Top Gear Australia – more than the manufacturers bargained for
December 8, 2008 by Paul Maric
Top Gear Australia (the television series) has reportedly cost several manufacturers a combined total of close to $200,000 in damages after shenanigans and stunts performed in an attempt to gain credibility and purport humour.
The Aussie trio went beyond the call of duty – not only roasting sets of tyres during burnouts and drifts, but also causing damage in the form of severe stone chipping, body panel dislocations and so on.
Damage caused to the Lamborghini Top Gear Australia were privileged in driving is reported to have cost up to $25,000. The Lamborghini worth around $500,000 was damaged during filming on their quasi test circuit.
Other damage also includes around a $30,000 repair bill on several Holden Astras which the television show needlessly crashed into each other during a game of car guided lawn bowls. Holden representative, Kate Lonsdale, has been quoted saying “All we will say is that it turned out to be a very expensive test drive”.
Other manufacturers have spoken ‘off the record’, claiming that Top Gear Australia will find it hard to obtain vehicles in the next series and that such behaviour will no longer be tolerated.
Average viewer ratings and a horde of unhappy Top Gear (UK) fans blogging all over the Australian internet leads to question the worthiness of a second series.
What are your thoughts?
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typical aussies not caring about anyone elses property!
I always felt that the lawn bowls game involving the Astras was verging on stupidity.
To be honest, the show just lacks substance. They have to find their own style+niche and build on it. (And stupid things doesn’t count)
hear hear. Im sure the manufacturers wouldnt mind if the quality and entertainment value were on par with the original. That first soft-roader comparo was pointless.
I can honestly say I’m not fussed if this show doesn’t come back with a second series. I’m really enjoying season 11 of the UK series on SBS at the moment and I’d be happy to see them continue televising the UK series.
I imagine that if a car company lent a car to the people at TGUK at it never even came back but featured well in an ep it’s money well spent. However the key here is the lack of ratings and cred for the Aussie version which means the car company gets a repair bill for something not enough people saw or enjoyed.
What’s the point of crashing cars in the show, when i was watching the episode crashing those Holden Astras, I am so pissed off! Money spent on repairs can be used for higher quality stories ! I can’t imagine such poor productions from Australians!! We have some very well produce shows in australia, but this one is purely crap! I would look forward to a second series if SBS can promise such stupidity wouldn’t appear again !
I was a big advocate of the show to begin with, but honestly, they tried, they failed, its just not that entertaining, it was worth the effort, i say let it go SBS, you can get better ratings by just playing UK repeats.
Totally agree, let it die gracfully. Good try guys.
Here’s an idea, the money being spent on the Australian series should be spent on getting the UK guys to come out and do two “Downunder” shows for each UK season.
TG Australia should be canceled.
I think I may have mentioned that this would have been a problem way back when.
PR people in Australia have no sense of humour or the huge budgets to back up fleets of Astras being crashed. What did they think was going to happen, exactly? Have they watched Top Gear?
Mind you, I didn’t see the episode. I found the series tiresome, treading the *exact* same path as the UK one rather than striking out on its own. The stories, generally, sucked and were devoid of any sort of creativity, bar the occasional Warren moment.
I won’t miss it if doesn’t go ahead for second series.
Boo hoo, they dented a couple of panels… I found it entertaining. Bring on season 2!
You are joking.
Where was the contract with holden then that said you can’t use our astras for astra lawn bowls? What the hell did they think?
How is playing lawn bowls with an astra any different to playing soccer with polos & yarises? Get a grip guys. Or are SBS the real culprits here?
Also, surely SBS have these manufacturers informed that their cars are likely to experience stone chipping and ‘worn’ tyres as would be the case in the R8 filming or the Tassie tour or the red & blue match ups. No? SBS still the problem with insufficient contractual agreements?
I must be missing something here as I would have said the stunts and antics on TGA were pretty lame compared to clarkson’s pseudo supercar summernats.
What do you suppose doesn’t make it to air on TGUK?
General mucking about manufacturers product is what the show is all about just read andy willman’s blogs where he has said, I quote
“Top Gear is not just about cars, it’s also about celebrating that massive Black Hole of Pointlessness that is the male mind”
so don’t go restricting the only glimmer of hope the show has to make some fun because it’s writing & hosting needs loads of work.
