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

[skip0110]

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.

On the contrary, your comment is typical of the common view Americans have about British ignorance of American cars. The Lightning is a very viable sports car...

Car: 2001 F-150 Lightning / 2003 BMW M5
Price: $32,300 / $70,400
0-60: 5.2 sec / 4.9 sec
1/4 mile: 13.8 sec / 13.4 sec

Only fast in a straight line you say?

This autocross site lists a M5 with a time of 112.003 s, and a SVT lightning with a time of 114.785 s. The Lightning is very nimble, especially when you consider it's size and utility. Not bad, when you consider the M5 costs twice as much and the Lightning can carry your dirt bikes as well.

P.S. With regards to stuff being stolen out of the bed: do they have locking tonneau covers across the pond?


Clarkson is funny; I like Top Gear. He was exaggerating when he reviewed the SVT Lightning, as he often does. People who honestly believe it is slow and/or useless are delusional.

 

[Famine]

But which BMW M5 is it on that autocross site? E28, E34, E39 or E60? Which Lightning is it? Are the cars both standard? Your assertion that it's not bad for a "car" half the price is only accurate if it IS a car half the price, and they are both standard vehicles. It could be that the M5 isn't bad for a 15 year old car...

It's only a pity they didn't take the Lightning around the TG track...


Incidentally...
Car: 2004 F150 Lightning/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX WR1
Price: £24,500 (cheapest I can find used)/£24,000 (cheapest I can find used)
0-62mph: 5.2s/4.2s
1/4 mile: 13.8s/12.8

And the Impreza can carry your children as well...


Horses for courses. In the US the Lightning makes some kind of sense. In the UK it just... doesn't.

 

[donbenni]

On the contrary, your comment is typical of the common view Americans have about British ignorance of American cars. The Lightning is a very viable sports car...

I would consider a useful sports car to be an Evo, or as Famine said an Impreza. You know, cars. Over here/to me the Lightning is not a car, it's a truck; so me saying that it's stupid to call it a sports car completely outlaws me as "an ignorant Brit" does it?

Only fast in a straight line you say?

No i don't think i did.

 

[Poverty]

A equally powerful cayenne is faster round corners than a lightning. A impreza or evo will still spank it though.

 

[skip0110]

But which BMW M5 is it on that autocross site? E28, E34, E39 or E60? Which Lightning is it? Are the cars both standard? Your assertion that it's not bad for a "car" half the price is only accurate if it IS a car half the price, and they are both standard vehicles. It could be that the M5 isn't bad for a 15 year old car...

It's difficult to find reliable stats online that aren't in a straight line. I've seen a Lighting doing a cone course, and it handled it admirably. The same site references a Corvette Z06 (we can safely assume the C5 generation) doing the course in 110.195 s. Both cars have 2 seats, just under 400 hp, and are blisteringly fast. Why should the Corvette be accepted as a sports car, and the Lightning, just because it is a truck, be a "poser"? Like I said, put a locking tonneau on the bed and you have what amounts to a massive trunk.

That said, I understand that it doesn't really "fit" in the UK. Neither does the Corvette. But both deserve respect as viable sport vehicles.

It's only a pity they didn't take the Lightning around the TG track...

Indeed. But a good showing there would have spoiled the spin they were trying to put on it, though...

Incidentally...
Car: 2004 F150 Lightning/2004 Subaru Impreza WRX WR1
Price: £24,500 (cheapest I can find used)/£24,000 (cheapest I can find used)
0-62mph: 5.2s/4.2s
1/4 mile: 13.8s/12.8

And the Impreza can carry your children as well...


Horses for courses. In the US the Lightning makes some kind of sense. In the UK it just... doesn't.

The WRX is great...but it is not fair to comapre a boosted 2.0 L four to the Lightning's boosted 5.4 V8, or the E36's (assuming it was an E36) very impressive V8. The two engines can never have the same character, and while the may be justr as fast at 9/10ths, the BMW or the Lightning has a much more tractable power curve.

No i don't think i did.

Rhetorical

 

[RouWa]

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?

We like him?! I personally like him more than any German TV presenter.

 

[_aj]

We like him?! I personally like him more than any German TV presenter.

