"poor us" Top Gear lot

I’m quite happy for my licence fee to go towards SoP etc, my issues with TG are:

It could be so much better, and used to be, some of the specials at least tried to inform.
Other channels are doing better stuff on cars (esp classics) now.
JC’s attitude to cyclists and the worrying way in which so many think it’s just a joke etc.
The general lowest common denominator/Express reader/taxi driver approach to whatever they want to mian about (cyclists, bus lanes etc).

I liked it. So there.

Careful al, the point of my thread nearly got you then…..

It was worth it to see the Beaver gloves and hats…

The whole number plate thing smacks of a production meeting,followed by a possible tip-off to local media that TG were filming??. A part of me very suspicious about the FKL plate being “originally” fitted to the 928!!, BE11END plates ready in the back??. They had all that hassle in the US with the “Queer” graffiti on their 3 cars. TG for the most part enjoyable and best when they prank just each other….. 🙁

A part of me very suspicious about the FKL plate being “originally” fitted to the 928!!

Which part of you is very suspicious.

Is that part of you not very clever?

Stunning place. Great advert for Argentina.

It has been stated by BBC/Top Gear team that:-
Plates original
Car not bought for plate.

My only conspiracy theory is around the fact that car could have been bought for any of the things they usually do to them and then, after it was bought, the plate was noted and a hilarious jape planned around it.

I found it suprising that cameras captured the moment the plate fell off.

ps: I thought it was a great travel programme.

It could be so much better, and used to be, some of the specials at least tried to inform.
Other channels are doing better stuff on cars (esp classics) now.
JC’s attitude to cyclists and the worrying way in which so many think it’s just a joke etc.
The general lowest common denominator/Express reader/taxi driver approach to whatever they want to mian about (cyclists, bus lanes etc).

I concur with this. Most of me hopes the “butch cassidy” style ending was a subliminal end to a production of the program. I’d be all in favor though of a reinvention with new presenters (perhaps May could stay) of a motoring magazine style show with serious day to day car reviews, topical issues and so forth – I’d watch it. No need to lose the supercars, but real issues and reviews of day to day cars with the odd bit of petrol head fantasy thrown in would be welcome.

Yet – hold on – that’s Fifth Gear isn’t it? So how does one move away from the gimmick the two programmes have become?

But as we are now in a black and white internet age, seems a growing number of folk cannot cope with any concept of humour, nuance etc

Is this the same sort of nuance the show used when Hammond said “Cars reflect national characteristics…a Mexican car’s just going to be a lazy, feckless, flatulent oaf with a moustache, leaning against a fence asleep, looking at a cactus with a blanket with a hole in the middle on as a coat”

or when Clarkson used the term “Slope” to describe Asian people in Burma?

That sort of nuanced humour you mean?

Enjoyed it a lot, all three entertain me. And what a place.
I’d probably never ever visit, so nice to see some of the place on the telly program.
Didn’t make the plate connection either.
Didn’t even think about my brother in law at the bottom of the Atlantic.

The “slope” comment was so nuanced I wasn’t aware it was an insult until the fuss kicked off, I’d never heard of the term used in that way. If it was deliberate, it was disgraceful.

The Mexican thing – I personally believe that it stayed just the right side of generalised stereotype used in a humourous way rather than being a racist insult. That’s because I do not believe that Mexicans fit that old fashioned stereotype. For the same reason I don’t get offended when people suggest I’m a six toed inbred idiot having been raised in the Fens, because I know that the stereotype is not true.

Education and a sense of humour allow me to put things in a wider context. I’d hate to think that The System blocks certain types of humour because some people are paranoid that stupid people may think a joke is a real truth and therefore potentially racist.

i feel bad now…..when i say hate, i mean i a way that i dont like riding in the rain, or eating well done steak, or standing in dog turds.
so more like dislike than hate……..

Nahh ton, he’s a loathesome boorish deeply unfunny cockwomble who should be strapped to a NASA SLS rocket so as to launch him into deep space for science and the sake of mankinds safety.

That rockets going to be full by the time the STW clear out gets done

Both the slope and Mexican things were completely unnacceptable.

The Mexican comments only seemed “okay” as there are very few Mexicans living in this country/Europe.
You just need to replace Mexican with Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, etc., etc., to see why it’s wrong.

It’s offensive. That doesn’t mean anyone was swooning with shock as the apologists like to argue, just that it’s a nasty, hateful thing to say.

I concur with this. Most of me hopes the “butch cassidy” style ending was a subliminal end to a production of the program. I’d be all in favor though of a reinvention with new presenters (perhaps May could stay) of a motoring magazine style show with serious day to day car reviews, topical issues and so forth – I’d watch it. No need to lose the supercars, but real issues and reviews of day to day cars with the odd bit of petrol head fantasy thrown in would be welcome.

Terrible idea! Ratings would drop off a cliff, and the BBC would lose one of its biggest sources of income. It’s an entertainment show with a huge audience, the vast majority of whom only have a passing interest in cars. A better idea would be a spin off consumer show, broadcast outside of primetime that the car geeks could record/watch on iPlayer. But clearly the BBC feel that there are enough other sources for that kind of information.