I say give them a chance unless peter wherret/evan green road tests are what Australia really wants.
I think Simon knocked it on the head. Its probably not so much the damage caused that annoys the manufacturers but more the return on investment is minimal when the ratings are so low. If it doesn’t come back I won’t be too disappointed. Show had great promise, but it had to beat its own track, and it hasn’t. So it’ll always feel like an embarassing imitation of the UK version. Shame.
The show is rubbish, I watched episode 1 and cringed, gave it the benefit of the doubt and watched 10 mins of episode 2, and turned it off.
Don’t watch the car show, either, and won’t watch tis ever again.
Valve bouncing the Lambo in the studio from a cold start demonstrates absolute zero understanding of a car.
I don’t think boo hoo is the issue, Phil. Respect is the key. If you went out to a party, you can still have fun and be outrageous without damaging things that don’t belong to you.
After all the hype I was keen to see what the aussie version was going to offer but you can’t get more transparent than having a short guy, a tall guy and an odd looking guy host the show – show some originality SBS. To make it more successful and appealing, I think they need to have a guest reviewer/driver each week – Australia is the home of touring car racing and world motorcyle champs, there’s a whole back catalogue of Bathurst winners to choose from – Skaifey’s looking for a new job!
Um, why exactly aren’t the SBS getting the bill here? I’m not 100% sure but I am pretty sure that the BBC takes the bill for all the cars that they ever damage, if they didn’t surely the manufacturers would have stopped giving them cars years ago.
The show should not go on, simple as that. They are not funny and the guests are B and C class celebrities (probably because it’s Australia). Everything they do, Top Gear UK do better, way better.
They did their off roading and their Holden v. Ford and really, there isn’t much else that they can do that is unique to Australia so what’s the point in going on? I know some people like it but for one thing, it must be very easy to make those people laugh and another thing, I have yet to come across someone saying that they like it more than TG UK. As I wrote, they’ve done their unique Australian things and now it’s time to give up.
I love the UK series, even my g/f who is not a car enthusiast at all loves it. So when I heard there was going to be the australian series I thought it would be awesome. So far I have only watched it once, which was the first time it was on. haven’t bothered to watch it since as I find it boring, and not very well presented, as well as being to “try-hard” trying to copy some of the UK humour (in an unfunny way), and their ideas.
If they do make a new series they’re have to get some new presenters or do something miraculous.
I still believe TGUK’s strength comes from brilliant production and competent hosting and not so much from the actual content. Clarkson/May/Hammond are not from the car industry at all but can well handle themselves in front of a camera, inside a car and with a script (of sorts). They will make just about anything entertaining if it has a link with cars. That’s the real key. Not whether car companies get their monies worth. Its entertainment.
also, Hammond’s show ‘brainiac’ and may’s 20th century had some scientific/engineering merit and brainiac was a bit childish like top gear but my point being, they both entertained.
I think the error of SBSs way is partly due to engaging two ‘industry’ derived people in Steve & Charlie. These stereotypes are traditionally dull. You only have to listen to any post race interview of any racing driver to see this let alone any news bulletins talking to manufacturer CEOs and engineering types.zzzzzzzz
If you want a road test, read car advice or get a magazine.
I think the Aussie show is rubbish with unknown presenters who dont know a lot about cars. Clarkson is unique in the world of TV presenters and no one will ever match his wit which is what makes the show and no other show will have the viewing audience that TGUK has.
wvb, I think you’ll find that Clarkson has been involved in the car industry for quite some time as a automotive journalist etc. But apart from that I absoloutely agree with you.
I thought the Astra piece was close to their best challenge and the one that most closely resembled the feel of TG UK. I really enjoyed it!
Having taken my own car on Goulburn airport and knowing how coarse runways can be I did watch in horror when the Lambo, and others, were spraying stones all over the place on their test track.
I am surprised at the tone of the CA article though. While I wouldn’t necessarily expect the site to condone anything and everything TG Aus did in series 1, it’s certainly a far cry from the quasi-endorsement given to the show when running the “suggest a challenge” comp.