Exactly it's tongue in cheek, it's not meant to be taken literally. Wow a German with a sense of humour ? j/p (damn stereotypes eh ? )

 

[Dave A]

It's difficult to find reliable stats online that aren't in a straight line. I've seen a Lighting doing a cone course, and it handled it admirably. The same site references a Corvette Z06 (we can safely assume the C5 generation) doing the course in 110.195 s. Both cars have 2 seats, just under 400 hp, and are blisteringly fast. Why should the Corvette be accepted as a sports car, and the Lightning, just because it is a truck, be a "poser"? Like I said, put a locking tonneau on the bed and you have what amounts to a massive trunk.

A locking tonneau isn't really as fast or easy to use a boot. Also, I'd love to see the Lightening perform as well as an M5 on TV, any show with the same driver. Let's face it, as good as it may be for a truck, it does not handle as well as a BMW, if it did it's handling would have recieved some commendation in the magazines and on TopGear, but they all didn't like the car and no-one praised it's handeling, it serves no purpose over here. And incase you mention, yes JC and the rest of the TopGear crew have said a car is rubbish, but still commented on what it's good at.

That said, I understand that it doesn't really "fit" in the UK. Neither does the Corvette. But both deserve respect as viable sport vehicles.
Indeed. But a good showing there would have spoiled the spin they were trying to put on it, though...

A Corvette doesn't fit mainly because of the lhd only but also theres too much plastic, not the same reasons a Ford Lighning doesn't fit. As for a track time, the bottom line is it wouldn't have done as good a time as 90% of the cars on that table. You honestly can't prove to me, that would keep up with the cars on that list that are respectable withuot actually showing me a video of it happening. It's handling hasn't been praised, at all, good for a truck is the best you'll hear.

The WRX is great...but it is not fair to comapre a boosted 2.0 L four to the Lightning's boosted 5.4 V8, or the E36's (assuming it was an E36) very impressive V8. The two engines can never have the same character, and while the may be justr as fast at 9/10ths, the BMW or the Lightning has a much more tractable power curve.Rhetorical

Why not, they both claim to offer good perfomance, they're both in a similar price braket, only the Impreza is faster, a little cheaper and more practical.

 

[Poverty]

Heres the C6 topgear review.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1218157444012227484&q=top+gear

And heres a cayenne turbo review the closet thing I could find to the lightning.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3206089249420594728&q=top+gear

 

[CDailey]

Hmm...Top gear isn't Top gear without Clarkson, Hammond, and May. I hope the American version isn't too bad.

 

[xcsti]

Even with the M5 comparisons the lightning can't be called a sports car as even an m5 isn't a sports car (well maybe the e60). I watch as much tg as I can and have read a few of the magazines. I don't really notice the bashing on americans specifically.

I'm going to still try and catch Euro tg even if they bring our own version, clarkson and the guys have a good dynamic.

I think someone mentioned this before and I agree with it. The point of the show is to entertain and they nitpick and pull no punches on the cars in order to meet that end.

 

[VIPFREAK]

I don't mind people not liking the show, but I just don't get it when people say they don't like it because he bashes American cars, it's not personal and it's not like he only bashes American cars, if the show's not for you than fine but it's a generalisation that he hate's American cars because I can name a few that he liked.

Well in the F-150 Lightning show he does make some pretty big American bashing comments that's even a bit heavier slap in the face for an American (me) that likes to bash America. I would still watch it because I think that show's humor is funny and refreshing. I remember him bashing other car not from America but it didn't seem as heavy.

Actually they show Fifth Gear on Speed on Saturday morings...

Damn it I work then. 👎

 

[CDailey]

Damn it I work then. 👎

You aren't missing anything. Compared to Top Gear, Fifth Gear blows.

 

[Poverty]

Yeah I sure wouldnt wake up in the morning to watch it.

 

[Jay]

I dont think 5th gear blows at all, I like it alot, Tiff needell alone makes it worth it.

 

[VIPFREAK]

^Yep

I'd watch both because it's better than anything else car wise on t.v. ex. Tuner car Revolution...

That's why I don't want TG to become "americanized".

 

[livemusic]

I watched it once, but it wasn't all that.

 

[DeLoreanBrown]

Tiff Needel drives like a true engineer,
Clarkson wants to pull donuts round the testtrack then ponce across France w/ his bag of bribes. . .
Edit: here's Tiff pulling a donut or two in early Mseries bimmers

 

[Dave A]

Actually Tiff drift's the car's a lot more that Clarkson. That said, Tiff is a far better driver, but Clarkson has never once claimed he's nearly on that level. Clarkson present's better than Tiff, but you can't beat Tiff's driving.

