Problem with last nights topgear is that my OH wants to go to Chernobyl.

There seems to be a bit more tv coverage of the area recently, river monsters with jeremy wade filmed a show there, top gear and some science thing the OH was watching the other week. Guessing its open season for film crews at the moment over there.

nickjb – Member

When Hammond mentioned the price it did make me wonder what thought process a buyer goes through. If you don’t want to spend money on fuel then why are you happy to spend £17k on a car?

Why does the 535D exist, or the A4 3.0 V6 TDI, etc.

People want the nicest spec interior and a ‘sporty’ exterior (big wheels etc) and the lowest day to day running costs they can get.

From what I gather though, the low running costs are not the main benefit of that engine. It’s combination of light weight, driveability and retaining reasonable MPG which makes it killer.

Check out some of 28dayslater threads on Chernobyl. Really interesting and creepy place
http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/tags/chernobyl.html

The fiesta was expensive cos it was a top end Titanium model with all the extras on it. Regular models most people have are way cheaper.

I’ve driven a few cars that size and the fiesta is head and shoulders above the rest. The way they were ragging it round the corners made me want one! I am very fortunate to be taking delivery of a new Focus soon which thankfully as class leading in its handling.

I used find Top Gear quite entertaining in a daft, not giving a **** kind of way, but IMHO it now just looks juvenile, dated and sad.

Why does the 535D exist,

a ‘sporty’ exterior (big wheels etc)

Sub 6s 0 – 60 and 295hp seems pretty sporty to me and it would need those big wheels to put that power down.

A big diesel in a sporty saloon makes a lot sense nowadays.

We always start watching it from the recording about 8:30 that way we can fast forward through the “pointless guests with something they are trying to sell” slot

I used find Top Gear quite entertaining in a daft, not giving a **** kind of way, but IMHO it now just looks juvenile, dated and sad.

I think that sums it up for me.

When they were ‘younger’ they had a balance of humour/information/entertainment’ now 50yr old men with big paunches, tired clothing and 16yr old public school jappery its cringeworthy.

bikemike1968 – Member
Ford have really upped their game in recent years. Transits can be a bit dicey but their cars are generally very reliable. The only real exception is the 1.6 diesel (ironically a Peugeot/ Citroën engine) focus. They completely cocked up the installation of the turbo plumbing leading to endless problems.
The 2l diesel and all the petrol engined cars are pretty solid.

Ironically there’s another thread ongoing at the moment from a guy whose 1.6 Ford diesel engine has given up the ghost and he’s after a new motor!

Ford have 8 cars in the Reliability Index’s Top 100 most reliable cars, which isn’t too shabby. The only other manufacturers to have that many are Toyota and Citroen(!!) Quite a few Fords sneaking in towards the end means that their average position is 62. Toyota have an average of 29, whilst Citroen score 48. One BMW makes the list, 3 Mercs and only 4 VWs.

Slow lunchtime.. 😀

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/top-100

On the Top Gear theme, have to agree that it was pretty inane stuff. They can be quite funny, but it just seems more forced, laboured and formulaic than ever. Liked Blunt though. Lest we forget he was present through the horrors of Kosovo and had the balls to disobey a direct order from an American General (his ranking officer given that he was part of the UN Forces) to forcibly take Pristina airport from the Russian occupiers. In fairness this was only for 15 minutes or so until General Mike Jackson could be found to countermand the order, but he’s got what it takes regardless of where he went to school (Harrow as it happens, also the subject of another current thread), how he speaks or the (awful) music that he creates. I’d certainly enjoy sharing a few beers with him more than I would Clarkson..

Top Gear’s ace. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. Simple as that. I like it, so I watch it.

I think that sums it up for me.

When they were ‘younger’ they had a balance of humour/information/entertainment’ now 50yr old men with big paunches, tired clothing and 16yr old public school jappery its cringeworthy.

No johhnny-come-lately haterz allowed in our club. 😉

You know something’s wrong with Top Gear when you fast forward the car tests and watch the star chat show bit.
Top Gear aren’t even trying anymore.
Sad.

Its just a TV show thats is easy to watch but…. James Blunt was rubbish the first time he was on. There is loads of new celebs that could come along.

Watched it last night and the only thing that really struck me was how ill and broken Clarkson looked.

loads of new celebs that could come along

maybe they don’t want to be associated with Top Gear.

maybe they don’t want to be associated with Top Gear.

Once upon a time I’d have loved to have been in the audience. Now if you gave me two tickets I’d offer them for free —–>

hora – Member

Once upon a time I’d have loved to have been in the audience. Now if you gave me two tickets I’d offer them for free —–>

Can I have first dibs??

My treasure is your pleasure

That coachwork company have built some beautiful cars, however they’ve ruined perhaps the most beautiful car of all time

I thought that was the best episode of the series by far.

The UAE bit was ok despite Hammond. The guest booker must be on some kind of dare: never owned a car and can’t even drive. Good bit of fun at the end.

Great episode.

That AMG 6×6 would make a sweet bike carrying machine.

Bit meh, nice Alfa Disco. 😕

Caterham and Gwagen porn. I did a little sex wee. Twice.

What Houns said except for the last bit.

The G Wagen was great silly engineering just because they can.

Blue lowwy, yellow lowwy.

<<Sits back with a drink*, relaxes, and prepares to indulge in daft-man silliness>>

*I have no work tomorrow!

They should stick to doing country specials, excellent

Stupid, but enjoyed that 🙂

Yeah, very good. The bit at the war cemetery was handled well too. Clarkson does history very well.

Fun, chill out Sunday TV

Was quite reluctant to switch it on to be honest … now I’m looking forward to next week’s episode. I can’t help but laugh at the stupid humour. And what an amazing country.

Are you going to cut it with peas! Classic

There was a pig on a bike!

That banger racing doc afterwards was fantastic.

Well worth watching.

I felt a bit sorry for Alfie, but also bit jealous.
Those Minis are ace.

That banger racing doc afterwards was fantastic.

had me glued, great to be reminded that there are whole other worlds out there on our doorstep, real shame Alfie’s dad didn’t seem to have the capacity to encourage without berating

glazed over a bit on the top gear special myself

The special was OK. It did feel a bit like they’d over stretched the edit to make it two episodes. Watchable enough

. It did feel a bit like they’d over stretched the edit to make it two episodes.

I don’t agree, it would have been rushed if it was one episode – an hour to cover a pretty epic journey (given the vehicles they are driving) AND the building of a substantial bridge. Nah.

I enjoyed it lots.

I thought I had deleted my series record on TG as the last episodes were just repitive mince.
But I started to watch last nights and despite myself actually quite enjoyed it, TBH they should just concentrate on doing the challenges and leave all the studio stuff behind.

Was pissing myself at them on horses, esp when the shortarse fell off and had to “rushed” to hospital with a sprained wrist. most telling insight was when Clarkson was sitting in the back of his truck at night with a glass of wine in hand. Some Challenge that!

I started to watch it, saw Jeremy Clarkson,threw an ornamental grandfather clock through the telly so had to did a sudoku instead (I hate sudoku too but not as much as that prat)

See what you did wrong was watching top gear.
Clarkson tends to be on it every episode….