^howie, i have read some of his books but i know yes.
me not clear.
my point is, he’s not from the ‘car industry, building them or otherwise’ so can be impartial and blunt.
When I saw the Astra episode with the whole lawn bowls thing, I found it entertaining. However I did think that is an expensive form of advertising for Holden, to let people crash six brand new Astras. A cost which I don’t think GM can afford right now :P
I thought the Astra lawn bowls segment was a fitting road test for such a car. The only thing missing was seeing the Stig put on a cardigan and take one for a lap. For all those whingers, get a life. TGA is the best Aussie car show ever produced – it will take years to become as good as TGUK. The only thing lacking so far is the destruction of a caravan. How about this for a series 2 segment – a demolition derby between 10 Astras vs 1 bloody big truck. Looking forward to series 2.
to be ture i thing they are doing a good job the show dose suk but it is a good copy at least its not as bad as the US version of kath and Kim
but really what is $30,000 for a company like holden ford ect these are the leading ausie companies we want to see what these can do and how well and its damn entertaining so
and to the wog who say Aussies not caring about anyone shit
this is for you entertainment so go home
Pull the plug. This version of the great Top Gear UK is dead to me.
After seeing the whole Aussie series, generally I liked the variety of stories. But when they started damaging those 4Wds on the sand hills ,I started to think they just didnt care. Especially with those Astras! So I at that stage I thought repairing damaged cars was allowed for in the shows budget, and that the manufacturers assumed it might happen.
If they want wreck cars do it to some old ones. if they want some credibility road test the new ones with some respect!
1st Episode not even 5 minutes in they rev the ring out of a stationary car (Lambo).
TPUK might have a crash & bash but they tend to do it in cars less than 1000 pound or it is a bus, caravan etc…
I’m not surprised to be honest. This is supposed to be Top Gear. Stone chipping, tire damage, under-panels torn off. What did they expect? Sounds like reasonable car test, throwing a supercar around a track or a 4WD through the dunes.
I’d agree though, the Astra ‘test’ was pretty stupid. And un-funny.
Next season, I want more technical facts, specifications, more criticism and more (better) humor.
$200,000 damage bill? They’ll write it off tax anyway. Sounds pretty measly to be honest.
The presenters of TGA are a waste of sperm!!!!
Good show but couldn’t stand watching the Astra bowls.LOL.
Guest interviews are good.
Paris to Peking on ABC 2 with the Cartoonist dude is good value as well.
Just PR hype to try and prop up interest….be glad if it didnt come back next year. So glad to be watching TGUK again.
Now I am an aussie guy but I don’t really like the Aussie Top Gear. It’s no way near as good as the Pomm’s Top Gear.
Not as funny and their hummour and personality sucks and try and pretend to be like the original. I’m sorry to say but I don’t give a sh*t if the Aussie version goes.
You just get a better understanding and feeling if you watch Clarckson, May and Hammond.
The author of the article doesnt seem to be a fan of TGA.
Lets see :- “attempt” at cred; “purport” at humour; “needlessly” crashed; “privileged” to drive; “question the worthiness”. Hmmmm…cant say that I disagree, but I am almost feeling sorry for the show after that hiding.
I agree with the sentiments that the hosts are the problem. I would’ve thought people like Merrick & Rosso or Hamish & Andy would’ve been a better fit. Personality counts for a hell of alot in TGUK and the TGA ones just don’t cut it
True Pious, hardly impartial journalism. I liked watching the aussie version; Im well aware its not quite to the standard of Top Gear UK but nevertheless im not gonna turn down an opportunity to watch exotic cars being thrashed, you cant take these things too seriously , just enjoy it. As for repair bills- dont care.
Oh yeah, they should use Hyundai instead of Astra.
Yep,
Im with Smokin’R32
The author of the article is hardly impartial.
Enjoyed the show, happy to acknowledge that the UK one with 11 seasons more experience is better but still love the Aussie show.
I dont give a sheet about repair bills either, why does anyone else? Do they own holden shares? Do they really care when Hammond/Clarkson/May dent a car or is it just Australian tall poppy/cultural cringe coming out again?
