Thoughts on Top Gear?

[SausageRoll]

Any fans / haters? I hate it. James May is the best of the presenters, in being the voice of reason, but everything else is so staged it's untrue. I always come away feeling it's made for people with the intellect of a hot dog or am I being too harsh?

ZT.

[batman05]

i like top gear but the staged parts are beginning to annoy me. like when they do a car challenge and they have to get a car each... rather than going out and doing it properly and picking the three best cars for that challenge theyll go out and buy some crap. i can usually come up with a dozen cars better for the same money. but they obviously do it to get the most laughs. or what they think will gather laughs. i wish theyd actually do a challenge properly for once. if something funny happens then thats great. just dont force it. i still enjoy the show but its getting a bit too obvious. they need to stop trying so hard and just do what comes natural like the earlier seasons.

[thefreak]

Very Staged.... Yet, very entertaining. :)

[brap]

I used to like it way back when it was more about car reviews. Now that it's more about the staged specials, I don't really care for it.

[Cruise1]

Top Gear is the best Car Show that actually is not about cars. I love it. The whole cinematic look and big production value.

[thefreak]

Yeah, some episodes are awesome, some are just OK, but overall, darn fun. :)

[Jackamabob]

I still rather like Top Gear. I'll agree it's not as good as it used to be though. Attempting to destroy the Toyota Hilux is probably my favourite.

[minimalist]

After watching Elon Musk talking about Top Gear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpKE0FWph4) I don't believe anything on that show. It's still entertaining though so I watch it.

[scrabble123]

It's fiction, but watchable entertaining fiction

[johnnyhungus]

I hate it. It is just crap and wish they would have proper reviews about cars for everyday people who are not loaded. What a waste of my TV licence money.

Clarkson is a tw@t

[jaybow]

After watching Elon Musk talking about Top Gear (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKpKE0FWph4) I don't believe anything on that show. It's still entertaining though so I watch it.

Interesting.........

I still love it all the same

[drakyul6000]

I love the show. Love me some James May and Richard Hammond. Jeremy Clarkson is just simply becoming what he hates. An overweight American hehe.

[phillyc]

I used really enjoy it but they've really jumped the shark in recent years where they've started introducing stupid stuff into their challenges just to make them zany, not bothered watching any more really.

[happydude]

I do enjoy it, but where the scenes are too scripted it just makes me want to switch channels.

[PossumK]

I hate it. It is just crap and wish they would have proper reviews about cars for everyday people who are not loaded. What a waste of my TV licence money.

Clarkson is a tw@t

Fifth Gear was the better show for actual reviews, but there hasn't been a new episode since 2013. Not sure what happened. I love watching Top Gear for the entertainment though.

[vigalent]

Like the show, but can't stand Clarkson.... but then again, he is the show..... now I'm confused.

[m_mattimeo]

I think you definitely have to be in a proper state of mind to watch it. It can be really, really stupid. But it can also be quite entertaining, and even poignant at times! But mostly be willing to turn off your intelligence filter if you want to enjoy it :D

[Jim239]

It has become less and less about the cars but then if you want a detailed review on an average family car then that would make boring TV

[randombloke]

I hate it. It is just crap and wish they would have proper reviews about cars for everyday people who are not loaded. What a waste of my TV licence money.

Clarkson is a tw@t

Fifth Gear was the better show for actual reviews, but there hasn't been a new episode since 2013. Not sure what happened. I love watching Top Gear for the entertainment though.

I dunno. Its my favourite tv show and at least they are doing 10 episodes this time around. I do wish they did more reviews but yea, 5th gear was sooooooo boring so maybe they have the winning mix. I would love their job tho.

[silentmalek]

The specials are great, good to see a (limited) view of some other cultures, mixed in with destroying some old cars for hilarity

[gloster]

The new series of top gear has been pretty good so far, however they are just recycling plots from previous episodes, whether they can last another 5 years is questionable. Of course everything is scripted and fake, but it enjoyable good fun.

