New series of Top Gear starts (OFFICIAL THREAD)

[Castrol Craig]

Jcscoob said:

Alistair Mcrae, i would put money on it !!!!

keep up old boy, i said this 2 pages back.

[2fast748]

I thought the Mexican insult was very clumsily done, and it's not exactly a British thing to criticise the Mexicans is it?

[odyssey2200]

stephen300o said:

No I think it's called a Mastretta, I like the concept, but they don't exactly have pedigree.

Define Pedigree.

Pagani have no "Pedigree"

This is 250 bhp (turbo charged Zetec engine)
0-62 in 4.9 seconds
Weighs 930 kgs
Pulls 1.1 lateral g

http://mastrettacars.com/

IMHO TG did themselves a disservice by slagging it off without actually driving one.
Of course now there has been all the fuss, Clarkson will slag it off on to prove a point when he does.

[Langweilig]

williamp said:

stephen300o said:

Jonathan Ross is the star in a reasonably priced car this week. Excellent.




I knew that would cheer everyone up.

what again? Cant they find someone who knows about cars, who likes cars who they havent had on??

ME! ME! PICK ME!

[stephen300o]

odyssey2200 said:

Define Pedigree.

Pagani have no "Pedigree"

This is 250 bhp (turbo charged Zetec engine)
0-62 in 4.9 seconds
Weighs 930 kgs
Pulls 1.1 lateral g

http://mastrettacars.com/

IMHO TG did themselves a disservice by slagging it off without actually driving one.
Of course now there has been all the fuss, Clarkson will slag it off on to prove a point when he does.

As I said, I like it, it reminds me of the Smart Roadster I used to have but with a bit more oomph. But Mexico's lack of previous goes against it, at least Pagani had a few Italian cards to play.
If when Jeremy drives it and decides he likes it then I believe he will say so, he has admitted to being wrong before..

[g3org3y]

Putting that 250GTO next to the 599GTO really highlighted how Ferrari have lost the art of making a beautiful car (of course the whole techno show case F1 derived stuff comes first). That 250 was jaw droppingly gorgeous. The 599 is striking but imo too fussy and lacks those perfect feminine lines (better than the 458 though).

I note that the laptime was tenth slower than a Nissan GTR.

Not my kind of episode (I always prefer the £1000 challenges or epic Euro drives), did think it a bit of a rehash of the UK vs Germany episode - the final race was great though with some super driving.

[davepoth]

If the Mexican bit had been really funny I wouldn't have a problem. It just seemed a bit mean.

[JagLover]

davepoth said:

If the Mexican bit had been really funny I wouldn't have a problem. It just seemed a bit mean.

It did seem a bit forced really.

A short comment about it being lazy would have been funny, RH launched into more of a rant. Even JC seemed a bit taken aback by it.

[odyssey2200]

JagLover said:

It did seem a bit forced really.

A short comment about it being lazy would have been funny, RH launched into more of a rant. Even JC seemed a bit taken aback by it.

IIRC Ford, GM, Chrysler, MB, Honda, Toyota and VAG all have factories in Mexico and seem to be happy to stay there.
Loads are exported to the states.

[Chimaira]

g3org3y said:

the final race was great though with some super driving.

Gotta agree there, the overtaking manoeuvre was quality!

[Ullevi]

hora said:

The right wording. It came across as though they were bitter about someone or something as well to me.

I'd have described the car along the lines of drugs money and shooting but maybe that would have scared them....

I would describe the rant as stereotypical and xenophobic, bordering on the racist. That is if you can consider Mexicans a race, which is possible. Smacked of all that is wrong with our colonial and imperialist past, most condascending.

Unfortunately, it does not surprise me from a programme presented by two apes (sorry, that is insulting to apes) and their jolly nice lap dog.

What a pair of complete tossers.

Edited by Ullevi on Wednesday 2nd February 15:16

[Shaw Tarse]

Ullevi said:

hora said:

The right wording. It came across as though they were bitter about someone or something as well to me.

I'd have described the car along the lines of drugs money and shooting but maybe that would have scared them....