I put this outpouring of grief, this crocadile-tears-concern for car repair bills down to cultral cringe. For such a big nation, we Aussies really are pathetically small minded.
…Hmmm, do the Americans care when “The office” is remade for them? …nope!
I cannot Believe the Whingeing and sooking i see on this forum, i love tga, sure they are a little lack luster in presenting but IT WAS THIER FIRST SEASSSOONNNNNN… Hey its a car show and guess what, I LOVE CARs. So much for giving a fair go to aussies My arse accordin to the majority of u lot. I just cant believe the bs that is being put here, you think u can present better show?? DO IT THEN.
Bring on season 2 of TGA for me thanks, because I belive in giving any Australian a show a fair go,ESPECIALLY if it is about cars. GO watch UGLY BETTY you bloody cry babies.
DAVIE couldnt have said it better my self mate..well done…good point too about the office.
I say the manufacturers can go and have a cry. If there’s a Season 2, TGA should publish and itemised list of repair prices of the vehicles in question. Now that’s a realistic road test. Most Astra buyers can’t drive anyway, so they’ll likely be needing repairs themselves.
What did the manufacturers expect? We don’t have a plethora of disused ex-air force airfields to use as racetracks here as they do in the UK. Have they never seen the UK show? Burnouts in multi-million dollar cars, etc. I do agree on the ROI argument though.
All of you who stopped watching at EP2 did yourselves a disservice. The show got better as it went along. Warren’s a classic, but Charlie Cox remained consistently annoying.
@Reckless1: You’re a knob. “Valve bouncing the Lambo in the studio from a cold start demonstrates absolute zero understanding of a car. ” It’s a rev limiter. It wasn’t “valve bouncing”. How do you know it was a cold start?
To all those knocking TGA so much perhaps some of you could at least give it a chance. TGUK was not that good either for the first few seasons and is currently in its 12th. A bit harsh therefore to directly compare a 12 season veteran with a noob. Just give them time and it can only get better.
As for Mr O whose rear end do you pull this stuff from? Of all the stupid things to say “typical aussies not caring about anyone elses property!”. Perhaps you could explain who is this typical aussie you speak of? Perhaps you speak of yourself and a few other drunken yobbos (also mentally challenged) who drink too much and roam the streets vandalising other peoples property?
The program is just not entertaining. I found it embarrasing, forced and the presenters unconvincing. The SUV ‘test’ was just a waste of time – I kept waiting for the point but there wasn’t one. As far as the ‘give them a chance’ crowd are concerned, they HAVE had a chance and stuffed it…..
They will have trouble getting cars for the next series…. well all I can say is [to quote Michael Caton from the iconic Aussie film The Castle] “Suffer in your Jocks.”
The neanderthals who host this show seem tho think that the only and most definitive way to show how much power a car has is to rev its nuts off or to do burnouts.. how pathetic and moronic
Real car enthusiasts look after their cars and are secure in knowing what their cars can do they don’t feel the need to show off and potentially damage their pride and joy worht thousands of dollars as these morons did
I don’t think you can drive on Australian roads & not score stone chips it’s a fact of life unless all your driving is in the CBD.
I thought the lawn bowls game with the Astras was almost a criminal waste of money. I thought they were wasting their own money but they were crashing road test from Holden.
The cars were bottoming coming down the ramp. A simple repair to panels is not enough. The suspension arms and subframes need to be fully and carefully inspected otherwise they could fail later causing a fatality.
No respect for mechanical components in any part of the show. An enthusiast would not trash his car.
I really tried to find some value in TGA, but in truth it was merely an amateurish clone of the original. Of the three presenters, Warren Brown was the stand-out performer for me. The others were simply brash rev-heads with little to commend them.
SBS: What were you thinking of?
Top Gear Australia is utter rubbish. Top Gear UK ftw. Unfortunately I think they should give up. The hosts are very dull and try way too hard to be humourous. I stopped watching it after the third episode as it was doing nothing for me. Half of the vision and sound in driving scenes isn’t even synchronised, what the hell is with that? You see the car braking but you can hear the engine accelerating. Fail.
