The Top Gear and as yet untitled Amazon Prime Show Thread

[Pepe]

When I was looking for a car in Miami, ten years ago or so, I called to inquire about a really nice older M Benz.

*Hi, I would like to go check out your car.*
*Do you have the cash in your hand right now?*
*Ermmm, no?*
*Call back when you have it. Clicks.*

Such a fucking wanker.

[Lewis]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9XRT-AFxc

They still look fresh when you spot one. I bet it would be a great project with a more modern engine.

[niko_cee]

There are so many great things from back in our youth. The Ford Puma. :cool:

The Racing Puma was another one I craved, even though it wasn't really worth the extra money. I remember finding a website claiming it could be imported from Europe for about the cost of a normal 1.4l one at the time (I think it was about £13,000) and I almost persuaded my dad to get one (would never have worked out as they couldn't be imported from Europe). I still search for them every now and then on the internet. Being both awesome, of a very limited initial run and totally pointless in real terms makes them fairly scarce these days.

That was another one in blue. Must have been the time.

[Lewis]

Yeah, nobody bought them because they were barely any better but pitched (price-wise) against more powerful Japanese things. I think they were a bit ahead of their time in terms of styling, like the BMWs that came through in the early 2000s looking all bloated and weird, but in hindsight seem to have led the way.

Was that to Australia? They don't seem to like people importing stuff. I bet it's easier to open an off-licence on aboriginal land than register a left-hand drive car.

[niko_cee]

No, to Guernsey.

The problem was there weren't any in the EU/Europe to buy/sell - they were all just sold in the UK (I think). The website I found was some sort of VAT dodge as I recall, and it listed the Racing Puma as an option, but for various reasons that never happened.

I don't know why they didn't bother with the performance a bit more. It was a cracking little car.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fucking Ed Byrne.

[Magic]

Ffs I said last week it was a who's who of BBC shit cunts.

That Dodge though. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yep, I fucking love an American muscle car.

I also liked that they used it to help bring in a U2/ER2 which is an amazing plane. You need a week of training just to go up in it as a passenger.

[Magic]

I also love Joey though. Class guy.

[Magic]

Jesus Christ it's O'Brien too. Fuck this.

[Giggles]

I have as hoping after last week they'd binned the interview section altogether.

[Magic]

Same. That's the first time I've skipped the guest bit, other than Dave repeats.

[niko_cee]

The egg bit in the 2CV was fairly fastfowardworthy.

[Giggles]

The egg bit in the 2CV was fairly fastfowardworthy.

It's been done to death at this stage anyway.

[Giggles]

I'd rather have that Chevrolet than the Ferrari.

[Magic]

Another nobody.

[Magic]

Jason Manford? Nope.

Lol at the Renault bursting in to flames.

Edit: in fact every single guest has been utterly shite.

[Lewis]

The fact it gets half the viewers it used to probably stops the really famous people from turning up, but they can surely still do better than middling BBC players.

[Magic]

Liked the SUV bit. Really enjoyed the series as a whole. :)

[Giggles]

Me too. Thought the whole thing was really good.

[Ian]

I'd sack off the guest bit altogether if they're not ever going to get anybody properly famous but otherwise I've enjoyed this series. It seemed they barely had any bits with all three of them this time and I'd like to see them get a proper special but if the viewer numbers are down I guess that may not happen.

[Giggles]

LeBlanc leaving.

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44320696

[Spikey M]

https://media1.tenor.com/images/2b4f66b552cfd39fb48ff52e1d7be2a4/tenor.gif?itemid=4529582

[Magic]

Fuck sake.

[Lewis]

They should just let Harris and Reid do it as a two and play up their differences, but watch them get a woman in.

[Giggles]

They should just let Harris and Reid do it as a two and play up their differences, but watch them get a woman in.

They're way past that now. Gender fluid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

A bit disappointed as he (and the trio together) were really starting to gel.

[Giggles]

Ugh.

1054267210250760192

[Ian]

:sick:

And Rory Reid only doing the extra thing as well.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

What? Why?

Harris still there?

[niko_cee]

That's amazing. They must have thought long and hard about whether they could find a worse pair. Redknapp and Corden?

