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This series does seem to be working.
The axle looked to be a setup. Rear springs missing and there was some weird rebar steel frame that appeared to have been holding the axle.
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Yeah pretty sure the Firebird was there just for the lols. Harris's Dart was cool as.
The leaf spring were still visible on the car; sort of attached.
Someone has modded the cage underneath. But when you look closely it's surprising how many of the adventure cars have a sump guard or similar under body protection.
Understandably.
And I don't believe the reaction (from all) was faked.
And I don’t believe the reaction (from all) was faked.
Agreed - I think they knew they had bought a pup that could implode at any moment, but I don't think anyone scripted that particular result.
It's improving with every episode, and will be improved immeasurably when they get rid of Paddy.
This series does seem to be much better but he does stand out now as being a bit of loud-mouth dick.
Look at the above picture. So the propshaft also unbolted itself cleanly from all four bolts on the diff drive flange?..... It would either have still been attached, or have pulled apart at the plunging joint, or broken the crucifix, or have left some of the bolts and saddles attached / bent / broken.
But was a real shame they didn't bring the Dodge back to UK.
Enjoyed Sunday’s episode with no contrived races. Just wish they would shoot in 4K would them look amazing
I'd have more faith in the spontaneity of the Firebird falling to pieces if they hadn't contrived a "Paddy's going to do a practice run without another vehicle next to it." premise.
My money's on at least a degree of staging. Still laughed my ass off though, so I don't think it really matters - it's entertainment not the news.
My money’s on at least a degree of staging.
It’s TV of course there was.
Of course it wasn't spontaneous. But their reaction to it was - clearly went better than they expected!
So the propshaft also unbolted itself cleanly from all four bolts on the diff drive flange?
You must be looking at a different picture. The propshaft yoke is still there, busted.
It isn't a flange yoke (f'nar), is that what you are thinking of?
I think unbolted rather than busted. It isn't a flange 🙂 - more a pair of saddles that clamp the UJ spider. Similar to this I think:-
https://www.classicindustries.com/product/all-years/pontiac/firebird/parts/m12114.html
It isn't a flange; that's what I said...
I assume Mick was assuming something like...
Is electrolysing water to enrich intake air with oxygen a common technique? My counting on fingers sums reckon one litre of water would yield about 20,000 litres of oxygen, or about 1-2 hours worth. Haven't worked out how much electrical energy you'd need to generate, other than "a lot".
I wondered that. It's certainly not something your average ex-international cricketer would throw in overnight after a days filming!
I wondered that. It’s certainly not something your average ex-international cricketer would throw in overnight after a days filming!
Sure, but every TG / TGT adventure had them "modifying" their vehicles overnight into something which clearly took an engineering team a fortnight to do! TG was always well known (and, to be fair, they've never hidden it) for being quite tightly scripted from start to finish.
Funny story: years ago, they won an award for "best unscripted show" in the USA and they wanted to send Richard Porter ("script editor") to collect the award, but they didn't think the organisers would find the joke as funny as they did.
OK I'm bored of this 🙂
Pontiac diff pinion yoke. Unbolted.
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Well, I must say, just watching the rerun and I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would - last series really put me off, but the positivity on here made me give it a go and glad I did. Harris is still the best thing about it (sorry Drac), but Freddie's much better and even Paddy isn't too obnoxious. Might keep watching...
Harris has much improved now he seems more relaxed or finally realised it’s not just about reviewing cars.
I read somewhere that May was thinking of chucking it in as he’s getting too old to be chucked around the world in knackered cars. It’ll be sad when it happens, but I’m at least confident now that there will be a decent alternative when it does.
If you've not watched it already, then check our "james May, our man in Japan" on amazon prime. Interesting show and he is great in it.
Harris has much improved now he seems more relaxed or finally realised it’s not just about reviewing cars.
Seems like he is comfortable and happy with those two, just doing something he really enjoys and it shows.
I think the only part of the show that doesn't work is the studio part but I think that is partly down to Flintoff not being very good at it.
Flintoff has grown on me, he seemed very much at home recording to camera in the VW and seemed very genuine with his love for it. Paddy is ok but it kind of feels like something is missing like he has to try harder.
Overall it is better series this time so far.
^^^ Agreed.