I should have been a host. Steve Jones (Targa West 2008 Champion)
BURNOUT
When I saw these clowns rev the date out of the Lambo in the studio when it was cold I knew then they had no idea what they were doing?
No respect for others property!
After jumping on the band wagon and joining the countdown I would observe that TGA has only served to alienate loyal TG fans and make enemies with the motor companies.
As a TG fan, I can honestly say I did not gain a single piece of insight during the many episodes (and cars) that TGA test drove. The 4wd test drive was horrendous. I mean, how practical is reverse parking in a neck brace running over stuffed toys? This would be perfect for a kids show or anyone with an IQ below 10 but please.. This was pathetic.
The basic function of a car show is to review a car. TGUK not only does it, but delivers the message in an entertaining and intellectually stimulating manner. You can guage that the UK guys are actually doing you a service, adding value to your life by testing the cars for you. Warren’s review of the X6 for example was just the complete opposite. Anyone who has read the car description on Car Advice would know it is not meant for off roading. So whats the point in spending a quarter of an episode proving this point and comparing it to a Land Cruiser. What a Nut! I’d rather read CA.
Those who say they love TGA, ask yourself this, if you were an exec in a car Co. and TGA rang to ask to test drive your top car, what would you say? Pi$$ off that’s what!
What were they thinking wall.. what were TGA thinking in introducing this! Lame lame lame!
Presenters all disrespect the very vehicles they test drive. These boys don’t deserve to progress beyond the go-kart track.
Ok, I could go on. But won’t. I’m going to watch the real deal (TGUK) now.
I prefer the Aussie version. I for one don’t want to watch a bunch of British snobs talking like they have a pole up their arse.
KJ I think your head is stuck where the british put their poles…….
Qute [KJ]: I prefer the Aussie version. I for one don’t want to watch a bunch of British snobs talking like they have a pole up their arse.
For you to know what people who talk with a pole up there arse sound like implies that either you yourself have a pole up your arse [at this very moment] or it has happened to you at least once in your life.. so which one is it?
Alex – I think the reason SBS aren’t paying the bill for the damage they do to cars on TGA is because they are considered to be costs that are incureed during production and must therefore be paid by the production company.
SBS are the network who televise the show.
Channel 7 televise the V8 Supercars but they don’t pay for any of the repairs to the cars involved in accidents or the cost of transporting the cars around the country etc.. if they did Channel 7 would be out of business
Channel 10 didn’t contrbute anything to the costs of staging shows like Big Brother or Australian Idol etc that was all paid for by the production company – which is one of the reasons Channel 10 [in particular loves]
“Reality TV” because its so cheap…. for them.
I don’t get it. While I enjoy every minute of the BBC Top Gear, what’s the need of an Aussie one? Top Gear is Jeremy’s Top Gear, it can’t be copied. Maybe forget about the Top Gear name and create some other car shows? I will only reserve Monday evenings for the real Top Gear.
The worst part of the Aussie one, the three hosts aren’t even funny. Pretending to be stupid and behaving like idiots aren’t Jeremy’s humours.
Top Gear is Top Gear, and there is only one.
Ahhh….just watched another episode of TGUK….feels great to laugh again! Those poms are crakcers!! and the quality is superb, every review is awesome!
There is only one Top Gear.
I say bring on season 2! Yes the Astra stunt was over the top and down right idiotic, but how many thousands of dollars worth of damage have been caused on the UK series? You can’t expect to thrash a car and not have any damage done to it, wheather it be stone chips, tar and bug spots or in these guys’ case burnt tyres and some panel damage – it will buff out. Give them a break, what rev head can honestly say that they don’t get any satisfaction out of watching a car do a burn out. Plus we need to watch something involving cars while we are waiting on the latest seasons of T.G UK being made and I think T.G Aus puts a uniquely Australian Spin on the show’s formula.
Sound like TG Australia is going to have a car crisis in 2009! No cars, no show.
The Rav4 V6 was launched into the air and created a big bang when it crashed :|
I can’t believe the whinging about the TGA guys wrecking cars. Have any of you idiots even paid attention to the UK show??? I don’t see anyone complaining about the stunts they do.