In response to the comment made by Elon regarding the Tesla issue of course they were going to crack the joke it went flat half way the lap.

Also I agree that its a comedy show with cars, and not sensible car reviews like fifth gear, driven and old top gear. But they are giving people what they want and regardless of complaints as long as the viewing figures remain high and BBC will continue to comission further series.

[madjock]

I agree. Staged or not it still puts a smile on my face.

And that to me is it doing its job...about the only thing I watch from UK TV to be honest.

[mrbubba]

It does what its supposed to do and entertain people for an hour. If you want a car show, then Fifth Gear is still quite good and is coming back, but to a new channel. I think its starting on the History channel, maybe as Tiff is getting quite old now :D

[cmc27564]

Outside of the news Top Gear is mostly the same, which is what makes it so much fun for me. It's always interesting to see what new places Clarkson can go and spread British humor. The 8 year old in me is still laughing from the British IT stunt in India.

[Caballero]

about the only thing I watch from UK TV to be honest.

Seriously? No Doctor Who? Primeval? Psychoville? Strike Back? Or even Broadchurch?

[bubjet]

I also was thinking that Top Gear was getting a little too staged. I mean I know it was staged, but it felt staged in the last few seasons. This new season has kept me entertained and doesnt feel as staged as the last few seasons.

[piercerseth]

about the only thing I watch from UK TV to be honest.

Seriously? No Doctor Who? Primeval? Psychoville? Strike Back? Or even Broadchurch?

Luther. The Fall.

[Gribley]

I still love topgear, I don`t hate JC as he made it what it is now. Lets face it the man who drives the direction of the show.

Skip the star in a car poo then generally great, May and his "I did it proper" is getting a bit old but there you go..... I like the staged setup but yes they do push it too far and very obvious at times which isn`t great as a viewer

[madjock]

It was only this fifth episode that started to put me off again, first 3 were great, 4th one was iffy, but that Peugeot segment was painful. I also usually skip past the Star in the Car, but last few have been quite amusing.

It also makes me laugh when people say they should review cars the general public use, can you just imagine how boring that would be in reality ?

I suppose I want special episodes every episode and thats never going to happen.

[Gribley]

That is the new (well couple of last seasons) version from TG US.... and yes I love that show although staging is again well up there..... it is all part of the charm is the way I see it.

Best regards to all TG fans
Grib

[pootystomp]

I hate it. It is just crap and wish they would have proper reviews about cars for everyday people who are not loaded. What a waste of my TV licence money.

Clarkson is a tw@t

If you think Top Gear is crap then you should watch some of the shit on the other side of the pond. Like Real Housewives of some fucking place, Hardcore Pawn, and Murder, she Wrote.

[cheetah33]

I love the show. It's hilarious, they give you information while being entertaining.

[Stehle]

I drive a piece of shit car and EVEN if they did a whole episode on it.... I still wouldn't watch it. :fist:

[Gribley]

I drive a piece of shit car

Me too but you can only dream. We could do a whole thread on sad car history e.g:

Escort 1.6 (upgrade a bit to a twin carb webber) - not a bad first car :) try and get that CC insured nowdays (when young clearly). Think I forgot to mention any mods to the insurance company - was also orange, nice colour :S
Cavalier SRi 130 (my favorite car.... and probably the fastest one and best I`ve had) - should of kept it forever (had a t-bone moment in that one)
Rover GSi (can`t remember the CC but had the Honda not rover engine) - rolled that one but walked away - happy days
Vauxhall Cav again but a 2.0i something G plate (whatever model that was) - fell apart with rust
Rover 220GTi - got rear ended in that one but still alive
Astra 2.0 DTi diesel - did like 300,000 miles and was still going well
And now back to an escort again (low miles hand me down)..... hideous crap



Should of stayed young but at least TG lets me forget about going backwards in car choice.... however I do miss my SRi130 :(

[Stehle]

I drive a piece of shit car

Me too but you can only dream. We could do a whole thread on sad car history e.g: :(

Very well said Gribley! ...yes perchance to dream my friend. ;)

[docmancini]

Top Gear is dead, long live The Grand Tour!

