Top Gear mag`, Clarkson and GT3

[flemke]

Pugsey said:

flemke said:

If a magazine is going to review how a driver's car drives, one would expect it to publish a review that was written by a driver.
I'm sure that Jeremy could write a brilliant, insightful review of a Rolls or Maybach, maybe even a Continental GT.

You mean Clarkson ISN'T a highly skilled driver? Dam it flemke that's another illusion shattered!

Hard to believe, isn't it?
It would be a better show if he'd just admit it, instead of pretending that he's the guy whose face is always accidentally hidden by the A-pillar doing those glorious four-wheel-drifts.
They do seem to make his face visible on the spins, though. I suppose that's a start.

[Frik]

To be fair I think he's a bit more useful then he used to be. Not much though.

Think loach has summed it up there.

[Pugsey]

flemke said:

Pugsey said:

flemke said:

If a magazine is going to review how a driver's car drives, one would expect it to publish a review that was written by a driver.
I'm sure that Jeremy could write a brilliant, insightful review of a Rolls or Maybach, maybe even a Continental GT.

You mean Clarkson ISN'T a highly skilled driver? Dam it flemke that's another illusion shattered!

Hard to believe, isn't it?
It would be a better show if he'd just admit it, instead of pretending that he's the guy whose face is always accidentally hidden by the A-pillar doing those glorious four-wheel-drifts.
They do seem to make his face visible on the spins, though. I suppose that's a start.

Obviously we've all always known this was the case but, trying to be fair to the guy, I did allow myself to assume that he could at least drive to an average level. I'm good like that. However, I'll never forget watching him drive the 'Ring - in a Jag. I think. After lots of practice the back of the car finally moved slightly on one corner and he went rigid, came off the power, jerked forward in his seat and squeaked like a girl. That was when I stopped giving him the benefit of the doubt on anything I'm afraid.

[Dr S]

The article teaches us a lot about JC's terrible hangover and very little about the GT3. In his state, driving about any car in the world would have been ghastly...

[truckpdt]

Can anyone take JC's opinion seriously. I grant you that he's a well known character and a bit one at that....but I've never respected his opinion. He's hated most things German for a long time, although he has a soft spot for Merc, but he's never liked BMW or Porsche...particularly the 911. I remember picking up an old library book by time that stated that he simply hated the 911. That's fine, but you hate all Porsche and BMW....really!! Oh..but you like Jaguar ...always...sorry I mean Ford. Oh and U like Aston...yes...they are so well built aren't they!!! I find that most of his reviews usually result in some bizzare minor reason why he writes off the entire car as being any good. And even when the facts are hitting him in the face he still refuses to accept it....I remember a TG contest between a 911, an AMV8 (Aston) and an M6, and although the 911 was the least powerful it proved to be the quickest around this particular Island (can't remember the location)...and even then he didn't like it. YEs that's write....he's liked the Aston....yawn...what a surprise.

[ChrisW.]

I read it in 30 seconds down at the newsagents --- and didn't buy the mag.

Clarkson said so little, that he could very easily change his mind --- as and when it suits him to.

As a first steer, it was a waste of paper --- for which I guess he was paid to append his name ?

[freedman]

truckpdt said:

I remember a TG contest between a 911, an AMV8 (Aston) and an M6, and although the 911 was the least powerful it proved to be the quickest around this particular Island (can't remember the location)...and even then he didn't like it. YEs that's write....he's liked the Aston....yawn...what a surprise.

I think it was on the IOM but not sure, I remember how tey bigged up the M6 and the Aston and at the end said oh and theres 911 here as well, less HP etc etc, if I recall the M6 and the Aston were around equal, the 911 beat them by 6 seconds, not sure what distance it was over but the 911 was a comfortable winner, much to Clarksons chagrin

[peterpeter]

freedman said:

truckpdt said:

I remember a TG contest between a 911, an AMV8 (Aston) and an M6, and although the 911 was the least powerful it proved to be the quickest around this particular Island (can't remember the location)...and even then he didn't like it. YEs that's write....he's liked the Aston....yawn...what a surprise.