Paddy = Clarkson (loud and obnoxious)
Freddie = Hammond (daft as a brush and as excitable as a puppy)
Chris = May (knowledgable and the 'grown up')
I think it's a shame there isn't a change of direction, it's the same with 3 different younger presenters
It also is a shame that Porsche can't spend tens of millions of euros making an electric car with a usable range, like 500 miles + rather than a very excludive and pointlessy fast sports coupe
rather than a very excludive and pointlessy fast sports coupe
That's kind of what Porsche does! 🙂
It also is a shame that Porsche can’t spend tens of millions of euros making an electric car with a usable range, like 500 miles +
Probably because the majority of people's usable range is around 100 miles. Don't mistake your own requirement with the majority of people. Although saying that, a 600 BHP electric car is not really usable (which even Harris admits)
It also is a shame that Porsche can’t spend tens of millions of euros making an electric car with a usable range, like 500 miles + rather than a very excludive and pointlessy fast sports coupe
I think you misunderstood what Porsche are.
On the other hand. Just think what they could be!
On the other hand. Just think what they could be!
VW ID range or Taycan 4S.
They could become the class leader in green motoring. By making a quick car that s really well bolted together, quick but not stupid fast, with a real world range of 400 miles plus and the benefit of fast charging somewhere in between 240v 13a and 270kw
The gov earn 26 billion a year from fuel duty that will have to be covered by taxing electricity and hikes in rfl in line with economy and or performance
Building hypercars for the tiny minority is a great wheeze, but in the world of thunberg are still polluting and not great for the next generation, till we go ful regen power, no nuclear or Dino juice and find lithium in a more environmentally sensitive way
Perhaps Trabant or Lada could build it and we'd all have a single eco-friendly peoples car!
By making a quick car that s really well bolted together, quick but not stupid fast
you do know that you can control the speed with the pedal on the right... and that there's a direct correlation between speed and range?
Yes but anybody 'could' do that and they'll leave that to them. Porsche like to make quick cars - they're always going to and have invested a lot of money in making [their LM] hybrid cars go quick - so why not use that knowledge.
There are other versions of the Taycan that won't be as quick as the Turbo S.
They could become the class leader in green motoring. By making a quick car that s really well bolted together, quick but not stupid fast, with a real world range of 400 miles plus and the benefit of fast charging somewhere in between 240v 13a and 270kw
Indeed under one of their other brands VW, Skoda or AUDI.
with a real world range of 400 miles plus and the benefit of fast charging somewhere in between 240v 13a and 270kw
That's a significantly larger range than my relatively frugal diesel.
Then your relatively frugal deisel either a. - isn't relatively frugal or in terms of relative are you comparing it to a container ship that does 1meter per gallon or
B. - your car has a 40 ltr tank ang gets 40mpg so 360 miles, whereas my relatively frugal car can go 700 and is shit.
Porsche could charge more than vw or seat and get more for the car on the focourt. The Porsche would depreciate less, be a nicer place to sit, better equipped, better paint, better suspension, better steering, nicer radio all stuff which bumps up the price to a prohibitive point that you would not spend on a lower specced vw group car.
Tesla rx at £95000 type of money, but screwed together properly with nice plastics and leather but of carbon here and there, some nice brushed ally detailing inside.
If that Porsche is 2.4tonnes then even driving it slowly would use alot of power, that's a chunk of mass to accelerate and haul uphill, cruising along a flat road at 65mph should be sensible but like the tesla with the button marked silly, use the power and the range drops remarkably quickly
Interesting episode. It is getting better but thought the Baha piece was - naturally - an anti climax. Good to see Harris getting the serious reviews, loved that Renault.
Excellent again - I really liked that the Baha piece showed up a failure, not like their regular "adventure" pieces.
That Renault was mental! Like the old V6 Clio. If I hàd the money to buy and run a £72k I'm not sure which of those three I'd have though
It would have to be the Lambo. If you ignore the running costs. Anyone fancy kerbing those carbon fibre wheels on the Renault!
Porsche could charge more than vw or seat and get more for the car on the focourt. The Porsche would depreciate less, be a nicer place to sit, better equipped, better paint, better suspension, better steering, nicer radio all stuff which bumps up the price to a prohibitive point that you would not spend on a lower specced vw group car.
That's going to happen with the next Macan - basically an Audi Q5/VW Tiguan/One of the Skoda K things (RIP Yeti). They aren't going to release any more internal combustion Macans.
