Top Gear - BBC [Archive] - Biante Model Cars - Australian Diecast Collectors Forum

Nick Short

05-12-2005, 07:07 PM

It is worth a look, as they do get hold of some of the world's best cars - Koenigsegg, Enzo, Carrera GT, F40, Pagani Zonda etc - and thrash them, plus they get celebrities (UK, so you might not have heard of some of them) to have a go doing a flying lap of a circuit, and they do a weekly table of who's fastest. A couple of years ago it was model Jodie Kidd who beat almost everyone. Plus some irreverent assessments of various new cars and other bits and pieces.

thekid_600

05-12-2005, 08:33 PM

Top Gear is the best show. I have 10 or so episodes on PC. In one single episode, they tested the range rover sport against a Tank, threw a merc CLS around the track like it's a Daewoo, and had a game of soccer with Toyota Aygos.

Only Top Gear will do stuff like that. Best car show by far. :)

MarkHM

06-12-2005, 02:30 AM

Can't believe you guys don't get it. A brilliant show, hate to miss it, probably thing only thing I really watch.

KiwiRallyFan

06-12-2005, 04:36 AM

I have to agree, Top Gear is one of the best shows of TV, and it even appeals to people who aren't interested in cars. Some of the stuff they come up with constantly amazes me. It's not just road tests, but a good combination of entertainment, wit, humour and sometimes the absurb. Don't miss it.

HRT_TIM

06-12-2005, 05:18 AM

have to check it out.... how long does an episode go for?

V8SS

06-12-2005, 05:20 AM

We've just had the 4th series finish here I think. There is a best of series 1 & 2 dvd which I have which is brilliant and a new one just released called Revved Up. Well worth getting.
The Stig has also released a book which is worth reading as well.

wayno

06-12-2005, 05:39 AM

One of my downloads is of when the Stig drove the Renault f1 car. Man, I'd love his job! :D

KiwiRallyFan

06-12-2005, 06:13 AM

Originally posted by V8SS
The Stig has also released a book which is worth reading as well.
Make that the 'old' Stig. Strangely, the old Stig was 'killed off' on Top Gear by driving an old Jag (XJS?) off the end of an aircraft carrier just after his book was published. There's now a 'new' Stig, who incidently drove a couple of Porsches around the Rally GB stage in the Millenium Stadium this year just before the rally cars. Presumably this is going to be some sort of test in the new Top Gear series.

Nick Short

06-12-2005, 08:01 AM

There was lots of media speculation in the UK over who The Stig was. He was obviously a talented driver, so there were plenty of suggestions from the ranks of professional drivers. Quite a well-kept secret for a long time!

KiwiRallyFan

06-12-2005, 08:50 AM

Presumably the identity of New Stig is still a secret?

racer69

06-12-2005, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by V8SS
We've just had the 4th series finish here I think. There is a best of series 1 & 2 dvd which I have which is brilliant and a new one just released called Revved Up. Well worth getting.
The Stig has also released a book which is worth reading as well.

The 4th season of 5th Gear just finished showing a few weeks back on Lifestyle channel. '5th Gear' was started in 2002 hosted by Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler-Henderson, both of whom were on Top Gear until the end of 2001, but left (along with some other people with Top Gear at the time) and started their own show '5th Gear' due to disagreements with the BBC over the future direction of the program.

Top Gear on the BBC has been going since the 1980s at least. This has been the fourth season with the current line-up of Jeremy Clarkson hosting with Richard Hammond (the guy who hosts 'Brainiac' on Channel 10).

Personally out of the two warring shows (it is abit of a bitter rivalry between the two from what i understand) i prefer 5th Gear, but i still love watching Top Gear. The one last week where Clarkson raced the rock climbers was great viewing.

Nick Short

06-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Top Gear was very pipe and slippers when it started, with bearded motoring journalists making serious comments about dull but worthy cars. Roger Clark's rally co-driver, Tony Mason, was one of the presenters, but even he couldn't inject a lot of excitement. It was reinvented by Jeremy Clarkson after the split with Needell, Butler-Henderson and others, and is now a bit of a lad's programme, featuring lots of burnouts and powerslides. Always something different to watch though! Clarkson almost single-handedly reinvented the whole TV car thing - if anyone's seen some of his videos, he uses a shoulder-launched rocket to blow up a car, machine-guns a speeding Corvette from a helicopter gunship, that sort of in-depth car testing. The BBC wouldn't let him do that sort of thing for fear of complaint, so he does that freelance on his videos.

The old Stig was Perry McCarthy, the Le Mans driver, and the new one seems to be some Porsche test driver who I don't know, but various ill-informed forums in the UK insist it's Damon Hill or even Michael Schumacher......

wayno

06-12-2005, 10:59 AM

A bit about the bloke here. (http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/mccarthy/biograp hy.html)
Very interesting character!

V8SS

06-12-2005, 11:13 AM

Originally posted by wayno
A bit about the bloke here. (http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/mccarthy/biograp hy.html)
Very interesting character!

Like that article says, his book Flat out Flat broke is an incredibly funny and interesting read. Well recommended if you can find a copy.

Nick Short

06-12-2005, 11:28 AM

And he always comes across as a nice down to earth bloke in interviews. Perhaps lacking in F1 these days.....

One of the other stunts Clarkson did on one of his shows was to drive a plastic-bodied Lotus Exige, trying to outrun a military helicopter that was attempting to lock a missile onto it, but couldn't because of the plastic. I'm sure you will agree that this is an important thing to test when you're analysing a car.....
He's also used one of those huge mediaeval catapults to fling a car, and played conkers with 2 others on cranes. I also remember him testing a Ferrari 550 Maranello to destruction, although I don't think it was deliberate for once. He was thrashing it around a track and the engine let go in a huge way, blowing debris out of the bonnet. Almost every test of a performance car involves massive power slides and full throttle everywhere.

KiwiRallyFan

06-12-2005, 12:24 PM

...and don't forget his efforts in trying to destroy the Toyota Hilux Ute. They crashed it into a tree, tried to drown it in the sea, dropped a caravan onto it, did a few other things I can't remember, then put it on top of a multi-storey building which was being demolished with explosives. Despite all this, it still ran.

KiwiRallyFan

06-12-2005, 12:28 PM

Oh, and they also loved the (Vauxhall) Monaro.....:)

TBVX05

06-12-2005, 02:19 PM

Yeah I saw that one on the net, sensational! :cool:

Nick Short

06-12-2005, 03:24 PM

How could I forget the Hilux? Completely submerged for a whole tide cycle, set on fire, plus all the other things KiwiRallyFan mentioned. And then it was parked on the roof of a tower block just before it was blown up. They had great footage of it falling as the building went down in a cloud of dust. It wasn't what you'd call mint after all this, but it was parked in the studio and they started it in front of the disbelieving audience......I suppose it's a sort of Brainiac of the car world.

MarkHM

07-12-2005, 02:31 AM

I think the Disco 3 was among the best tests (well the Land Rover Sport v Challenger was fantastic). He wanted to be the first man to drive a car to the top of a Scottish mountain. Aftr ruining peat bogs, killing heather etc he did it. But it hadits sequel as Clarkson had to be in London that night, he caught the camera chopper and left his crew to drive the car back.

Only problem was he found the keys in his pocket when he was in London...and the Disco was locked...and it rained!

thekid_600

07-12-2005, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by HRT_TIM
have to check it out.... how long does an episode go for?

goes for 1 hour exactly on my computer. thats without ads. so i'm not sure how long the actual show is on TV. maybe 1.5 hours?

thekid_600

07-12-2005, 02:01 PM

oh, don't know if this has been mentioned before, but the two guys that host Top Gear - the younger one now also hosts Brainiac on Ten.

I love their Hot/Cool chart of cars. Awesome. They've got the Aston DB9 under "Sub Zero"!