I think it was on the IOM but not sure, I remember how tey bigged up the M6 and the Aston and at the end said oh and theres 911 here as well, less HP etc etc, if I recall the M6 and the Aston were around equal, the 911 beat them by 6 seconds, not sure what distance it was over but the 911 was a comfortable winner, much to Clarksons chagrin

it was only a 1 and a half minute run and the 911 beat both cars on very wet roads depsite being the least powerful and "having the engine in the wrong place"...so all in all it was an utter slaughtering and I was amazed that JC didnt try to engineer a victory for either of the other cars.

as a porsche owner it was poetic justice after his constant digs at porsches all the way through the the TG series.

(the GT3 RS vs Ferrari CS review was almost as funny where the 911 psoted exactly the same time despite being 50 horses down, weighing more (i think) and costing 50k less. His face was a picture yet again.)

[BLKROKT]

r5gttgaz said:

I'd say its miles ahead of his new Lambo, he's gutted he didn't order one.

As good as the GT3 is, that's a bit of a stretch don't you think

[crbox]

Lets not forget his two co presenters both acrually own a 911,997 & Boxster between them, so they don't agree either. It would maybe too much if the BBC Top Gear squad all owned Porsches. The only cars I remember Clarkson being really, Really enthisiastic about, were the Escort Cosworth(which he got free) and the Jag XKR.
The former, though noterwothy and interesting, in it's day was in reality slow as an unmodofied road car. The Jaguar with it's annoying whistleing supercharger and cynical interior packaging misses the mark by a mile.
This guy is occasioanlly funny, writes and presents a motoring programme that my wife will watch with me, but sadly not an experienced race driver, so his observations are of short term use.
Every track test is on an airfield so wide, that even my missus could control the powerslide. Additionally, every time he gets it a bit sideways, they cut scene and edit the (I can only assume)spin. Never needed any of that post production stuff with Tiff, did we? His laps were seamless and even on real, racetracks.
I guess what he JC does do, is show what it would be like for the average bloke, with only everyday experience, what it would be like to drive a supercar like a bit of a hooligan.
His comparisons are amusing, sometimes interesting, but only to be taken as light entertainment. They are Tabloid Road Tests.
There's no impirical evidence to suggest why this man so objectively critcises the 997 sport models, when 95% of the road test fraternity think its the best enthusiasts car you can buy.
I can only assume that somewhere down the years, there has been soem blood spilt between Clarkson and Porsche and he's not going to ever let them forget it.

[paultje]

I think that Mr Clarkson does acknowledge Porsche's ability to make good cars.....his main objection seems to be that they are not 'special' enough for the money....( I guess he means looks, and exclusivity...they are too common for his tastes !!)

[flemke]

paultje said:

I guess he means looks, and exclusivity...they are too common for his tastes !!)

That's okay - he is too common for our tastes.

[2something]

Pugsey said:

flemke said:

If a magazine is going to review how a driver's car drives, one would expect it to publish a review that was written by a driver.
I'm sure that Jeremy could write a brilliant, insightful review of a Rolls or Maybach, maybe even a Continental GT.

You mean Clarkson ISN'T a highly skilled driver? Dam it flemke that's another illusion shattered!

[paultje]

AAAHHHH the lovely Sabine....she can take me 'round the 'ring' any time....

[loach]

paultje said:

AAAHHHH the lovely Sabine....she can take me 'round the 'ring' any time....

Don't know... those teeth. It'd be like getting mauled by a beaver. And you just know she'd be on top getting all bossy "Ja! Ja! Faster in zis bit. Shtop! Slower here. Ja. Now faster. FASTER!" It'd be like taking an exam.

[paultje]

loach said:

paultje said:

AAAHHHH the lovely Sabine....she can take me 'round the 'ring' any time....

Don't know... those teeth. It'd be like getting mauled by a beaver. And you just know she'd be on top getting all bossy "Ja! Ja! Faster in zis bit. Shtop! Slower here. Ja. Now faster. FASTER!" It'd be like taking an exam.

Gives 'passing out' a whole new meaning !!