Top Gear thread

[giant_mtb]

I thought it was clever. Payback for Hammond not understanding how horsepower works in the GT500 segment on the UK TG.

And the cinematography in the Aston segment was every bit as good as anything I remember seeing on the UK one.

It looked like they did at least two runs on the ski vs evo segment. One for the actual competition and one for photography purposes. Note they never showed him passing the bus or the propane truck turning off.

Payback?  I just thought it made him sound like an idiot.

And yes, the cinematography is pretty much just as good as TGUK.

[Vinsanity]

They used Smashing Pumpkins, though you'd never know...

I certainly caught it. Cherub Rock is one of my favorite Pumpkins songs. It sounded like they also used an intro from a One Republic song in the Aston segment. Not too many complaints about the music from me, to be honest.

[SVT666]

I LOL'd at the "Brits are liars" line since it was a total dig at Top Gear UK.  I thought it was great.  I was pretty impressed with Tanner's driving in the snow too.  That was impressive.  Unfortunately he's kind of awkward otherwise.  The other two are much better at presenting.  He's a damn good driver though.  All in all it was a good episode.

[r0tor]

The test track has no drama to it.... the star in the car is dreadfully boring compared to the British equivalent

[Mustangfan2003]

The test track has no drama to it.... the star in the car is dreadfully boring compared to the British equivalent

Seems like the test track in this series is a lot bigger than the British one.

[SVT666]

Seems like the test track in this series is a lot bigger than the British one.

It's only a couple seconds longer.  The UK track is a figure 8 though.

[Vinsanity]

I feel bad for the blind guy because he wasn't able to see the cool move he pulled off in the car.

[the Teuton]

The dog was hilarious.

[BimmerM3]

It was still interesting to note that the V12 Vantage's speedo only goes up to 200 and the V8 goes up to 220

Yeah srsly.

Yeah, big fan of the second episode, the guys seem to be meshing a lot better.  And the EVO vs. skiers was pretty awesome.

I concur. People are WAY overreacting to the flaws of this show. We all knew it wasn't going to be as good as the UK version, particularly this early in the series. And the cinematography is just as good as the UK show.

[SVT666]

So many people want it to be exactly the same as the UK version and I don't know why.  If it was exactly the same, everyone would complain it was exactly the same.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I think the lack of British accents is a factor in thinking it's not as good. It's almost as if the American accents are more boring.

[Onslaught]

So many people want it to be exactly the same as the UK version and I don't know why.  If it was exactly the same, everyone would complain it was exactly the same.

God I don't want it to be the same. I'd almost rather they not have the Star in the car part myself. I don't even like it much in the UK version.

All in all it's better then what I thought it be. I'm not too sure about the fat southerner however. At first I thought it be the norther guy I wouldn't like. Now I'm not even liking my own kind. 

[r0tor]

I do find it rather pathetic that they couldn't at least staff the show with 3 people that can actually drive a manual tranny.... yeesh Mr clutch is pathetic

[BimmerM3]

I think the lack of British accents is a factor in thinking it's not as good. It's almost as if the American accents are more boring.

They are to us. Americans hear American accents all day long, but most Americans rarely hear British accents, so they're more interesting.

[BimmerM3]

God I don't want it to be the same. I'd almost rather they not have the Star in the car part myself. I don't even like it much in the UK version.

I like that segment when it's a star that I actually know (and even better if it's a star I like), but I don't see the American version becoming popular enough to attract many big name stars, though I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I suppose the list of stars for upcoming episodes has probably been leaked somewhere. Anyone know where to find that?

[BimmerM3]

I do find it rather pathetic that they couldn't at least staff the show with 3 people that can actually drive a manual tranny.... yeesh Mr clutch is pathetic

I thought it was just the blind dude who had never driven a manual?

[MX793]

I thought it was just the blind dude who had never driven a manual?

Ferrara can drive stick, he's just not great at it.  As evidenced by the fact that he couldn't manage a burnout in a 370Z because he slipped the clutch way too much.

[r0tor]

I thought it was just the blind dude who had never driven a manual?

Last week Mr clutch was cursing everytime he shifted the lambo.... this week he nearly stalled it trying to do a burnout...

He is clueless on driving a manual

[MX793]

Last week Mr clutch was cursing everytime he shifted the lambo.... this week he nearly stalled it trying to do a burnout...

He is clueless on driving a manual

The Lambo was a paddleshift SMG, and I think he was cursing because he was stunned by how much thrust the car generated in each successive gear.

[BimmerM3]

The Lambo was a paddleshift SMG, and I think he was cursing because he was stunned by how much thrust the car generated in each successive gear.

Yeah, that's the impression I got.

The burnout thing is a good point, though the British guys have had the occasional epic fail in their competitions too.

[hotrodalex]

Ferrara seems to be the James May of the US version.

[SVT666]

Ferrara seems to be the James May of the US version.

That was my thought too.

[Byteme]

They are to us. Americans hear American accents all day long, but most Americans rarely hear British accents, so they're more interesting.

How can you not hear them, they're everywhere on TV, because a Brit accent connotates knowlwdge and class, or so the marketing experts say.

[BimmerM3]

How can you not hear them, they're everywhere on TV, because a Brit accent connotates knowlwdge and class, or so the marketing experts say.

I mean yeah, they're around, but the amount of time I'm listening to British accents is tiny compared to the amount of time I'm listening to American accents.

[Madman]

Ferrara can drive stick, he's just not great at it.  As evidenced by the fact that he couldn't manage a burnout in a 370Z because he slipped the clutch way too much.

If at least one of the presenters DIDN'T screw up during a competition, it wouldn't be Top Gear!

One of Foust's flaws is that he may be TOO good a driver for the show.  BTW, how much you guys want to bet he also does double-duty as the Stig?

Glad to see there's a cheap car challenge next week.  Those are always good for a few laughs.  Probably should had done one on the first episode, just to make it more interesting.

[Colonel Cadillac]

One of Foust's flaws is that he may be TOO good a driver for the show. 

No way, I thoroughly enjoyed his snow and gravel driving.

I want to see a race in the snow or rally type situation between the B7 RS4 (maybe raised a little bit) against that EVO. That would be a tight race.

[hotrodalex]

I don't think Foust is the Stig. He looks skinnier.

[giant_mtb]

Last week Mr clutch was cursing everytime he shifted the lambo.... this week he nearly stalled it trying to do a burnout...

He is clueless on driving a manual

He was cursing because of the awesome shifting abilities of the automatic transmission and how much speed/power the Lambo had.  I found the curse at each shift rather hilarious.  No better way to sum up racing through the gears of a Lambo than to scream "FUCK!" every time it shifts in .00000000001 second. 

[SVT666]

I don't think Foust is the Stig. He looks skinnier.

The Stig is either Mario or Michael Andretti.  That's my guess.

[r0tor]

The Stig is either Mario or Michael Andretti.  That's my guess.

Mario is too bulky.  Michael too arrogant.  Marco would fit, but since I see him too often at home I doubt it.

If it is anyone famous, its graham rahal who has an established record doing work with auto rags