hour to play with, they just need to get the thing honed down a bit better.
They spent far too long on that abortion of a Citroen too.. The Eastenders bloke and his "Girlfriend" was amusing..wonder what she sees in him..other than his money!
They spent far too long on that abortion of a Citroen too.. The Eastenders bloke and his "Girlfriend" was amusing..wonder what she sees in him..other than his money!
21 October 2002, 11:00 AM
#64
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Nobody buys a Lambo or a Zonda for the performance, they buy them because they say "Look, I can afford a car that costs more than your house". 
An Atom/Caterham/Shopping trolley with a huge engine might be quicker, but try pulling up outside the Cafe du Paris in Monaco in one and see whether you get the same level of attention as the guy in the Zonda.
An Atom/Caterham/Shopping trolley with a huge engine might be quicker, but try pulling up outside the Cafe du Paris in Monaco in one and see whether you get the same level of attention as the guy in the Zonda.
21 October 2002, 11:00 AM
#65
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The opening piece on the Citroen seemed a bit strange, yeah the cars cheap but you get what you pay for - Cheap and ugly IMO. And Clarkson being nice about it? Let Clarkson do what he does best, ie, slate sh*t cars! Clarkson is at his best when complimenting good cars or slating bad cars, complimenting cheap and nasty cars does not suit him.
The 'chat show' format seemed to drag a bit, looked more like Richard and Judy, maybe a few more shows and they will get it a bit more slick. On the whole, the content was good, some interesting stuff, and thet're obviously trying to keep it up to date.
As for beasting the Zonda, it seems like there is a queue forming to have a shot, should be interesting and answer a lot of questions about who really does have the fastest car. I can't wait to see that, and think it's about time that a program tried to appeal more to the people who actually do watch it abd have an interest.
On the whole, an ok start, and hopefully they will get better, rather than following the same boring format as all the others. They're crying out for a proper Tiff / Plato to do the driving stuff though, a nameless gimp in a black helmet playing cr*p music is no good, they need someone with a bit of pedigree to add some credibility to the show. Must be loads of takers who'd give it a go.
The 'chat show' format seemed to drag a bit, looked more like Richard and Judy, maybe a few more shows and they will get it a bit more slick. On the whole, the content was good, some interesting stuff, and thet're obviously trying to keep it up to date.
As for beasting the Zonda, it seems like there is a queue forming to have a shot, should be interesting and answer a lot of questions about who really does have the fastest car. I can't wait to see that, and think it's about time that a program tried to appeal more to the people who actually do watch it abd have an interest.
On the whole, an ok start, and hopefully they will get better, rather than following the same boring format as all the others. They're crying out for a proper Tiff / Plato to do the driving stuff though, a nameless gimp in a black helmet playing cr*p music is no good, they need someone with a bit of pedigree to add some credibility to the show. Must be loads of takers who'd give it a go.
21 October 2002, 12:15 PM
#68
I think that the booze shop girl should be in the programme again
The music in the stig's car was amusing for me, it appealed to my sense of humour, it's better than the men and motors rubbish.
F
The music in the stig's car was amusing for me, it appealed to my sense of humour, it's better than the men and motors rubbish.
F
21 October 2002, 01:57 PM
#70
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>Nobody buys a Lambo or a Zonda for the performance, they buy them because they say "Look, I can afford a car that costs more than your house".
Nice to see that slumming it every now again at the local BK drive through though
Nice to see that slumming it every now again at the local BK drive through though
21 October 2002, 02:25 PM
#71
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I have to when I heard the music playing in "The Stick's" car I thought of Puff the Magic Wagon. Anybody who has been out on track with him will know what I'm on about. Although his music taste is a bit better
Anybody who has been out on track with him will know what I'm on about. Although his music taste is a bit better
21 October 2002, 02:36 PM
#72
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Sorry, but I thought it was ****. Boring, boring, boring, boring 
It's always good to see a new Lamborghini or Zonta tearing round a track on full chat, but when they start reviewing the latest Mazda *yawn*, my brain shuts off. What's next, a Vectra, Daewoo.... It's got to be fast *desireable* cars or nothing else. I wanna feel like a 14yr old drooling over the latest Ferrari, not some middle-aged accountant
They should have stuck the celebs in the Lambo or Zonta rather than some cr@ppy Suzuki. I'd like to have seen Enfield spinning out or getting the car our of control. Now that would have been funny.
What's even worse, is the have that little arrogant to$$pot from jamiroquai on next week. Can't wait
Stefan
PS. Did I mention that I thought it was ****?
