Top Gear Abandons Esprit V8 In Argentina

[EuropaSman]

I've just seen on BBC News tonight the item about the Top Gear team baling out of Argentina because of a Porsche with...well let's just say a dodgy number plate. What grates on me though is that according to the BBC reporter they left behind what looks like from a clip on YouTube a calypso red Esprit V8 (guessing by the registration N269KNG it was an early one). Not only do I love Lotus, but I paid for a teeny tiny bit of that car through my licence fee!

Now I used to like Top Gear, even though the three chaps haven't really given the air time Lotus should have had (the last half decent review they did was of the Evora in Series 13) but that just takes the biscuit! That poor Esprit didn't deserve it.

Shame on Clarkson, May and Hammond!

Edited by EuropaSman on Friday 3rd October 20:27

[Campo]

It's a publicity stunt, besides Top Gear makes so much money for the BBC from sales overseas that they could pay for the car over and over and over again.

You don't have any excuse to be upset with this load of old twaddle.

[EuropaSman]

Very true Campo. I forgot that TG is a franchise owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the Beeb, after Clarkson, Wilman et al flogged the rights to them for a few million quid. So maybe I didn't fund any bits of the Lotus after all, but still it's a shame that what looked like a tidy Esprit V8 got wrecked in the process.

[Hedgerley]

I had a good look at that car when it was for sale at Murray in Edinburgh a while back. It was immaculate and quite a low mileage if I recall. In fact there was a chap in there who was interested in it so I gave him the pitch. Not sure if he bought it but Brandon at Murray is probably a bit miffed given the prep they did....

[benters]

For clarity

The guy who was driving the car at the time was a support mechanic, others on the Lotus forums will know him as I do. He and the other cars were being pelted with bricks and rocks at the time by waiting thugs, so to blame the presenters is not wholly accurate or fair.

Fortunately he got away with minor cuts only, and is now safely home.

Given the preparation these trips must take, and the known friction between the two countries its easy to see how a waiting Mob could largely do what they like, when they like.

Edited by benters on Tuesday 7th October 13:14

[benters]

just seen this which may prove a useful read
http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2014/10/10/t...

[macdeb]

EuropaSman said:

I've just seen on BBC News tonight the item about the Top Gear team baling out of Argentina because of a Porsche with...well let's just say a dodgy number plate. What grates on me though is that according to the BBC reporter they left behind what looks like from a clip on YouTube a calypso red Esprit V8 (guessing by the registration N269KNG it was an early one). Not only do I love Lotus, but I paid for a teeny tiny bit of that car through my licence fee!

Now I used to like Top Gear, even though the three chaps haven't really given the air time Lotus should have had (the last half decent review they did was of the Evora in Series 13) but that just takes the biscuit! That poor Esprit didn't deserve it.

Shame on Clarkson, May and Hammond!

Edited by EuropaSman on Friday 3rd October 20:27

I'm with you and you DO have a right to be upset. What those 3 tossers do to some cars is appalling as some folk would love to own one only to watch 3 tts destroy them in the name of 'entertainment'.
Glad they're now gone [the tossers]. [though, I'm sure they already be in talks with an independent as we speak]