Nick Short

07-12-2005, 03:01 PM

Because a lot of it is quite topical, and much of it is very specific to the UK, I suspect what is broadcast here will be an edited mix of shows. The BBC doesn't have ads, so an hour's slot is an hour's worth of programme. So it may well be highlights plus ads here.

k1w1taxi

07-12-2005, 03:29 PM

Here in NZ it screens on Prime which is owned (at the moment) by Nine and screens at 1:15 on a Sunday night. Some of it really is silly, other bits are really good (Lotus response to the Elise understeering) other bits are fabulous (anything with a Lambo or Aston) The absolute most memorable though is that Hi Lux, the carvan drop and the fire and the wrecking ball were pretty weak but the submersion and the demolished building were pretty powerful stuff. Toyota should use it for their advertising!!

Cheers
Lee

KiwiRallyFan

07-12-2005, 04:25 PM

Originally posted by k1w1taxi
Here in NZ it screens on Prime ..... and screens at 1:15 on a Sunday night.
I'm not sure when k1w1taxi watches it, but it's usually on at 7:30pm on Sundays here in NZ. Also, we get the whole show with ads inserted, which makes it about 70 minutes long.

racer69

08-12-2005, 03:02 PM

The version we get on BBC World here in Australia on Foxtel has always seemed abit cut and pasted to me. Now i know it is, as mentioned above it runs for an hour in England, but over here only half an hour.

So are SBS going to show the whole 1 hour show, or two half hour 'Foxtel' versions in the 7:30-8:30 slot they have given it.

tonynz

08-12-2005, 03:09 PM

I have watched it a few times on BBC World (on sky), it is a cut down version than what is on sky

k1w1taxi

08-12-2005, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by KiwiRallyFan
I'm not sure when k1w1taxi watches it, but it's usually on at 7:30pm on Sundays here in NZ. Also, we get the whole show with ads inserted, which makes it about 70 minutes long.

Sorry about that something seems to have got lost between the writing and sending I indeed meant 7.30 and 1 hour 15 long.

Cheers
Lee

wayno

08-12-2005, 08:47 PM

SBS have an hour allowed for it in next weeks tv guide.

Nick Short

09-12-2005, 07:35 AM

I reckon to avoid moments like Clarkson saying "and tonight our special guest is Nigel Spangler from the sitcom 'Ooh, where's me trousers'", and the whole of Australia going "WHO?" it'll be edited to include cars and people you've heard of. There's plenty of material, from the various series they've done so far.

Esses

12-12-2005, 05:09 PM

Watching this now & I want that guy's job! Jeez, fanging a brand-new 911 around!

ATM they're comparing the "Vauxhall" Monaro, Chrysler 300 & Jag S-Type "R". Interesting.

Apart from a lot of dorky Pommy-isms, not too bad. Just ignore the commentary.:D

Esses

12-12-2005, 05:27 PM

Well, lo & behold, they've given the prize to the Monaro! What does GBP 35 000.00 work out to be? Mind you, I wouldn't be buying that one after it's been driven through salt water all day!:D

Chev_350

12-12-2005, 05:45 PM

first time I have seen the show.....I like

alot of similarities with that Drive show hmmmmmm...

TBVX05

12-12-2005, 06:01 PM

Just caught the end of it, damn. Anyway Go the Monaro, the best car won! :cool:

brchi17

12-12-2005, 06:42 PM

Well I accidentally stumbled across this show as I switch over for the Mythbusters and boy I tell you I wasn't upset that the science boys were not on !!!!

I've got to say all the interview guff was a real chore for me to sit through, but that way that yellow 911 was sliding around in the wet was awesome !!!

I just wised they'd been able to sample a LS2 GTO as that would have got them excited about our Aussie product. I must admit their comments about the Jag's (apparently impressive)performance for such a small V8 was a little misleading as they forgot to add that it was Supercharged :rolleyes:

I can't wait to see the Enzo next week :D

cheers.

wayno

12-12-2005, 08:28 PM

I'll be watching again. No adds and it appears to be the full shows. Great stuff! :D

toecutter

12-12-2005, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by brchi17
small V8 was a little misleading as they forgot to add that it was Supercharged :rolleyes:
cheers.

It was mentioned but only once.

toecutter

12-12-2005, 08:45 PM

Also, is this a younger version of the bloke who runs the Top Gear show????

Dial up user beware..............video

How to kill a Porsche 911 (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=839348050 0658592820)

Martin Thomas

12-12-2005, 08:47 PM

I wonder if McLarenfan enjoyed it. An Aussie car comming up trumps against a Jag and a Chrysler. Not to mention judged by Poms, to boot!;)

Nick Short

13-12-2005, 06:16 AM

Your Aussie cars are prehistoric and backward, isn't that how it goes? At least it wasn't a Ford!

Clarkson has a lot of old videos out - he did a great one of just supercars, and the sound of the 7.7 litre V12 TVR Speed Twelve was fantastic! Like a WW2 Spitfire in a dive. Over 900 horsepower in a road car weighing 1000kg, in the mid-90s, and long before the Bugatti Veyron.....

HRT_TIM

13-12-2005, 06:44 AM

pretty good show.... getting the monaro sideways lots of fun to watch.

although the fact they bagged it out then liked it was interesting.

wayno

13-12-2005, 07:02 AM

If any one is interested the full 15 minutes of the Top Gear Hilux test can be viewed on the Top Gear web site. 15 mins and bloody brilliant to boot! :D

Andrew

13-12-2005, 01:56 PM

Well, it was much better than I thought it would be. I have seen Clarkson before on a few things, and he has ranged from hilarous to downright offensive. Last night he found a good balance between the two.

While I enjoyed seeing Bill Bailey on there as the guest, I think the whole chat/talk crap section could have another featured car instead. Just my 2 cents....

Even my girlfriend was vaguely intersted in the show - she roared with laughter at Clarkson's quip about the jerry can of repressed homosexuality (about Hummer owners), and she now wants a 997 Carrera S (yeah, why not, I'll have one too...:rolleyes: ) but if it gets her watching car stuff, then I am happy.

Nick Short

13-12-2005, 02:27 PM

Now I've seen it all the way through it does seem to be unadulterated from the UK, so you got Bill Bailey (and no doubt will get other people you may not have heard of). But there is a good mix of serious comment about new cars, plus plenty of silly stuff, and of course the bits about cars that are just to lust over.

One thing - in a previous thread it was stated that power slides (as seen in abundance around their test track and elsewhere) are not the same as drifting. Can someone tell me the difference?

Andrew

13-12-2005, 03:45 PM

Bill Bailey is very funny. His work with Dylan Moran in Black Books is superb...

I thought the main difference is that the drifting is sustained and is the pursuit of a controlled slide, while powersliding is a transitory event between entering an leaving a corner/turn etc.

But I am prepared to be corrected.

wayno

13-12-2005, 04:02 PM

Bill Bailey is also a frequent visitor to the comedy festival in Melbourne. Very funny guy.

Nick Short

14-12-2005, 11:19 AM

Not sure which series they're showing on SBS, but I've been told that the Top Gear crew went mental with a Bugatti Veyron on Sunday's BBC showing in the UK.......So we may get that soon!

wayno

14-12-2005, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by Nick Short
Not sure which series they're showing on SBS, but I've been told that the Top Gear crew went mental with a Bugatti Veyron on Sunday's BBC showing in the UK.......So we may get that soon!

I'm dying to see what one of these is like! See if it lives up to all the hype. More importantly, see how it SOUNDS!

wayno

14-12-2005, 11:46 AM

Funny how things happen. Motor magazine just lobbed in my letterbox with a test of the Bugatti Veyron in it.
I must admit I think the thing's a bit ugly, but the numbers have floored me.

0-100 2.5 seconds
0-200 7.3 seconds
200-300 9 seconds
400-0 9.8 seconds (450 metres ) :eek:
0-400m 9.8 seconds

This has GOT to be knocking on the door for the title of best car ever built. It just redefines everything you thought made up a supercar.
I think I need to lie down!
:cool:

Nick Short

14-12-2005, 12:06 PM

Mindboggling! And the Dauer 962: 0-100 in 2.6, 0-200 in 7.2, top speed 404! I'd love to see that, the Veyron, and the TVR Speed 12 tested together......actually Clarkson is probably one of the few who could get that together.

MarkHM

14-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Originally posted by wayno
Funny how things happen. Motor magazine just lobbed in my letterbox with a test of the Bugatti Veyron in it.
I must admit I think the thing's a bit ugly, but the numbers have floored me.