The fact that, being a compact SUV, they're a hateful car in their own right, regardless of how good they are, is another subject.
Turned off when Mr & Mrs Fox appeared as I had to put the duvet cover back on.
Hope that they a) get back to Baja b) got a refund on the POS that they hired for the race.
...got a refund on the POS that they hired for the race.
Yeah, in the scene in the garage when they were doing the prep I'm sure someone referred to them being a proper professional race team, then the hattery fails on the start line and the GPS doesn't work. Very professional! The co-driver seemed to notice that drive belt had failed rather easily - no cover over it to protect from debris maybe? Seemed like a right bunch of dunces.
Last night’s episode was the worst of the series so far I thought and had the ‘celebrity’ section back which is soooooo dull now. It really needs killing off.
Paddy was particularly irritating this week too.
Last night’s episode was the worst of the series so far I thought and had the ‘celebrity’ section back which is soooooo dull now. It really needs killing off.
Paddy was particularly irritating this week too.
Worst of the series? Well maybe,
The first was the Nepal special which was great, the second involved the Metro bungee which was an eye opener, then the F22 v the Speedtail in Ep3 and last week was Peru... I'd go as far to say the least good in a series which has a pretty high bar.
For me, New, New Top Gear has finally found it's way - it's no longer 3 Men trying to be May, Hammond and Clarkson and a lot of the challenges are similar they're at least being more of themselves about it. I can't imagine Clarkson and Co racing Baja, out of their comfort zone and too high a risk of well, a DNF after half a stage.
Downsides, I don't think Freddie will ever be a natural in front of the camera in the Studio and Paddy is a bit of a 3rd wheel sometimes, but by and large it's better than watching the East Enders omnibus
Oh, I probably should have mentioned,
Turned off when Mr & Mrs Fox appeared as I had to put the duvet cover back on.
I was conflicted. He's clearly a bell end, but she's on my list of 6.
I was conflicted. He’s clearly a bell end, but she’s on my list of 6.
Same, he's always managed to ride under the radar, but since he started spouting off on Twitter he's really relived himself a complete dick. Last night only reinforced that for me.
"Mr and Mrs Fox".
What's weird for me is they seem like a couple, they even seem, to me at least, to sell that idea, but they're not they're cousins.
but they’re not they’re cousins.
I had some cousins that were a bit too close. 6 fingered kids everywhere.
Definitely the worst of the series so for but still very watchable so that is pretty good sign that things have improved.
I was conflicted. He’s clearly a bell end, but she’s on my list of 6.
So very much this.
What’s weird for me is they seem like a couple, they even seem, to me at least, to sell that idea, but they’re not they’re cousins.
He was quite handsy, wasn’t he. Definitely closer than I am with my cousins - but maybe that’s how posh people keep money in their families. 😂
Yeah, in the scene in the garage when they were doing the prep I’m sure someone referred to them being a proper professional race team, then the hattery fails on the start line and the GPS doesn’t work. Very professional!
It did occur to me that maybe the BBC budget didn’t stretch to hiring a competitive car and team, but maybe went far enough to hire a bit of a no-hoper. Ie, they knew that they’d fail, but it would make no difference because they’d still get a film out of it.
Do the normal teams usually drive in relay? (I haven’t checked, so this is a genuine question.)
Definitely the worst of the series so for but still very watchable so that is pretty good sign that things have improved.
I think this sums it up for me. Obviously some people want to over react, spout an opinion and make personal remarks, cos that's not caused any issues this week has it? If you don't like it, turn it off.
I had some cousins that were a bit too close. 6 fingered kids everywhere.
Most people fancy at least one of their cousins. I know I do.
Lawrence Fox is a proper bell end though.
Most people fancy at least one of their cousins. I know I do.
.
Really, I'm from a family of munters so, it's not something I'm familiar with.
Another good episode probably been much better if the Baha hadn’t been a total disaster.
Turned off when Mr & Mrs Fox appeared as I had to put the duvet cover back on.
No idea who either of them are
If they could just give Paddy the boot and bring in somebody who isn't a complete **** it would be much better.
No idea who either of them are
She is an actress I think she was in Silent Witness years ago, I’ve heard of him but no idea what he was in.
What he was in was sat next to him.
Shame the Baja feature was let down by the buggy, was shaping up to be great telly that. Megane was awesome but silly money (as are most hot hatches these days) I'd have standard RS300, fit a fancy diff and keep the change.
