The real reason why Top Gear was pulled from Discovery...

[Poverty]

B_X you have to remember that Top gear isnt a full on grease monkey motoring show. We have fifth gear for that and hardly anyone watches it because frankly its gets boring. We like the guys talking about the cars showing us the good bits and bad and any oppurtunity for them to make fun of something they take it.

Its a laddish program for the whole family to enjoy. Enough techno talk for enthusiats like me and enough entertainment inbetween for the likes of my mum (oh and me again too). My mum loves watching the show and she doesnt really care for cars. Its like a bunch of average UK blokes coming together to discuss cars and clowing around a bit every now and again.

When they previewed the RS4 they said all other performance audis before that were crap. That comment is alot worse than what they said about the lightning but you dont see me throwing a wobbly.

 

[Giancarlo]

I hope this is a good show. It will still be on Discovery, will it not?

 

[Joey D]

What's fifth gear? Never heard of it.

 

[Poverty]

What's fifth gear? Never heard of it.

Exactly.

Vicki butler henderson and Tiff Nidell starr in it and Tiff can really put a car through its paces.

 

[Dave A]

What's fifth gear? Never heard of it.

It's a rival show on Chanel Five, a few ex-TopGear presenters host it (Tiff Needel and Vicki Butler Henderson) and Jason Plato (a British Touring car driver), Jason is a great driver but a boring presented, Tiff is a better driver and has a fantastic racing history including Formula 1, and is the best presenter on the show, Vicki is inbetween but better looking. The show's not as entertaining than TopGear imo, but it might suit your tastes more, theres not much humour but a lot of science, they test a lot of more ordinary cars too, small hatchbacks and such whereas TopGear focuses more on perfomance and dream cars.

 

[Joey D]

Hmmm I'll search around and see if I can download it. I wouldn't mind checkin it out.

But see I've grown up with Motor Trend, Autoweek, and Car and Driver...all on TV. They praise cars, they bash cars, and it has a little humor in it. Also on Speed they have 30 minute shows where they test just one car, which is usally pretty good.

 

[Joey D]

Actually they show Fifth Gear on Speed on Saturday morings...I'll check it out legally now.

 

[Delphic Reason]

How much clearer do I need to make it....HE TOOK A STREET TRUCK THAT DOESN'T CLAIM OFF ROAD ABILITY AND DID JUST THAT. Hence my issue with it.

Which brings up a good point... The F150 Lightning doesn't perform well on the street or off road... It's an answer to a question no one was asking...

JC just made light of this...

You made it sound like I had no idea about anything to do with the Lightining, I was just point out that I did.

Not sure where you picked that up... Nothing was said that should have given you such an idea...

Exactly, they bash America, I bash them. I never said it was any different. It shouldn't be acceptable, but it is. I hear people rip on America all the time, so I just return the favor. And I've never said anything again Japanese people, some of their cars yes, but never the people. I don't know any Japanese people, and the only one I know of on the boards is a6m5 and I think he's pretty cool.

The difference is, they just make innocent little comments here and there... They don't "Bash" America like you seem to think... "Bashing" anything is wrong, in my opinion, especially if you don't have a full understanding of the subject... That's my point in a nutshell...

Guess we have a different veiw of people then.

You can say that again... Sounds like you have a different view towards people than most people in this thread... Different strokes... I can't help but find your attitude distasteful... Therefore, we're just going to have to agree to dissagree...

Actually they show Fifth Gear on Speed on Saturday morings...I'll check it out legally now.

It's not illegal to download TV shows off the net... A lot of them are put on the net by the production companies... This is why it is not against the AUP or TOS to discuss such things... You should check it out... It might be more your style... It's still British, but it's a bit more serious, and cut and dry...

 

[Joey D]

The F150 Lightning doesn't perform well on the street or off road

That's a really stupid comment, until the SRT-10 came out it was the fastest pick-up truck ever with a top speed of 142mph. The Lightining is a great performer on the street, it's quite fast, can haul upwards of 800lbs. and pull a trailer with no problems. It's a useful sports car.

The difference is, they just make innocent little comments here and there... They don't "Bash" America like you seem to think... "Bashing" anything is wrong, in my opinion, especially if you don't have a full understanding of the subject... That's my point in a nutshell...

I've heard Clarkston bash America quite a bit, he seems to think we are all dumb and fat.

 

[livemusic]

One more Top Gear for me to watch. Great! 👍

 

[_aj]

That's a really stupid comment, until the SRT-10 came out it was the fastest pick-up truck ever with a top speed of 142mph.

