Erm…
Well eps 1 – Ant rebuilt a turbo, something most home mechanics won’t do, in fact most garages won’t do. Added a horrible 3rd wing to the Cosworth which involved a lot of fabrication that Edd would never have done (most he ever created was a few boxes as I recall) and more irritatingly, before EVERYONE could moan just how terrible an idea it was, rolled out the original designer of the car who said that’s how it would have been if he’d had his way.
Eps 2 – the Celica Supra, pretty weak episode for me, head gasket, exhaust and interior re-trim, but I’ve seen Edd episodes where they did less if we’re comparing, saying that head gasket isn’t an easy job.
Ep 3 – – Mustang, not the nicest era of ‘stang but the good ones are all mega money now, but a pretty decent slice of wheeler dealers for me, sort out the chassis not only restoring it, but improving it with thicker ARBs, better springs etc and restoring the power – two things that I would nit-pick about that, 1 the horrible way they talk about ponies escaping which irritates me and the way they did it – the engine is clearly worn, it’s 40ish bhp down, okay some of that could be down to worn ignition system and upgrading to a newer spec would fix that, but to go to the trouble and expense of ceramic headers and new exhaust and still be slightly down means they’ve missed an ‘simple’ fix – probably worn cams on an engine that old – but that’s TV I guess. In bike terms it’s like fixing a flexing rear end with a fancy new wheelset, rather than replacing the worn pivot bearings, but none of that matters it’s only TV and I don’t think it’s been ‘dumbed down’ it’s all standard wheeler dealers stuff.
For me, I like Ant, it was a shame Edd left, but that’s life and not Ant’s fault I like his enthusiasm and his style, some don’t but I do.
No, it’s not Ant’s fault it’s not perfect, like it was never Eds it’s Brewer, I have never, not once, ever ever ever, spoken to any one either online or in person who actually likes his bits, going way back to when they were doing up £500 Capris with rattle can sprayed wings, no one cares who he bought it from, how much of a wheeler dealer he is, how big his shoes are or how much he’s going to “bid ‘im” and yet year on year his part has grown, 5-6 years ago they included a bit with him going to a supplier to have a go at something – why? he had always been the worst part of it.
If anything has been dumbed down, it’s Mike’s bit – “towel management”? Really, give me strength.
Still, I’ve been watching it forever and probably still will do, but since the advent of Sky+ and now streaming, I rarely watch the bit when he buys it, and rarer still the bit he sells it.