What I found really weird is that I’ve met funnier people in Australia myself! There were far better tv show hosts, like Rove for instance.
Lox, my sentiments exactly.
What do you reckon the response would be down under if you wanted to test, say, the new Fiesta, for example, against a Corvette in a shopping mall, haha!
cancell it its not even reali aussi humour its more like a pile of wanna b tv presentrs thinking thier cool well heres the reality thier not kick em off air
Lox – I think youll find the main difference is when TGUK guys do road tests of new cars ists either one of them at behind the wheel driving around an english town or on a winding country road or driving across Europe on the high speed motorways whilst the other 2 try to beat JC to the destination using some other method of transport.
The Never use a brand new $150K+ sports car and crash it into another $150K+ sports car or do what it’s not designed to do… if there is the possibility of any damage; they create challenges using old shitboxes which are worht less than $1500 and virtually ready for the scrap heap anyway – like they did tonight with the ugly unreliable Alfas
Thats the difference!
@Safir, I hope you’re being ironic!
Quote [Safir] “What I found really weird is that I’ve met funnier people in Australia myself! There were far better tv show hosts…. like ROVE for instance.”
ROVE – Surely tou can’t be serious? [ROTFLOL]
He’d be one of the first I’d put in the “No Way” basket along with Darryl Somers Bert Newton and Glen Ridge etc
TGA has a problem that itis 15 minutes shorter on average than TGUK. This means that if they do a 3 way test as is popular with TGUK then they are not allowed to make the tests as entertaining and they try to condense funny instead of allowing it to be natural banter. As has been mentioned before the first 2 seasons of TGUK was lucky to have 100 people in the audience,the 1 first episode had about 30. TGUK has been going in it 2 incarnation since the mid 80’s so the BBC know that it takes alot to develop an idea. What needs to be done is a mix of TG and fifth gear now that would be a better way to go in the Australian market.
PS Clarkson and co probably do more that $200000 dollars damage to the French car manufacturers with their comments about the crap cars they make.
I cannot wait for the US,asian and russian TG versions to start so that you guys have some more to whinge about
Well I saw Rove Live back in 2000 and saw him host the mardi gras tv coverage too. I found him funny, dunno what he’d be like now. But he’s the only tv person I remember from my stay down under.
I reckon they should get rid of the “celebrity in a moderately priced car” segment in both versions of the show!! Replace it with another car review or something…
Also WTF was the Wayne’s stupid shark cage car, and the smart hearse all about?? I fail to see any point or humor in it?!! Atleast most of the crazy uk segments hav4 a point to it….
Safir,
I don’t see why rove is so popular, he ain’t funny at all!!
I reckon they should have used Merrick & Rosso, and or Eric Bana!! HEhehehe…. During the W427 review he could have done his “Poiter” Character!!
GET RID OF THEM! IT’S A CRAP SHOW WITH CRAP HOSTS! OUR AUTO INDUSTRY IS SMALL AS IT IS AND DOING IT TOUGH. WE DON’T NEED CLOWNS LIKE THESE BUSTING UP CARS BECAUSE THEY CAN’T COME UP WITH BETTER IDEAS. The UK series is all we WANT and need. Put these other clowns into retirement where they belong!
SamR Says: “No respect for mechanical components in any part of the show. An enthusiast would not trash his car.”
A true car enthusiast wouldn’t buy an Astra.
WVB The show [like most shows on TV] is made by a seperate production company not SBS… SBS is just the network that televises the show.
As I said previously Channel 7 show the V8s but they don’t pay for the $100;000 engines or the $60;000 gearboxes that get damaged or replaced let alone the $500;000 race cars after being involved in a crash do they?
I favor the UKTG because of the English dry humor about it. The Aussie guys lack the refinement and certainly have not yet earnt the respect from the viewing public. After many years of slugging it out, perhaps they will build better success. To expect instant notoriety on the back of UKTG would be a ridicules expectation. I hope SBS stands by the trio, it will take time.