Newsflash we don't care about top speed or straight line speed or want to drive something so big it looks stupid amongst all the normal cars on the streets or drives like a barge with a herd of elephants on it on mainly our small twisting country and a-roads.. Watching these things park is just funny as hell and personally not many people outside the US see the point of the damn things anyway.

Question: How do you think Zee Germans feel about Clarkson going on about how they take forever to go over the tiniest little detail and the in-car navigation in the new BMW which takes you straight to Poland?

Or what about the French who can't make a car to save themselves as they're too frightened and always jump ship and copy the best at that time? (Military reference)

He takes the piss out of anything and everything he can except perhaps Ferrari who he deems "Miniature versions of God".

...I loved the cousin joke in this particular episode though, that was class.

BTW found link to the video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7897412747114105703&q=top+gear

 

[Joey D]

Newsflash we don't care about top speed or straight line speed or want to drive something so big it looks stupid amongst all the normal cars on the streets or drives like a barge with a herd of elephants on it on mainly our small twisting country and a-roads.. Watching these things park is just funny as hell and personally not many people outside the US see the point of the damn things anyway.

I didn't say they were practical in the UK, I'm merely saying the Lightining is a sport truck not an off road machiene. And if you knew anything it handles decently for a pickup

 

[Famine]

I didn't say they were practical in the UK, I'm merely saying the Lightining is a sport truck not an off road machiene. And if you knew anything it handles decently for a pickup

Keywords highlighted.

To say that would be exactly like saying "If you like x then you'll like this."

Fact is it handles dreadfully. Sure, amongst its peers it may handle quite well, but that's because its peers aren't meant to handle, so to come out well against that sort of competition isn't exactly a feat. Point is, if you want a fast vehicle with a crap interior and a stupidly high insurance group, get an Impreza since at least that handles well (compared to other cars, and not a select group), can seat four and has a boot that won't get stuff stolen from it while parked at the lights...


That said, I quite like the Lightning.

 

[Joey D]

My dad has driven pick-ups for years and never, ever, ever had anything stolen from the bed of the truck. What are people in England caleptos or something?

But comparing a Lightining to a Impreza is rediculous, but since you brought it up I would like to see an Impreza pull a 20 foot boat or 12 sheets of 10 foot drywall. It can't happen. I don't even see why he bothered to review it, if trucks are "so pointless" in England.

Also this is what I refering to which indeed make Clarkston just about as stupid as the morons who took the SRT-4 off road.

 

[Dave A]

What are people in England caleptos or something?

I'm assuming you've just done exactley what you hate TopGear for. Are you trying to say people don't steal anything in the US, because we all know that's not true. I'm not trying to be funny but your argument against TopGear has imo fallen flat on it's face with that one comment, I know you didn't mean any offence and you've not caused any (to me anyway), but at the same time you seem to take it when someone say's something bad about the US.

First, he reviewed it because it's on sale here, it's a car we can buy. They tend to get reviewed by UK car programns and magazine's. Secondly as I said, the only purpose a ruck like that has over here is to be used for work, a lot of which may well require of-road driving. The point he made that the car was useless over here pointed out that it was even more pointless Ford trying to sell it over here. What's more stupid, him pointing that out, or Ford actually trying to sell a car that no-one will buy.

As for Famine's Impreza comment, I thought it made perfect sense, I don't know how many 20ft boats you see getting towed in Michigan, but it's very few here, and they tend to get towed predominantly by Range Rover's and all together classier vehicle, you don't buy a truck for handling, you buy it for purpose here, if your bothered about posing you buy an X5 or M Class for the ladies on the site. If you want performance get an Impreza.

 

[Famine]

My dad has driven pick-ups for years and never, ever, ever had anything stolen from the bed of the truck. What are people in England caleptos or something?

Klepto. Yes.

But comparing a Lightining to a Impreza is rediculous, but since you brought it up I would like to see an Impreza pull a 20 foot boat or 12 sheets of 10 foot drywall. It can't happen.

And?

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but not everyone in the UK has a boat. Also, the people who tend to move sheets of 10 foot drywall are usually builders and, generally, have vans and wouldn't want to mess up a £50,000 "sport truck" with building materials.

The people who'd WANT to buy Lightnings in the UK are either posers who don't care about performance (other than the odd TLGP) or... actually, that's about it. For everyday use, a two-seat, open bed truck is exactly as useless as a chocolate teapot.

I don't even see why he bothered to review it, if trucks are "so pointless" in England.

Firstly because you can buy it. They review most interesting and eclectic cars you can buy, simply to let people know that you can and what they think of them compared to the competition.