[Disco]

This will kill it with any luck and then it can be rebooted properly in few years time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Freddie Flintoff's media career is the opposite of the gift that keeps on giving. The thief that keeps on stealing?

[Pleb]

That's fucking hilarious.

[wullie]

Star in a reet good car sponsored by Jacamo

[Ian]

What? Why?

Harris still there?

Harris will be there attempting to give a shit about cars but really just wishing he was dead.

[Lewis]

What are they thinking? The statement put out in Harris' name sounded like he had been kidnapped.

[Giggles]

Didn't realise it was coming back already.

[Clunge]

Watched it. Underwhelmed.

[Mike]

The hashtag they’ve used to advertise it got a shameful smile out of me.
#Amazonshitcarshow

[Ian]

I mean it worked on me when I saw it in the train station at 7am before my brain got it's act together.

[Lewis]

That was quite a good one. That McLaren Senna - lame name aside - is incredible.

[Giggles]

Was good, happy days. I hope they do just switch to permanent specials type things from next series though.

[Giggles]

That McLaren is pig ugly though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I though LeBlanc was leaving now with Paddy and Flintoff (fucking hell once more) coming in for this series.

I've just seen that LeBlanc's last is the one that starts soon so we get one more of the good trio.

[Giggles]

I've got as far as where they're going around the city with the cameras. It's done lads, it's finally done.

[Yevrah]

Can't help but agree. Comes across as so tired.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I felt that way last season and I've yet to bother with any of the new ones.

[Yevrah]

I wouldn't, they're shit.

[Shindig]

Do they still review cars now or is it just challenges at the bank of Amazon?

[Yevrah]

There's a bit of that, but the main problem for me (as someone who never enjoyed that bit anyway) is the lack of imagination in the challenges/trips. The double episode was just a bit crap, for example.

[Giggles]

That was a good episode. I love when they do segments like the one on Clark.

[Magic]

Amazing. Love the new series so far. My dad has Prime, and I may never move out. :drool:

[Giggles]

I want some battered spag bol :drool:

[Lewis]

I thought the first Top Gear was good, but my Prime has lapsed so no more of that oh well.

[Giggles]

That's one of the best specials they've ever done.

[Yevrah]

I quite enjoyed it.

Any news on whether the show will be renewed?

[Limoutsonik]

It has been renewed and they are scrapping the tent part of the show and only doing specials from now on. No timed laps,conversation street or May's brilliant automotive history bits.

[Shindig]

That's a good sign of the show's future, then. :moop:

[Magic]

Hmm. I liked both.

[Limoutsonik]

You all need to go and watch the latest episode that just came out. Just watch it.

[Giggles]

You all need to go and watch the latest episode that just came out. Just watch it.

I've seen Clarkson refer to putting his heart and soul into writing it. It's about the Mondeo isn't it?

[Limoutsonik]

Yes but after you watch it,you will understand what i am on about.

[Giggles]

Yes but after you watch it,you will understand what i am on about.

I watched it at half five this morning when I read your post :D

[Limoutsonik]

Last 5 minutes tugged into the heart strings for sure.

[Disco]

What is it?

[Mike]

Hadn’t it already been posted about in this thread?
They’re changing it so it’s just episodes like the specials, with no tent, times track laps or audience.

[Mike]

It has been renewed and they are scrapping the tent part of the show and only doing specials from now on. No timed laps,conversation street or May's brilliant automotive history bits.

See!

[Limoutsonik]

Basically they announce that the current format of the tent with the audience,laptimes and car chat is scrapped and they are only going to do big adventure specials.But you can see Clarkson tear up while saying this and showing a montage of the their best moments throughout the years with footage from Top Gear being added as well and they did mention BBC by name.But it was presented in such a way that was genuinely moving and could make a grown man cry.

[Giggles]

It was nice that they got some BBC clips for their montage.

[Ian]

See!

To be fair I knew that was happening but it did not immediately spring to mind as something that should be reducing anybody to tears.

[Yevrah]

I can only assume they wanted to continue in its current format, but Amazon said no. Which for me is the right decision.

