[Closed] Top Gear - Back this Sunday

Good again. The car is the star again in this reboot, which is kind of the point.

5th gear was just too dull and TGT and old TG is/was stuffed to the gunnels with teeth itchingly cliched and repetitive unfunny skits and one liners. New Top Gear finds a middle way and it is a good way.

Even the stig was ok. Got in car, drove it round the circuit fast, got out. None of the old 'some say' or playing some 'amusing' music ****tery.

Even the stig was ok. Got in car, drove it round the circuit fast, got out. None of the old 'some say' or playing some 'amusing' music ****tery.

I liked it.

Now have 8 & 10 year old bugging me to get the Porsche and the Alfa, I can afford nether.

🙂

Pretty good but please replace Harris put him in as a writer, he can drive I'll give him that but he can not present.

Loved it. Thought Harris was great as were the other two.

That Alfa..... oh my... *runs off to check lease deals*

First one I've watched since the Evans era. Definitely massively improved but still no real chemistry between the presenters, although that might develop.

Certainly watchable - which the version with Evans most certainly wasn't.

Loved that. Smiled *almost* all the way through. The SIARFC bit was the only slight disappointment, but largely because the rest was so entertaining. Even Harris was less puppy dog than last week.

The car is the star again in this reboot, which is kind of the point.

Well put. This series of Top Gear feels like they have the balance right. There were a couple of moments were I feared old Clarkson-era habits were creeping back in (for the worse), but were kicked into touch in the edit.

I'm a bit worried about Mat Le Blanc though. He seems to be a bit of a passenger when it comes to the studio set pieces. He's not bad, but just needs to relax into it a bit.

so far so good IMO
the presenters seem to work together and thank god that evans is no longer on there...everything about him irritated the hell out of me last season
eddie jordan and sabine schmidt were just about watchable but very boring so glad theyve been given the boot too.

that alfa giulia looked looked and sounded absolutely beautiful last night!!

It must be moving in the right direction, my wife watched the whole episode rather than finding something else to do. I watch both but my preference is for this and I think the chemistry will come as the episodes progress.

Been a fan of Chris Harris for a good few years now.
Did anyone notice his commentary when the Stig was driving? Full on, accurate, excited and constant, unlike Clarkson's old twaddle, repeating the same old stuff

Enjoyed that quite a bit.

Good cars, Rory was less annoying the other two I think are fine. Matt le Blanc even made a joke that wasn't telegraphed and made me chuckle.

SIARFC format isn't working for me though at the moment, seems like they're just sat there for too long, might work if the presenters were a bit more chummy with the celebs, but not as it is. I suppose they haven't got anyone with any interview experience on the team though now.

I've only seen the first episode and thought that it was better than the previous series.

I like Harris, but the Harris on TG isn't the Harris from his own videos.

TG Extra is a bit crap now that Harris and Rory have been promoted.

I do like Harris' facial expressions when he's pretending to be scared by celeb driving.

Decent and relatively entertaining - some gorgeous shots on the US road trip.

no real chemistry between the presenters, although that might develop

I'm a bit worried about Mat Le Blanc though. He seems to be a bit of a passenger when it comes to the studio set pieces. He's not bad, but just needs to relax into it a bit.

He is most probably too busy imagining how he should spend his enormous fee to be worried about actually taking the series seriously.

First one I've watched since the Evans era. Definitely massively improved but still no real chemistry between the presenters, although that might develop.

Indeed....in fact I just feel uncomfortable watching Matt Le Blanc, it almost cringy! I suppose it shows what a difficult thing it is to be as popular as JC has been over the years!

I think MLB has settled into the role nicely. That said, I think the studio pieces are the weak link in the show and hope they can instead keep splashing the cash on stunning looking road trips. It has potential to be a whole series of Top Gear Specials and fab car tests, with just a soupçon of studio stuff.

Really good, edited better than the first episode too so no awkward silences as the editor cuts to the next shot.

The 3 of them are beginning to gel well together, MLB better in the films than in studio but it'll come

Quality 🙂 Thumbs up from me

I've just happened on Top Gear for the first time since 'the fall'.

Heavens above. It redefines the word 'lame'.

Like a lot of people I really didn't like the contrived stuff on the old Top Gear, or a bunch of silly old twunts getting paid a mint to dick around, but I now appreciate what 'chemistry' can do on a TV show.

I think there are a lot of Top Gear fanboys out there who really want new line-ups to work, but honestly, this is dreadful. Might be time to pack it in altogether.

Ahhh, yeah but.. there's always a stinker in the series isn't there?

Apart from Tasmin, bloody gorgeous Tasmin, the original 124 spider was the highlight.

So, Tasmin and a 124 spider (original) and me heading down the Amalfi Coast.. ... .. you can kill me now. 😐

Tamsin, her name's Tamsin.