It's always good to see a new Lamborghini or Zonta tearing round a track on full chat, but when they start reviewing the latest Mazda *yawn*, my brain shuts off. What's next, a Vectra, Daewoo.... It's got to be fast *desireable* cars or nothing else. I wanna feel like a 14yr old drooling over the latest Ferrari, not some middle-aged accountant
They should have stuck the celebs in the Lambo or Zonta rather than some cr@ppy Suzuki. I'd like to have seen Enfield spinning out or getting the car our of control. Now that would have been funny.
What's even worse, is the have that little arrogant to$$pot from jamiroquai on next week. Can't wait
Stefan
PS. Did I mention that I thought it was ****?
21 October 2002, 02:41 PM
#73
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that little arrogant to$$pot from jamiroquai on next week.
BTW I thought it was OK, a fairly good mix of exotica and mundane, it was not IMO aimed at knowledgeable enthusiasts (I am not claiming to be knowledgeable) more at armchair enthusiasts - which if you were watching is pretty much what you could be described as at the time
21 October 2002, 03:45 PM
#74
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Make sure you watch next week though, apparently there is a shootout with an E36 M3 GT1 and some other cars in that price bracket.......could well be a Scooby!!!
Maybe we should get co55ie in his Saphire to challenge the fastest lap!
Oh, and that "Stig" bloke cant be that good a driver, he only beat Clarkson by 2 seconds around that track, someone like Plato would kick his ****!!
Maybe we should get co55ie in his Saphire to challenge the fastest lap!
Oh, and that "Stig" bloke cant be that good a driver, he only beat Clarkson by 2 seconds around that track, someone like Plato would kick his ****!!
21 October 2002, 03:53 PM
#75
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The Zonta piece was the best bit, especially when Clarkson started it up in the studio - great sound. When he and fat bloke were discussing Subaru's price drop, Clarkson did a begging dog impression, so at least he still likes the Turbos!
Apart from that, get rid of the audience and the celebrity spot. If they've started with Enfield, they ain't going to be A-list quality! Celebrities and the transport the public think they should drive would be better - J Archer round that track at the wheel of a prison van, perhaps?
Apart from that, get rid of the audience and the celebrity spot. If they've started with Enfield, they ain't going to be A-list quality! Celebrities and the transport the public think they should drive would be better - J Archer round that track at the wheel of a prison van, perhaps?
21 October 2002, 03:57 PM
#76
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Sorry to those of you that like it! but IMO most of it was Cr4p!!!
They blew their budget getting JC back and now can't even afford a script or rehearsal time! As for the "Stig" they need a name to drive the cars and give a valued/respected opinion not a faceless Formula Ford driver or where ever he came from and as for the music thing! did I miss the joke
Great idea starting out with a bang on the first show with the 2 newest Supercars but then dropping back to reviewing a "VAN"
Streching a half hour show to an hour with no more content doesn't work.
I agree, JC should be left to slate the bad cars that he does so well
Maybe they should bring in VBH too
I hope they can improve it over the next few shows as the idea is good. An hours show with somthing for everyone just get rid of the padding and pauses and fill it with more cars!!!
So JF, Puff you called the BBC yet?
Be good if they did a section on modded/enhanced performance cars compared to the Supercars on the handling curcuit say something simalar to "10 of the best" using2 or 3 from each group.
JF and the Atom could come back at the last in the series and kill everyones times
They blew their budget getting JC back and now can't even afford a script or rehearsal time! As for the "Stig" they need a name to drive the cars and give a valued/respected opinion not a faceless Formula Ford driver or where ever he came from and as for the music thing! did I miss the joke
Great idea starting out with a bang on the first show with the 2 newest Supercars but then dropping back to reviewing a "VAN"
Streching a half hour show to an hour with no more content doesn't work.
I agree, JC should be left to slate the bad cars that he does so well
Maybe they should bring in VBH too
I hope they can improve it over the next few shows as the idea is good. An hours show with somthing for everyone just get rid of the padding and pauses and fill it with more cars!!!
So JF, Puff you called the BBC yet?
Be good if they did a section on modded/enhanced performance cars compared to the Supercars on the handling curcuit
say something simalar to "10 of the best" using2 or 3 from each group. JF and the Atom could come back at the last in the series and kill everyones times
21 October 2002, 05:05 PM
#77
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The VT stuff was good - all the studio stuff was utter sh*te. What was the point of the interview with Harry Enfield - he had a metro - so what?
The sound quality was appaling as well - and all the sychophantic laughter - just like TFI Friday.