[Disco]

The last special trip they did was good, up there with the best ones (Botswana, S.America). If they can do more in that style then I might start watching again, it felt less obviously scripted than everything they've done since the switch to Amazon.

[Giggles]

The last special trip they did was good, up there with the best ones (Botswana, S.America). If they can do more in that style then I might start watching again, it felt less obviously scripted than everything they've done since the switch to Amazon.

Yeah it was one of the best shows since the switch, possibly the best.

[Lewis]

The new Top Gear line-up works weirdly well.

[Ian]

I meant to post about it in here. There's a bit of the "LOOK WE'RE DOING BANTER!!!" because they're still working on it but I actually haven't minded it so far.

[niko_cee]

I can't bring myself to watch it.

[Ian]

I was going to swerve it but then my Sky box recorded it for me so I stuck it on. The second episode was a bit more "lol banter lads" than I'd have liked but the first was solid enough.

[Giggles]

Haven't seen an episode this series and I never will.

[Mike]

It’s on my watch list after my Dad said it was good.

[Ian]

The two episodes so far are, if nothing else, much more watchable than the worst bits of the original trio (either as latter-day Top Gear or the low points of Grand Tour) or anything involving Chris Evans.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Haven't seen an episode this series and I never will.

This.

I also haven't watched any of the last season of Grand Tour.

[Giggles]

This.

I also haven't watched any of the last season of Grand Tour.

A lot of the last series of GT was very good, especially the last special. I just say no to LADBANTZ.

[Shindig]

I don't know what I want from a car show. We've seen it all.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I honestly gave up on them a good while ago.

Because I'm a car nerd I prefer a lot of the stuff on youtube from Chris Harris, Henry Catchpole etc.

[Giggles]

Project Binky :cool:

[SincereTheRebel]

I watched the first episode after hammond and co left and never returned

[Yevrah]

I fucking hate online singles.

Have I said that before?

EDIT: Ignore me.

[Magic]

I fucking hate online singles.

Have I said that before?

EDIT: Ignore me.

Same.

[Giggles]

Online singles?

[Pepe]

:D

[Lewis]

The Top Gear Nepal thing was pretty good, and lol out loud at some of the overtaking in the first section. Absolute maniacs.

[Giggles]

Still haven’t seen an episode of the LAD version of TG. Probably would have if it was any way handy to watch them on a catch up thing though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Yeah, I lost all interest as soon as Flintoff and McGuiness were announced.

Annoying as I preferred it to The Grand Tour (I don't think I watched any of last season).

[Ian]

Flintoff and McGuinness are both fine in the bits where it's just one of them with and Harris but together they're annoying yobbo bantertwats.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

I've never really watched much of the newer ones, I just stick with the Chris Harris youtube stuff that appears.

[Giggles]

By the end I quite liked Joey Tribbiani on it.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

By the end I quite liked Joey Tribbiani on it.

As did I.

I really like the trio of LeBlanc, Harris and Reid.

[Yevrah]

The Seamen thing wasn’t great.

[Ian]

I bet they thought that name was absolutely hilarious too.

[Giggles]

I didn’t mind it. Definitely not the worst special they ever did (India).

[Yevrah]

Yeah it was better than that and some of their efforts on Amazon, but you’re left thinking that they’ve well and truly run out of ideas.

There were barely any challenges, for example.

[Giggles]

It’s basically a travel show now.

[SincereTheRebel]

Forgot that this and the grand tour still exist.

[Clunge]

James May has just done a six-part travel show for Amazon on Japan. Agree re Seamen, it smacked of Clarkson's longing to do something on the Vietnam war.

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

He should do more WW2 documentaries.

I'd seen the two more well known ones (Victoria Cross/St. Nazaire Raid) but only came across PQ17: An Arctic Convoy Disaster the other month.

All outstanding.

[Giggles]

Didn’t know May’s one had landed on Amazon yet. Happy days.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I liked May's reassemble series.

[Ian]

I'll be watching May in Japan. His.solo stuff is generally ace.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Just finished the first episode and I could probably watch the Samurai swordsmith for hours.

[Lewis]

This James May in Japan thing is pretty good, but if he lives another ten years I'll be astonished. He looks seventy.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I finished it the other day and thought it was great.