0-100 2.5 seconds
0-200 7.3 seconds
200-300 9 seconds
400-0 9.8 seconds (450 metres ) :eek:
0-400m 9.8 seconds

This has GOT to be knocking on the door for the title of best car ever built. It just redefines everything you thought made up a supercar.
I think I need to lie down!
:cool:

not quite F1 speeds, but I'd have one. I just convinced Fiona that a 308 GTS/GTB is a good invstment and cost-effective Ferrari...I imagine I'd have some difficulty in getting a Bugatti past her. Do VW own Bugatti now?

MarkHM

14-12-2005, 12:37 PM

400-0 9.8 seconds (450 metres ) :eek:

I think this is the most telling stat of all, it must have bloody good breaks

MarkHM

14-12-2005, 12:38 PM

Of course, I meant "brakes", ... as Maxwell Smart would say "sorry about that chief"

wayno

14-12-2005, 12:46 PM

Originally posted by MarkHM
400-0 9.8 seconds (450 metres ) :eek:

I think this is the most telling stat of all, it must have bloody good breaks

400mm carbon ceramic discs, eight piston calipers front
380mm carbon ceramic disca, six piston calipers rear.

I'm droolin' like Homer Simpson. What a machine!

MarkHM

14-12-2005, 12:50 PM

mmmmmm, brakes

Nick Short

29-12-2005, 01:52 PM

Reading a test of the Koenigsegg CCR in an old mag, I thought it would be good to see it and the Bugatti head to head. Clarkson has already run the earlier Koenigsegg on Top Gear, but the CCR has over 800 bhp from a 4.7 V8 and weighs only 1180kg. 0-100 is in 3.2 seconds and top speed around 400 kph, so it's not far off the Bugatti. Who knows with Top Gear - maybe we'll see such a thing one day.

TBVX05

29-12-2005, 02:04 PM

I would love to see a test of the Corvette Z06. It does 0-100 in around 4 secs and the quater in around 12 secs! :cool:

wayno

29-12-2005, 03:49 PM

The new Vette is an unbelievable piece of kit for the price. Evidently it pulls an old Nurburgring time in the region of seven minutes.

REDVRSS

29-12-2005, 04:23 PM

look for an episode which was shown recently on BBC world.

They let a Japanese Drifting Champ loose with the last of the Monaros, with awesome results!

Also, After putting out the challenge to F1 drivers, Past or Present, to cut a lap in the Fiesta (or whatever it is, the car the celebs drive) the only one to answer the call is or own Mark Webber!

Fantastic Show, the Clarkson Chap is a legend!

wayno

29-12-2005, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by REDVRSS
They let a Japanese Drifting Champ loose with the last of the Monaros, with awesome results!

I have that as a download on my pc. Great to watch!

Nick Short

02-01-2006, 08:28 PM

Caravan conkers - that has to be a first on Australian TV!

wayno

02-01-2006, 08:32 PM

Originally posted by Nick Short
Caravan conkers - that has to be a first on Australian TV!

That was funny as. And we had our fastest celebrity yet! Can't believe they picked the Aston over the Ferrari though. Bloody biased poms!

Malik

02-01-2006, 08:33 PM

I wanted to see The Stig do a lap in the Zonda.

and I cant believe they chose the Vanquish as well given they BROKE IT 3 times...

Nick Short

02-01-2006, 08:38 PM

Look, the Vanquish is a beautiful car, and the British Empire was the finest ever, so of course the Aston is better......Actually I do prefer its looks to the Ferrari, although if they'd pitched the Enzo against it there would be no contest.
Just wondering - have any Aussie TV car shows ever featured peeing in a bag as part of their assessment of a particular car?

wayno

02-01-2006, 09:10 PM

The aussie car shows are rubbish. All we need now is 5th Gear on tv and things will get really good.
Tiff is unreal. His Williams BMW drive is great. Oh, by the way. I would MARRY Vicky Butler-Henderson! :D

Malik

02-01-2006, 10:00 PM

who wouldnt mate.... who wouldnt...

Nick Short

03-01-2006, 07:10 AM

Here's the lovely V B-H (in the grey jacket) for anyone who doesn't know her. She does usually look a bit better than this, but for this show she was disguised so her own brother didn't recognise her.

Nick Short

03-01-2006, 07:12 AM

But despite looking so good with no hair, viewers voted her best appearance to be when she tested a TVR. I won't say why.....

Buffalo

03-01-2006, 07:59 AM

I hadn;t heard of 5th gear until a workmate of my wife gave me the entire DVD copy of last year's episodes ... what a great show and gotta love the way V B-H drives a car !! ... mostly sideways !! ... I also heard a rumour ( and I do stress rumour ) that she did a page 3 shoot for one of the UK papers (??) ... wouldn;t mind seeing that one !! Can't say that I have any desire to ever see Jeremy Clarkson ever again !!

adhowie

03-01-2006, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by wayno
The aussie car shows are rubbish. All we need now is 5th Gear on tv and things will get really good.
Tiff is unreal. His Williams BMW drive is great. Oh, by the way. I would MARRY Vicky Butler-Henderson! :D

Get in the queue behine me!!!

tiff and vicky were on top gear berore leaveing and going to 5th gear

Nick Short

03-01-2006, 10:57 AM

We're obviously going to have to wait for Admin to clear the photo of Vicki, but it's worth the wait! As for a Page 3 shoot, she has done some "glamour" shots for magazines, but only as far as wearing a slinky dress - I doubt very much she'd ever do anything else.

adhowie

03-01-2006, 11:50 AM

Originally posted by Nick Short
We're obviously going to have to wait for Admin to clear the photo of Vicki, but it's worth the wait! As for a Page 3 shoot, she has done some "glamour" shots for magazines, but only as far as wearing a slinky dress - I doubt very much she'd ever do anything else.

i think it mght have been Maxiun magazine, apart from the driving what gets me is her husky voice MMMMMMMMMMMMM husky

did she shave her head in the photo you posted or was it a good makeup job and why wont you say what happened with the TVR ?

Esses

03-01-2006, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by wayno
That was funny as. And we had our fastest celebrity yet! Can't believe they picked the Aston over the Ferrari though. Bloody biased poms!

Yeah. As they said, the F goes better, stops better, handles better, better gear-box, better car overall, won the comparison but THEY would still choose the Aston!:rolleyes:

That said, I'd have either! And I still want their jobs!:D

Chev_350

03-01-2006, 05:50 PM

Top Gear Corvette Test (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1218157444012227484&q=%22top+gear%22+corvette)

Geez they are biased buggers.......but still bloody funny

I wouldn't mind a plastic, left hand drive car with vietnamese suspension, but wait till the blue devil, that Vette is gonna kick a$$

Nick Short

03-01-2006, 06:17 PM

She had rubber added to her face and a latex "bald wig" fitted, and ended up looking quite scary. I forget which show it was, but her brother is a car nut as well, and she took him out for a test drive without him recognising her. As for the TVR test, she chose a thin close-fitting top, completely unsuitable for such chilly weather. She would have been better off with a nice warm jumper and a coat.

Chev_350

03-01-2006, 06:18 PM

Google is my friend

Richard Hammond gets hypnotized (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9055154464742875693&q=%22top+gear%22)

TBVX05

03-01-2006, 06:19 PM

Thanks for that Chev, yes they are biased, British pricks, but I didnt take much notice, I was enjoying the ride too much!

Bring on the Z06! :cool:

Nick Short

04-01-2006, 06:30 AM

I think their reason for preferring the Aston made sense to me - they were bored with Ferraris, and it is true that they have become common as muck in the UK, with every soccer player and flash businessman driving them. The Aston still feels like a hand-built car and to me is very good looking. It's not just about having a million horsepower or a higher price tag or whatever - given the choice between a run of the mill Mercedes, BMW, Porsche or Ferrari, and a perfect Karmann Ghia (with about 40 bhp from its Beetle engine) I'd go for the VW any day.......and besides, the Aston is British so is of course better.:D

Malik

04-01-2006, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by TBVX05
Thanks for that Chev, yes they are biased, British pricks, but I didnt take much notice, I was enjoying the ride too much!