I liked it, raised a few chuckles

You're fawning over her? Each to their own and all that, but..... Nah.

So, I'm out biking tonight, well, I'm in the pub at the moment, is it worth watching on iPlayer?

I thought it was ok.

Only 10mins in tho.

Also, don't forget the original cast took a few seasons to get warmed up. Not being an apologist, as don't really like the program on the whole, but this is no Chris Evans sized problem.

Yeah it was worth watching. Likedcthe db 11, golf and sabine, fiat sections.

Yeah it was worth watching. Liked the db 11, golf and sabine and fiat sections. Yes the features are so much better than the studio

I know it's all made up but the 'Ring guff was stale and predictable like the worst of the Clarkson/Hammond/May cack. Studio stuff still stiff and awkward - they should screw it off and just have em driving cars, or talking about cars down the boozer. Not digging the conspicuous consumption of melons, sheds and cars.

It's the bit where they get a celeb in and the obviously scripted banter is wack.

Walked into work while it was on....dreadfully scripted star in a car training bit.... Dolly Spring slating and then creaming over a Golf.... soon changed the channel.

I may be a bit naive here, but I assume the overtakes in the Golf were all setup?

er, yes. Its a golf, quite a fast golf, but to say it'll "destroy" a race prep'd 911 or even a std turbo is frankly rather silly, even with Sabs at the wheel.

I dunno. Given the Golf had no backseats, and Sabine was driving, I just hoped it was real.

Oh well....another dream smashed.

At least I still have Santa.

I don't think the overtakes were overly contrived. Official gt4 laptime :7.40. Official clubsport s : 7.49, less than 2% quicker. I've driven on the ring a good few times in different cars, but probably not as well versed as the average driver there, that said I'd expect sabine to be a lot more than 9 seconds ahead of me in a similar car.

Well the golf is 300hp and capable of a sub 8 minute lap with a professional driver..so it's capable of embarrassing more expensive machinery, it did seem a bit contrived though. The Bond piece had some smiles in it, the rest was a bit meh for me.

I don't think the overtakes were overly contrived. Official gt4 laptime :7.40. Official clubsport s : 7.49, less than 2% quicker. I've driven on the ring a good few times in different cars, but probably not as well versed as the average driver there, that said I'd expect sabine to be a lot more than 9 seconds ahead of me in a similar car.

Indeed the other cars are undoubtedly quick but to go fast on the ring means experience and that doesn't come with a big bank balance. I liked that part, Rory and Sabine looked like they were having fun. The DB11 spot was great even with the tired bond comparison the chemistry seems to be coming together with Chris and Matt but it's still a way to go. The studio part is still the weakest link and probably needs another rework but I like the fact all three presenters are on the couches which is something that always bothered me about the old series.

I'm sure the drivers in the other cars were middle aged forum dwellers that didn't want to wrap their pride and joy around the barriers, they pretty much pull over when the golf came up behind. Another good episode for me.

I know the GT isn't universally loved, but it should be massively faster than the Liana or Lecceti.

I don't think the overtakes were overly contrived

The overtakes were scripted out of oblivion, it was like a B movie script car chase in Ny Yoyk with Nicholas Cage at the wheel.

I mean, obvz..

And gawd, what was the crap muck spreader bit about? That's a pointless section f the programme.

I do like Sabine for her infectious enthusiasm, I hope they use her again..

I wish they would say woo hoo a bit more.

Bit meh about this week's. Felt like not enough content stretched out to fill the hour.

I thought it was brilliant. Harris as the bond villain made me laugh out loud.

I thought it was great, on the right track. The studio bits are the clear weak link.

They really were.

Which one were you driving?

I'm assuming they were, as all things being equal any one of those cars should be quicker than the Golf. But all things weren't equal, you had one of the quickest drivers of the 'Ring versus complete unknowns in all the others. I don't doubt there was selective editing at the very least, but I also don't doubt that Sabine would have bags more confidence in the Golf than Franz in his 911 who's just looking at the Armco and working out how much a crash will cost!

pondo - Member

I don't think the overtakes were overly contrived

They really were.

njee20

Which one were you driving?

If there was any doubt, the fact that the white Corvette, white GT3 RS, red GT3 and TTRS etc were parked up beside the Golf during the pre-amble should give it away. Painfully scripted.

Not that Sabine couldn't overtake most average drivers regardless of equipment, but it wouldn't look like that. And in real life there'd probably plenty of track prep'd 1000bhp Porsches and BMWs blasting past.

Incidentally, professional racing driver Benny Leuchter took roughly 60 attempts over 6 months to get that lap time in the golf.