[Giggles]

I’d forgot about it again. Going to stick it on now.

[Giggles]

Just happened to land on it flicking the channels tonight and, though I didn’t see it from the start, that McRae thing was class. What a legend he was. Can’t believe that was 25 years ago.

[Lewis]

It's been a really good series. They really need to drop the celebrity bollocks now that the guests are all shit, and there is probably room for more 'serious' items since all of the casuals have dropped off, but otherwise I think it's closer to what it was when it was good than either programme has been since it was good.

[Lewis]

Top Gear has come back strong with the shitty celebrity bit falling victim to the illness.

I love the Jaguar XJ220. It's the best looking car of my lifetime, if not since the sixties, and the infamous 'Metro engine' is actually a work of art that a serious company, rather than those actually involved, would still be using today and breezing the emissions tests. I'm surprised they allowed that speed run after the first crash, since they have been known to spin themselves equally as easily, but they might have taken it easy through the gears.

[John Arne]

Sabine Schmitz has died of cancer. Only 51 :(

[Alan Shearer The 2nd]

That's grim, I didn't know she had cancer.

[Lewis]

That Sabine Schmitz tribute was nice. The famous van segment was 2004 fucking wot mate how long have I been alive.

[Lewis]

I watched their new 'Lochdown' special with my Amazon Prime trial, and it is the worst thing they have ever done.

[Giggles]

Fuck sake. I was really looking forward to that too.

[Magic]

So was I. 40 minutes in and it's awful.

Strange when Clarkson's Farm was so good.

[Dquincy]

I watched their new 'Lochdown' special with my Amazon Prime trial, and it is the worst thing they have ever done.

What's so bad about it?

Tbh, I watched the first grand tour episode a a year after it aired and thought it was terrible, so never watched any others. I worry may be been too hasty in my rejection.

[Manc]

I enjoyed S4. Will be tuning in.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I haven't watched it (haven't watched any Grand Tour stuff in a while) but I used to think the biggest culprit for the crap scripting bits was Clarkson but having watched their other shows it's actually Hammond.

Every individual show that May has done has been quality and Clarkson's Farm was brilliant but Hammond's The Escapists (with Tory Belleci from Mythbusters) was absolutely horrendous and I couldn't even manage to get through the first episode. It was all of the worst parts of Top Gear/Grand Tour with none of the redeeming qualities.

[Lewis]

What's so bad about it?

Tbh, I watched the first grand tour episode a a year after it aired and thought it was terrible, so never watched any others. I worry may be been too hasty in my rejection.

It's just not funny, and full of lol caravan fallen over stuff we've seen ten years ago. I know they were a bit limited with travel, but maybe the whole challenge angle has finally been exhausted (maybe it already was - I haven't seen the boat or treasure hunt specials) beyond just comparing three cars on a cinematic comparison test.

[Lewis]

I haven't watched it (haven't watched any Grand Tour stuff in a while) but I used to think the biggest culprit for the crap scripting bits was Clarkson but having watched their other shows it's actually Hammond.

Every individual show that May has done has been quality and Clarkson's Farm was brilliant but Hammond's The Escapists (with Tory Belleci from Mythbusters) was absolutely horrendous and I couldn't even manage to get through the first episode. It was all of the worst parts of Top Gear/Grand Tour with none of the redeeming qualities.

Richard Hammond has always been the worst one, but their overall product getting worse over the years as the car material has slowly dried up suggests that the three of them were probably never as brilliant as people thought. Top Gear was clearly ahead of the curve going down to six episodes (or whatever it is) a series now.

[Ian]

Even the specials during 'peak' Top Gear had started to go a bit shit. The India one was about as funny as a flesh wound.

[Giggles]

That one was definitely bottom of the barrel.

[Giggles]

Richard Hammond has always been the worst one, but their overall product getting worse over the years as the car material has slowly dried up suggests that the three of them were probably never as brilliant as people thought. Top Gear was clearly ahead of the curve going down to six episodes (or whatever it is) a series now.

They were, but everyone and everything regresses. They’re probably still better than those ladbible twats on it now.