If you don’t like TGA – don’t watch it. For the rest of us who enjoy watching it we can’t wait for season 2. It just keeps getting better and better. TGUK is only on for about 16 episodes per year. That leaves 36 weeks to fill with TGA and TGUS. TGA will develop it’s own unique style that will make it just as compelling as TGUK. In a few years TGA will be just as if not more popular in Australia than TGUK.
I don’t like TGA and only watch TGUK. But last time I check both show do the same style of “pushing” cars to the limit. If these car manufacturers rather advertise substantial budget for a few tv spots than a 15 minutes feature in a well branded car show. Good luck to them.
I know I’ve already written this, but I am pretty sure the BBC picks up the bills for all the damage the boys do to the manufacturers cars, why don’t the SBS do the same?
Memo SBS. Leave this tripe to the commercial networks, and do what you do best, quality television.
I think the reaction of the manufacturers to damage says it all re industry reaction to the show.
If Clarkson crashes a Lamborgini, Lamborgini would more than likely clap their hands and give him the keys to another one! They know that it means the people all around the world will be watching it, downloading it from youtube, and their potential customers will be listening to him for his opinion…. Clarkson’s opinion of a any new car can make or break its commerical success.
But when TGA damages something, its just a pain in the arse cause they have no credibility, and no one thinking about buying a half million dollar car gives a rats about Warren Brown’s opinion, or that of the other two saps.
The fact that holden is bitching about them damaging astras just says that holden doesnt think TGA will lead to any additional sales of astras.
Thus if no one values the opinions of those on TGA, then it shouldnt really be call Top Gear, cause it not anything like Top gear. Its just knobs messing about in cars in a unfunny way. You may as well call it something else and replace the guys with chicks in bikinis.
I agree it shouldn’t be called Top Gear either as its not of the same calibre…. How about Neutral or Reverse or even Car Jack’n Off?
David_T
I think you will find that no one thinking about buying a half million dollar car gives a rats about Clarkson’s opinion either.
For that matter anyone considering buying any car shouldn’t pay any attention to what Clarkson’s scripted “opinions”, on an light entertainment program, are!
This is NOT real motoring information – it’s entertainment. It’s all pre-scripted. Enjoy it for what it is, but don’t treat any of it with any credibility.
I think youll find the main difference is when TGUK guys do road tests of new cars ists either one of them at behind the wheel driving around an english town or on a winding country road or driving across Europe on the high speed motorways whilst the other 2 try to beat JC to the destination using some other method of transport.
- What about the times they spend on the track thrashing cars?
And how safe was the UK episode where they have trucks crashing thru a brick wall or getting caught on fire. I find these episodes hilarious but these guys aren’t being any better on their cars than the aussie guys are. If you can’t see this comparison you’re blind.
The Never use a brand new $150K+ sports car and crash it into another $150K+ sports car or do what it’s not designed to do…
- Neither have the Aus guys in any of the ep’s I’ve seen so far.
Seriously, gives the guys are break on the Aus show. Car companies can’t be that ignorant to the fact of what will go on the show, surely….
Bret, you are completely wrong. For a start, TG UK has quite a high profile audience and that includes a lot of people with money so they may well take his opinions or at least go and look at a car that he has reviewed because they like it a lot. It’s a very enjoyable show and that spans to people with large bank accounts I’m sure.
The beauty of TG UK compared to TG A is that a lot of it isn’t scripted and when it is, you can tell (anybody believe Jeremy rolled that car while driving it last night?). TG A was so obvious with it’s scripting and almost the whole show had obviously been previously written (probably because they had nothing interesting to say themselves). I think the thing with TG UK is that they are all very different people and they all have different views, but those views are not written for them unlike TG A. And before this comment gets any back lash, please people, the scripting was so obvious on TG A! Not on TG UK though. Clarkson, Hammond and May are all funny by themselves, they don’t need writers and I’m pretty sure they don’t have them.
It’s not the guys fault. They have been given a copy of an original formula from the US series and none has attempted any modification to Australianise it, or improve it in any way. I love the UK series, and I would love the Oz series if it was truly and Australian original, not a cheap knock off copy of another’s idea. Sorry guys nice try, but let it die.