Suppose I have to agree with nealglover, maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche as he couldn’t find a Porsche 982 !. Think brant has it down,Guy in local town has BNW plates on his 5 series…… Now suitably chastened. I am fick and proud of it 🙂

maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche

Been checked out, was originally registered as that. Unless you want to make up a new version of the truth.

Think I might have a little lie down……. 🙁

Suppose I have to agree with nealglover, maybe suspicions false the FKL plates probably put on by last owner who bought this Porsche as he couldn’t find a Porsche 982

Just so it’s clear, that’s not “agreeing with nealglover” 😉

The FKL plate was issued to the car from new by the DVLA.

That’s not my opinion. Is just true.

I have to say poor James may, the falling off the donkey onto his back must have really hurt. Reminded me of a smackdown in wwf but higher and without prior training.

I loved the Lotus and was happy they didnt butcher it too much. Its a shame they have to destroy the cars they use. Also felt for the poor 2cv.. it looked quite special.

Top Gear is getting a bit old and flabby now…

I watched it, but found it a bit tedious in places.
The country looked amazing though – I just think it would be so much better if they just respected the places they visited a bit more..

Its a shame they have to destroy the cars they use.

After the driving chopping them up would be the safest thing to do

Brilliant, loved it.
I’m not one of the professionally offended, so no complaints from me.

I enjoyed it and now want a Lotus Esprit to do a bit of off roading in 😀

I’m not one of the professionally offended

Did this lazy insult* first get suggested in “I dont mind a bit of casual racism as its only a joke” weekly?

* easier than defending the “humour” highlighted above re mexico or slope

Jeremy ClarksonVerified account ?@JeremyClarkson

In all seriousness, I would like to thank the people and government of Chile for their help and support when everything went wrong.

Amazed the media aren’t foaming at the mouth about this one and it’s potential reference….

I was offended by the fact that they covered up all the Lotus breakdowns.

brant – Member
It has been stated by BBC/Top Gear team that:-
Plates original
Car not bought for plate.

My only conspiracy theory is around the fact that car could have been bought for any of the things they usually do to them and then, after it was bought, the plate was noted and a hilarious jape planned around it.

I found it suprising that cameras captured the moment the plate fell off.

ps: I thought it was a great travel programme.

How can we know the beebs statements are true? Like they’d own up to buying it for the plate, planned or not?

Can I have a travel programme based on reality?

Swindon Al?

You miss my point.

Again.

Something not based on a matey act between 3 men clearly doing it for the money with a huge production team behind them doing ridiculous unrealistic stuff.

Sounds a bit dull really, how about bear grylls hiding from the production crew? Or 2 blokes from STW making progress up the a9?
Edit
Take a look at the crew size for Evan mcgregor on his motorbike holidays

Don’t they usually buy cars locally for this sort of adventure? The number plate and potential tip off to locals is as contrived as a lot of the other things that happen.

IT IS A TV PROGRAM. IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT DON’T WATCH IT.

IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT BUT DECIDE TO WATCH IT ANYWAY DON’T MOAN ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU DON’T LIKE IT.

Simple.

onehundredthidiot – Member

Don’t they usually buy cars locally for this sort of adventure? The number plate and potential tip off to locals is as contrived as a lot of the other things that happen.

Nope, they ship EVERYTHING. Including all the stuff for the usual A-Team modification bits, for which most are already built and fabricated before they leave the UK.

But for STW threads I would not know it had been on

I thought that “professionally offended” was a fair summation, rather than a lazy insult.

I didn’t defend the racist slope comment, I said I didn’t know it was an insult until it made the news and I also said it was a disgrace if the comment was deliberately put in the show for that reason.

If someone used the Mexican comments about Indians, Pakistanis or Chinese people it still wouldn’t be racist, as I’m not aware that there was an outdated stereotype of these people behaving that way. Quite tbe opposite in fact. It would just show tbe ignorance of the person using the wrong stereotype for the wrong cultures.

If it would help the “professionally offended” I could always report my own post to the mods for being racist and we’ll see if I get banned?

im alright with that, but IMO a snapped steering arm in the middle of nowhere means the car is dead. Hammond, get your arse in that 2cv-thing

oh, and Clarkson needs to chat to one of STWs great belly loss experts.

cant beat a good few beaver jokes eh?

Take a look at the crew size for Evan mcgregor on his motorbike holidays

Off the top of my head I reckon 1 camera man on a bike, another in a support truck along with a dr and 2 others. Plus they had a local fixer in most countries. Watched lwr again tecently while laid up with a **** knee. Great program. Would expect top gear to be much much more than this. I quite enjoyed the scenery of the first one and being a massive fan of westerns loved the Butch and Sundance bits. The arsing about pretending to be lost is very tiresome though. Didnt watch the second one.

In summary.

Some people don’t like an entertainment show focused on banter and nuanced humour between 3 blokes, but rather than turn over, continue to watch and get angry, either for themselves or on behalf of others who they think they should be offended on behalf of.