[Giggles]

Lewis wasn’t wrong anyway, absolute dogshit. What was the brief switch to the Charger and all about? Lasted until the floaty bridge and that was more than enough.

[Magic]

The most pointless bit was the destruction derby.

[Clunge]

Vietnam special was peak Clarkson, Hammond and May. Grand Tour was long in the tooth before it even started.

[Yevrah]

I thought it was ok for something that clearly would have had to have been cobbled together last minute.

[Manc]

Take it to the controversial opinion thread.

[CJay]

The new episode of this is excellent - a road trip through Northern Scandinavia. Great japes, beautiful scenery, nice cars. Lovely stuff.

[Shindig]

I hope Mika Hakkinen shows up.

[Giggles]

Scenery and all was good but I found it all as tired as ever. I know they lean into some of it more these days but did they really need to do the “go to bed somewhere deserted, oh no wait it’s not” twice in the one episode?

[Yevrah]

With Giggles on this one. One of the times that happened Clarkson clearly hadn't slept in his shed either.

[CJay]

Have to say that didn’t really bother me. It’s been so long since anything they did seemed genuine that I can still lol at the ridiculous setups. And it helped that there were two actual genuine incidents in this one that clearly weren’t scripted.

[Baz]

Is the new Grand Tour (Eurocrash) any good? Came out yesterday.

[Giggles]

Did it? Happy days, evening sorted. It'll be staged bollocks but that's just what the brain needs on a Saturday evening.

[Dark Soldier]

It's fairly shit with a couple of laughs but usual fare really.

[Baz]

It’s rubbish.

Last time Jeremy’s car didn’t fit the criteria and this time James’ car is just pure garbage and ruins the whole thing.

[Yevrah]

It's over, isn't it?

[Giggles]

Yeah it was complete bollocks.

[Baz]

I turned it off when they got the bow and arrows out.

Has ‘titties and beer’ and ‘I am impotent’ been funny since Harry Enfield and Chums was around?

[Ian]

I know they still have their moments but didn't they stop being consistently any good.... Christ, I dunno. A decade ago? I feel like that Top Gear India special was the tipping point.

Grand Tour briefly found its feet after a ropey first season of just being Not Top Gear but not for long.

[Giggles]

They're better just driving around beautiful landscapes in supercars.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They are 63, 60 and 53 now and (Hammond aside, no idea what he does) now do better stuff on their own. Guessing Amazon can wring another five years out of it though.

[Yevrah]

Some of the stuff on Prime has been good, the Mongolia special, for example. I haven’t seen this one yet but I don’t think the problem is that they’re old but that whoever was behind the ideas has run out of them. Clarkson’s Farm shows there’s still something there.

[Giggles]

Was that one not meant to be the very end? Especially when Amazon are cutting ties with Clarkson and the farm thing after the next one.

[Clunge]

To me, at some stage late TG into TGT, someone became too worried the lols wouldn't come, and started heavily scripting them (there was obvs always scripted skits, etc). But the thing is, when the three of them are just being the three of them, the lols pretty much invariably always did/do come. I also think the transition away from 'real' motoring in at least the sense of no longer driving every day, attainable cars/vehicles, and/or then modifying them in such a way as to go beyond the bounds of real motoring just made it a bit dull. I used to love the £1,000 X challenge, or £2,500 Y challenge, or the drive this car from between the years xx to yy from here to here. Those were always great.

Has any of TGT actually been any good? I'd argue not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I got bored of TGT, I think I only watched the first season and maybe a special.

[Manc]

I enjoyed it. Slovenia looks a must.

[Clunge]

Watched it. Much better than I was anticipating. Some really good / nice moments. Yes, the fact they barely journeyed together at all was a bit crap, but the Mansell stuff was good - the wax museum bit in general :D.

[Yevrah]

+1 for enjoying it. Certainly better than some of the stuff they’ve done recently.

[Lewis]

I thought 'Sand Job' was the last special, but there appears to be another one lined up. It's crap as well.

[Giggles]

So, so bad.

[Luke Emia]

I thought this was the last one as well to be fair. I don't think I have watched any of the stuff they have done on Amazon and thought it was any good. The format was tired when they got binned off by the BBC and it's only got worse since then.