Bring on the Z06! :cool:

man you didnt actually watch the show did you...

they said that the ferrari was better then the aston in pretty much every aspect but because THEY were bored with ferarri's (cos they are so good) they would choose the aston..

it was THEIR opinion on what THEY would choose... not what everyone else would choose..

Im NOT British and I would choose the aston as well because I think its a better looking car then the ferrari.... I spose I am biased as well am i?

TBVX05

04-01-2006, 10:36 AM

If you look earlier on the thread, Chev_350 posted a video link of the Corvette being tested by Jeremy Clarksons side kick, and I commented on their biased opinion about American cars. No I didnt watch the show unfortunately. Yes I would buy a Corvette ahead of any sports car because it is my favourite car, poorly built or not! Yes, I wouldnt mind a Ferrari, Porsche or Aston either! On the other hand, Aston is owned by Ford so I wouldnt get one!

:D

Nick Short

04-01-2006, 11:36 AM

Ford GT40 #1050 was sold to GM, who put a Corvette engine in it when they were experimenting with the idea of building a mid-engined Corvette. I reckon if you ever saw it your head would explode, as you wouldn't know whether to love it or hate it.....

TBVX05

04-01-2006, 12:05 PM

Can you stop posting every time I make a comment, geez! :rolleyes: If you got something against GM cars then dont read my posts!! :mad:

Malik

04-01-2006, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by Nick Short
Ford GT40 #1050 was sold to GM, who put a Corvette engine in it when they were experimenting with the idea of building a mid-engined Corvette. I reckon if you ever saw it your head would explode, as you wouldn't know whether to love it or hate it.....

how did it run though?

Chev_350

04-01-2006, 05:40 PM

Nick Short

04-01-2006, 07:25 PM

I have nothing against GM at all. Globally they are responsible for some of my favourite cars (Opel Manta 400, Vauxhall Chevette HSR, any Group A Holden, L34, A9X, Lotus Carlton......)

bernoo

05-01-2006, 08:09 PM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1736672447988253834&q=%22top+gear%22

bernoo

05-01-2006, 08:58 PM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1309610693318372088&q=%22top+gear%22

Faultier

06-01-2006, 11:54 AM

Originally posted by Nick Short

The old Stig was Perry McCarthy, the Le Mans driver, and the new one seems to be some Porsche test driver who I don't know, but various ill-informed forums in the UK insist it's Damon Hill or even Michael Schumacher......

I don´t think its Damon Hill, because he already put officially a lap on the track..and Schumacher is just to buisy to get all these laps done..

anyway, Top Gear is god :D too sad the latest series is over now..I have all episodes since 2002.

So much fun wathcing them over and over again. On his Video "head to head" he also drove a HSV GTS sedan.

toecutter

06-01-2006, 12:35 PM

I just googled who is the new Stig and few names came up.

1) Ben Collins
2) Nigel Mansal
3) Jason Plato
4) Johnny Herbert
5) Rick Waller
6) Damon Hill

Plus I see on ebay that you can buy a
shirt saying, I AM THE STIG:)

Malik

09-01-2006, 08:32 PM

9.59 for a lap of Nurburgring for Clarkson..

veeery hollywood... but hell.. better'n I could ever do..

I was impressed by the blonde chick though... she was throwin that thing around the track...

dobct1

09-01-2006, 08:42 PM

G'day
i missed the start (the first ten minutes). what did i miss?

cheers

wayno

09-01-2006, 08:48 PM

Tonight was great fun I thought. The people mover racing looked like a real laugh. Must admit, I bemoaned the lack of them testing someting really tasty. The diesel Jag just didn't do it for me! :D

Malik

09-01-2006, 08:57 PM

that Morgan definately had some growl and action to it..

pity it looked like a bashed in trash can..

Malik

09-01-2006, 09:01 PM

Originally posted by toecutter
I just googled who is the new Stig and few names came up.

1) Ben Collins
2) Nigel Mansal
3) Jason Plato
4) Johnny Herbert
5) Rick Waller
6) Damon Hill

Plus I see on ebay that you can buy a
shirt saying, I AM THE STIG:)

The Stig can't be plato... he hasn't rolled anything before someone else got to drive.

wayno

09-01-2006, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by Malik
that Morgan definately had some growl and action to it..

pity it looked like a bashed in trash can..

I thought it sounded great, but it has to be just about the ugliest thing I've ever seen. And that includes looking in the mirror! :D
Thanks toecutter. I just bought a T-shirt! :o

VXfan

11-01-2006, 01:22 PM

Is that Richard Hammond bloke the same guy from Brainiac?
I reckon this programme is fantastic!Loved the people-mover racing and if I ever get back to Europe,the Nurburgring is a must for me.
By the way,this new forum format is very weird(compared to the last one anyway)

wayno

11-01-2006, 01:30 PM

It's the same bloke. Brainiac sucks though. Top Gear is just ace!

Martin Thomas

11-01-2006, 03:46 PM

Whoops.... I liked the Morgan, a lot..

k1w1taxi

11-01-2006, 04:03 PM

I was impressed by the blonde chick though... she was throwin that thing around the track...

Then you might want to check this out
http://www.fastdrive.org/download.php?view.678

Cheers
Lee

KiwiRallyFan

11-01-2006, 04:18 PM

There's also an episode in the latest Top Gear series where she has a go at beating Jeremy Clarkson's Jag time in a Ford Transit van. Well worth watching.

toecutter

11-01-2006, 04:36 PM

Thanks toecutter. I just bought a T-shirt! :o

Remember to post if there is any improvement in your driving while having the Stig Shirt on. A heavy foot and a twitching eye is the first sign that the shirt works.

Nick Short

11-01-2006, 08:00 PM

"In-car 956" has the 6th fastest lap of the Nurburgring (6 minutes-odd), and there is also a video called "Faszination", where Ruf's test driver takes a Yellowbird 911 around, mostly sideways. I haven't seen that one, but it is by all accounts memorable! The track is worth a visit, althoug they didn't tell you that you pay for any and all damage to the track and armco (surprisingly expensive!), plus exorbitant recovery costs if you prang your car. A magazine ran an article recently and featured a bloke who took his brand-new Lotus Exige and piled it into the barriers on about the first lap, and the caption for the photo of the steaming wreckage said "Hello, is that Direct Line insurance? Yes, I've just had an accident in my car. Where was I when the accident happened? Erm...."

wayno

12-01-2006, 05:18 AM

Remember to post if there is any improvement in your driving while having the Stig Shirt on. A heavy foot and a twitching eye is the first sign that the shirt works.

Ummmmmm, I think I already have those! :eek:

intercooled

13-01-2006, 02:14 AM

Have you guys seen the one when they take the Ford GT, Zonda and Ferrari (whatever) to that big bridge in France ? Funny as anything taking those three cars through Paris, in the evening rush hour traffic. Redefines the term ... twitch.

And leaving the hotel ... classic TG.

Plus, the bridge is stunning.

And the Bugatti Veyron show is interesting. Butch sounding car. It just growl-howl-growls-howl-growls.

Martin Thomas

13-01-2006, 04:41 AM

Has anyone got a copy of the episode with the caravan conkers? I stuffed up and recorded another channel:confused: . If someone could send me a copy I can return the favour with assorted DVDs like the late night legends and such..

biante1762

13-01-2006, 08:28 AM

if you to the website
http://video.google.com/
and do a search for "top gear", you get a good selection of episodes to watch at work, oh I mean at home.

daggy

16-01-2006, 06:01 PM

That was a funny episode with the porsches. I was in tears with the breakdowns and challenges.

wayno

16-01-2006, 06:28 PM

Yep, the 'porsche challenge' was brilliant.

thekid_600

17-01-2006, 07:25 AM

Yep, the 'porsche challenge' was brilliant.

I loved the 944. It looked stylish.

If anyone has the 2005 season - they have a follow up to this challenge. They figured good 1500 pound porsche doesnt exist, so they decided to do it again, except this time with ANY 2 door coupe, non porsche.