One improvement could be to have something similar to the cool wall… but isntead of uncool through to sub zero; they could Australian-ise it and call it the s–t wall and classify cars from s–thouse or s–theaps through to s–t hot
And in terms of the Track – instead of using Bankstown Airport why not use a recognised [private] racetrack like Wakefield Park – near Goulburn.. the lap times are almiost the same and if they tested a number of cars on one day [prerecorded] it would cost less to hire/lease. Plus they could do a review of the cars on the way there and back
Warren Brown had a few things to say in todays tele and one of them was that TGA is not a car show that putters around the streets in a car just to tell you how good the stereo is! Its there to put the car through its paces and test its limits.(think he was having a shot at The Car Show)
And to those who think TGUK isnt scripted or set up, you truly are MORONS!
Take for example, last knights ep when they were driving the alfas into the judging area. there’s no way those judges wouldnt have known Hampsters car wasnt being towed, not only would they have been blind not to see the tow strap, but the fact his engine wasnt running would have been a dead giveaway!
And to those whinging about the damage to the cars. Not only did Clarkson blow a tyre on a VERY EXPENSIVE Bentley, that would have also caused damage to the paintwork etc. Dont here anyone of you ppl complaining about that!
Those of you complaining about the “reasons” they hate TGA seem to be praising TGUK for the exact same “reasons” and you sound like a bunch of hypocrites, just like my nieghbour who successfully lobbied to have my BBQ removed from the front patio cause she doesnt like the smell of a barby, very un-australian.
I do love TGUK, dont get me wrong. And , yes TGA needs a little work, like more critical assessment when testing a car or when comparing cars, what makes one car better than the other?
I reckon all TGA needs is a spit ‘n’ polish and it’ll have a nice shiny paintjob. FAIR DINKUM!!!!!!!!!!!
Wheelnut, totally agree with your ideas, lets lobby the powers that be, Freehand productions. Waduya think?
Falcodore:
You do realise that Top Gear UK receives over 1300 times the viewers the Australian version does?
That’s about 385-million (estimated viewership including internet downloads) versus some 300,000 on good weeks.
They also have the credibility and rarely perform such lame stunts like the lawn bowls *yawn*.
Top Gear Australia is an absolute joke, they need to go back to their day jobs.
BM, how do you know the lambo was cold when they revved it?you were there, were you?
Bengie, TGUK is now an international show thats been running for 12 seasons so you would expect it to have more viewers etc, that doesnt disprove anything ive said before, so maybe you should go back to your day job. Or try to do a better job than the TGA hosts can.
TGA is total crap. For example they had a Maybach on the show and the only thing I learnt was that it comes with headphones in the armrests. Thats it. I understand SBS had to make the show to keep the rights to TGUK but thats not a good starting point to make a tv show, just ask Channel 9 they made survivor here for the same reason another failure.
SBS grow some Balls and make this national embarrassment stop.
For once I agree with Thomas79. Thats gotta be a 1st.
Yep they were a little too heavy handed. Cuasing that sorta damage just driving a Lambo for an hour or two is ridiculous.
Anyway – go to BBC iplayer and see the latest episode where Clarkson drives a ne Fiesta off a landing craft ito a metre of water onto a beach with the car full of Marine Commados. Say no more but its the best yet.
Alex, how an I “totally wrong”?
If you are too bluffed to realise almost EVERYTHING on the TGUK entertainment program ain’t scripted, then that’s your problem.
It’s entertainment, it’s fun, it’s light hearted – but it isn’t genuine motoring juornalism.
If you believe something “because Clarkson said..” then you are a fool.
And I would also like to think that anyone able to spend half a mill on a car is probably brighter than you, and understands that Clarkson sprouts BS most of the time, because thats what’s entertaining, rather than concrete facts and information about a car.
(Maybe the “old money” rich might be an exception here though?)
LOVED THE SHOW,DID NOT MISS ONE AND HOPE TO SEE A 09 SERIES. WHO CARES HOW MUCH DAMAGE WAS CAUSED TO CARS, IT IS A VERY SMALL COST COMPARED TO WHAT GAME SHOWS GIVE AWAY EVERY WEEK DAY AND NO ONE COMPLAINS ABOUT THAT. THE COST OF REPAIR TO AIR TIME IS CHEAP.