No clue who the posh Fox bunch were but he was a decent driver to be fair.
She is an actress I think she was in Silent Witness years ago, I’ve heard of him but no idea what he was in.
She still is, the latest run has just finished. He was in Lewis, the follow-up to Morse, with Kevin Whateley, playing DS, later DI Hathaway.
I’m a sucker for police and forensics tv series, and I particularly enjoyed Morse, Lewis, and now Endeavour.
No clue who the posh Fox bunch were but he was a decent driver to be fair.
Do the names James Fox and Edward Fox not ring any bells at all? They have had small parts in a few movies...
If they could just give Paddy the boot and bring in somebody who isn’t a complete **** it would be much better.
I think he's been pretty entertaining in the series.
he was a decent driver to be fair.
He wasn’t, he was on the edge of control because his ego wouldn’t let him take his foot of the gas. Hence, Several barely controlled drifts and only mid way up the board.
Do the names James Fox and Edward Fox not ring any bells at all? They have had small parts in a few movies…
And the rest of the family Michael J Fox, Dr Fox and of course their Auntie, Megan Fox.
I was very confused watching the Fox couple. I said to the Mrs that they looked like brother and sister but I honestly thought they were a married couple. It was only because of this thread that I found out that they are cousins! Very weird.
Dirty incestuous buggers.
That's the last time I but their biscuits.
Or mints.
She still is, the latest run has just finished.
I thought it finished ages ago. 😂
He wasn’t, he was on the edge of control because his ego wouldn’t let him take his foot of the gas. Hence, Several barely controlled drifts and only mid way up the board.
Mid-table, but I thought it was the fastest wet lap on the board? Which doesn't seem too shabby.
Do the normal teams usually drive in relay?
Yes unless they're in a solo class.
Not sure where they went wrong with the SxS.
Speed (Robby Gordon's team) is one of the top outfits in desert racing so know how to put a finishing car together.
But interestingly Freddie said at the end that they’ll be back next year in a proper car. It did seem a bit last minute, not sure why, but just got the impression that from Robby Gordon’s perspective they weren’t overly prepared.
Watching it now, the faux spontaneity is particularly annoying.
‘Here I am in a hot hatch, oh what’s this, Freddie in a Porsche’
Then Paddy pulls up in a Lamborghini, ‘oh, shall we have a drag race!’
Is this your first Top Gear?
Pmsl, tbf it annoyed me when the original incumbents did it too!
Speed (Robby Gordon’s team) is one of the top outfits in desert racing so know how to put a finishing car together.
Yes, this. Quite surprised at the failures given the experience/past of Robby Gordon. After all, he also gave us Stadium Super Trucks so I'm very definitely a fan. Ooooh that would be a good experience for the TG boys to have a go at for a future episode.
And Cayman GT4 > that Lambo. Lush.
You're all being a bit harsh on the Speed team, it's a brutally rough race and any small issues quickly become big ones. The unprotected belt could have come off due to a stone getting in and the wiring can happen to anyone.
So hope they go back next year, will be brilliant TV for anyone remotely interested in engineering and adventure.
Also the newby driver may not have helped matters. I used to work in motorsport, including Dakar stuff, and we built things to be strong enough rather than bomb proof. Make it as light as you can and still function. There was a big difference in the life of components from driver to driver. Some could make certain components last a season, others only a few races. Doesn't explain the dodgy GPS though, but that was probably just a loose connection to the aerial.
The unprotected belt could have come off due to a stone getting in
Why wouldn't you pop a cover plate over it then? That's got to be a measurable risk in that terrain. And the battery? Maybe that car was just income for them with most of the resource going towards a crew that was likely to be podium bothering. The driver skill is a reasonable point, but Harris does have a lot of experience. How much as an off-road racer I'm not sure. Wonder how many miles the car would have survived once Flintoff got his hands on it! 😁
Well another cracking episode I thought. This series has been then best on for year.
Did Damon Hill let slip the Stig's name when he was lapping in the 911? Sure he referred to 'Christian' in the Aston.
I would like to have seen Damon vs Stig vs Sabine round Cadwell. But otherwise its good entertainment.
Yup another great episode.
As silly as it was, Freddie’s motivational speech to Stig, and the reaction, had me in fits.