They need to tighten it up and bring back Quentin Wilson.....and tiff Needell...and V B-H...
The sound quality was appaling as well - and all the sychophantic laughter - just like TFI Friday.
They need to tighten it up and bring back Quentin Wilson.....and tiff Needell...and V B-H...
21 October 2002, 09:07 PM
#79
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Phew
I didn't actually watch top gear last night - but I did get several phonecalls during the period the show was on with people asking if we'd enter the car.
Well - craig and I had a quick think. Our car is already 40kilos lighter than westfields own XTR2 480kg vs 520kg. I reckon we are about 470 bhp/tonne right now (that is assuming the remap and can on the busa engine).
Its already cracked 150mph at bruntingthorpe with 1000rpm left to go in sixth - and it got there pretty quickly too. That was recorded on a well calibrated STACK pyramid race system not some crappy speedo.
We will hopefully shed another 15-20kg off the car leading up to xmas.
We have some very trick suspension on the way (an R500 driver got 1.5 secs a lap over the billys that come std on a 500).
And we have 100bhp progressive nitrous system with electronic controller on the way too.
With all that lot done we hope to be pushing 600(ish) bhp/tonne.
Now I haven't see the test track - if it has long long straights the zonda is the winner - but like john says - if its a twisty technical track then our car *could* stand a chance.
I would love to know who their driver is - if its Mark Hales that would be of help - I think he was involved in a lot of the testing work with westfield themselves.
Personally - I'd love a Zonda or the new lambo - yeah they are a BIG expense - but if you've got it you may as well enjoy it.
Westfields XTR2 was only 0.5s of the lambo in the autocar test - and that was a track designed for power too.
We'll see....
Wonder if the Zonda owner will bet on his V5 document - now that would be worth the risk
Ian
Also - if its wet - forget it - I decided it would be fun to drive to CostCo in the XTR2 on saturday - **** there is bugger all grip on cold roads - it was downright silly - I have learnt my lesson maybe
[Edited by igratton - 10/21/2002 9:16:44 PM]
I didn't actually watch top gear last night - but I did get several phonecalls during the period the show was on with people asking if we'd enter the car.
Well - craig and I had a quick think. Our car is already 40kilos lighter than westfields own XTR2 480kg vs 520kg. I reckon we are about 470 bhp/tonne right now (that is assuming the remap and can on the busa engine).
Its already cracked 150mph at bruntingthorpe with 1000rpm left to go in sixth - and it got there pretty quickly too. That was recorded on a well calibrated STACK pyramid race system not some crappy speedo.
We will hopefully shed another 15-20kg off the car leading up to xmas.
We have some very trick suspension on the way (an R500 driver got 1.5 secs a lap over the billys that come std on a 500).
And we have 100bhp progressive nitrous system with electronic controller on the way too.
With all that lot done we hope to be pushing 600(ish) bhp/tonne.
Now I haven't see the test track - if it has long long straights the zonda is the winner - but like john says - if its a twisty technical track then our car *could* stand a chance.
I would love to know who their driver is - if its Mark Hales that would be of help - I think he was involved in a lot of the testing work with westfield themselves.
Personally - I'd love a Zonda or the new lambo - yeah they are a BIG expense - but if you've got it you may as well enjoy it.
Westfields XTR2 was only 0.5s of the lambo in the autocar test - and that was a track designed for power too.
We'll see....
Wonder if the Zonda owner will bet on his V5 document - now that would be worth the risk
Ian
Also - if its wet - forget it - I decided it would be fun to drive to CostCo in the XTR2 on saturday - **** there is bugger all grip on cold roads - it was downright silly - I have learnt my lesson
maybe [Edited by igratton - 10/21/2002 9:16:44 PM]
22 October 2002, 12:22 AM
#80
Ian, you have spent way too much time talking to me about bonkers westies. I feel guilty now, i thought i was the mad one when it came to making a westie something the factory couldnt acheive.
And that isnt Mark Hales, i know Mark and he isnt that slim.
I cant see a standard spec RA like mine standing a chance to be honest, a powerful Atom or Westie should anialate them though. Pity i didnt pay much attention to the course, i could probably suss out how an RA would fair if i saw it again.
I feel guilty now, i thought i was the mad one when it came to making a westie something the factory couldnt acheive. And that isnt Mark Hales, i know Mark and he isnt that slim.
I cant see a standard spec RA like mine standing a chance to be honest, a powerful Atom or Westie should anialate them though. Pity i didnt pay much attention to the course, i could probably suss out how an RA would fair if i saw it again.