Secondly, they aren't pointless. Explorer, Maverick, Patrol, Terrano, LandCruiser, Cherokee - we get quite an assortment (as well as our "own" Landie and Rangie). They're quite useful for putting your kids in so that they don't die in a rear-end collision and getting through snow. The Lightning, on the other hand, is (along with its ilk). It has no room for passengers and, as a powerful, RWD automatic, is bobbins in snow. There's nothing funnier than watching someone who's chosen the wrong expensive chunky truck struggling in snow.

Also this is what I refering to which indeed make Clarkston just about as stupid as the morons who took the SRT-4 off road.

Again, and?

He was making a point. It's no use as a load-lugger, because stuff gets nicked from it and/or you won't want to put stuff in it because it's so damn expensive. It's no use as a school-run car because you've only got room for one kid. It's no use, despite its looks (people would naturally look at it and assume it's "a 4x4" - common parlance for a mudplugger), as an offroader because it's 2WD and automatic. It only has ONE use - as a big car which is fast in a straight line. No thanks. If I wanted a big car which was fast, I'd want it to be fast around corners too. If I wanted an expensive car, I wouldn't want one with a cheap interior either. And you'd get better fuel economy by attaching a top fuel dragster to a cathedral.


When you can buy, say, an Audi RS6 instead, the Lightning loses all point. Other than posing. Which is, of course, a valid use, but it'd be a very short review. Clarkson HAD to show what it is and isn't capable of. If you chose to listen to that as "America is rubbish" then that's your interpretation.

 

[Joey D]

I'm assuming you've just done exactley what you hate TopGear for. Are you trying to say people don't steal anything in the US, because we all know that's not true. I'm not trying to be funny but your argument against TopGear has imo fallen flat on it's face with that one comment, I know you didn't mean any offence and you've not caused any (to me anyway), but at the same time you seem to take it when someone say's something bad about the US.

I'm just saying people in the US probably drive more pickups then cars, and I hardly ever hear of people getting stuff stolen out of their trucks...espesically at stop lights. No one does that.

I don't know how many 20ft boats you see getting towed in Michigan

A lot

 

[livemusic]

Lightning.

At least one of you can spell the damn word!

 

[Mr. Boy]

Excuse me for straying off the heated debate on whether or not JC is a jerk for bashing the Ford F-150 Lightning...

I'm looking forward to the new American Top Gear. But I'm also worried that it may not have all the ingredients that make british Top Gear so entertaining...
Like that super-cool film style, those cross-country "car vs public transport" races, the cheap car challenges (eg. Buying a car for less than $100), the pointless but superb adrenaline-junkie stuff (eg. grandmas doing burnouts in an S2000, a nun driving a monster truck, etc.). I could go on and on...

But most importantly, would the new presenters have the same charisma as Jeremy, Richard and James? I'll just have to watch to find out.

 

[Omnis]

It's going to be like the Man Show after Hoe Rogan and that other imbecile took over for Kimmel and Corolla. I want the original, not diet TopGear.

 

[Sphinx]

I say old chaps, this is an awfully funny discussion.

"To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity."
William Arthur Ward

 

[Delphic Reason]

That's a really stupid comment, until the SRT-10 came out it was the fastest pick-up truck ever with a top speed of 142mph. The Lightining is a great performer on the street, it's quite fast, can haul upwards of 800lbs. and pull a trailer with no problems. It's a useful sports car.

LOL... It's fast in a straight line, so that means it performs well... No wonder you can't grasp this... Performance is a combination of speed and agility... As far as trucks go, it has decent performance... However, it will never outperform a sports car, and it will never be able to perform well off road... Therefore it sits somewhere in the middle...

You have to understand, this is coming from someone who likes the F150 Lightning... That's right, I am in favor of it... Yet, I don't harbor under any delusions that it's something that it's not... It's neither a sports vehicle nor an off road vehicle... It doesn't perform well in either areas... It's just a gimick... If you understand that, and still like it (like myself) than it does have a market in the states, just not a very big one... In the UK it does not really have a market which is why it doesn't sell... Compared to a lot of other so called "trucks" that the members of Tp Gear have tested, it performs terribly... Hence the reaction from the Top Gear staff regarding said truck...

I've heard Clarkston bash America quite a bit, he seems to think we are all dumb and fat.

Well, you're going to hear what you want to hear... What most of us hear as an innocent joke, you see as a an attack...

Here's an idea, don't watch the show...

Watch the American version, or maybe 5th gear... Although, if you like Car and Driver TV, or Autoweek (both highly overated in my book), you might just be happier with the aforementioned shows...

But most importantly, would the new presenters have the same charisma as Jeremy, Richard and James? I'll just have to watch to find out.

That's the big question... Cross your fingers...

 

[niky]

Ouch... this topic became hot all of a sudden.

