Unofficial GTP Top Gear Australia thread

  • Thread starter Thread starter CyborgGT
  • 299 comments
  • 16,896 views
Also forgot to add, the town centre on Toorak rd. they showed was right near my new school. :D So looks like everyone has the same view then.
 
This episode wasn't awful, the trip through the outback was done fairly good although I think they could have picked better vehicles. The Land Rover was good but the Q7 and the Lexus letters and numbers thing weren't all that great. It's still really hit or miss.
 
I think it's a good show, but not a great show. The presenters are still trying too hard, and they don't performance test the cars like TGUK - either too much burnout for burnouts sake, or too much plodding around Sydney at night time telling us it sounds nice.

The outback stuff was actually okay, but they should have set up some sort of challenge while they were out there - a hill climb up a rocky slope or something.
 
This show is getting much better. The Race Drivers interview was good and so was the lap in a bog standard car. I think James Courtney and Greg Murphy were good together. (I like the fact that the Ford driver was quicker) and an extremely close lap time, 0.07 difference.

However the WRX against the Tiger chopper was a bit lame,
(and a huge rip off of the Lotus v the Chopper in BBC)

Is Nissan telling the truth about the new GTR or are they fibbing a little just to get sales of this Beast. This could be discussed for a lot longer.
 
The GTR thing was kinda pointless considering they aren't even being sold here till April 2009.
 
I dunno, the show isn't really getting better yet IMO, they're crappy and boring at reviewing cars.

Is Nissan telling the truth about the new GTR or are they fibbing a little just to get sales of this Beast. This could be discussed for a lot longer.

A couple things, Nissan never claimed the GTR is faster than the GT2, they have always compared to the standard 911 Turbo, not striped race car for the road GT2 version. I don't know where TG AU got that from except the GTR's Nurb time is lower than any GT2 time so far.


Second thing the GTR that ran the course was a grey import which apparently going by Top gear staff as said in the show had the speed limiter on which would have added some time.
 
Well, TGA is over for the season. IMO, I think the season was ok, not great like the BBCTG, but ok.

Claudia Karvan beating Vince Colosimo (in a bog standard car) was a great thing indeed :).

The Holden v's Ford was good too (because Fabulous On Race Day wins).


If only they would get rid of the stupid segment 'What were they thinking' because I think it is stupid.

Anyways we will have to wait untill next year now before we see a new episode. Untill then, TTFN.
 
Well, TGA is over for the season. IMO, I think the season was ok, not great like the BBCTG, but ok.

Claudia Karvan beating Vince Colosimo (in a bog standard car) was a great thing indeed :).

The Holden v's Ford was good too (because Fabulous On Race Day wins).


If only they would get rid of the stupid segment 'What were they thinking' because I think it is stupid.

Yep, 100% agree

Open Addict
Anyways we will have to wait untill next year now before we see a new episode. Untill then, TTFN.

Yes, but we should be getting the next series of TGUK in its place.
 
.....Yes, but we should be getting the next series of TGUK in its place.

Should be, We are acording to the tv guides.

Snipped from http://au.tv.yahoo.com/tv-guide/?hour=13&min=49&date=19&mon=11&year=2008&next=1227513600
Top Gear
7:00pm - 8:00pm (Eastern Summer Time)| SBS PG Lifestyle, Closed Captions
In brand new series 11 Top Gear, the boys test the efficiency of a BMW versus a Prius - and the results are interesting. Also, Jeremy, James and Richard try to build a better police car for just 1500 pounds, and Top Gear's newest recruit tries to jump an Allegro over a line of cars - backwards. Then, JC drives a Ferrari 430 Scuderia. British comedians Justin Lee Collins and Alan Carr are celebrity guests.
 
Looks like Charlie is leaving the show...

AUSmotive.com
Top Gear Australia loses Cox and blows Morrison’s trumpet
Charlie Cox has told SBS he will be leaving the Top Gear Australia franchise to spend more time in his native Britain. He will be replaced by Australian jazz icon James Morrison, who will join existing hosts Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati for the second series, scheduled to hit our television screens in 2009.

“My time on Top Gear Australia was very special and it was a fantastic opportunity to be part of launching an extraordinary series,” Cox said. “Sadly, though, I’ve lived in the UK for the past 19 years and I’m not able to give the time I want to Series Two.”

Forty-six year old Morrison, one of Australia’s best loved trumpet players and well known for his love of cars, is delighted with his new role, “I don’t want to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet … but I think series two is going to be bigger and better than ever. I just hope some of the challenges include playing a chorus of the blues,” he said. Let’s hope the quality of his gags improves.