22 October 2002, 12:33 AM
#81
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Sod it!!
Mr Felstead
If you think you can post a good time in a scoob, go for it. Ill even give you my MY99 Wagon (totally standard!) for the week, no charge to do it in!
Got to be worth a laugh.
Go on......
Have a go,
It'll be fun!!
Mr Felstead
If you think you can post a good time in a scoob, go for it. Ill even give you my MY99 Wagon (totally standard!) for the week, no charge to do it in!
Got to be worth a laugh.
Go on......
Have a go,
It'll be fun!!
22 October 2002, 08:08 AM
#82
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Well, I'm glad to see JC bake on the Telly, but the programme was cr*p.....I watched 5th Gear yesterday on Ch5 and that was a much better Car programme. Looks like Tiff, Quentin & VBH where the 'talent' in the old Top Gear after all.
Jeff
Jeff
22 October 2002, 08:25 AM
#83
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JC was the only thing holding that show together IMHO. It was always the presenters that made the 'old' TG great. Bad car? Give it to Jeremy to slag off. Expensive luxury car or second-hand bargain? Quentin. Full-on nutter-mobile? Send it to an airfield with Tiff. Ragtop or track event? Let the boys ogle VB-H for a while.
Now we have JC being nice about a Berlingo. (I'll say that again, not sure I believed it the first time - being nice about a Berlingo). What?! Since when has JC cared about cup holders, extra glove boxes or sliding, folding, removable, self cleaning, ar$e-massaging seats? IT'S A VAN WITH WINDOWS. Fancy driving that halfway across France with a boot full of booze? No thanks.
Still, no 'car-sumo', so it can't be that bad. At least I will actually watch next week's episode
A.
Now we have JC being nice about a Berlingo. (I'll say that again, not sure I believed it the first time - being nice about a Berlingo). What?! Since when has JC cared about cup holders, extra glove boxes or sliding, folding, removable, self cleaning, ar$e-massaging seats? IT'S A VAN WITH WINDOWS. Fancy driving that halfway across France with a boot full of booze? No thanks.
Still, no 'car-sumo', so it can't be that bad. At least I will actually watch next week's episode
A.
22 October 2002, 12:23 PM
#85
If JC slagged off the van then it would have been predictable and boring. You would have no doubt slagged that off as well!
I liked 5th gear as well, that Datsun was great. Pity about the price tag though.
F
I liked 5th gear as well, that Datsun was great. Pity about the price tag though.
F
24 October 2002, 10:36 AM
#86
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Well I Have dropped Top Gear a line on the Email and offered them the challenge of the Atom! Now all I need to do is finish the thing and it will be all go go go!!!!
I have also asked whether we are able to drive or is it the stig that needs to do the deed?
And I asked if Tiff was the Stig.
Now the debate will be if they allow us to drive the cars will it be ME or the FELSTEAD?
OR Maybe both and then we can finally prove who is the best!!!??!!
I have also asked whether we are able to drive or is it the stig that needs to do the deed?
And I asked if Tiff was the Stig.
Now the debate will be if they allow us to drive the cars will it be ME or the FELSTEAD?
OR Maybe both and then we can finally prove who is the best!!!??!!
24 October 2002, 11:45 AM
#88
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Just had a crap reply!
Sending them a new mail with a bit more information on the car
See what happens then
Thanks for your message. If it catches Jeremy's eye we're sure he'll mention it on the programme, and we'll be posting some of the best ones on the Top Gear website.
We'll be in touch if we can.
The Top Gear team.
We'll be in touch if we can.
The Top Gear team.
See what happens then
24 October 2002, 12:32 PM
#89
If they want the spectacular, in the Kitty Litter, ****, where did that armco come from? shot they will probably go with you Jon, if they want the smooth, sideways, fast shots they will probably go with me, if they want the arms everywhere, i cant drive for **** shots, they will go with the GIMP. LOL
Tell them properly what it is Jon, it's not exactly a normal Atom.
I will watch the footage sunday and suss out if the RA would stand a chance or not.
LOLTell them properly what it is Jon, it's not exactly a normal Atom.
I will watch the footage sunday and suss out if the RA would stand a chance or not.
24 October 2002, 12:38 PM
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Have sent them a second email giving them a little taster of what it is all about. Basically over 280bhp from a K-Series + Sequential 6 speed + downforce= faster time than a Zonda!!!
By the way there is neither armco nor any gravel, so I could just win!!!!
By the way there is neither armco nor any gravel, so I could just win!!!!