Some points. Those idiots who take the SRT4 off-road? The SRT4 is doing pretty well in rallies in the US, and it can dice it out with Evos and Subarus. It does make a pretty swell rally car.

The Lightning handles well for a truck, yes. And in some on-track tests, the Lightning and the SRT10 Ram have even outpaced the latest Mustang (which even British publications like). But then again, the Mustang is still live-axle.

And yes, JC does make pointless and stupid jokes, and he does make some off-the-wall caustic remarks, but he's no anti-American bigot. He hates everything with equal intensity.

JC rags on everyone. It's just some Americans are pretty sensitive about any criticism since the whole Iraq thing... about anything. Lighten up guys.

If we are going to go on sanitizing shows for local markets, though, I think there are about a zillion US shows that would be cut up and reformatted for Canadian consumption. Or even for US consumption... too many sexist jokes in there for American women, I believe.

 

[Jay]

Top gear bashes Aussies all the time, you know what I do... I laugh my ass off.

Recently I saw a episode where at 60mph the Monaro was at 1500rpm and the presenter commented "fat and lazy Australians" that cracked me up, I dont find it offensive at all. I see them regularly bash Japanese, french, americans, aussies, themselfs..... Dont take it so serious.


They took the monaro on the beach, it a race because it bogged down while taking off... so what it was never designed for the sand but who cares.

BTW I really like 5th gear also. Tiff needel is a champ.

 

[Slicks]

If we are going to go on sanitizing shows for local markets, though, I think there are about a zillion US shows that would be cut up and reformatted for Canadian consumption. Or even for US consumption... too many sexist jokes in there for American women, I believe.

How so? I'm Canadian and I quite like Top Gear. I don't really care if they rag on anyone and everyone, because I know it's all in good fun. That said, I am looking forward to "our" version of Top Gear, simply because we don't get it at all over here currently. The only reason that we get all the watered down versions is because we get alot [read: alot. Like... more than 2/3] of US programming. Hell, the Canadian channels quite often play shows that offend the more sensitive people. This Hour has 22 Minutes is the perfect example. I mean, we have a whole channel committed to, basically, comedy and offensive content (The Comedy Channel).

 

[Delphic Reason]

Top gear bashes Aussies all the time, you know what I do... I laugh my ass off.

Recently I saw a episode where at 60mph the Monaro was at 1500rpm and the presenter commented "fat and lazy Australians" that cracked me up, I dont find it offensive at all. I see them regularly bash Japanese, french, americans, aussies, themselfs..... Dont take it so serious.

Exactly!... Because it's not really "bashing"... It's just capitalizing on the inherant comedic value of stereotyping... You have to see through it for what it is........ A JOKE...

 

[niky]

How so? I'm Canadian and I quite like Top Gear. I don't really care if they rag on anyone and everyone, because I know it's all in good fun. That said, I am looking forward to "our" version of Top Gear, simply because we don't get it at all over here currently. The only reason that we get all the watered down versions is because we get alot [read: alot. Like... more than 2/3] of US programming. Hell, the Canadian channels quite often play shows that offend the more sensitive people. This Hour has 22 Minutes is the perfect example. I mean, we have a whole channel committed to, basically, comedy and offensive content (The Comedy Channel).

That's the point. I meant that if shows have to be "sanitized" per region, we'd have a lot of shows cut to bits. Almost every US comedy I watch rags on Canadians every once in a while, and a lot of them offend women.

Top Gear is usually cut down to thirty minutes for the overseas market anyway... they cut out news, reviews and interviews that might not be interesting to certain markets.

If they were going to recreate Top Gear in the US, I'd like to see it still include sections from the original program.

 

[Pebb]

The US version run by US people will not be as great as the British version, while not being watched more then the British version.

 

[Wolfe]

I'm anxious to see how this will turn out...if it's any good (highly unlikely, but I'm not going to totally dismiss it yet), I may consider making employment there a career goal...

However, I bet it'll be dry and lifeless compared to the UK original, with non-charasmatic hosts, an almost total lack of good humor (or no humor at all), and B.S. reviews that will be either very biased towards American cars, or totally lacking in negativity towards anything.

With the pathetic "editing" they had to do to the UK Top Gear to show it on the Discovery Channel (it seriously pisses me off that they felt the need to make it "usa-friendly"), I'm not expecting much...

 

[donbenni]

That's a really stupid comment, until the SRT-10 came out it was the fastest pick-up truck ever with a top speed of 142mph. The Lightining is a great performer on the street, it's quite fast, can haul upwards of 800lbs. and pull a trailer with no problems. It's a useful sports car.

I'm not jumping on the bashing bandwagon here, but this is the perfect depiction of what most people over here think most people over there think about cars. Seriously i can't believe you actually said it is a useful sports car.