Morrison was the ‘Star In A Bog Standard Car’ in Episode 6 of the debut series and his lap time of 1:26.46 is the current record for this segment. His familiarity with the cast and the program has given SBS content director Matt Campbell confidence his new cast member will fit right in, “James brings with him a deep love of cars, a huge personality and a strong sense of fun—a perfect complement to Warren and Steve.”

For a teaser of what we can expect from James Morrison, check out this hidden gem, originally produced way back in 1994, as unearthed by CarAdvice.

The full press release from SBS, including quotes from Warren and Steve, can be read after the jump.

Press Release
SBS today announced that Top Gear Australia host, Charlie Cox, has decided to leave the show because of his media commitments and business interests in the UK. He will be replaced by James Morrison - renowned Australian trumpeter and former car show host.

Cox said he arrived at the decision reluctantly but, as a director of ten British and Australian companies and as a broadcaster for the BBC for the past ten years, it became clear he couldn’t give the time to the show it required.

“My time on Top Gear Australia was very special and it was a fantastic opportunity to be part of launching an extraordinary series. Sadly, though, I’ve lived in the UK for the past 19 years and I’m not able to give the time I want to Series Two. It seems best to leave the show and I wish James all the best in joining the two best blokes in Australian television -Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati,” Cox said.

James Morrison paid tribute to the work of Charlie Cox and says he’s “thrilled” to be joining the Top Gear team.

“As a huge fan of the show, you couldn’t ask for better blokes to be working with than Warren and Steve - this is going to be FUN! I don’t want to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet… but I think series two is going to be bigger and better than ever - I just hope some of the challenges include playing a chorus of the blues!”

Top Gear Australia co-host Warren Brown said:

“I’m as excited as anyone to be knocking around with James on the next series of Top Gear Australia. As everyone knows, he’s a red-hot hand behind the wheel, an unrepentant, unreconstructed and unabashed car enthusiast – but more importantly he’s a bloke with whom it’s huge fun to be around. (Aside from that, he’s far more accomplished with a trumpet than I am with a five-string banjo as Steve Pizzati will testify).

“No doubt about it – we’ll be missing Charlie, a top bloke who’s become a terrific mate, but I’d love to welcome James on board and can’t wait to work with him on Top Gear Australia II.”

Top Gear Australia co-host, Steve Pizzati said:

“It’s a shame that Charlie’s commitments overseas mean that he can’t complete the journey we all started together nearly a year ago. I’m looking forward to James joining Warren and myself, although, on top of everything else, it now means I’ll have to learn how to play a bloody musical instrument too! Perhaps the kazoo…”

SBS’s Director of Content, Television and Online, Matt Campbell said:

“SBS thanks Charlie Cox for helping to launch and bed down Top Gear Australia. I understand the decision Charlie has made and accept his UK commitments wouldn’t allow him to return in 2009. We now look forward to seeing James Morrison on our screens when the series returns in 2009. James brings with him a deep love of cars, a huge personality and a strong sense of fun - a perfect complement to Warren and Steve.”

I can't say I'm disappointed, I didn't really care for Charlie in the first place.
 
Good call. I'm surprised and delighted at the same time. Charlie was easily the worst part of the show.

Only place to go is up from here.



;)
 
Huzzah. Top Gear AU starts next week, and from what I've seen is looking good so far.:)
 
Top Gear Australia is on tonight.:D Should be good with the new host James Morrison, I also can't wait to see Skaife tonight on Top Gear.:D
 
can't wait! It'd be good to see James Morrison. He played with me in the school band once (He came to open a new building)
 
A lot of the dialogue still comes out as being scripted, quite obviously. I think this comes down to the fact that none of the hosts come from an on-air TV or radio background (well, James Morrison hosted jazz radio on Qantas airlines).

Anyway, in my opinion, it's still better than the first season so far. I enjoyed seeing Skaife's reaction after Warren Brown told him his practice lap time around the test track.
 
Well I couldn't believe just how good that episode was, and since it hits closer to home, that was IMO better than any UK show I've ever seen.:) Morrison is 1000x better than Cox, and oh yeah, it was funny, Brown didn't annoy me at all, he was actually funny instead now, good to see Skaifey, the interview was actually interesting (unlike most UK interviews, but probably because they talk about stuff we've never even heard of). In short, YAY, TG AU is what it was meant to be now.:D Can't wait for Ep. 2 with the Walkinshaw.:drool:

PS- Nice they mended their mistakes from last season too, I LOL'ed when they crushed the "What were they thinking?" wall with a car.:lol: They also explained the track, had better camera angles.

Hell, in general, the show was better at everything.:)
 
A lot of the dialogue still comes out as being scripted, quite obviously. I think this comes down to the fact that none of the hosts come from an on-air TV or radio background (well, James Morrison hosted jazz radio on Qantas airlines).