[xmoonlight444]

Not really a fan of top gear

[mariad]

Since the old Top gear Trio shifted to The Grand Tour, no more Top Gear for me.

[MacGyverSG1]

I can't stand listening to people with an English accent talk, so I was never a fan.

[IdolEyes787]

It's a proven scientific fact that anyone who owns a really expensive car is a dick.

[MacGyverSG1]

It's a proven scientific fact that anyone who owns a really expensive car is a dick.

That's true nine times out of ten. I know a couple of people with expensive cars and they are really down to earth and nice. I think it depends on whether they come from a wealthy family or started out poor and built there fortunes.

[IdolEyes787]

Nine out of ten are amazing odds so I'm going to put all my money on that your friends are actually dicks too.

[MacGyverSG1]

Well, it's probably 98 out of a hundred. Of course one of them is an older woman who is the nicest person you would ever meet. Her husband is a dick, but maybe that's because it's her money. The other one is an old timer who made his own fortune. He can be a dick when it comes to business, but outside of work he is the most mellow guy you'll meet. Most people can be a dick at times. Some people are just always a dick. And most of them drive a Mercedes.

[perky55]

I've been watching it for years. Still like the new version.

[ruhi]

The keep going scene will air on Tuesday. Rutledge Wood, one of the three co-hosts of the History Channel's Top Gear USA, has reported that the show has been dropped. ... It's not clear precisely why the show was dropped, yet Top Gear USA never figured out how to assemble indistinguishable force from the BBC unique

[MacGyverSG1]

I never liked the show (only saw the UK version). But then I can't stand people talking with a British accent. :)

[Gribley]

But then I can't stand people talking with a British accent. :)

Fairly sure you think we are all Australian anyway.

On TG front new season isn`t great so far, little crappy off-road poo with the chumpion of cheap still trying to get a position on the show. The estate thing was just dull.

In balance however Grandtour has not been that special either.

[Caballero]

After all these years the format probably did not age very well... Plus, given all the climate change hoopla, can we really still burn excessive amounts of petroleum products with a good conscience for silly stunts in these overpriced vehicles? ;)

[MacGyverSG1]

But then I can't stand people talking with a British accent. :)

Fairly sure you think we are all Australian anyway.

On TG front new season isn`t great so far, little crappy off-road poo with the chumpion of cheap still trying to get a position on the show. The estate thing was just dull.

In balance however Grandtour has not been that special either.

Australian accent is even worse.

[IdolEyes787]

Accents that make you sound dumb are the worst. I would include hillbilly American, Newfoundlander and whatever it is they are speaking on British reality shows among these.

Also dion's or that might just be him.:happy:

[inkswich2]

I used to watch the BBC version with my brother all the time before he passed away. Now its hard for me to watch.

[IndexRated]

The Ginger Chris Evans version was terrible, but now they've switched it back to likeable people and it's just lads having fun I've managed to get back into Top Gear all over again, and I reckon the young'ens are going to appreciate it far more without the weird ginger guy.

[ncfbraiders]

BBC version was my favorite, but they seem to be getting better on Amazon

[xdaehak]

The US version sucks with Joey. Zzzzzzzzz

[Mantis]

Its good but I like Carwow more. Looks more fun to me

[RNO]

The french show is quite good.

[texasmcse]

without may and friends it's garbage

[mjd73ks]

I stopped watching it years ago when it got completely stupid. There is a balance between funny and stupid.

[Equalwings]

Was a bit of fun in the first year or so. Then got tedious. The spin offs aren't all bad, but it needs generational change.

[mawmee]

without may and friends it's garbage

Yep same feeling here.