It's obvious, the film crew would have had a word with the drivers in the other cars before they were let out on the track. Don't they go off in groups of 10 or something ? A simple "oi Klaus, we're filming a dark grey Golf for Top Gear, keep an eye out for it in your mirrors because we'll be going flat chat" his response would be something like "Ya, das iz goot ya"

I'm surprised anyone thinks otherwise.

Different people like different things shocker!
Sabine has balls of steel 😀

Whatever... It was good Sunday night doing the ironing TV. Again.

So much better without Evans and Clarkson & Co.

I'm pretty sure it was a track day, rather than touristfahren, which would explain

a) the cars parked up together at the start
b) the lack of bikes (track days there are normally cars or bikes)

the overtakes would look exactly like that as people aren't racing. once someone's caught you on a track day, if they're going quicker than you, you get to a place you can ease off, and let them past (on the left, if its a touristfahren).

The overtakes might have been scripted/repeated, but they're not contrived. Sabine in a car like that would probably be quicker than any member of this forum, in literally any car. Just in the same way that Danny hart would be quicker than any of us down fort bill, regardless of the bike he's riding - particularly if (as the analogy would follow) he's just on a mid-spec enduro bike (so pretty reasonable, if not absolutely optimized for the track) rather than a £10k carbon bling spec dh bike (ie a 911 gt3 or turbo)

Given that neither TG or TGT are really car programs its all about, for me, whats entertaining without it feeling forced or overly silly.

Again for me, this current series of TG has TGT pipped. TG must have a much smaller budget that the TGT but seems to provide very comparable content suggesting TGT maybe have run out of ideas.

The star bit in TG, if it were to stay, needs to go back to the Clarkson 1 on 1 plugging type interview as then it was at least a little meaningful.

I really enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it far more than I did the Grand Tour.

It's beautifully shot - the chase scenes around the old factory somewhere in ex-Yugoslavia were really well done, plus the chemistry between presenters is working better. Rory gets on my nerves a little, as does Sabine but I can cope with both in small doses. Thankfully, there's no sign of Eddie Jordan anywhere.

I loved it. Really, really loved it. As for Sabine's piece, I reckon 5lab has it about right^

SIARFS still isn't quite working for me, but Tamsin had a good stab at making it more entertaining than previous ones. I really rate Matt le Blanc on the feature pieces, even the muck spreader 😆

Jeremy who?

really enjoying the new top gear - back to basics for me and it works.

I thought last night was better than the Grand Tour I must say. I like Chris, Matt's getting there, Rory's a bit annoying, but it's definitely got potential.

5lab
Sabine in a car like that would probably be quicker than any member of this forum, in literally any car

Pfft, hardly. I've over taken Sabs when she was driving the M5 ring taxi!

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Although to be fair i was driving a full wings-n-slicks N24 car....... 😉

Just watched the first one.
Enjoyed it.

Was really looking forward to Clarkson free TG but Evans' ego kyboshed that.
Much more relaxed without him.

Jeez H. C. on a pushbike. The new series is DULL.

I never thought that I'd become the sort of person to switch over from T.G. to The One Show [i]out of preference[/i] . . . but, hey . . .

I very much lament Clarkson throwing that punch. But, if it wasn't [i]that[/i], the PC brigade would have found something else . . . eventually. 🙄

PC gone mad, sacking someone for punching a junior member of staff for not having his tea ready.

Watched last night's earlier. It was very good indeed some lovely cars being driven fast, great entertainment. Slowly Harris is improving in the studio so he might be allowed to stay if he continues.

I can't believe we've never mentioned Clarkson punching someone before.

I had a 5 seconds glance at New TG not good, not good instantly put me off me meal coz something is really not right. 😆

Almost sums up reading your posts.

Cant say I really thought to much of last nights episode.
To many camera angles and trickery trying to give the cars an impression of speed.
Hardly ever saw a speedo shot or long distance view. They just don't seem to be able to really enjoy themselves and get loose of the BBC leash.
Just my views but it's still a damn site better without Ginger.

I really enjoyed last nights episode, previous ones were OK but the last one was definitely a step up. Chris Harris seemed a bit more natural and less forced with his acting. Mat seemed more comfortable in the studio. Overall there was more chemistry between the presenters and everything flowed better than the previous shows.

Favorite car in the episode?

For me the Fiat 124. The original one

I'm pretty sure it was a track day, rather than touristfahren, which would explain

a) the cars parked up together at the start
b) the lack of bikes (track days there are normally cars or bikes)

the overtakes would look exactly like that as people aren't racing. once someone's caught you on a track day, if they're going quicker than you, you get to a place you can ease off, and let them past (on the left, if its a touristfahren).