I would describe the rant as stereotypical and xenophobic, bordering on the racist. That is if you can consider Mexicans a race, which is possible. Smacked of all that is wrong with our colonial and imperialist past, most condascending.

Unfortunately, it does not surprise me from a programme presented by two apes (sorry, that is insulting to apes) and their jolly nice lap dog.

What a complete pair of tossers.

I assume you won't be watching next week?

[Beyond Rational]

jayfish said:

nope, what was McRae's jr's DOB again?

Maybe I'm misinterpreting this, but that seems an odd thing to say?

[johnxjsc1985]

I didnt realise we had so many Mexicans on PH.Despite the humour it hasnt changed my mind about Mexicans am I wrong to think this was a bit of fun.Have we all gone nuts.

[Frankeh]

The Mexican rant wasn't just a bit of fun. It was actually said in a very spiteful way.
I think the crash has affected Hammond more than we might have thought if he thinks it's ok to say such things on TV.

It honestly felt like the whole mexican race had no cleaned his swimming pool that morning, the way he was ranting.

Deserves a bit of a grilling, imo.

[johnxjsc1985]

Isnt it just a fact that more people realise Hammond is a moron.

[MGJohn]

Shaw Tarse said:

Ullevi said:

hora said:

The right wording. It came across as though they were bitter about someone or something as well to me.

I'd have described the car along the lines of drugs money and shooting but maybe that would have scared them....

I would describe the rant as stereotypical and xenophobic, bordering on the racist. That is if you can consider Mexicans a race, which is possible. Smacked of all that is wrong with our colonial and imperialist past, most condascending.

Unfortunately, it does not surprise me from a programme presented by two apes (sorry, that is insulting to apes) and their jolly nice lap dog.

What a complete pair of tossers.

I assume you won't be watching next week?

Shaw tarse. Ask yourself. Is it just possible to enjoy most of a programme yet feel able to criticise some parts of its content?

The resident Short-R-se of the presenter trio; the rodent Clarkson sidekick; is on record vociferously declaring :~

Short-R-se Rodent-sidekick said:

...MGFs are Rubbish...

Now if you are one of the many PHers of the same mindset all well and good. However, I along with many others see such statements in another light and object to such unfair and inaccurate outbursts on this Nation's Prime TV Organisation.

I for one given half a chance would happily kick him up his Short-Rse-ness. Hard!

Looking forward to next week's session already. I live in hope that as if by magic, a Morris Marina will fall out of the sky on to the long and the short of the presenter trio. Not JM on account of his OKGuy-ness....
.

[Zaxxon]

Quote 'Rant racist to mexicans blah blah blah, taking the news section of top gear seriously....blah blah blah'


Some people really need to take their heads for a ste

PS. MGF's aren't rubbish..... their just a bit naff.

[Ullevi]

Shaw Tarse said:

I assume you won't be watching next week?

I must admit, I am increasingly finding the programme to be contrived and juvenile.

I, for one, enjoy a bit of humor and banter, but RH seriously crossed the line last Sunday. To be honest, it did not surprise me in attitude but certainly did surprise me in terms of vehemence.

I have increasingly found it less enjoyable over the last series, and, as far as I am concerned last Sunday's programme plummeted to new depths, not just because of RH's xenophobic hissyfit, but the Poms v Oz Ashes section was pathetic.

From what I can tell, they seem to be really scraping the barrel for content.

Will I watch next Sunday? I'll probably Sky+ it and see if they give a grovelling apology. On the other hand, will TG be on next Sunday?

Edited by Ullevi on Wednesday 2nd February 16:37

[Zaxxon]

Please allow me to translate:

Ullevi said:

I, for one, enjoy a bit of humor and banter
<translation>
I find episode of Little and Large to be hilarious, anything else is over the top.

I have increasingly found it less enjoyable over the last series
<translation>
I whinged about that as well.

and, as far as I am concerned last Sunday's programme plummeted to new depths
<translation>
Actually I think episodes of Last of the Summer wine to be a bit risky


Will I watch next Sunday? I'll probably Sky+ it and see if they give a grovelling apology.
<translation>
I need something to moan about because my life is sad


On the other hand, will TG be on next Sunday
<translation>
I really havn't got a clue have I?