The result is quite an episode. :)

frosty

17-01-2006, 08:28 AM

Yep, the 'porsche challenge' was brilliant.

I finally managed to watch an episode (i usually forget that it is on) and last night's Porsche challenge was extremely funny. A great episode. :)

VXfan

17-01-2006, 08:47 AM

I forgot it was on!:mad: Bugger.

KiwiRallyFan

17-01-2006, 09:38 AM

if you to the website
http://video.google.com/
and do a search for "top gear"..... That site has a video of the 'flying car' which flew around the Millennium Stadium just before the Super Special at last years Rally GB. I posted a picture of the car 'flying' in the Rally GB thread...

http://forums.biante.com.au/showthread.php?t=6791&highlight=flying

(although the pic attachments don't seem to be working anymore...:confused:)

james

17-01-2006, 04:05 PM

Has been a great, hope they show the 05 series after this one .

daggy

17-01-2006, 04:23 PM

I think the series now on SBS is the 2005 one.
I also noticed that ezydvd are release a best of series 3,4 & 5 called "Top Gear Revved Up"
$19.95 due feb 2nd

HRT 1-2

17-01-2006, 04:53 PM

I think the series now on SBS is the 2005 one.
I also noticed that ezydvd are release a best of series 3,4 & 5 called "Top Gear Revved Up"
$19.95 due feb 2nd

The series on now is series 5 in (their) Autumn 2004. See the link below, this weeks show was the December 5th show:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/archive/

Chev_350

22-01-2006, 12:16 PM

Playstation V Real life (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5587010895482106872&q=Top+Gear) thought this was a good clip

KiwiRallyFan

22-01-2006, 12:39 PM

Playstation V Real life (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5587010895482106872&q=Top+Gear) thought this was a good clip That's good...:)

I'm really looking forward to the latest series showing here in NZ (whenever that might be).

Chev_350

22-01-2006, 01:01 PM

5-a-side soccer with cars (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=417934050 897828464&q=%22top+gear%22+aygo)

TBVX05

22-01-2006, 03:19 PM

5-a-side soccer with cars (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=417934050 897828464&q=%22top+gear%22+aygo)

haha thats top stuff! lol

wayno

30-01-2006, 05:08 PM

I wanna go bobsledding! That looks like SO much fun. :D

brchi17

30-01-2006, 05:39 PM

How cool was the Renault !!!

Boy I am so starved of F1 action that I was rather excited about seeing the Renault in action !!!

March can't arrive soon enough in my house

cheers. :)

wayno

30-01-2006, 05:40 PM

Brad, get on MSN. I have the Renault file and will send it to you. I also just taped it. I'm a tragic! :o

brchi17

30-01-2006, 05:41 PM

get it ready, I'm on my way ;)

30-01-2006, 07:25 PM

I saw the show too but are we that far behind. That was over 12 months ago. It was the R25 from the final 3 or 4 races of 2004.

wayno

30-01-2006, 08:03 PM

I saw the show too but are we that far behind. That was over 12 months ago. It was the R25 from the final 3 or 4 races of 2004.

Yep, I've had it on the pc for I forget how long now. at least we've finally got a decent motoring magazine style show to watch on free to air tv.
I'm not complaining! ;)

30-01-2006, 08:27 PM

Yep, I've had it on the pc for I forget how long now. at least we've finally got a decent motoring magazine style show to watch on free to air tv.
I'm not complaining! ;)

ditto!

215i

30-01-2006, 10:42 PM

I missed the last 5 minutes and didnt see what time the renault did, Anybody catch it?

paranoid

30-01-2006, 10:44 PM

i think around 59 seconds

215i

30-01-2006, 10:47 PM

cheers. Thats quick!

paranoid

30-01-2006, 10:49 PM

they put it at the top for a bit and then took it down as it is not a road car! haha, top show

Malik

27-02-2006, 11:28 PM

ok for anyone who wants to download it... you have to get the Top Gear winter olympics special..

the show is an absolute riot... biathlon with 4x4s and a submachine gun... speed skater Vs Jaguar... a ski jumping mini and ice hocky with cars...

I was laughing start to finish....

VXfan

28-02-2006, 04:55 AM

Malik

28-02-2006, 11:00 AM

VXFan... it's been taken off and mythbusters has been put back on.

I got it from torrentspy.com..

you need a bittorrent program to download it.. but its worth it.. hell funny

VXfan

28-02-2006, 11:23 AM

VXFan... it's been taken off and mythbusters has been put back on.

I got it from torrentspy.com..

you need a bittorrent program to download it.. but its worth it.. hell funny
Thanks mate.:)
Mythbusters eh?hmmm:mad:

HRT 1-2

28-02-2006, 01:18 PM

I'm a fan of both shows but, if I had to choose, Top Gear would be my preference! Hopefully the next series of Top Gear or even an earlier one will back in another time slot soon:cool:

james

28-02-2006, 06:35 PM

Looking forward to that,top show

spoonster05

28-02-2006, 06:56 PM

JB Hi-Fi have the Top Gear "Revved Up' DVD for around $18.95 at the moment, has the 1500 Pound Porsche Challenge, the Aston Martin vs Train and a lot of other stuff from the recent series...

awawaw

28-02-2006, 08:12 PM

you can download all the ep od top gear from finalgear.com
series 6 and 7 are a hoot.

daggy

13-06-2006, 06:49 PM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5690527907781299378&q=top+gear

Cant wait til the new series starts here.

spoonster05

13-06-2006, 07:22 PM

Looking forward to the new series as well, I'm still watching the older series often, love stuff like the 1500 Pound Porsche challenge, etc

wayno

14-06-2006, 04:15 AM

Go the Koenigsegg! What an awesome sounding machine. :)

lexoto

14-06-2006, 05:31 PM

Great show not to be missed

toecutter

14-06-2006, 06:12 PM

The new-old series coming on SBS has got some serious stuff with better production quality. A friend burnt the whole series on CD but the lastest series is awesome.
Some highlights are................
Bugatti vs light aeroplane. Race back to England.
Porsche vs Mercedes vs Irish Republicain guard.

wayno

14-06-2006, 06:20 PM

I thought the Veyron v aeroplane was a bit of a let down. Too much crapping on and not enough vision and sound of the car doing what it does best.
But that's my opinion only.

lexoto

14-06-2006, 06:48 PM

Who is the stig?
It must be someone famous inside that helmet?
Any guesses

daggy

14-06-2006, 07:03 PM

The original was Perry McCarthy (sports car and GT driver) But the white helmet current stig is a mystery. There are many rumours. Alain Menu, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Tiff....so on. Or could just be someone non famous or more than one person.
Probably no one special!

info-blizzard

14-06-2006, 07:49 PM

Absoulutely LOVE this show. Im on pre-paid dial-up and unfortunately dont have the patience or time to download the free vids youve linked to. Apart from the Top Gear DVD's currently available, does anyone know if its likely BBC will release boxed sets in all series episodes in full? I dearly hope so!

Chev_350

14-06-2006, 08:51 PM

Some UK newpaper say the new Stig is Julian Bailey.....whoever he is but when the Stig drove the Maserati MC12 it was driven buy its owner Frank Mountain, Heikki Kovalainen wore the white suit and helmet when the Renault R24 F1 car took to the Top Gear track

wayno

14-06-2006, 09:05 PM

Who is the stig?
It must be someone famous inside that helmet?
Any guesses

It's me. But I don't like to brag. I have the t-shirt to prove it! :D

Chev_350

16-06-2006, 06:57 PM

k1w1taxi

17-06-2006, 08:45 AM

There are many rumours. Alain Menu, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell, Martin Brundle, Johnny Herbert, Tiff....so on.

Tiff Needell as The Stig Now that WOULD BE an achievement.