The overtakes might have been scripted/repeated, but they're not contrived. Sabine in a car like that would probably be quicker than any member of this forum, in literally any car. Just in the same way that Danny hart would be quicker than any of us down fort bill, regardless of the bike he's riding - particularly if (as the analogy would follow) he's just on a mid-spec enduro bike (so pretty reasonable, if not absolutely optimized for the track) rather than a £10k carbon bling spec dh bike (ie a 911 gt3 or turbo)

Good... Le Bond, Sabine, muck spreader... (would have been good to have got some facts on the power of those blades)

Bad ... leblanc's comic timing and whole programme is a bit too long

Ugly .... The DB11 😥

I had a 5 seconds glance at New TG not good, not good instantly put me off me meal coz something is really not right.

Almost sums up reading your posts.

😆

About half way through, so far it's def the best yet!

I'm pretty sure it was a track day, rather than touristfahren, which would explain
a) the cars parked up together at the start
b) the lack of bikes (track days there are normally cars or bikes)

the overtakes would look exactly like that as people aren't racing. once someone's caught you on a track day, if they're going quicker than you, you get to a place you can ease off, and let them past (on the left, if its a touristfahren).

The overtakes might have been scripted/repeated, but they're not contrived. Sabine in a car like that would probably be quicker than any member of this forum, in literally any car. Just in the same way that Danny hart would be quicker than any of us down fort bill, regardless of the bike he's riding - particularly if (as the analogy would follow) he's just on a mid-spec enduro bike (so pretty reasonable, if not absolutely optimized for the track) rather than a £10k carbon bling spec dh bike (ie a 911 gt3 or turbo)

I totally get that she would be quicker by a big margin than the average 'Ring punter, but it just didn't strike me as real at all. Few things - some of those passes were on straights, think one might have been on a corner exit, and no matter how good she is, she can't make a 300hp hatch (two up) accelerate faster than a hundred grand sportscar. Some of the pases she made were on the right, and there was at least one rear-looking shot of the Golf from one of the 'target' cars. More than anything, I think it was the in-car shots - would Rory really drop a loser sign on a total stranger as they go past, and would the Beeb show it? Would either of them be that excitable? Would they be working out on the fly the cumulative values of the cars they're going past? Who even does that (unless you're doing a piece about how fast round the 'Ring a 30k hatch is)? Just had "scripted" written all over it for me.

I agree - it was embarrassing to watch actually - loads of the giant killing was of rental cars including RSR, IE billies at 6/10ths (don't blame them with a €20k excess) or guys on their in-lap/cooldown. The thing is it gave the impression the car was a giant killer. Good as it is it really isn't. Plenty of punters are quicker than Sabine in a Golf CS there, they just decided not to show them. I quite like that Rory guy but he is into cars and he has waited that long to do 1 lap there : really ?

Plenty of punters are quicker than Sabine in a Golf CS there, they just decided not to show them.

Top gear has always been fake, the thing was that you didn't care because of the interpersonal dynamic. If that is lost then they're screwed

I think it was the in-car shots - would Rory really drop a loser sign on a total stranger as they go past, and would the Beeb show it?

Why wouldn't they?

But I guess any random jackass with a fancy car can show her a thing or too...

Why wouldn't they?

Plenty of punters are quicker than Sabine in a Golf CS there, they just decided not to show them.

Personal friends of yours? You go there often enough to know this for a fact? She lives there! Possibly knows the circuit better than any one single person, a professional racing driver, done more than 20,000 laps, increasing by around 1200/year! But I guess any random jackass with a fancy car can show her a thing or too...

Yes some personal friends will be quicker than her in their car if she is in the Golf but probably not if they are in the Golf too. I only go there 3 times a year but that's only been for 8 or so years. I can't remember saying that anyone can be faster than her, can you ? I said plenty of people will be quicker than her in their car. Just go to a DN event or even an evening TF and you'll see other locals in action too. There is only so fast the Golf can go, isn't there ? She might be worth 10s more than the average serious track pedaler there in the Golf but many cars are worth a multiple of those 10s. The program will have you believe that the Golf is quicker than a rental GT3. It really isn't, and even Sabine can't change that.
She is probably amongst the quickest drivers there but she is not a magician. I have only done 600 laps or so which means I only know 90% of what I need to know and I am fully aware that the other 10% would take me 500 years at this rate but the law of diminishing returns hit far earlier than you may think. You don't find minutes by being a local. You find the last 10s, at best. Which isn't enough to beat a GT3, unless my neighbour drives it!

Nothing against Sabine as I have been using her family's facilities quite a lot but a little perspective will help understanding how embarrassing that feature was. Actually, that's precisely the kind of attitude displayed that the Ring are trying to get rid off and the place has kind of become a little less loutish of late.

Enjoyed that tonight! 🙂

Yip, it's a grower,

That's entertainment...