I agree

Personally I thought this was a bad episode except the Skaifey part, the interview and it was nice to see someone try and push the car on the test track not nanny around, he even flatshifted once.
 
Well I couldn't believe just how good that episode was, and since it hits closer to home, that was IMO better than any UK show I've ever seen.:) Morrison is 1000x better than Cox, and oh yeah, it was funny, Brown didn't annoy me at all, he was actually funny instead now, good to see Skaifey, the interview was actually interesting (unlike most UK interviews, but probably because they talk about stuff we've never even heard of). In short, YAY, TG AU is what it was meant to be now.:D Can't wait for Ep. 2 with the Walkinshaw.:drool:

PS- Nice they mended their mistakes from last season too, I LOL'ed when they crushed the "What were they thinking?" wall with a car.:lol: They also explained the track, had better camera angles.

Hell, in general, the show was better at everything.:)

I gravely disagree with that. To me, the UK version has such style, dialogue, cinematography and other production values which the Australian just can't touch. But seeing as I see the UK one as a level above anything else , I'll rate the TG AU along side other great shows.

On the face of it, it's a great show. Cox is gone so I don't have to cringe when he turns to the camera in a highly scripted way.
Morrison was shakey on his first test. The facts were there but it didn't flow like i'd wanted too - like TG UK. He has a long way to go, but I like him, and he seems natural in the studio - Brown is the only one lacking in that department now (he only stands out 'cause Cox's gone).

Another thing I'd like to see more of is volume of music in the stories. Yes, we could hear the voices clearly in the waveski vs Lambo challenge, but the choice of music (having one track playing prodominantly throughout the story gets boring) and the volume. When there was no talking, there was just semi soft music.

Apart from the negatives, if you look on the face of it - it's a car show, I'm a car bloke.

It's probably better than anything else on at the moment.

Paulie - with so many disagreements between you an me, how on earth did you find your way onto my friends list?! :lol:. Nah, I love a good arguement 👍
 
Which was why I said IMO, because it's what floats my boat, and I'm not trying to be a critic, I'm taking it for content not filming techniques, and I like it.;)
 
Awesome episode, But my Dad told me EVERYTHING that was going to happen since he went to the filming. I didn't want to wreck it too much for you guys.:) But I think it was a great episode. My dad did a great job of describing the Skaife moment to me, he was absolutely filthy!!

You know the trampoline ad they tried. Apparently during practice they got the Esky into the back.:lol: So it does actually work.:D

Bring on the Walkinshaw next week.:D
 
Hopefully it will be "available" when I get home tonight so I can watch it. I curious to see if it's gotten better with the new host. I thought the first season was awful but I'm hoping that was just kinks being worked out. To bad the Russian Top Gear isn't in a language I can understand because the first season of that seemed pretty good.
 
Hopefully it will be "available" when I get home tonight so I can watch it. I curious to see if it's gotten better with the new host. I thought the first season was awful but I'm hoping that was just kinks being worked out. To bad the Russian Top Gear isn't in a language I can understand because the first season of that seemed pretty good.

I am curious what the international folk think of it too compared to last season, personally I don't think it has become any better but it seems we aussies are split on our thoughts about it.
 
I would have to wager more Americans will like it over the Brits since it seems that American culture and Aussie culture are more similar than when compared to British culture. I'll be sure and give my review of it, although at this point anything new in the way of Top Gear I can understand is better than nothing.
 
Better than Season 1 by a long shot. Much better chemistry between the presenters.

I may actually enjoy this season.




;)
 
Much better than the first season for sure, however it still doesn't compare to the original Top Gear. I like the new host, he seems a lot better than the guy he replaced although it's really hard to match the chemistry of May, Hammond and Clarkson. Hopefully this will be a good series.
 
I reckon this season will be a lot better with Morrison, he acts more like a Hammond than Pazetti does!! :D

And was this the first Top Gear challenge (Oz or UK) where the car actually lost?? And to lose in an LP640 Murcie?! :odd: I think Jeremy would be throwing stuff through the TV seeing a car lose to anything. :)
 
I reckon this season will be a lot better with Morrison, he acts more like a Hammond than Pazetti does!! :D

And was this the first Top Gear challenge (Oz or UK) where the car actually lost?? And to lose in an LP640 Murcie?! :odd: I think Jeremy would be throwing stuff through the TV seeing a car lose to anything. :)

Can you name the challenges the car actually won? The car nearly never wins, but does on occasion. (Think RS6 vs Ski guys, RS4 vs mountain climbers, car vs bike vs boat vs train, car vs Jeremy and Co. building Caterham. The car lost in all of these to my memory).
 
Back