HRT 1-2

15-07-2006, 01:15 PM

Starts again, this Monday 17th 7:30pm:D

monarocveightz

15-07-2006, 01:18 PM

Starts again, this Monday 17th 7:30pm:D
it's about time something good came back on- there isn''t many good shows to wtch at the moment:)

spoonster05

15-07-2006, 10:52 PM

Wikipedia's article on The Stig says that a British comedian named Jimmy Carr 'outed' Damon Hill as the old Stig (after Perry McCarthy) but nowadays it's 'some rally driver'

Either way it's still a great show and some of the current season episodes have some great bits in them, the amphibious vehicle challenge is really good..

brchi17

16-07-2006, 06:51 AM

it's about time something good came back on- there isn''t many good shows to wtch at the moment:)

agreed, I must admit I'm really over the whole crime scene & law and order police shows :rolleyes: It's great to finally see some light entertainment coming back to the small screen :D !!!

Chev_350

16-07-2006, 12:13 PM

Starts again, this Monday 17th 7:30pm:D

are you sure, SBS site says 21st August 2006

HRT 1-2

16-07-2006, 12:29 PM

are you sure, SBS site says 21st August 2006

Ninemsn and yourtv.com.au both have it as on tomorrow night!

james

16-07-2006, 04:52 PM

SBS ad's say this monday at 7.30

username

16-07-2006, 04:59 PM

My local TV guide has it confirmed for tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

daggy

17-07-2006, 07:51 PM

How funny was the toyota soccer. Better than the world cup and no italian took a dive!

spoonster05

17-07-2006, 08:04 PM

There's more car soccer coming up in the world cup special as well...

VXfan

18-07-2006, 06:47 AM

Excellent stuff! I'd pay to watch car soccer any day of the week.Be even more fun to play it;)
Cheers,
Tony.
P.S. That Honda was totally 'fugly' :eek:

GOBBO

18-07-2006, 07:10 AM

Jeez how about that merc hey
that thing sounded awsome big deep roar like a v8 should.
if i one lotto and got one i dont think traction control would ever be switched on.

Nick Short

18-07-2006, 09:40 AM

I can't remember if it was Top Gear that tested it (somebody did, anyway!) but another AMG, the CLK DTM, is even more impressive, a sedan with the engine out of the McLaren-Mercedes SLR supercar! It's lighter and quicker than the SLR, and only a second slower round the Nurburgring. Plus only 100 were built, as opposed to a planned production of a couple of thousand SLRs.

I was interesting to see, in the car soccer match, how they were quite careful at first, but after a couple of inadvertent bumps they just treated them like banger racers! Toyota must still have considered it good publicity and worth the body shop costs....

GOBBO

18-07-2006, 09:58 AM

Mabye they should have stuck the tank in the soccer match to really cause some havoc
i was shocked to see how fast a big heavy lump of metal could move that smoke screen was coll reminded me of my old suzuki dr250 i have (it was nick named the mobile bush fire)

awawaw

18-07-2006, 02:03 PM

There's more car soccer coming up in the world cup special as well...

this is series 6 they are showing. god knows when they will get round to showing series 8 let alone series 7. thankfully a mate downloaded series 3-7 and ive got them all bar a couple of ep.

rex555

18-07-2006, 02:43 PM

I was interesting to see, in the car soccer match, how they were quite careful at first, but after a couple of inadvertent bumps they just treated them like banger racers! Toyota must still have considered it good publicity and worth the body shop costs....

Thats 'cos most were BTCC drivers, they only seem to be able to turn when leaning on somone. When the BTCC was on free to air tv it was just carnage, made the V8s look like dodgem cars at the show. :D

monarocveightz

18-07-2006, 02:56 PM

it was an excellent show last night- if i were Toyota i wouldn't like them doing that to my companies cars......... my favourite cars last night were the Merc and Range Rover- the Honda looked to plasticky and being a Hummer wannabe.

spoonster05

18-07-2006, 03:03 PM

this is series 6 they are showing. god knows when they will get round to showing series 8 let alone series 7. thankfully a mate downloaded series 3-7 and ive got them all bar a couple of ep.

I couldn't believe it when I watched last night and realised it was series 6, it would have made more sense to show the current series as the World Cup episode will seem strange by the time it's shown over here, series 8 is well worth the wait though when it finally comes to SBS...

monarocveightz

24-07-2006, 04:32 PM

don't forget top gear is back on tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

toddy05

25-07-2006, 06:19 PM

Loved last nite's show- first time I saw it and just spent most of it laughing, what a crack up. The 3 car 1500 quid comparo was brilliantly done. Cannot believe what that guy did with the starion, putting a huge turbo on it when it was going oh so great and what about the cow collector wing on the front of the 635csi. No surprises with the Jag's behaviour. Loved the concept though.

Anyone know if it is on next week?Monday ABC 7.30-8.30?

HRT 1-2

26-07-2006, 07:25 AM

Yes it will be but, on SBS not ABC!

VXfan

26-07-2006, 07:58 AM

daveZ27

26-07-2006, 11:55 AM

What about that Maserati?Hot or what?:cool:
Loved Clarkson sliding that old F1 around the track too.
Cheers,
Tony.

Beat the enzo, got to be happy with that....

whitlam

26-07-2006, 11:57 AM

Beat the enzo, got to be happy with that....

It was by less than a second though, wasn't it?

Malik

26-07-2006, 12:09 PM

Enzo was 1.19.0 flat.... the maserati was 1.18.9

whitlam

26-07-2006, 12:24 PM

Enzo was 1.19.0 flat.... the maserati was 1.18.9

thats what i thought

Leigh

26-07-2006, 12:52 PM

It was by less than a second though, wasn't it?
But the Maserati lap was less than smooth...

ferrari fan

26-07-2006, 02:40 PM

When that fast, smoothnes is of NIL importance.
The footage of the 250F was fully scmicko.
The $4500 bonky comparo is hilarius, where can I enter a comp like that!
The rumor is that The Stigg = Johny Herbert!
Should not be to hard to spot as he is shorter than Bargs (But can drive) and has a distict limp.

monarocveightz

26-07-2006, 04:03 PM

it was a good laugh to see the 1500 quid comparo, i liked the Jag but i knew that it would have some problems, so my favourite was the BM- i saw the episode at the start of the year with the Porsches and that was quite good too.

wouldn't mind a Enzo beating Maser though- now we just have to wait a bit longer for the next episode.

Chev_350

29-07-2006, 11:16 AM

It's me. But I don't like to brag. I have the t-shirt to prove it! :D

I recentlymanaged to track down the episode which Mark Webber is on and they give him a Stig T-shirt, Is that the same shirt as yours Wayno? if so where did you get yours from?

HRT 1-2

29-07-2006, 12:05 PM

I recentlymanaged to track down the episode which Mark Webber is on and they give him a Stig T-shirt, Is that the same shirt as yours Wayno? if so where did you get yours from?

I don't want to speak out of turn but, I'm pretty sure he purchased from ebay UK!

Nivola

30-07-2006, 12:42 PM

anyone watch the episode last night on Foxtel???????

It was one of the funnest things you will ever see.

S class merc of the late 90's having it interior refitted to look like a english cottage. (includeing food fire!!!!) Could be on again tonight on BBC WORLD.

watching and cry with laughter

toddy05

30-07-2006, 03:26 PM

is that tomorrow's SBS version....

spoonster05

30-07-2006, 09:04 PM

Unfortunately not, the S Class makeover is in the current UK series (series 8) and SBS is showing series 6 at the moment, great episode though for those with pay TV or have gotten the episodes in other ways..

Chev_350

02-08-2006, 10:58 AM

found this ammusing, It seems the BBC has recieved about 500 complaints in the past 6 about Top Gear and the BBC is standing by the show

Top Gear - General approach taken by the programme
Publication date: 26 Jul 2006

Complaint
We have received a variety of complaints about issues covered in BBC Two's Top Gear programme and the approach in which they are covered by the programme's presenters.