 

[TheCracker]

5th Gear have some decent drivers for presenters - Tiff, Jason Plato and even VBH. Where as Top Gear's drivers are probably a bit more 'average' (Stig excepted). Having said that, as entertainment Top Gear beats 5th Gear hands down. As long as you take Clarkson's views with a large handful of salt.

 

[Dave A]

Yeah, 5th gears three main presenters are all very good drivers, VBH is the worst of the three but she's still got plenty of experience, she's had more than just a go in motorsport before including competing against David Coulthard in Kart's when she was little, winning the Silverstone Maserati Trofeo race in 2004 and befor that she's competed in the Porsche cup and the Radical cup amongst many others. By the time she was 17 she was a racing instructor at Silverstone circuit. She can instruct me anytime.

As for Tiff, this makes me laugh "his highlight to date is "accidentally, ahem, ignoring the strict instructions Ferrari issued about not touching the traction control on their half million pound Enzo...""

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

As for Tiff, this makes me laugh "his highlight to date is "accidentally, ahem, ignoring the strict instructions Ferrari issued about not touching the traction control on their half million pound Enzo...""

That was the best part of the episode! 👍

 

[Famine]

Well I might like it since yes there won't be any British humor, which I don't understand, and it won't be an hour of bashing America and there cars.

I've done a little curious digging around on Clarkson's reviews of recent American cars...

Hummer H2: Loved it. Totally.
Chrysler 300C: Crappy interior, handled well, great engine, looks great.
Viper: Crappy interior, loved it because it's barking mad (the door sills caught fire).
Corvette C6: Crappy interior, loved it.
Ford F150 Lightning: Crappy interior, pointless in the UK, hated it.

And of course let us not mention the fact that he bought his "dream car", after months of waiting, spending well over £100,000 for the honour. The Ford GT.


Quite where you get the impression that they hate American cars when they have only ripped on one, I don't know.

 

[Joey D]

Watching the show I just get that impression, just because they gave good reviews doesn't really mean anything. But honestly I'm not going to fight it anymore, you can think what you will and so will I.

 

[Famine]

just because they gave good reviews doesn't really mean anything.

I'd say that it means they don't hate American cars - they just hate crap cars. And they put their money where their mouths are, in this respect.

 

[niky]

Hummer H2: Loved it. Totally.

He's barking mad. He loved it so much he bought one.

 

[TheCracker]

I've done a little curious digging around on Clarkson's reviews of recent American cars...

Hummer H2: Loved it. Totally.
Chrysler 300C: Crappy interior, handled well, great engine, looks great.
Viper: Crappy interior, loved it because it's barking mad (the door sills caught fire).
Corvette C6: Crappy interior, loved it.

Jeremy Clarkson, you have to remember, thinks white men look good with afros'

 

[Seanman]

Well, I sent an email to Discovery regarding when will the Americanized version of Top Gear will go on air, and here is their reply:

Thank you for contacting Discovery Channel. We appreciate you taking the
time to share your thoughts and concerns with us regarding "Top Gear." Your
comments will be forwarded to our program management and executives and
will be taken into consideration.

The "Top Gear" show was not "taken off the air," but rather ran its
pattern. It is being revamped for a U.S. audience and will return the end
of January.

A reply to this message is not necessary. For more information about
schedules and programming check our website, www.discovery.com.

If you have any further inquiries or comments, please contact us via our
webform at http://extweb.discovery.com/ViewerRelations.

Thank you again for expressing your interest in our programming.

Sincerely,
Joy
Viewer Relations
Discovery Networks

 

[Mr. Boy]

The same bloddy email everybody got when they e-mailed about Top Gear. At least... hold on a second, its the end of January already! That means it could begin showing this weekend! Unless its a lie.
Edit:http://search.discovery.com/search?q=Top+Gear&site=wwwContent&proxystylesheet=wwwMain&num=10&client=wwwMain&output=xml_no_dtd&getfields=*&filter=1&through=dcom|searchbox
I did a search for Top Gear ond Discovery.com and it looks like they'll be airing a rerun.

 

[VIPFREAK]

Good god... WTF!? I just caught and episode of Top Gear, the one with Rinspeed ugly ass **** of cars, a Citroen van, and the "durability" of a Toyota Truck in Bristol. Who the hell is saying American's can't handle British humor?? That **** was absolutely hilarious! they couldn't kill the Toyota.