The BBC's response
We acknowledge some viewers do not appreciate the Top Gear team's sense of humour but their provocative comments are an integral part of the programme and are not intended to be taken seriously.
In addition to making fun of each other, Jeremy Clarkson and his co-presenters frequently make jibes at members of the audience and at individuals and organisations featured in the programme. This is part of the appeal of the show and no-one is immune from the team's acerbic comments and observations. We trust most viewers are familiar enough with the style and tone of the show not to take offence.
The BBC does not condone irresponsible or dangerous activities. Were the presenters' comments and pranks carried out with any degree of seriousness, rather than being clearly tongue-in-cheek or adopting the deliberate overstatement that is the programme's trademark, we would of course take issue with them. The programme is as much about entertainment as information and includes a variety of features designed to test the cars, and the presenters, to the limit. Although fun is part of Top Gear's remit, we pay proper attention to legal and safety requirements

monarocveightz

02-08-2006, 12:53 PM

malscar

02-08-2006, 12:58 PM

tell them to get a life- the only complaint i have with them is dumping a perfectly good Roller in the swimming pool:eek: :)

Ruined a perfectly good swimming pool.

monarocveightz

02-08-2006, 12:59 PM

Ruined a perfectly good swimming pool.

yeah the poor pool probably got rust dammge from the roller:mad: :D

whippet50

02-08-2006, 04:13 PM

As to the suggestion that Nigel Mansel is the stig, He is far to big to be the stig! Look at the size of the stig and remember Mansel's comeback to F1! He was to fat to fit in the car.

Nick Short

03-08-2006, 09:14 AM

The Stig has already been identified, so further rumour is pointless. He has changed over the series, and the last I heard he was an obscure Porsche racer whose name I can't remember. It's not Mansell, it's not Elvis, it's not anyone famous.....
And Chipping Norton is just up the road from where I used to live, so it was nice to see the town and a bit of Cotswolds countryside. Clarkson is well known there, not least because he parked a Mig fighter plane on his driveway and upset some of the locals....

AmonFan

03-08-2006, 09:32 AM

The top gear track can be downloaded for GTR and RFactor ;) its fun

Chev_350

03-08-2006, 10:34 AM

The Stig has already been identified, so further rumour is pointless. He has changed over the series, and the last I heard he was an obscure Porsche racer whose name I can't remember. It's not Mansell, it's not Elvis, it's not anyone famous.....

The first one, the black Stig was Perry McCarthy but there are no confirmed reports on who the white Stig is but it is rumored to be Julian Bailey

KiwiRallyFan

03-08-2006, 05:27 PM

Clarkson is well known there, not least because he parked a Mig fighter plane on his driveway and upset some of the locals.... I remember watching that on the SPEED Tv programme, although the plane was a RAF Lightning, not a MIG. I thought it was quite funny. So, why did the locals object to it?

Nick Short

04-08-2006, 08:23 AM

You're right, it was a Lightning! I was thinking of a ratty Mig I saw parked in a field on holiday. He did it to provoke the neighbours, but it was all a big joke for the Speed programme. Chipping Norton is a beautiful leafy Cotswold town, all mediaeval houses and honey-coloured stone, and it was felt that he was "lowering the tone" with his antics.

Check out Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org ) and enter his name for a fnny and accurate review of his life and career.

toddy05

07-08-2006, 05:33 PM

Is on now do not forget!!!!!!!!!!

toddy05

07-08-2006, 05:34 PM

Geez that Audi sounds good...
How could stig get past when ole mate was sideways all over the road in the caddy....
:D

Nick Short

07-08-2006, 08:36 PM

lexoto

07-08-2006, 08:43 PM

I'm going to cancel my Ford gt order tommorow after hearing that................

monarocveightz

08-08-2006, 02:09 PM

Loved their mums testing the hatches! The show was definitely a mish mash of edits, and was from at least a year ago. The Wikipedia article mentions long and drawn out problems ith Jeremy's Ford GT, so tonight's woes were obviously just the beginning....It's put me off getting one, that's for sure.

we must be a bit further behind because when they were back at the show after testing they were comparing it with a Vauxhall Monaro (HSV GTO) and they said that the Monaro was better than the Caddy- they also mentioned there was a new 6.0L Monaro coming out in other words the 06 VZ which has come and sadly gone. Also said they were testing it soon.

the hatch test was quite good- don't think i could stand the Peugeot with the sliding doors though

awawaw

08-08-2006, 02:45 PM

i have nearly all the series, and last nights was chopped to bits. why i dont know. this is series 6 they are showing, they are showing series 8 in the uk.

Chev_350

08-08-2006, 05:21 PM

they are showing series 8 in the uk.

just finished series 8 in the UK

lachlan

08-08-2006, 07:44 PM

I saw an episode on BBC World and the Stig Crashed a 415 000 Pound super car! Does anybody know which series this is?

younglion

08-08-2006, 08:04 PM

I saw an episode on BBC World and the Stig Crashed a 415 000 Pound super car! Does anybody know which series this is?

yeah i saw that too, because it didnt have a rear wing it had too much power!!!! interesting to see how it goes when they send it back with the wing the stig said it could beat the zonda by 2 secs!!!!!

Chev_350

08-08-2006, 08:51 PM

I saw an episode on BBC World and the Stig Crashed a 415 000 Pound super car! Does anybody know which series this is?

that was the latest season, season 8.....and it did get sent back and now is at the top of the board with a 1:17.6 lap time, the Zonda F went around in 1:18.4

lachlan

08-08-2006, 09:29 PM

Cool thanks Guys, At least BBC world is good for something?

Malik

08-08-2006, 10:54 PM

that was the latest season, season 8.....and it did get sent back and now is at the top of the board with a 1:17.6 lap time, the Zonda F went around in 1:18.4

my spelling is gonna be shyte on this one..

but wasnt it the koeniggseg (see) CCX...

as stated... tried it without wing but way to much power and not enough downforce and he went in a BIG bushwalk..

back with wing and its the fastest car on their boards now..

Chev_350

09-08-2006, 03:55 AM

my spelling is gonna be shyte on this one..

but wasnt it the koeniggseg (see) CCX...

as stated... tried it without wing but way to much power and not enough downforce and he went in a BIG bushwalk..

back with wing and its the fastest car on their boards now..

yeap that is correct

wayno

09-08-2006, 03:56 AM

Way to go on spoiling guys! :rolleyes:

lachlan

09-08-2006, 06:28 AM

Way to go on spoiling guys! :rolleyes:

Well when SBS show it in 2-3 years you won't remember this thread anyway.....

biante1762

09-08-2006, 08:22 AM

if you go to
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=top+ge ar
you can watch upto date episodes (for those without foxtel)

Nick Short

09-08-2006, 09:30 AM

It was interesting to see just how common the BMW 3 series is now. As I said in another thread ages ago, they are 10 a penny in the UK, and now it seems they are 15 a penny. If you take the fact the new 3 series outsells the Ford Mondeo, itself a very common car, and then add all the other 3 series on the roads, mostly late 80s models, they really are everywhere. I suppose that's why I have to laugh when I see blokes here in Adelaide, thinking they're the bee's knees, driving a little too fast, being a little too flash.........because they've got a 1988 BMW 318! Wow! You're driving an 18 year old car with a 1.8 litre engine? You must be really special....

brchi17

09-08-2006, 10:20 AM

if you go to
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=top+ge ar
you can watch upto date episodes (for those without foxtel)

I just tried you link but unfortunately got the following message when I tried to watch one of them

This video has been removed at the request of copyright owner BBC because its content was used without permission

KiwiRallyFan

09-08-2006, 11:42 AM

I just watched the Top Gear Caravan Holiday (parts 1, 2 and 3) on the Youtube site. That's hilarious........:D

Click here for the links..... (http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=search _videos&search_sort=relevance&search_query=top+gear+caravan+holiday+part&search=Search)

wayno

10-08-2006, 06:22 PM

I've downloaded a heap of the Top Gear features off Racingflix.

jab79

15-08-2006, 06:25 AM

saw the Mercedes - Porsche challange on youtube.com, but it was sooo much better on TV with surround sound. i would take the Mercedes in a heart beat over the porsche. sure the interior might not be as sexy, but the power, the power would easily make up for it. :)

toddy05

15-08-2006, 06:33 AM

Amen to that, it sure looked like fun. And what a road test. I love the way they come up with different ideas for road testing cars, shooting at them and dodging bullets, now that is something we all need to consider when buying a car, not but at least it was fun. What a crackup when ole mate said I soiled myself...repeatedly. I bet many viewers did after that comment too, gotta love that show. The massa sounded good too.

monarocveightz

15-08-2006, 08:48 AM

another great episode, i lovrd the Merc- it sounded awesome- and the way they test the cars is great. The Nissan Murano looks wierd- the guy across the road from us has one- and England only gets a thousand of them- i'm sure we have got more than a thousand in Aus.

It would be good if they tested Holdens and Fords (aussie ones) over there too, to get their opinion.

Malik

15-08-2006, 11:16 AM

they have tested a Vauxhall Monaro (read HSV GTO Coupe) and they raved about it...

a few aussie cars get tested under their european names... opel vectra for example..

I love that Merc... I gotta get me one it was awesome...

Nick Short

15-08-2006, 11:24 AM

They're only going to test cars that either get sold over there or are of interest to the Poms. The Monaro/GTO got sold over there so got tested. You could contact the BBC and suggest they test a Vauxhall Monaro against a Falcon GT or something - they're always looking for ideas.

awawaw

15-08-2006, 11:43 AM

the monaro test was very funny. they had a sound effect of (bloody poffter) sound when jeremy tried the traction control button and said thats what the car actually does.

monarocveightz

15-08-2006, 01:42 PM

toecutter

15-08-2006, 02:14 PM

The next show they have a race to Oslo.
SLR Mclaren versus plane/boat.

Look out for the lemon Monaro holding up the SLR.

HRT 1-2

15-08-2006, 02:33 PM

the monaro test was very funny. they had a sound effect of (bloody poffter) sound when jeremy tried the traction control button and said thats what the car actually does.

I think they must do the Monaro a couple of times, I've seen the clip you are referring to and the one they did on the beach in the last (SBS) series. That was good too because they all thought the Jag was going cream 'em but, all dropped their jaw at the Monaro!:D

malscar

15-08-2006, 02:49 PM

The one on the beach was the first year release in the UK with the next one (drifting) being the next years new model with a few new tweaks.

Malik

15-08-2006, 10:18 PM

i mean like the Commodore's and Falcon's- it won't ever happen though

as Nick said.. .they only test cars available over there..

Commodores and Falcons arent available there... so they wont get tested...

monarocveightz

16-08-2006, 08:09 AM

as Nick said.. .they only test cars available over there..

Commodores and Falcons arent available there... so they wont get tested...

i know they won't be tested over there i just said it would be good if they were.

wayno

16-08-2006, 02:35 PM

Quite simply the best show on tv at the moment. No contest from Monday. Definately the Merc for mine. You think that sounds good - wait until you hear the SLR! :D

GSXR1

16-08-2006, 05:57 PM

Quite simply the best show on tv at the moment. Oh, I dunno - I reckon Celebrity Survivor might give it a run for it's money...;) :D:o :p

VXfan

17-08-2006, 07:10 AM

Oh, I dunno - I reckon Celebrity Survivor might give it a run for it's money... :D:o :p
Well it does have Imogen Bailey and 'The Pleasure Machine' on it so may be worth a look;)
Cheers,
Tony.

monarocveightz

17-08-2006, 07:48 AM

Oh, I dunno - I reckon Celebrity Survivor might give it a run for it's money...;) :D:o :p

won't it be just like the other American Survivor- the same things happen every season and you get bored of it- i will still watch it though, but i hope they do some new different things

V8SS

17-08-2006, 08:12 AM

Quite simply the best show on tv at the moment. :D

Definitely the best car show but I'm absolutely wrapped up in the new and final series of The Soprano's. Just fantastic.

Nick Short

17-08-2006, 09:23 AM

Nick Short

17-08-2006, 11:19 AM

if you go to
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=top+ge ar
you can watch upto date episodes (for those without foxtel)

Can anyone with superior computer knowledge to me (ie everyone) tell me whether it's possible to save these videos onto your own hard drive?

And while I'm at it, I have a large number of photos saved (off the internet) of cars, and have saved them in a file. For some reason quite a few of them have now been jumbled up, so that the file name no longer matches the picture. However if I click on the thumbnail the correct (ie different to the thumbnail) photo comes up. And some of the thumbnails appear as images I deleted long ago, although again when I click on them the correct image comes up. Why is this, and what can I do about it to restore file name to image? Someone I know said something about a cache, but lost me after that...

monarocveightz

17-08-2006, 11:29 AM

Does anyone know if Top Gear has tested AMG's CLK DTM? It would wipe the floor with the AMG that Clarkson hooned about in on Monday, and as it has the McLaren SLR's engine it would have been a good contender in the race to Oslo.

would probably do the same to Clarkson's Ford GT (especially with all of the problems that have happened to it)

[quote=Nick Short;154577]Can anyone with superior computer knowledge to me (ie everyone) tell me whether it's possible to save these videos onto your own hard drive?

i've been wondering the same too.

KiwiRallyFan

17-08-2006, 11:42 AM

And while I'm at it, I have a large number of photos saved (off the internet) of cars, and have saved them in a file. For some reason quite a few of them have now been jumbled up, so that the file name no longer matches the picture......
Hi Nick. I'm guessing a bit here, but it sounds like you may have used a few different applications (programs) to save your photos, and you are not using the same program to view the images. How are you looking at the photos? Are you using Windows Explorer or some other program (eg. ZoomBrowser)? If you are using some other program, you may need to 'refresh' the images.

biante1762

17-08-2006, 02:34 PM

This guy has a better collection of 1:1 cars than I do 1:18 cars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21PFz1C1PXc

toecutter

17-08-2006, 08:30 PM

Does anyone know if Top Gear has tested AMG's CLK DTM? It would wipe the floor with the AMG that Clarkson hooned about in on Monday, and as it has the McLaren SLR's engine it would have been a good contender in the race to Oslo.

Im 99% sure that they have not done a CLK DTM but the closest thing they have done is a Race Version Aston Martin DB9. Track record but its not a street car so it cant claim top spot.

Nick Short

18-08-2006, 08:54 AM

Hi Nick. I'm guessing a bit here, but it sounds like you may have used a few different applications (programs) to save your photos, and you are not using the same program to view the images. How are you looking at the photos? Are you using Windows Explorer or some other program (eg. ZoomBrowser)? If you are using some other program, you may need to 'refresh' the images.

They've all been saved from websites by right clicking, and are being viewed in Explorer, by clicking My Pictures icon on my desktop and then Cars file. Although they also exist in ZoomBrowser if I click that icon on my desktop, but it is in Explorer that they have scrambled themselves (and deleted pics have reappeared).

daggy

21-08-2006, 06:34 PM

That DB9r on tonights show was absolutely amazing. Sounded fantastic.
So was the mclaren.

Nick Short

21-08-2006, 06:53 PM

The CLK DTM has the same engine, in a smaller car, so would be even better to have taken on that trip!

The Aston sounded great - I'd like to see more race cars do that track just to compare with the road cars.

brchi17

21-08-2006, 08:43 PM

That DB9r on tonights show was absolutely amazing. Sounded fantastic.
So was the mclaren.

drool, drool, drool, drool, drool :D !!!

I just wished I had a home theatre system so I could really enjoy the true sounds of such wonderful beasts !!!

lexoto

21-08-2006, 09:32 PM

The aston was a animal...............

Chev_350

22-08-2006, 04:10 AM

That Aston is awesome is awesome, but they should have run the customer race car, because acorrding to their rules it could have stayed on the board

Martin Thomas

22-08-2006, 09:12 AM

I hate seeing things like that.. Makes me want to break my own rule about Aussie cars only in my collection..:)

Any one else notice the yellow Monaro in front of the Merc while he was still in england? 1/10 the price and holding it up. :D

Nick Short

22-08-2006, 10:16 AM

Apart from financial or space considerations, why on earth would you deliberately exclude non-Australian cars from your collection?!!! At a stroke that removes scores of stunning, exciting, fast, successful or historic cars!

Martin Thomas

22-08-2006, 11:18 AM

Because I know myself..:D I will want more, and more, and more... I told myself that if I collect only aussie cars I will be limited by the market.. that was 8 years ago and how things changed.. I have to stop myself buying more than I do now.. Imagine if I opened the door to Lemans and formula one and other sports cars?? Oh man.. I don't even wanna think about it..:)

I will be getting the Brock/Perkins Porsche, though..